Chapter one
Annabelle Rees-Toome looked at the slightly crumbling building that was Spence Academy. She tossed back her golden hair and made her sparkling blue eyes dull with boredom. She didn't want to come to this cursed place, but her mother willed it, and what Circe wanted, Circe got. End of story, no arguing, period. Annabelle carted her two suitcases up the front stairs. She wanted nothing more than to use her magic and make them float by themselves, but Circe warned her about being careless with her magic.
Annabelle was born in the Realms 17 years ago. She was created by the magic in the Realms, and modeled slightly after her mother. They shared the same figure and smile, had the same twinkle in their eye when they wanted something they knew they couldn't have. Other than those things, they were two completely different people. Sarah wanted the power of the Realms for herself, and she was willing to use her daughter to get it. Annabelle just wanted to fit in, make friends, get and education for Christ's sake.
Mrs. Nightwing, an old maid of a woman, greeted her at the top of the entryway.
"Ah, Miss Toreseemo, how lovely it is that you are joining us this semester." Annabelle smiled sweetly at the old woman. Her mother had informed her that flattery on the first meeting was crucial to getting into the woman's good graces.
"Mrs. Nightwing, it is a pleasure to meet the woman who inspires young women to be the best they can be." Annabelle curtsied. Her mother had taught her well.
"Ah, finally a young woman who can curtsy properly! Why, you shant need be here at all, Miss Toreseemo, but while you are among us, would you be so kind to show my girls how a curtsy should be presented?"
"It would be an honor, Mrs. Nightwing." She bowed her head in appreciation, although she wanted nothing more than to get to her room, lock the door, and cry her eyes out.
"Brigid will show you to your room. You will meet your roommate soon enough, I gather."
"Thank you, Mrs. Nightwing." Annabelle slipped past the woman and made her way into the grand hall. A red haired woman was waiting for her just below the grand staircase. Annabelle groaned on the inside. More stairs?
"Hello 'ere. I'm Brigid. I'll be showin' you t' yer room, wot with the lessons bein' in 'fect and wot not." Brigid motioned for Annabelle to follow. Up the stairs they went. When they came to the landing, Brigid turned left. Annabelle counted five doors before Brigid stopped and opened the aged door. It creaked only slightly.
"Thank you, Brigid." Annabelle nodded to the older woman and entered the room. It was furnished with two beds, two powdering stations with mirrors, one changing screen and one window. There was also one large wardrobe that was open to reveal beautifully colored dresses.
"'Ere you are the, dearie. You best unpack quickly like. Brunch 'ill be served in a momen'." Brigid turned to leave, but Annabelle had one question to ask first.
"Brigid, who is my roommate?" Brigid cast her eyes downward.
"Miss Felicity Worthington. Perhaps you can cheer her 'o bit, and wot not."
"What's the matter with her?"
"'Er friend, a Miss Pippa Cross, died 'nly a few weeks ago. Miss Pippa wos also 'er roommate." Brigid closed her eyes. "That's all I'll say about tha'." Annabelle knew the woman had more to say, so she pressed on.
"Please, go on Brigid. Who am I going to tell? I know no one here, and have no reason to corrupt any chance I have at making friends." Brigid looked around the hall. She nodded.
"I 'erd 'em one nigh'. They was speakin' as if they wos lovers or such. I didn' mean to pry, but I wos in the 'all and 'erd 'em then." Annabelle had not been in Spence Academy for more than twenty minutes, and already she knew she had at least one thing in common with her roommate.
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The day wore on in a slow, boring manner. Annabelle hadn't run into her roommate, as of yet. Dinner approached. Annabelle wanted to just get this over and done with. She wanted to leave, to go home to her little apartment, and curl up in her own bed, or rather, go back to the Realms. She seated herself at the end of the long dining table. Mrs. Nightwing stood, at the opposite end of the gigantic structure, and raised her hand for silence. It fell silent almost instantly.
"Ladies of Spence, I would like to introduce to you our newest student, Annabelle Toreseemo." Everyone looked t Annabelle, who stood and gave a curt nod. She could feel their eyes judging her, scrutinizing every little detail that they saw flawed. Fine, let them squint their eyes and ruin their complexions, what does she care? Annabelle ran her eyes down the rows of girls. Three caught her eye instantly. One was a brunette with a runny nose and cool, blue eyes. The one next to her was a blonde, like herself, with eyes the color of steel. The third, was a redhead, with green eyes that seemed to pull at Annabelle. A shock shot through her. That was the girl her mother wanted, a Miss Gemma Doyle. Annabelle felt the magic tear at her, she wanted to lash out and destroy something, particularly Gemma.
That was the only flaw in Annabelle's magic; it was all of the dark, cold, deadly, terrifying and hurtful magic. She would have had good magic in her that is if her mother hadn't been hell bent to destroy the Order. Now Annabelle had to pay for her greed. How dare her mother make more a fuss over this pathetic girl, than over her own daughter?
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Bed. Bed. Bed. Bed. It was all Annabelle wanted. She made the trek upstairs with the other girls.
"Good night, Gemma, Ann."
"Good night, Felicity." The two said in unison. Ah, so Annabelle would finally meet her roommate. How lovely. Annabelle reached the door first. She entered and was quickly followed by Felicity.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Her tone was harsh and her words were meant to cut at Annabelle. They did no such thing.
"I am Annabelle Toreseemo, your new roommate. Please, in the future, do not address me so."
"You can't be my new roommate!" Felicity said, gritting her teeth. Her eyes were as cold as ever.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but I assure you I will be no trouble at all." Annabelle made the mistake of sitting on the uninhabited bed. Felicity looked at her with such a rage.
"Don't you dare sit there! Get out this moment! Take your things and get out!" Felicity was screaming at her. Annabelle flinched at the change in volume, but did not make any move to rise, or do as Felicity demanded.
"Miss Worthington, what on earth is going on in here?" Mrs. Nightwing asked as she scanned the room with her eyes.
"She won't leave!" Felicity had lowered her voice, but it still retained the venom.
"Miss Worthington that is enough! Miss Toreseemo will be with us for the rest of her educational stay. You would do well to greet her with open arms."
"I would rather die a thousand deaths than let her invade Pippa's space!"
"Felicity, she is dead and gone! There is nothing you can do but keep living your life! Now, ladies, off to bed with you." She turned round to see the spectators. "All of you." She closed the door with a snap. Felicity turned on Annabelle.
"Don't get comfortable."