Born again from the pianoman, I escaped from below his enveloping shroud with the help of my half sibling. Stella embraced me. 

I spent years in a dark haze gathering the EverPass. Belfree wouldn’t tell me what he wanted it for or why he chose me.

I just knew that, as a changeling, I was bound to his word. 

And every movement I made was in accordance with his will. He wanted me to squeeze harder. To take the breath out of her. 

I didn’t have the strength to.

‘I’m nothing but bone, remember?’

It’s been ten years since I’ve seen Stella.

But time hadn’t given us equal treatment.

The brown mark in her brown eyes had darkened, while I saw in the reflection in them that my own burned brighter. 

‘You think you can escape this?’ asked Belfree.

She was losing herself. Now it was less likely she’d fulfill her Deal.

I placed my hands on her gray face and my hair turned black. That same darkness wanted to place me in the shade, under the gray clouds.

‘And another darkness places you six feet underground.’