Prologue

As The Clock Goes By

London, England, 11:00 pm, Ashenburt Residence

Eleven sharp bongs were emitted from Big Ben. It was an hour to midnight in dreary and grey London, England. Rain rocketed from the grey clouds overhead, splattering the Victorian cobblestone streets. In a stunning mansion, grand and sparkling, on a couch of red velvet sat a rather attractive man, sipping Scotch from an expensive, crystallized shot glass. This man had ash mauve eyes and beautiful gold hair that fell just below his ears. This man also happened to be the Earl of the Blue Knights… the nobleman of the finned creatures of the sea.

The Merrow were his people.

"Lord Edgar, you shouldn't drink so much," said a deep voice as somebody entered the room.

It was a male who had just passed into manhood. His skin was quite tanned, his hair was black and his eyes were deep, emerald green. He possessed superior fighting skills… and also happened to have two bloodthirsty sprites dwelling inside his body.

The one called Edgar sighed and refilled his glass nevertheless.

"Bad habits, Raven," he reminded his servant, raising the glass to his lips and downing another shot. "They seem to enjoy resurfacing every time Lydia goes back home."

Raven didn't say anything more but inclined his head, as if he understood what Edgar was going through.

"Perhaps, if you were to invite her over," Raven suggested.

"Ah, I've sat here since she left at noon, wondering whether or not to ask her to spend the night," he said airily, refilling his glass yet again. "And then I decided to spare myself the pain of having her say no by numbing it with my best friend, Mr. Scotch here." He raised his shot glass in the air with one slim hand, toasting Raven.

"Ermine really did spoil me," he sighed. "You're right… I've had quite about enough."

Edgar set the glass down on the wooden table next to the couch and stared into the fireplace, mesmerized by the flames. From his pocket he withdrew an invisible item.

When Edgar, Raven, Lydia, Banshee, Nico and Paul had all been in the fairy world, in Ulysses's evil mansion, Banshee had given this item to Edgar. Before she died she told Edgar that it was the key to the land of Ibrazel. Since it was invisible to both Edgar and Lydia, who because of her fae powers could normally see things like this, tied a neat red ribbon around it.

"You don't want to lose it!" she had laughed. "Because if you do, I wouldn't be able to help you find it." Edgar had been momentarily stunned.

"Beautiful Lydia," Edgar mumbled, rumpling his golden locks and slumping down on the couch. "There's not a second that goes by that I don't wish to hold you."

A/N: Hi im vampiyaa :3 please review, i love reviews!