2012-05-21

Clockwork Prince

By Lea Kirstein

Annabelle sat in her sister's great library, with a book lying open in her lap. The book was covered in dark red velvet, on it in fine, gold print stood the name 'Robin Crusoe'. It was one of her favorite books; she loved the adventure and tragedy. The library was a grand, circle room, with red curtains lining the arched windows, and rose wallpaper could be seen on the scraps of wall that weren't hidden by large dark, wooden bookcases. In the center of the room stood a large dark desk, on the desk lay pieces of parchment, scrolls, letters and maps. Her soon-to-be brother in law, the famous warlock, had been obsessed with finding her elder sister Camille. She had disappeared without a word or warning since the dangerous business with the enclave and Dequincy. Although Annabelle would never admit it to anyone, she missed her sister. Camille was beautiful, with silky blonde hair, pale white skin and full pink lips, her eyes were a light hazel, she was grand and she had Magnus Bane, the great warlock. Annabelle looked a lot like her sister, at least that was what people claimed. She had thick, dark blonde hair and hazel eyes, her skin wasn't as deathly pale and her cheeks were rosier, and that made sense since she wasn't a full vampire. She was what the Shadow hunter's called a Halfling. Someone who was born a vampire, Annabelle's mother had turned into a vampire, after Camille had, but her father had stayed a warlock, so she was born a Halfling. Annabelle's day dreaming was interrupted by Archer, Camille's human subjugate and Magnus' butler. His dull, quiet voice was hard to make out but Annabelle's sharp ears picked it up easily. "Shall I take your coat?" Archer asked, his voice was polite but full of hate and loathing towards the person he was talking to. There was a pause. "That won't be necessary", a young man named Will snapped back. Will. Oh Will. She had been mesmerized by the boy ever since he had come to visit the first time, with his arctic blue eyes, his ink black hair and his tall muscular build. Archer hated him because of his god like looks and he should, any female vampire, or male for that fact, would kill to have Will as a subjugate. Long strides were heard easily on the wooden parquet floor, so Annabelle knew exactly where Will was going, into Magnus' study. Annabelle jumped from her perch on the windowsill, and ran to the wall. Magnus' study was right next to the Library and Annabelle pressed her ear to the wall to hear their conversation. As she listened she became more and more confused, something about a curse, Will's sister dying, love, Tessa, although Annabelle had no idea who Tessa was, she guessed it was his girlfriend. At the end of this Annabelle was gasping for breath, her head swimming. Suddenly Magnus stopped in half sentence. Annabelle held her breath; it was so quiet she could hear Magnus roll his cat like eyes. "Ugh, Annabelle, for a vampire you're precariously noisy", he said. Damn she thought. "Get in here NOW!" Magnus barked sounding slightly agitated. With one swift move Annabelle stood at the door to Magnus' study, she breathed through deeply and stepped into the room. The room was warmly lit, all the furniture had been moved to the side of the room, including the grand piano, to make place in the center of the room. In the center, there was a circle formed entirely by black candles. Annabelle looked from Magnus, who looked quite wild with his black hair standing up as if it had been electrified and his loose cravat, to the extravagant looking Will and back to Magnus, expecting some sort of explanation. Will was the first to speak.

"It's not nice to eavesdrop, especially when it's a private conversation", he snapped at her arrogantly.

"It's not my fault I can hear better than the average person", she smiled back pleasantly, and from the look on his gorgeous face, this irritated him. For a moment they stood glaring at each other then Annabelle turned to face Magnus. He looked concerned and screwed up his face in the odd gesture he always made when thinking about something.

"Never mind you don't have to tell me anything" Annabelle muttered, trying to make her voice sound disappointed, she continued, "I've already heard everything I need to". She was smiling, as she saw Wills calm façade slowly turning to angry.

"Aha", Magnus shouted, making Will jump. "You," he pointed at Annabelle, "you've taken a course on hypnoses, haven't you".

"Sadly, yes", she said and started remembering all those boring sessions Camille had dragged her to, "what are you getting at."

"You can make Will remember, so you shall help me by helping him"

"What if I don't want to?"

"Yeah, what if I don't want her to help me?" Will interrupted.

"You don't have a choice", Magnus explained, "you want to get rid of this curse? You have to do what is required, and that's that. Annabelle you are going to the institute with will." Before the two teenagers started complaining Magnus turned on his heel and walked out into the hall, leaving Annabelle and Will staring confused after him.