[The Prince of the Human Region is tired. His parents asked him to stay awake, just to look out for his brothers. They still haven’t come home, even though it is the middle of the night.]

[He decides to take a drive out to the party. He arrives to find his brothers gathered on the front porch.] 

Prince: Why are you all still here? It’s late! 

Ethan: We can’t find Maeve. 

Prince: Weren’t you supposed to be with her the entire night? 

[The three younger brothers look at each other.] 

August: We may have disobeyed some of our promises. 

[The Prince sighs.] 

Prince: Ethan, are you okay to drive? 

Ethan: Nope. 

Prince: Fine. You three get in my car and wait. I’ll go and look for Maeve. 

[The Prince wanders the empty echoing hallways. The mansion has lost all signs of life, with lots of abandoned cups, and spilled snacks littering the floor]

[He walks down the ghostly hallways. There’s no sign of Maeve anywhere.] 

[The Prince finds an abandoned cup. The soda has poured out onto the ground. The Prince imagines the worst.] 

[Suddenly, a loud ding rings out in the silent hallway.] 

[Prince jumps, falling back and hitting the ground.] 

Prince: Oh! It’s just my phone. 

[The Prince checks his phone. There are two texts from Maeve.] 

Maeve (T): hekp

Maeve (T): homr 

[The Prince furrows his brows, confused by the message, but he runs outside to meet with his other three brothers.] 

[He throws open the car door, and falls into the driver’s seat.] 

Prince: I got a text from Maeve. 

Ethan: Really, what does it say? 

[Prince tosses his phone to Ethan, where he squints his eyes to read.] 

Ethan: What does that mean? I think it’s supposed to say “Help” and what’s the second one? 

[August leans over to read.] 

August: Home. It says “Home”

Oliver: Okay… so where is she? 

August: She’s in the Angel Region. That’s her home, isn’t it? 

Prince: Oh god. 

[Prince starts the car. He pulls out of the mansion and speeds off towards the Angel Region Palace.] 

~~~

[Prince manages to pull into the palace, being a member of another royal family.]

[He parks his car] 

Prince: Stay here. Do not move. I’ll be back. 

Ethan: Okie dokey! 

[Ethan passes out. Prince rolls his eyes, then hurries to enter the palace] 

[Prince is led to a meeting room, where he is told to wait.]

[The doors open, revealing the Queen of the Angel Region, and the King of the Demon Region.]

Prince: Is Maeve here?

[The Queen laughs, and the King cracks a small smile.]

Queen: Of course she is. God, you are so adorable when you care for that worthless mongrel. 

Prince: What? How could you say that about your own daughter?  

Queen: It doesn’t matter. You can have her. She’s nothing like her brother. She’s not my daughter. Take her, she’s in her room. If she ever steps foot in the Angel Region again, I will kill her myself. Goodbye, my dear boy. 

[The Queen, with her arm linked in the King’s, walks away. She leaves a key on the table and the Prince, mouth agape, in the meeting room.]

[The Prince dashes through the hallways, searching for Maeve’s familiar room. He attempts to unlock the door, missing the keyhole a few times due to his nerves.]

[Collapsed in a heap on the floor is Maeve.]

Prince: MAEVE! 

[The Prince pulls her up, and supports her full weight.]

Prince: I’m so sorry I took so long! I’m here now. Let’s go home. 

[Maeve groans, as that is the only response she is physically able to give.]

[He carries her to the car and places her in the backseat. He starts the car.]

Prince: Maeve! Just hold on, ok. I’m going to get you home and you will feel better there.

Oliver: Maeve? 

August: What happened? 

Ethan: Shuuuuuushhhh- my head hurts…

Prince: We just have to get her home. 

[He drives even more dangerously home, but he makes it back. He occasionally breaks the intense silence with support for Maeve to stay alive.]

[Maeve stops responding once they are in the Human Region.]

[They arrive at the palace, The Prince rushes to carry her inside, and finds his parents in their room sleeping.]

[They stand from their bed, making space for Maeve.]

King: What happened?

Prince: I found her in the Angel Region Palace. They took her back to try and kill her. Please just heal her, dad. 

[The King signals to one of the servants who are just there apparently to go and call the doctor.]

King: Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could’ve helped? 

[The Prince nervously paces around.]

Prince: I don’t know! I just wanted to find her! 

[The king shakes his head in disapproval.]

King: Okay, son. I should be able to help her so don’t worry yourself.

[The Prince leaves. The Queen rushes to hold Maeve’s hand and she puts her other hand on the King’s shoulder.]

~~~

[Maeve wakes up the next day, lungs still sore. She remembers last night, or a few events from it. She remembers waking up, coughing and sputtering, on the King’s bed.]

[She falls out of bed, and walks to breakfast. She eats. She goes back to her room. She sleeps. She goes to lunch, and she eats. She goes back to her room.]

[The endless monotony of her day kills her. If her hope and spirit wasn’t dead before, it certainly is now.]

[Suddenly, there is a knock at her door.]

Maeve: Come in! 

[The queen walks in, and sits next to Maeve on her bed.]

Queen: Maeve, I haven’t seen you all day. Do you want to 

talk about it? 

[Maeve suddenly gives her a hug. The Queen, surprised, hugs her back.]

[They sit for a while in silence.]

~~~

[It’s Christmas Day. It’s been a few days since Maeve was kidnapped.]

[She finds the family room, where she and the Prince watched movies. Now, there is a Christmas tree with a bountiful amount of presents.]

[Maeve waits for the rest of the family. She is excited to watch them open their presents.]

[One by one, each member of the family arrives. With all the boys, it’s chaotic. They argue, and they reach over one another to get their presents.]

[Ollie and August end up in a ball, wrestling for a large sized present. From the look of it, it was obviously an item of clothing, but neither boy gave it up. It was only once they looked at the tag, they realized the present was for Ethan.]

[To Maeve’s surprise, the family got her a few presents. Each family member bought her something, without expecting anything in return.]

[She opened each one, taking care to save the wrapping paper. Oliver got her a plush rabbit, Ethan purchased a notebook, and the King gave her a fancy pen. The queen gave her a photo-book, full of memories from around the palace.]

[Maeve looked at the final gift. The tag was written in font-like handwriting. In small, neat letters, “To: Maeve. From: August”]

[Below, a tiny doodle of an angel wing on one side, and a demon wing on another.]

[Maeve unwrapped her present, and inside was a framed photo of the two of them when they were younger.]

[Maeve began to cry, but for the first time in a while, she was anything but sad.]

~~~

[For the next couple of days, Oliver proudly paraded his gifts around the palace, even bothering the staff at some times.]

[The other two boys felt much too old to even think about enjoying Christmas in that way, but Oliver was like a little boy.]

[Maeve had been stuck inside for a few days, and with the added annoyance of Oliver, she desperately wanted to get out of the palace. She found Ethan in the family room.]

Maeve: Oliver’s driving me insane. Do you want to go out shopping? 

Ethan: Yes. Please. 

[After getting the proper permission from the King, Ethan drove Maeve to a nearby small town. There was one main street with a few stores dotted along it.]

[Maeve and Ethan moved slowly along  gazing at all of the window displays in their winter scarves and jackets. They eventually entered a store that sold board games and toys.] 

[Ethan pointed out a few board games they could play with the family, and they settled on one that involved building a train empire.]

[They picked up the board game, but before they could leave the aisle and check out, Maeve spots a familiar figure.]

Maeve: Felix? 

[Felix is breathing heavily.]

Felix: Maeve! Maeve, I am so sorry. Our parents are awful. I didn’t realize that before. Look, if you come with me, I can show you the demon region! No tricks or anything, I promise I’ll—

Maeve: No. 

Felix: Please! It’s really important. I’m sorry, Maeve, but you will want to see— 

Maeve: DON’T TELL ME WHAT I’LL WANT TO DO! Leave me alone! 

[The group falls silent for a moment. Maeve storms out of the store. For some reason, Ethan stays, board game in hand.]

Felix: Maybe- Maybe you could come with me! Yeah! I can show you around the demon Region.

[Ethan shrugs.]

Ethan: Let me pay first. Then I’ll hear you out. 

[Ethan pays for the board game, and they wander outside to his car.]

Felix: Can we take your car? To the demon region?

Ethan: I drive. Get in. 

[They head out of the small town towards the demon region.]

Ethan: So you are Maeve’s brother? 

Felix: Twin brother. When we were little, I was taken by my father to the demon palace, and she stayed with our mother. 

Ethan: And that’s why she doesn’t know you. So why does her mother favor you over her? 

Felix: She is- she-

[He runs a hand through his hair.]

Felix: I shouldn’t tell you that. Her mother is mad at her for something, though. 

[They drive in silence. Felix takes nervous glances at Ethan when he thinks Ethan isn’t looking.]

Ethan: I can see you. Stop staring.

[Felix tucks his head away, embarrassed.]

[They arrive at the Demon Region, and walk around. Felix gives Ethan a tour of the surroundings, and they seem surprisingly human. No one is fighting on the streets, and all of the demons look peaceful.]

Ethan: This place is… okay. 

[Ethan notices Luka walking along with an older boy. Luka’s appearance is less tidy than usual.]

Older boy: Can you please just talk to me for once! Stop staying silent, no one is going to care about your little act, Luke!

[Luka hums uncomfortably through his lips. He wants to defend himself, but he has no words.]

[He pulls out his notepad. The older boy slams it to the ground.]

Older boy: If you want to say something, then say it. 

[Luka makes a very frustrated noise.]

[Ethan waves awkwardly, but Luka is too panicked to notice him.]

Felix: Do you know him? 

Ethan: We go to school together. Maeve’s good friends with him. 

Felix: Oh. So you and Maeve go to the same school? 

Ethan: Yeah. And my two younger brothers. It’s a fancy boarding school, basically.

[Felix shows Ethan all of his favorite places as they make their way to the Demon Palace.]

[Felix gives him the grand tour of the Palace, and they find common ground in some aspects of royal life.]

[Finally, they arrive at Felix’s room. It’s filled with posters of various men and women wearing clothes that show their muscles and make them seem threatening.]

[Ethan blushes.]

Ethan: Nice posters. 

Felix: Thank you- OH my god- no I am so sorry. 

Felix: These are famous demon fighters. 

Ethan: Famous fighters? 

Felix: It’s like boxing? It’s all for fun. All the fighters agree beforehand and they aren’t supposed to kill each other or anything. Well, unless you are fighting back in ancient times, but no one does those kinds of fights these days. 

Ethan: Right. Ok. Which one is your favorite?

Felix: Her. Her name is Camilla. She’s super pretty and super badass. She’s an awesome fighter. What about you? 

[Ethan sits on the bed and Felix does the same. He looks at all the posters and decides on one.]

Ethan: Him. He’s cute. 

[He points at a man with a strong jawline and intense stare. Felix blushes.] 

Felix: Do you think that I- nevermind…

Ethan: What? What were you gonna ask? 

Felix: It was stupid. 

Ethan: Go on! Ask me. 

Felix: No! No, god! It’s so embarrassing and stupid! 

[Ethan smiles, and begins to tickle Felix.]

Ethan: I can do this all day! Tell me! 

[Felix laughs until his lungs and mouth hurt.]

Felix: Okay! Okay! Stop, I'll tell you! 

[Ethan stops, and Felix falls in a clump on top of him. Ethan wraps his arms around him.]

Felix: I’m a fighter too, you know. 

Ethan: Seriously? Where’s the poster of you? 

Felix: I don’t have one. I will probably someday. 

Ethan: So, what were you going to ask? 

[Felix swings his body around so that Ethan has to hold him. He grabs onto Ethan, and buries his face into his shoulder.]

Felix: Do you think that I could be cute like him? 

Ethan: No 

[Felix looks at him.]

Ethan: You are cuter. 

[Ethan reaches to hold Felix’s hand. They sit for a while, cuddling and holding hands.]

Demon King: FELIX! GET DOWN HERE, BOY! DINNER TIME!

[Felix jumps up.]

Felix: You need to leave, now! Oh my god! How much time have we spent together- and we just left my sister in that town! 

Ethan: Relax, Felix. Your sister is fine, she can look after herself. I’ll just leave out the window.

Felix: That’s a high jump. Are you sure about that? 

Ethan: I have wings? Do you not fly out your window sometimes? 

Felix: I can’t fly. My wings have been all messed up since birth. 

Ethan: Right, See ya! 

[Ethan defenestrates himself. Felix rushes downstairs, before realizing he forgot to give Ethan his phone number.]

~~~

[When Ethan arrives back home, his parents are already waiting for him. The king taps his foot.]

King: Where have you been? 

Ethan: I got busy. 

Queen: You left Maeve on her own! She had to walk all the way back here, on her own! You put her in danger, Ethan! 

Ethan: Yeah, it was something important, okay? Leave me alone. 

~~~

[The next few days were uneventful. The brothers made snowmen and snow forts with Maeve. There was even one snowball fight that turned into a full war.]

[Maeve had never felt so accepted.]

~~~

[The day they were supposed to go back to school, Maeve was the first to wake up. She packed her bag, and remembered the crumpled up note she had gotten so long ago. She packed with swiftness, today would be the day she would finally find Luka again.]