If you read the title, you are probably a little confused right now, so let me clear it up for you. Most of you voted for the Epilogue and Different Character P.O.V. options from the Q and A, which made it really hard for me to decide, so I thought "why not combine them"?

This update takes place a few days after the final chapter. I think that's about it. I hope you all like this weird creation I came up with. Enjoy!

Core's P.O.V.

I stand in the middle of the clearing in my domain, surveying the jungle setting around me.

I clap my hands once, and the scene around me morphs until I'm standing on a beach, a vast ocean stretching out before me as the sun sets.

I shake my head, clapping my hands again and watching the area change into a forest, but not the jungle type. This one is filled with coniferous trees, snow coating their bristles. A rabbit bounds over my foot, and I glare down at it, sighing as I clap my hands once more.

This time I'm on a cloud, floating high above the earth. Wind rips at my suit from my high altitude, and I growl, bringing my hands together one last time.

I'm standing in the middle of the clearing, the jungle trees surrounding me and waterfall only a few yards away. Right back where I started.

I huff, but decide to keep the setting. It's growing on me.

I wave my hand, summoning a single white armchair which I lower myself into, crossing one of my legs over the other.

"I think it's about time I check in." I say out loud to myself, snapping my fingers.

The white mist gathers in front of me, forming a huge square shape, and then the image appears.

Becky's P.O.V.

My hand reaches out towards the door, then pauses. I retract my hand, before reaching out again, only for my other hand to come up and snatch my wrist, halting my hand in it's movements for the door.

I growl, turning on my heel and pacing the hallway in an internal war with myself.

Open it...don't open it....open it...don't-

Suddenly the door slides open, and I don't have to decide any more because he comes strolling out, shirtless with only knee-length shorts on, his blonde curls in a mess on top of his head as he runs a hand through it.

He pauses inside the door frame when he sees it's me, his electric blue eyes widening.

"Would it kill you to wear a shirt?" I finally break the silence, not knowing what else to say.

His eyes darken, and he fully steps out of the room, the door sliding closed behind him as he starts to stride down the hallway, ignoring me.

I flinch, turning to watch him go.

Okay...that hurt.

Max has never ignored me, not once. In fact, he usually acts like a love-sick puppy, hanging off my every word and action. The fight we had yesterday must have really gotten to him.

I think back to our argument, trying to remember what went wrong.

"Give me the banana, Max." I growl, holding my hand out.

He smiles, holding the banana closer to his chest and shaking his head. "Nope! it reminds me too much of you to let it go to waste."

"I should have never told you about the time my name was confused with banana." I mutter, glowering, before taking another step forward. "It's not going to waste, I'm going to eat it. Now give it!"

"Nope!" He repeats in a sing-song voice, and I growl, rubbing my temples.

I've always had headaches, ever since I was little, but they seemed to be getting worse lately and I have no idea why. I pinned the cause on just the pressure and stress of all the drama that went down a few days ago, but they haven't stopped, even though all of that is in the past and I'm back in Highclere, relaxing and biding the days by doing a few chores here and there and sleeping.

The headache right now isn't as bad as other migraines I've had, but I get the feeling it's only going to escalate if I don't get something to eat and get some rest fast.

"Max, I swear to Dalton, give me the banana right now or you'll regret it." I threaten, but he's not paying any attention tot he dangerous tone in my voice, a smile still lighting up his face.

"You won't make me regret it, you love me too much to do that." He says teasingly, and my head gives another painful throb.

Now I know what Ashley went through when she was dying. At least she knew the cause behind her headaches though. Mine are still a mystery yet to be solved.

Fury starts to boil inside me at Max's persistence to not give me the banana, and his last words are the ones that make me snap, my mouth opening and spewing vile words before I can stop it.

"You're stupid if you still believe there will be any chance of an us. " I laugh bitterly, narrowing my eyes and stepping forward. "Your hope is idiotic. I would never, ever attach myself to someone as crazy and annoying as you."

With those words I snatched the banana from his hands which had grown limp, his face frozen in shock, and stormed away.

Recovering from the memory, I stare at his back as he continues walking away, wondering how I could make things right. I didn't mean to say those things, I was just caught up in the moment and wanted someone to feel the pain I was feeling at that moment. I lashed out at the wrong person, and regret it immensely.

I have to go after him.

Max's P.O.V.

I continue striding down the hallway, every step costing me a part of my heart as I walk away from her, her words replaying over and over in my head as they have been doing since the argument.

"You're stupid if you still believe there will be any chance of an us. Your hope is idiotic. I would never, ever attach myself to someone as crazy and annoying as you."

Men aren't supposed to cry. That's something my father taught me ever since I was little. Yet, I can't deny that after her words, I had gone back to my room in a daze and then gone into a rampage. I tore apart pillows and shed many angry tears. Looking at the pillows torn to shreds, I had immediately felt guilty for ruining them, hoping that Lager wouldn't hold it against me.

The, the grief hit me like a sucker punch, and I collapsed onto the floor, my thoughts in a whirlwind.

Maybe Becky was right, maybe I had been too clingy and annoying. I didn't know she thought of me that way, because although her words were always hurtful, her eyes always told a different story. Yet just a few moments ago, her eyes had matched her words, and each word that fell from her mouth hit me like a kick to the gut.

I stood up slowly, feeling utterly weak and depressed.

She didn't like me. Fine. I would stay away.

I hate how just thinking of staying away from her nearly tore my heart in two.

Pulling myself back to the present, I continue walking away, feeling her eyes on my back and forcing myself to keep moving forward.

One step. Then another. Keep going.

I felt a hand wrap around my wrist and I jolt, immediately knowing that it's her. I tug my hand back, more forcefully then I intended, and I hear her inhale quickly.

"Max...wait." She says and I pause, my back still turned to her.

I couldn't force myself to look at her, because then my resolve would break and I would be back to being annoying Max who panted at her feet like a puppy.

"I'm....I'm....." She begins to say, pausing for long silences in between.

"Are you trying to hurt me more?" I whisper, so softly that I'm surprised she hears, but she does and exhales slowly in response. "You can't tell me something like what you did yesterday and expect me to-"

"SORRY!" She suddenly exclaims, shocking me so much with her abruptness that I turn around and face her.

She's slightly paler than yesterday, and a drop of sweat runs down the side of her face. Her brown eyes are wide and determined, her breaths coming in pants as if what she just said took a lot of effort. Seeing my gaze finally upon her, she starts to turn red, looking off to the side.

"I'm sorry for what I said yesterday." She continues softly, grabbing her upper arm with one hand and shifting on her feet. "I didn't mean to, and it's no excuse, but I was feeling overwhelmed and-"

She breaks off when I take a few steady and thunderous steps towards her, my gaze set in stone on her face.

"What are you doing?" She asks, taking a few steps back, but I continue forward until I'm less than a foot away, looking down at her small, but fierce frame.

"Did you just apologize?" I breathe of carefully, holding my breath and waiting for her reply.

"Yes?" She says, looking confused.

I can't keep my straight face for a second longer and break out laughing, all the pain and hurt I felt instantly washing away from her words.

Becky never apologizes. I mean never. The fact that she was apologizing to me fills me with an odd tingling feeling that I feel whenever I'm in her presence. It's the same reason I'm always following her around like a lost puppy. It's honestly addictive.

"Max....um...are you okay?" She asks, seeming confused and a little more than worried.

"I've never been better." I smile, wanting so badly to grab her in my arms and swing her around but knwoing she would punch me.

"Does this mean you've forgiven me?" She asks hesitantly, eyeing me carefully like it's a trap and I will turn on her any second.

"Yes." I chuckle, shaking my head. "I'll always forgive you." I continue softly, and is it just my imagination or does her gaze soften as well?

Deciding that I feel lucky and I might as well try, I hold out my hand, and she stares down at it for a second, her brows scrunched up, before slowly extending her hand.

My heart beats rapidly in my chest as her hand rests in mine.

Holding my breath, I try to stop myself from internally freaking out like a girl, but it's near impossible because she's holding my hand.

Suddenly she squeezes my hand and shakes it firmly, before releasing it and walking past me down the hallway.

Dumbfounded, I stare after her, my hand still suspended in the air, before scrambling after her.

"Hey! Where are you going?" I breathe, catching up to her and keeping pace by her side.

"I don't know about you," She smirks, "But I'm in the mood for bananas."

My throat goes dry, and I nod.

"Yeah." I reply, my voice nearly cracking. "Me too."



Core's P.O.V.

I watch as the image of Becky and Max fades, a handkerchief poofing into existence in my hand which I use to dab at my eyes and then throw over my shoulder.

"How touching." I murmur to myself again, shaking my head at their weird love-hate relationship.

the image shifts and I ready myself for the next person's viewpoint.



Lager's P.O.V.

I watch from the shadow of a tree as she laughs, throwing her head back as the sound escapes her.

She's actually laughing.

Kay, my mute half-sister who I love with all my heart is actually laughing.

Ashley laughs with her as they continue their stroll through the orchids, Ashley talking animatedly about stories from her childhood and things she's seen in the world outside of Dalton.

This past week her and Kay have been nearly impossible to separate, forming a bond that is very similar to that of two sister's. Ashley has never once pushed Kay to speak like I know others have, and instead fills the silence with her own words, entertaining Kay with her ridiculous stories and sudden thoughts.

Kay barely used to laugh, and it seemed like only a select group of people could draw the sound from her, including me. Looks like Ashley's a part of that select group now. I smile at the thought.

Feeling my presence with that strange sixth sense that Kay has, she turns her head towards my direction, scanning the area where I'm hidden.

Don't find me. Don't find me. I chant.

She finds me.

Her golden eyes, the trait we both share, lock onto mine as she grabs Ashley's shirt sleeve, tugging on it and then pouting in my direction when she has her attention.

Ashley looks up, startled, and my breath catches as her eyes land on me, then slide away, trying to find what Kay was pointing at. Slight Disappointment fills me when I realize she never really saw me, and I decide it's time to make my presence known before Kay communicates silently with her and tells her how much of a stalker her older half-brother is.

I step out from my hiding spot, the shadows melting off of my body and leaving me visible.

Ashley immediately spots me and takes a step back, opening her mouth in surprise.

"It's just me." I say quickly, raising my hands in a show of peace and she instantly relaxes.

"What are you doing here?"

"I just thought I would check up on you two, see how you're doing." I reply as casually and honestly as I can while strolling over.

"Well we're fine as you can see." She says with furrowed brows, watching me suspiciously.

I take a step back, cursing myself for ever watching them in the first place and especially for getting caught. Now I've made a fool out of myself and Ashley most likely thinks my mental ealth is questionable.

The truth of the matter is over this past week Ashley has been spending all the time in the world with Kay, while I barely get a glimpse of her at all. Sometimes I'll be lucky enough to pass her in the hallway, but those conversations are brief and not enough to satiate my growing thirst for something more. Work as High Commander has been more busy than usual over this past week, my schedule filled with trying to settle the drama caused by all the humans who were on Dalton, leading a community, and keeping an eye on the Kinlings who have been strangely silent this past week.

"I'll go then." I finally say awkwardly, realizing I had been too deep in my thoughts to notice the creeping silence. "If you need anything, you know who to find."

I prepare to shadow travel, my muscles coiling with the familiar feeling, but her voice stops me.

"Wait! There is one thing...". She trails off.

"What is it?" I ask, eager for the opportunity to converse more with her.

"Have you seen End? I haven't seen him since the day I jumped into Core's domain."

My body immediately tenses at the mention of End and her near-death experience. A day after Ashley waved goodbye to her father on the beach, she had gathered us all in one room in Highclere and explained everything she had seen inside the Core, or more like who she had seen inside there.

It had been a shock to all of us that there was a living being inside the sacred place, but we didn't doubt Ashley's words. She is the only person I know of, besides her father, that's been into the Core's domain and survived. Of course there are other legends about noble Lightlings or Darklings that have entered there and came back alive, but I've had my doubts on whether the stories are true or not.

"No, I haven't seen him." I say after clearing my throat, noticing the disappointment that crosses Ashley's expression.

Kay catches my eye, her own eyes widening as she communicates silently with me. I nod my head, showing her I understand, and she nods back once.

Ashley, not catching our silent communication, sighs, before softly smiling.

"Well thanks anyway. If you see him, do you think you could tell him that I would like to thank him for accompanying us and doing what he could in the cave?"

"Of course." I politely reply, turning a corner of my lip upwards in what I hope is a reassuring smile, before rotating on my heel and starting to walk away.

"Lager."

I stop walking.

"Are you....busy later on?"

My heart stops.

I slowly turn around, wanting to meet her eyes, but she's gazing at the ground, a slight flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck.

"Why?" I ask, my voice slightly more hoarse than usual.

She sighs exasperatedly and looks up, a spark lighting her eyes as they meet mine, challenging and determined.

"You've been really busy this past week, and I left you alone because I didn't want to disturb you, but I was wondering if we could all hang out later on tonight. Becky, Max, you and I. We could all eat dinner and play games....".

I'm silent as her words wash over me.

Hang out? See wanted to hang out with me? She was inviting me to hang out with her and her friends?

The same questions keep repeating inside my head, my disbelief making it hard to get onto another train of thought.

Never before in my life has anyone wanted to willingly be in my presence to have fun or hang out. It's always been work hard, grow stronger, build connections. No time to hang out or have fun. I never thought I would ever want to do these things, especially with other people, but now that Ashley's asked me, I find that there's nothing else I long for so much in this moment than to do exactly what she asks and join her and her friends tonight.

"You know what? It sounds really stupid now that I say it out loud. Never mind, just forget I said anything." She takes back her words in a rush, shaking her head and waving her hands around in the air as if to wave off the words.

My chest tightens and I immediately rush to stop her.

"No!.....I mean, it sounds fun. I'll have to check my schedule, but I should be free tonight." I say, a corner of my mouth pulling upwards into a smirk as I regain my cool, winking.

She rolls her eyes, but smiles none the less and nods.

"Okay, I'll ask Becky and Max, but I'm sure they would be up for it."

"See you tonight." I say softly, and she waves goodbye, smiling. I turn and start to stroll away, keeping an iron fist on my control until I'm out of their view.

Once I know for certain they can't see me, I shadow travel to my room and throw open my closet, filled with black capes hung up and ready for wear.

I start to throw them over my shoulder, growling when I can't find one to wear for tonight.

"No." I say, tossing one over my shoulder.

"No." Another one flies through the air.

"No."

"No!" i growl, when suddenly my eyes spot one at the very back.

I grab it and take it out, flinging the cloak I have on right now off and replacing it with the one I found.

I stand in front of the full length mirror in the bathroom, scrutinizing the cape and how it looks. It's slightly different from my other capes. Instead of being ink black, it's more of a dark, dark blue, so dark it's almost black but not quite, like my hair.

I nod, a tiny smiling on my face.

"Looking dapper." I tell my reflection, before laughing out loud and shaking my head at my antics.

The things she does to me.....

Smiling once more, I stride to the door and walk out, ready for what tonight would bring.



Core's P.O.V.

"Ugh, he's just as bad as Zero." I groan out loud, letting my head fall back to rest against the couch.

I remember how I checked in on Zero the other day, his thoughts so muddled with grief and Ashley that I couldn't get a view on where he was or what he was doing. I shiver just recalling the torture I was put through in experiencing his thoughts.

Suddenly, there's a deep rumble within the Earth.

I feel the blood drain from my face, frozen in my spot as the jungle setting around me goes quiet, the music of the animals silent.

No....it can't be.

The white mist in front of me forms into another image, Ashley appearing on the screen from Kay's point of view.

Ashley is clutching her hand, snatching it back from the tree branch where she cut her finger on a sharp jutting piece of wood.

"It's just a splinter." She smiles down at Kay reassuringly, and I watch with horror building as a drop of blood drips down her finger and and falls, heading straight for the ground beneath her.

The second the drop hits the soil another rumbles echoes up from the earth beneath the island, the ground slightly shaking beneath me.

Ashley and Kay don't seem to notice it, for the shaking is so slight, it's merely a tiny vibration, but to me, it feels as if it's an earthquake.

"No." I whisper, standing up quickly while the couch beneath me vanishes.

The blood has thankfully stopped dripping from her hand, but it's too late for that now.

I study the ground beneath me, brows furrowing in concentration, before looking back up at the white mist where Ashley smiles at Kay who's carefully extracting the splinter.

My elaborate scheme may need to be set into motion sooner than intended.

"Let's just hope," I say out loud, watching as the white mist slowly starts to fade with Ashley's image inside it, "For everyone's sake that no more human blood is spilled."

I close my eyes and focus, summoning a necklace that is an exact look-alike to the one I gave Ashley just a few days ago, the crystal blue material it's made of glinting in the sunlight as I slip it on over my head. All I have to do wherever I need to summon Ashley is just make this think glow and her own necklace will replicate it.

I summon the couch back, sitting down and crossing my legs, listening as the sounds of the animals resume back to their usual song.

Now all I have to do is wait.



Dear readers, I hope you like this mix of an epilogue and a different characters p.o.v. No, unfortunately Zero's p.o.v. did not make an appearance, but Becky's and Max's did so that's something to celebrate. As promised, I have left a few hints and clues in here as to what may be going on in the sequel, so don't be afraid to tell me your thoughts on what you think might be happening. I already have the cover for the sequel made, and will put an update up on this book once the first chapter of the sequel comes out. Vote, Comment, and buy yourself a stuffed animal and then never play with it. (I feel like everyone's done this, I know I have many MANY times, lol). Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken