this is the story, beginning to end, 
1. a prince. a swarm of bees. he used to draw them in the margins of his books, because he thought they looked pretty. his first greeting with death. a strange voice filling his ears. he doesn’t know this yet, but one day, it will be the last thing he hears.
2. a life for a life.
3. he walks the line. one step, two steps, three. away, away, away. a million different cities, countries, continents. he is too young to be swept away by demons as vivid as this. the voice stays. death holds his hand, every step of the way.
4. home. his first real discovery. it is small and unusual but the moment he sees it it is his. a new kingdom. he doesn’t know this yet, but this is the town that will take his life. (even if he knew this, he would stay).
5. a boy with a sharp tongue and a crooked smile. a friend?
6. a brother.
7. shared grief. the boy turns bitter. them against the world. the demons roam free.
8. after; the boy with the beautiful hands. the ghost. the girl. a home in each and every one of them. demons cannot live in the light.
9. the tape. is that all? he knows.
10. a kiss without a kiss. a life that is not his to live. one wish, one king, one chance. 
11, 12, 13, 
he knows.
14, 15, 16,
the voice again.
17, 18, 19, 
the prince finds his king.
20. and then?
that’s all there is.