Chapter One –

I crumpled up the last sheet of paper in the notebook and threw it on the floor where it joined thousands more. And that’s the end of the story, for now? Are those happy words I see my hand writing over and over? Have I become Oriel? Or something like that?

I stared out at the sea of paper balls. Brushing the hair out of my eyes I noticed that it would be impossible to get to the door. Or for anyone to get in. That was handy. At least Trida couldn’t come in anymore and ask if I was quoting him correctly.

I turned the notebook back a page to the only epilogue I hadn’t torn out. It seemed happy enough, I guess. But at least it wasn’t filled with lies like all the rest.

Okay, it’s actually filled to the brim with lies but it isn’t overflowing. Or something like that.

“Corbin!” Someone called through the door, pounding insanely. What if I had been asleep? If I was asleep in here I wouldn’t want anyone to wake me up unless the castle was on fire. Or if there were demons. Or evil cupcake warriors from outer space. Or, you know, tax collectors.

So I didn’t say anything. I just sat and thought about the last time Oriel had visited.

Which, in absolute fact, was over a month ago.

It may be true that my hair won in the end – it was the obvious outcome. There was no possible way that she could have won without cheating. And she cheated all the time and still didn’t win. Really – go back and read it. But it really isn’t an excuse for her not to come around. And the fact that I don’t have a telephone isn’t, either. There are boats to steal. Or swimsuits to buy and put to use.

And really, the last time she was trying to get me to go to school. As if that will happen. I haven’t gone to school thus far and everyone knows how smart and perfect I am. I have no idea why she would think I need school. I speak English as well as the rest of the world. And I can tie my shoes. I think I’m good.

“Corbin!” The voice came again, waking me up from my thoughts. No one around here is courteous at all. I grace them with my intelligence and wit and get nothing whatsoever in return.

“Yes?” I answered calmly, brushing hair back from my face.

“Open the door, will you?”

“Who is it? I’m not opening the door for just anyone!” I smirked and crossed my arms.

“Oh, come on! It’s Bo!” He said it as if that should have been obvious.

“I’m ever so sorry, Bo. I should have known your voice right off the bat – I memorize how every person I ever meet says my name.”

He didn’t say anything for a while.

“Corbin? Are you going to open this door?” He sounded pretty irritated. I can’t fathom why. Can he feel the awesome waves of beauty coming off my hair through the door?

“No,” I answered simply.

I heard him groan and then walk back down the hall.

In reality, I don’t think even this much paper could really stop a door from opening. But that’s something I may want to test in the future.

At that moment I wished more than anything that I had a phone. I know that if I told Oriel about the paper she would laugh – she would get it. But I don’t have a phone, so I just stared down at the only unrumpled epilogue in silence.

I admit it – I lied in that epilogue. So my mother cried and thanked me and did all those things and words used to describe mothers in tears. But then it all went back to normal. Sure, Bo and Trida and Eirwyn and Zan are still here on the Island, but that’s not too drastic. It’s not like I come out to talk to them very often.

And Oriel… that’s gone back to the way it was before, now, too. I mean way before. Like so before the last months that I didn’t even know she existed. Except now I do know that she exists and yet there’s no real evidence. Except that last story.

And if she really is feeling that great wash of defeat that can only be brought on by my hair winning then I wish she would have told me she wouldn’t be coming back.

“Corbin, I can’t stand to be around you anymore. I know that I can never compare the brilliance that is your hair – I mean, it beat me, right? So I won’t be coming back.”

And that was when I decided I would be going back to the Mainland. Because anyone in their right mind knows that Oriel would never say that in her life. Well, anyone with half a brain. And anyone who knows anything about me at all. Or about Oriel. Or something like that.

The castle was silent when I stepped out into the hall. The papers had taken a while to clear out of the way, but eventually I stuffed them all under the bed. Nightmares, anyone? Anyway. Walking down the stairs stirred up dust. Doesn’t anyone come up here anymore? Or am I so imposing that no one dares? Is my brilliance just too much for them? They’re terrified of finding out that they pale in my presence, that I am really a wonderful god. Or something like that.

“Hello?” My voice echoed across the stone walls and floors, skipping and jumping around. No one was around, so I started across the hall, towards the stairs that led up to the library.

Dusty carpets and wall-hangings, wood dull with age and rows and rows of books. Volumes that smelled of ageless knowledge. I drifted through the passageways silently until I heard the careful monotony of delicate and large pages being turned.

“Bo?” I called. I highly doubted that it was him – did he really know how to read? Though the pages were being turned too fast to have someone reading them – but it was worth a try.

But really, could he read? It’s a possibility, I suppose. More likely that Trida reading. More likely than Trida thinking, really. Actually, a lot of things are more likely than Trida thinking. Casimir coming back right then and jumping out from behind a shelf at me was more likely than Trida loosing his vanity. Or something like that.

“Corbin? What are you doing here?” Trida said, peeking out from behind a shelf nearby. Just my luck.

“Well, I do actually live here. But I guess that’s not much of a reason if you think about it.” I rolled my eyes. “So, this being my library in essence, what are you doing here? With that gigantic book under your arm. How are you managing to carry that?” I feigned shock. Trida frowned.

“ Reading. That’s what I’m doing.”

He can read? At that moment I looked around for Casimir or any other demon presence that could be nearby. Nothing. The world had not ended yet. Or something like that.

Instead of replying I turned around and made my way back through the maze of shelves until I found a door. Opening it, I walked out into the west side of the castle.

No one actually lives in the west side of the castle. So the dust in there was even worse than it was everywhere else. You’d think that since we Lisles had lived on the Island for so long and spent as little money as we could on only things we needed, that we could afford to hire a maid. Or enslave evil spirits. Whatever worked out for the better.

Walking down these forgotten hallways, I started to plan. If Oriel wasn’t going to come here, I’d find her. I didn’t care that I had no idea where she lived, or that I knew next to nothing about the Mainland. All I cared about then was that Oriel was there – that’s all that mattered.

This first chapter is for Ali -- my good friend and huge Island and Corbin fan. I tried to make this as Corbintastic as possible, I promise.

Falcon