Chapter one:

Disclaimer: I do not own the infernal devices series or any of the characters affiliated with it. Nor do i own any brands or songs mentioned in the story. This storyline, Inara, and her family, however, are owned by me.

Author's note: This is my first fanfic so I hope you enjoy. And i apologize for any lack of capitalization, my document program doesn't comprehend what it is. Inspired by the story Clockwork Queen by Not Enough Answers.

Yuba City, California

2013

"Love lifts us up where we belong!" I heard my tablet belting out, it was the song from Moulin Rouge I had as an alarm. As I turned over to look at my phone for the time, I noticed that it was already five a.m. Normally i would just go back to sleep for a little while. But today was special. I was getting out of school to go on this weekend trip to seattle for a steampunk convention. And this year, I was finally old enough to do what I wanted while we were there, it was fulfilling to finally be 16.

I'd been excited about this trip for months, and spent a great deal of time planning what i was going to wear and what panels and workshops were worth going to. Although, ultimately most of my time would probably be spent at the vendor's hall.

"Sam! what did you do with my book?" I yelled at my little brother in frustration and amusement.

"What book?" He replied snidely after rounding the corner.

"Where is it. you tell me right now or i'll-"

"You'll what? Talk me to death?" He asked, chuckling. My brother was the most annoying fourteen year old boy on the planet. Unfortunately, he was just one of two evils. Sam had a twin, Sean. and Sean was nearly as bad as Sam but, fortunately, not quite worse.

"Dad!" I yelled, "Sam stole my journal!"

"Today is not the day Sam. Give it back." My father replied tiredly.

"Fine. But you guys are no fun." Sam replied dejectedly, pulling my journal from behind his back.

"Thank you." I said, packing as much snark as I could into the phrase.

"Come on you two. Your mother and Sean are already in the truck."

"Alright." Sam sighed.

"Okay Dad!" I replied cheerily and then shot my brother a nasty look and headed down to the car.

Finally! After hours in the car we arrived at the convention. After checking in, I headed up to my room to change into my outfit of the day. I chose a pair of black, high-waisted, jeans, my high quality bustle in violet and gold, and a black corset with silver filigree. I took my knee-length dark blue hair and put it in a curly updo.

After doing my makeup, I looked in the mirror and was finally satisfied with the look. The colors I'd chosen complimented my pale skin tone. I only had an issue with my eyes, but the dull blue only changed if I cried. So, seeing as there was nothing more to be done, I slung on my purse and headed down.

The convention had many things to do and see, but after a while, I was back at the vendor hall. I started to head up to my room and as I entered the elevator I noticed a man with spiked black hair and waved to him. After exiting the elevator, I was walking to my room when I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head and everything went dark.

When I came to, the man I had seen earlier was sitting above me with an intricate goblet in hand. He lifted it to my mouth and a thick liquid poured down my throat. It had a strong taste of iron, but I had no time to worry about it as he knocked me out again.

When i woke up next i was outside and night had fallen and a fog had settled in. But something was off. There was no way that this was seattle. In fact, it looked unlike any modern city I recognized.

As I was standing up, I noticed two figures some distance away from me. They seemed to have noticed that I had seen them, not without some shock on their part, and approached me with haste. As they got closer I noted them to be boys of about seventeen or eighteen. They were both quite taller than me, but the one obviously towered over me.

One of the boys seemed to be the essence of light itself with silvery hair and eyes with pale skin and delicate white eyelashes. While the first appeared to have soft, expressively asian features and pale coloration. The other seemed quite the opposite.

This boy was a bit more angular with strong cheekbones and facial features, he was the tall one as well. He also had a darker demeanor about him beyond his curly black hair and eyes that matched my hair. But he held himself in such a way as putting on a brave face for the world, a topic i had experience with.

"Why Jem, it appears we have stumbled across a lost brothel girl." The dark one said with a jubilant british accent, "One who also happens to be one of the faerie folk it appears."

"Wh-what?" I stuttered out in confusion.

"Oh by the angel," he goaded, "you're only wearing undergarments. It's obvious you are, in fact, a prostitute."

"A what?" I asked angrily, "I was wondering what you meant by 'faerie folk.' not 'brothel girl.'"

"Well I-" he began, but was cut off.

"I apologize for Will's bluntness. His quite crude at times." the boy known as Jem also spoke with a british accent, but his tone was more apologetic than condescending. "might i ask what your name is?"

"My name is Inara. Inara Hall." I stated in an attempt to distract them from the fact that I was reaching for the pistol I kept strapped to my leg under my bustle. There was no way I was trusting these people. They were unaware of the growing danger towards them. I quickly pulled it from the holster, aimed, and fired at Will, as it appeared he was called.

I, unfortunately, missed and hit his leg instead of any vital organs. But I did succeed in distracting them for long enough to run a far distance, despite my heels. I ran into an alley far enough away that they probably wouldn't find me and passed out. Completely unaware that my purse had fallen from my shoulder in the street. After treacherous nightmares, I awoke in a foreign bed with two brightly dressed women above me. One, tall and thin. The other, short and plump- but not pleasantly so.

"Hello" they said in unison.

"I'm Mrs. Black." said the short plump one.

"And I'm Mrs. Dark" Said the other, "but you can call us the dark sisters."