Prologue - Cecelia Marie
"Cecelia Marie" Magnus called out, the hesitation clear in his voice.
He crept around the dim apartment looking for the girl. Praetor Scott had personally contacted him, requesting his assistance. According to the Praetor, Cecelia Marie Summers had murdered her abusive parents, with a flick of a wrist due to her incredibly strong powers. Presumedly due to a particularly powerful demon parent, Magnus thought. According to Praetor Scott, it would be best if a warlock taught her how to survive the shadow world instead of one of the Praetor Lupus. Initially Magnus recommended Catarina or Tessa Grey but Praetor Scott insisted on Magnus, due to his close ties to the wolf guard in the past. As Magnus continued his descent into the dim and dirty apartment, he heard the sound of light sobbing, coming from a closed bedroom. He entered the room to find a young girl, no older then thirteen huddled in the corner. Her bones stuck out at awkward angles, making her look incredibly frail. Instead of regular feet, great talons similar to an eagles stuck out from her ragged jeans. Magnus approached her slowly, before sitting of the floor beside her. Cecelia looked up slowly, fear evident in her eyes. She gazed into Magnus's green-gold cat eyes, with interest and concern.
"Don't be frightened, you are safe now." The girl looked petrified, as if Magnus was going to eat her. She began to sob again.
"Who are you?" She inquired, in an light and wobbly voice.
Magnus stumbled slightly with his words "A friend." He said, trying to be gently and kind.
Magnus waited for a moment until she calmed down again, before he continued talking.
"My name is Magnus. Magnus Bane. I am here to help you and to teach you. I am here to welcome you to the shadow world." He said.
She looked up at him, her bright green eyes escaping past the tangled black locks that hid her pale face.
"There is just one thing, one thing I need from you."
"What?"
"Trust."
He said simply, before standing and offering her a hand.
She wiped her face in an slightly childish manner with the long sleeve of her shirt before grasping his hand in hers and following him out of the room.