The Beast Inside.
Yep. I have a love for Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern. *waves my No Regrets flag* not that much, if any him/OC fics on here, so viola! One to add to the archives that I hope will start to grow! He's such a violent little crap eh? Love him. Heh. Anyway, here you go! Hope you like and drop a review? I'll give you a cookie! Swear they're not poisoned *shifty eyes* Okay, I promise they're not poisoned. Thanks! x
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
-Imagine Dragons – Demons-
x
-For my Laura. My parabatai. My inspiration. My best friend. The Jace to my Clary.-
The first time Ana was told she was to meet a boy of her own age named Jonathan Morgenstern as part of her training, she was ecstatic. Would he be a lover of books and adroit like she was? She'd never met anyone of her own age before, or another child in general. Nine years old and already sharp of mind and wit, just like her sword. She'd be able to beat him, she'd studied endlessly on the numerous ways to block an attack and deliver a clean blow herself.
She was more than prepared. At least, she hoped.
Emmaline Nightwine was turning her hands over and over within themselves as she stood at the wide and sweeping window where the majestic frozen garden was visible. It was just gone noon, the December sun shining weakly through the sparse, cotton like clouds that were as white as the snow blanketing Idris. In the summer, the garden would be an explosion of colour but the edges of the flowerbeds would be lined with midnight flowers. Emmaline, every night without fail, stayed up to watch the flowers bloom and glow through the darkness, illuminating the garden so it showed the family crest. Just for a few seconds or so, but its beauty was unmatched. Well, maybe it was surpassed by one thing, and that was her daughter.
Little Anastasia Nightwine trotted over to her side now and smiled up at her with a big grin as she asked "Can I go and play in the snow, Mother?"
"I'm sorry Ana, but today is the day you're required to be up at the Morgenstern household." Emmaline told her, feeling her heart sink as the little girls dark aureate eyes widened in excitement and breathe out "When am I to leave?"
"In an hour." Emmaline murmured, glancing up to the oak door and called "Jane? Could you get Ana ready for her visit?" a flurry of movement and a small maid with mousy brown hair pulled back into a bun and matching eyes walked in, inclining her head courteously as she ushered Ana out without any trouble at all. The little girl was excited.
Emmaline let her hands grip the back of the high backed prayer chair before the window, digging her nails into the wood as she felt the colour drain from her face at the thought of she might not see her daughter ever again. If she was everything Valentine wanted, she stood no chance of her return. But… how could she tell a nine year old that she needed to act weak and useless or something terrible would happen? She couldn't. Because if he found out, she'd truly never see little Ana ever again. And she'd be left with nothing.
She sighed gently and allowed her hands to slide from the chair, rubbing absent-mindedly at her left wrist before staring dead ahead at the monument dedicated to her late husband Daniel Nightwine. Rogue vampires in London had taken his life, leaving her to raise their daughter by herself. And this meeting Valentines son… it was a test for him to see if she'd done a good job or not. Emmaline had, she knew she had. Not even ten yet and lethal.
Emmaline was lost in thought as the door burst open and little Anastasia burst in, running over to her mother and spun around on the balls of her feet, asking with excitement lacing her voice "Do I look nice?"
You look like a little killer Emmaline just thought as she stared at her daughter in black Shadowhunter gear, tight fitting. Her very first full set. Ana's hair was just as dark, like her last name. But not completely black. It was like the night itself with blues, purples laced into the black, making it a cascade of colour down her back in bright sunlight.
"You look beautiful." Emmaline smiled tiredly, sitting down upon the chair next to the window and gestured for her daughter to kneel. She did it and with skilled hands, she braided the hair that resembled a raven's wing back into a single braid that hung down her back to her waist.
"Do I need to take any blades?" Ana asked in excitement with her eyes glinting. Her mother shook her head, placing a hand upon her daughters shoulder. "All that is requested is yourself. Nothing else."
Emmaline actually felt sick as the girl bounced around excitedly, and she cleared her throat, telling her in a rather stiff tone. "Anastasia. I want you to listen carefully to this. You do everything Mr. Morgenstern requests of you, you understand?"
She nodded.
"You won't show me up now, will you?" Emmaline asked and Anastasia grinned deviously. "I'm going to beat that boy until he falls onto his backside."
Good luck. Emmaline thought morosely, knowing just what she was going to be up against. She wanted to keep Ana here at home, maybe make up that she was ill. But no; he'd drag her out himself, she knew it.
There was no way around this. All the older woman could hope was that Ana failed. Utterly and completely. So badly that Valentine wouldn't want her anymore. He'd forget about the little girls parents, what they'd done and owed to him.
Anastasia was everything she loved.
When the carriage rolled through the snow, pulled by a pair of horses with fur that matched the blinding whiteness of the surroundings, but the carriage was as dark as midnight, a timeless piece, Emmalines heart started to race, her breath catching in her throat as she froze up and dashed forwards to the front door as a knock sounded. What was she going to do? Slam it shut in his face? She couldn't do that.
Jane pulled the door open and Emmaline felt a shiver shoot down her spine as the figure stood in the doorway. Tall with his hair as pale as the snow behind him. His trenchcoat was black and fastened with silver, making her think chiaroscuro. The art of shadows and light. There was nothing light about him though, not in his eyes or hard line of his mouth.
"Mrs. Emmaline Nightwine." He greeted, stepping forwards and taking her hand, pressing his lips to her soft skin with dark eyes fixed upon her own. Emmaline didn't like it. Didn't like the way he looked at her, or his charms that seemed as fake as the smile twitching at his lips.
"Mr. Valentine Morgenstern." She replied, and he cocked a brow lightly, replying with. "My dear, must we be so formal? You know my thoughts on this."
Emmaline swallowed hard and met his eyes with unfaltering sky coloured ones. "Yes. And I wasn't expecting you to personally come and pick her up."
He sighed gently and let her hand go, eyes flickering to the little girl as she peered around the door, staring at the man stood there with snow upon his shoulders. A low chuckle and he beckoned her with a finger, ignoring the woman who didn't want him anywhere near him. Anastasia walked over to him obediently and her mother said in a calm a tone as possible. "Mr. Morgenstern, this is my daughter. Anastasia."
"Obviously." Valentine said, voice almost cold as he raised a hand and brushed a stray strand of dark hair from the girls eyes, tucking it behind her ear while she told him. "Are you Jonathan's father?"
"Indeed I am Anastasia." He replied, patting her shoulder twice before adding. "Are you all ready?"
"I am sir."
"Good. Go wait in the carriage, I just want a, ah, little word with your mother first."
Anastasia dashed out the room and outside, stopping before the horses and raising a hand to stroke its pure white sides. At that, Valentine chuckled quietly and watched her through the open door as a breeze blew through before looking back to Emmaline and saying in amusement "Precious little thing, isn't she?"
"I swear if you let him hurt her-" Emmaline started with her voice sharp, but a scowl crossed his face, making him butt in with "Just what can you do, Emmaline?"
"Mrs. Nightwine." She corrected him swiftly. He ignored her as he carried on with "Anastasia was born for this, Emmaline. You can't stop me. You can't stop her."
"Jonathan will kill her."
"Oh he won't. Maybe nearly, at times, but never kill her. I wouldn't let him."
His words made Emmalines eyes widen, spluttering out. "She's only nine-! How… how can you-?"
Valentine turned now, saying in a normal tone. "Expect her back for dinnertime. Good day, Emmaline." As he walked away and over to the little girl that was stood in her midnight coloured boots before the horse still, but she looked around as Valentine placed a hand upon her shoulder once more and told her to get inside the carriage where it was warmer. She obeyed without question and Emmaline felt tears burning in her eyes as the little girl rolled away in the carriage and through the double iron gates.
She felt numb.
Ana shivered a little as the carriage rolled onwards, swaying in such a way that she was sure would make her fall asleep. But no, she stayed awake, trying not to stare at the man sat before her. He was... intriguing. Like a book she hadn't read yet and was eager to start.
He reminded her of a king, the way he sat. But then she remembered his last name; Morgenstern. Like, the Morning Star. Lucifer. Was he related to the devil himself? Like… did the blood of Satan run in his veins as the Angel did in her own?
They said Lucifer was the most beautiful angel in all of Heaven before he fell. And this man certainly reminded her of him.
"Jonathan is my age yes?" Ana asked of him and he glanced down, nodding a little. "Jonathan is ten. But only recently."
"Does he look like you?"
"You ask a lot of questions, little Anastasia." Valentine commented, in amusement to Anas relief for he added on. " A little curiosity never hurt anybody. You'll see for yourself my dear."
Anastasia said nothing for the remainder of the trip except to occasionally answer a question he asked of her. Nothing important, just what her preferred type of fighting was. She loved the bow and arrow, never missing a shot. She watched out the window as they entered a valley that was utterly covered in snow, the trees bare with icicles hanging from their branches. Anastasia wanted to try and stick her tongue to one, but thought better as she spied the mansion up ahead and blinked- she hadn't seen the mansion in the snow, for the bricks were utterly white. Like camouflage. Amazing
There was a vast lake next to it that was frozen over, and Anastasia spotted birds snuggled next to each other on the ice with their eyes closed lazily. The place was so enthralling that it took her breath away. Idris was beautiful at winter.
When the carriage stopped before the mansion, Valentine climbed out first with a soft groan as he landed upon the slick ice. He glanced back as Anastasia was helped down, and then strolled to the front door that wasn't like the mansion. It was as dark as hell. Odd, but it strangely beautiful. She twisted the silver knob and pushed it open, gesturing for her to go first. Hesitantly, she walked inside and gazed around; the entrance hall was vast with two sets of wide white sweeping staircases that led to the upper floor.
As the front door was slammed shut, Anastasia heard movement from a side room and watched a door open and a head poked out, gazing at the front door.
She didn't have to guess just who he was, it was evident in his looks; regal features like his father. Tall with hair as white as the snow outside and eyes as black as hell.
Anastasia hesitated at her mental description of his eyes, but it was true. There was something lurking, deep within them that made her want to turn and run back into the carriage. But she didn't. His smile was light, graceful, just like his movements as he walked out into the hallway and greeted his father. But then he looked at her and the smile was gone, replaced by a narrow, hard line as he scoffed out "This is what I'm up against? Hardly a challenge. I'll beat her in five seconds flat, mark my words."
She was taken aback at how he stared at her- as if she was a bug to be squashed. Predator and prey… and she were the prey.
"You shouldn't judge on looks, silly boy." Anastasia snapped and he cocked a brow at that, retorting. "Why not? You look like a twig. Like I could snap you with ease."
"Enough." Valentine cut in, making Jonathan fall silent, but his devil eyes were fixed upon her own with a smile on his face that looked so menacing. A shiver crept down her spine as she noticed just how fitting his black gear was on him. Like he was born for this.
"This is Anastasia. Anastasia, my son Jonathan." He said conversationally. Jonathan made no indication he'd been listening, even when Valentine continued with "She will be your sparring partner."
"I'm sure me and little Ana here will have a great deal of fun." Jonathan breathed, a grin spreading across his face that didn't meet his eyes- it was mocking.
And it scared Anastasia. She didn't like him, not one bit. There was something about him that was so wrong. But she shoved it all away to smile sweetly at him and say in a matching tone. "Bundles of fun, Jon."
His lip twitched at that, giving her a kind of satisfaction- he didn't like being called that.
So that was what she was going to call him.
Bored of their banter, Valentine led them into the back where there was a glass conservatory that doubled as a training room. All that was currently in the room, propped up just inside the doorway was a pair of long wooden staffs. Obviously not what Jonathan was hoping for Anastasia guessed as he grumbled out, picking one up and staring at it in disgust. "We're not using proper weapons?"
"If I wanted you both to kill each other, I'd give you both the sharpest blades I have in my possession. But no. Take these."
"When will the fight be over?" Anastasia asked quietly as she picked up her own staff, eyeing it up with apprehension- if hit hard with this, it would hurt like hell. Easily break a bone if not parried.
"When one is unable to carry on, or is forced into submission. Or when I deem the fight over." Valentine answered lazily, walking over to the double doors that led out into the snowy background, standing before them as he folded his arms, nodding at them. "Off you go."
Anastasia was taken aback, less than ready. But Jonathan wasn't, for he'd caught the back of her legs and sent her crashing backwards with a cry of pain, her staff rolling away. Her eyes widened as Jonathan stood over her and raised his staff, pointing on end to just under her chin, cocking his head a little. Arrogance laced his voice as he tutted out "I take back what I said earlier. That took three seconds."
Her eyes narrowed and she slapped the staff away and grabbed her own, scrambling to her feet and holding it ready before her. Jonathan's eyes shone with a dark excitement as he stuck first and Anastasia was taken aback once more by how fast he was. She barely managed to parry the blow before he struck again, this time in her side, making her scream through clenched teeth as it stung. Bruised for sure.
He chuckled and twirled the staff in his hand, tapping the side of her head with a laugh of "Not much going on up there, is there?"
Anastasia snapped and struck out with her foot, kicking him in the shins and making him stumble back. He snarled out in the direction of hit father. "She's cheating." She looked too and Valentine cocked a brow the slightest fraction, saying in amusement. "You think the enemy wouldn't take advantage if an opportunity presented itself?"
Jonathan hissed softly at that and turned back to the girl with such hatred in his eyes that Anastasia visibly flinched; what the hell was this? How could someone she hadn't known for more than half an hour hate her with such a passion? It wasn't possible. She could even feel it on his staff as he caught her in the chest and hit her in the shoulder, forcing her onto the floor with the tip of his staff at her neck. His chest was heaving, eyes blazing as the bored into her own.
She hadn't lasted more than ten minuets. Anastasia couldn't think about anything else other than that until Valentine called Jonathan off and walked forwards, asking of the girl "Are you injured?"
"It's nothing."
My sides… it feels like I have a fractured rib. I can hardly stand from where he hit me on the back of my legs. I feel like hell… I want to go home. Cry into my pillow. And never come here again.
Valentine knew she was in agony, he could see it in her eyes, but she wasn't letting Jonathan know. Know that he'd hurt her so bad, mentally and physically.
She was… strong. Even though she'd lost.
Exactly how he'd hoped.
"You can go home now." He told Ana, waving a hand towards the door, leaving Jonathan stunned as he commented with "But-?"
"Oh she'll be back tomorrow Jonathan, have no fear." Valentines smile was fake, she could tell as he spoke "Every single day until she beats you."
Jonathan actually laughed at that, strolling over to the girl and saying into her face, noses so close they were almost touching. "I'm starting to warm to the idea of having someone to beat every single day for the rest of my life."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes, staring into his bottomless own. "Oh I'll beat you. And do it spectacularly. Mark my words."
"Consider them ignored." He retorted and in that instant, Anastasia realized she hated him. Hated everything from his emotionless eyes to his snowy hair and cocky smile. She didn't think it was possible to hate someone this much, but my god she did. By the Angel, she wanted to punch him right in that smarmy face of his. To mark that flawless face. But she stopped herself as Valentine went to take the staff from her but she struck Jonathan, totally unprepared in the stomach with it and stormed out, not even bothering to see his reaction. If he was hurt, angry or standing there with murder in his eyes.
Which he was.
He was going to make her life hell. Every day now. He'd make sure she never, ever beat him. That she went home blackened and bruised everyday. She'd probably cry into her pillow tonight and he'd be the one to lie upon his bed, utterly content and ready for their next encounter. She'd never beat him. No matter what tricks and moves she pulled to attempt the impossible.
The silly little cow.
Neither Anastasia nor Valentine said anything the entire way back. The girl was concentrating on making sure she didn't cry from the pain in her ribs everytime she moved. It felt like Jonathan had hit her in the side again, but harder.
When they arrived back, she'd only been gone maybe an hour. Emmaline hadn't been expecting it to be a quick ordeal, but she certainly knew that her daughter was in a considerable amount of pain as she walked into the house with one side of her body stiffer than the other. She didn't hug her for fear of hurting her more, hissing to Valentine. "What has your monster done to her-?"
"She is strong of body and of mind. Everything I asked of you and Daniel." Valentine just told her, dark eyes fixed upon her light ones. It made her blood run cold, asking through almost clenched teeth. "What does this mean?"
"It means-" Valentine sighed, adjusting the cuffs of his midnight suit, then his tie before completing his sentence. "That she is perfect. Until she beats Jonathan, I will call on her everyday."
"You can't ask her to go through this every single day-!" Emmaline exclaimed, utterly appalled and the man stared at her as if she'd been talking about puppies that could breathe fire, for he chuckled out. "Of course I can. And I will. Three, tomorrow afternoon, I expect her ready for me."
"But-" Emmaline started, failing to stop the tears from spilling out onto her cheeks. Valentine was silent, then raised a hand as if to brush the tears away but thought better of it and let it drop to his side, voice firm as he told her. "You knew this day would come, Emmaline. You can't stop the clock, time. She is what she is. Do you not remember the bargain you and your husband struck up with me?"
Emmaline said nothing, but then nodded slowly, eyes flickering down to her daughter as she muttered out. "Oh, would you ever let me forget?"
"Good day Mrs. Nightwine." He said crisply, turning away and back to the carriage, climbing inside, leaving Emmaline with the words "Good day Mr. Morgenstern" stuck in her throat. As Jane closed the front door, the lady of the house looked down at her daughter as she asked her mother quietly. "Don't make me go back there."
"I'm sorry…" Emmaline muttered, kneeling down before her and pressing a feather-light kiss to the girls' forehead. "You have no choice my dear." She sighed, then looked to Jane, asking her "Could you run Anastasia a bath please? And bring me my stele. She's hurt." The maid bowed and left at once, leaving Anastasia to sob out, shaking her head. "Please mother, I don't want to go back there. Ever again."
"I'm sorry. You have no choice." Emmaline repeated in a dull voice into her little girls' hair, twirling a finger around a stray black lock, letting the tears spill from her own eyes, hugging her into her chest and nuzzling her nose into her cheek-
Anastasia didn't deserve this. It seemed like a punishment, being setting her against a beast like that boy. She knew what he was. No one stood a chance against that… that thing.
Emmaline made a mental note to hire a specialist combat tutor for Anastasia as soon as possible.
-Review and make me a happy, happy girl? ^-^ -