A/N: Here I am with chapter nine. Nice to see that I am slowly but surely gaining some traffic for this. The Fable archive may be dead, but I'm gonna do everything I can to bring it back.

Dark Desires

Summary: When Reaver is bored in the throne room waiting for the king, he and the princess, Annabel, have a talk about her one day taking the throne. He didn't expect to help her in a bloody coup.

*Masks*

Elliot burst into Annabel's chambers, forgetting to even bother to knock. He wasn't a stranger to seeing her undressed but he still turned bright red when he saw her sitting on the window ledge wearing nothing but her underwear. "A-annabel! So sorry!"

'Persistent boy. No matter what I do, he always seems to have a knack for disturbing me whenever I actually want to be alone. It's too good to be a coincidence,' the princess thought dryly. She briefly considered telling Reaver to push the assassination to an earlier date just so she wouldn't have to deal with this constant annoyance. She squashed that thought immediately. It wouldn't do her any good to act irrationally now.

"Oh. It's just you. What do you want?" she asked, brushing a few loose strands of her light brown hair away. Annabel hadn't moved from her spot, looking over her shoulder at the teenage noble boy.

"I just heard the news," Elliot answered with a pant, his hands on his knees. "Apparently, Logan ordered his soldiers to fire upon a crowd! I can't believe it!" He was nearly doubled over but the princess could see his face remained crimson.

'Perfect. Once that rumour starts circulating, the people will slowly but surely see him as nothing but a power hungry tyrant. All according to plan.' Annabel hid her smirk and let out a dramatic sigh. "I do hope it's just a rumour. It will be very detrimental to his public image if it isn't."

"He's locked himself inside his study; he looked to be in a very ill temper," Elliot reported. "Something's wrong with him. I know he's been incredibly stressed as of late, but to do this to your own people...it's just maddening!"

"That it is," Annabel agreed. "Did you come here just to tell me that?"

"No." The boy shook his head. "Sir Walter wanted me to find you for today's combat training. He seems bloody obsessed with it lately."

'So it seems even Walter is having serious doubts about Logan's leadership.' Annabel stood up from her spot and brushed past Elliot to her wardrobe, her steps slow. "Tell him I'll be in the combat room in ten minutes."

"Of course!" Elliot looked way too thrilled to handle such a menial task and hurried away, making Annabel scoff. If one stripped away his fancy clothes one would think he was nothing more than a bloody courier. It was getting hard for her to tell them apart at times. The main difference was that she didn't sleep with a courier boy.

'Too eager to please. Spoiled from birth and never had to work for anything in his entire damn life like the little brat he is.' Her lip curled in irritation as she pulled open a few drawers to find some clothes more suitable for exercise. While her royal attire was very comfortable, it also constricted movement in combat situations and she couldn't have that, even with Scarlet Flame in hand.

She also had to rethink her combat strategy. Longswords and katanas were different weapons and required different techniques to use them to their full potential. A longsword had a blade on both sides of the steel, whereas a katana only had one long curved edge. The other side of the weapon was blunt, presumably for bruising and nonlethal knockouts. Still there were fewer weapons that were more suited for cutting through flesh and armour with ease.

Annabel fitted on a dark green set of pants and shirt, presumably made for higher ranking military officials. The material was similar to leather, but not as constricting. It allowed for freer movements and the thighs of the pants had a little bit of extra padding to protect the wearer from bullets and swords. The chest of the shirt had similar padding too. The suit was a little heavier than what she was used to wearing but it wasn't cumbersome.

The princess looked at herself in the large mirror, noticing that it clung to her body and showcased her feminine curves. It would be sure to grab the attention of those who secretly desired her and make other respect the power she now wielded. It made her look commanding on top of being enticing.

She picked up Scarlet Flame from its resting place on her personal weapons rack, tracing a finger down the golden scabbard. The deadly sword was craving release from its prison and she could feel it shake when touched. 'So restless. This is a weapon meant for war, not politics. Do not worry; you will get to have some fun today. That is a promise.'

The princess strode confidently out of her quarters with her fiery katana in hand, walking along the castle balcony. As per the usual two soldiers were standing guard on the walkway and they saluted smartly. "Your majesty."

Annabel gave them curt nods but continued on her way, not stopping. Walter was never a patient man and even though he was essentially a father to her, she did not want to keep him waiting.

The stairs leading down to the castle gardens were quiet and so were the gardens themselves. No one was around, not even the servants. However, her peaceful walk through them was disrupted by her combat instructor, Walter. The former soldier was pacing back and forth, his large moustache ruffling.

He looked up when he saw her approach, his gruff features set in a frown. "About bloody time you showed up. I sent that damn boy Elliot to fetch you nearly thirty minutes ago."

"Apologies. He caught me at a rather...compromising time," she answered carefully. "What's going on? I thought we would be down in the combat room."

Walter let out a sigh and fished a pipe out of his pocket along with a box of matches. "I'm sure you heard the rumour, right?"

"You mean the one about my brother ordering his men to fire on a crowd?" Annabel feigned innocence of the situation despite being the one who gave the order. Inside she was laughing gleefully. Another good blow against her brother.

"Yes." Walter nodded and lit his pipe, taking a slow puff. "Well, I am afraid they are quite true. It's all they're talking about down in the city. Who knows what Logan will do next? In the meantime, the mood in the castle is getting more and more uneasy with each day. They won't say it but the people are beginning to look up to you more. They seem to think that you're a natural leader."

"Is that so?" Annabel raised an eyebrow and glanced out to look at the city below the castle. "Hmm. Interesting. That certainly explains why you sent Elliot to find me."

"Indeed," the old soldier said. "The people of Albion are going to need you soon. I have to make sure that you are as ready as can be. Draw your sword." Walter slowly drew his own blade, a weather beaten longsword that had seen countless battles. Little did he know that this would be its last fight.

Annabel took about five steps backward from him and pressed on the hilt of the golden katana, pushing the weapon out of its sheathe by mere centimetres. "I'll show you my resolve."

Student and teacher slowly circled each other and Walter attacked first. He came forward with a hard thrust that would've killed anything short of a balverine. Annabel rolled out of the way, still not fully drawing her weapon. She didn't need to end this match so soon.

Walter's moustache furrowed and he spun, his sword spinning in his old hands. The sharp metal collided with the scabbard of the princess's katana and he frowned. "You seem to be holding back."

"Perhaps," she returned coyly, a flicker of amusement flashing in her dark eyes. "I'd hate for either of us to leave the gardens feeling bored."

Walter briefly looked at the golden scabbard and narrowed his eyes, studying the fine paint and runes. "Where did you get that? I don't recall ever seeing it in the armoury."

"I found it," Annabel answered, jumping back to avoid another strike. She could feel the force as the breeze ruffled her shirt and she spun to let Walter's next blow land squarely on the scabbard again. "Rather pretty, don't you think?"

The old soldier was slowly losing his concentration. With each blocked attack he was getting more and more frustrated with his inability to land a decent blow on her. Inside, the princess was smirking in triumph. She had him beaten and hadn't even needed to draw her weapon. If she was this skilled now, she could only imagine what she would be like when she had some more proper fighting experience. Annabel would be untouchable thanks to both her Heroic powers and her fiery katana.

"Strike back, dammit!" Walter let out a frustrated growl as his next three swings hit nothing but air. "What are you waiting for?"

"If you insist." Annabel shrugged and parried another blow, finally drawing Scarlet Flame. The fiery sword's flames didn't come to life, perhaps sensing that there was no need for them. The princess took one swing and sheathed the blade when she heard the resounding crack from Walter's own sword.

The old soldier stared in disbelief as his sword fell in two pieces, leaving him with little more than the hilt. "You only went and broke the bloody thing. Impressive work. You've become quite the capable young woman. Have you been practising with that?"

"Yes," she lied. "I found that traditional swordsmanship did not fit this weapon. Albion longswords are more suited for stabbing, whereas this is most effective in quick attacks." A lie about her practicing, but not one for studying how to effective use her weapon of choice. He wouldn't be harmed by what he didn't know, at least physically. His pride would take a hit with him not being able to land a single blow on her, but he would improve just like he always had.

"You've done me proud, Annabel." Walter tossed his useless hilt aside and smiled broadly. "Just like you've always done. You are the woman that Albion needs."

"You flatter me too much." The princess brushed off his praise with a dismissive shake of her head. He had always been fonder of her than Logan, a truth the king was still envious of to this day. She would turn that fondness into a weapon. A loyal soldier who would remain at her side no matter what and thwart off any attackers. A man who would fight on the front lines in her name, cutting a swathe through the enemies of the crown.

"Only flattery if it isn't true," Walter insisted. "I couldn't land anything on you this time. By this time next week, you'll be able to toss me around like I'm nothing more than a chicken with a stick lodged in its beak."

Annabel laughed at that, looking at her katana. "Now that I would enjoy seeing." 'Even with me holding back Scarlet Flame's true potential, I still was too much for him to handle. No matter how hard he trains he will never be able to surpass me for as long as I hold this.' The feeling of raw dominance surged in her veins, like she had just conquered an enemy.

Walter also gave the sword a suspicious look, frowning as he studied the runes again. "Strange. I could have sworn I've seen that blade somewhere before. I can't recall where, but I know enough to tell that is no normal katana. Even by Samarkand's standards it is exceptionally well made."

"It is quite lovely, isn't it?" Annabel agreed. "I admit I was rather surprised to find such a beautiful weapon lying amongst the others." The princess's katana trembled in her hands and she gripped it tighter. This would be the sword that would usurp a king and end a tyrant's rule. It chose her for a reason and nothing would stand in her way. Logan would not be able to do a damn thing about it. For as long as she held Scarlet Flame, she was invincible.

'Not arrogance, but truth. I could just kill him now but that would still leave the kingdom in turmoil. There would be chaos, violent mobs in the streets. I cannot allow that to happen and risk endangering us to our enemies.' If she was to be the rightful queen then she had to think like one, too. Unnecessary risk to her subjects was something she preferred to avoid if possible, though she would not hesitate to use pawns to gain leverage.

"Have you heard any other news today recently? Any complaints from the townspeople down in the city?" the princess asked, changing the subject to much more important matters. The less Walter speculated on her katana the better; he was loyal to her through and through, but she preferred to avoid a nasty confrontation with the old man. If he found out the truth, it would not end well.

"Mostly the usual complaints. Logan's taxes are rather steep but it's still manageable," Walter answered gruffly. "There have been a few complaints from the nobles of how alcohol is still not abolished throughout the kingdom, but I seriously doubt Logan would go through with that proposition. Every man and woman needs a nice cup of ale or wine every now and then. Having a limit on how much one can purchase is probably the best decision he could have made. We don't want ranting drunks getting into fights on the streets."

"Anything else?" the princess pressed. "I doubt that was everything."

"No, it wasn't," Walter conceded. "I heard a nasty rumour that has been passed around by the townsfolk and spread to the guards. Apparently there have been kidnappings in the city. Several people have gone missing entirely."

"Oh?" Annabel's curiosity was grabbed and she was paying rapt attention. "This sounds a little unsettling. Any news as to who could have done it?"

"Yes. Nigel Ferret and his gang," the old soldier answered. "They operate mainly inside Bowerstone's industrial quarter but have been known to make a few trips into the marketplace and the old quarter to carry out their deeds. I'd like to put them to the headsman's axe, but sadly no one knows their base of operations. No one but their members, that is, so finding them won't be easy."

"Hmm." Annabel pursed her lips and started to think. If she succeeded in ending the Ferret gang's activities, she would garner more support from the people and make the capital see that she was more than willing to get her hands dirty when the situation called for it. Logan wouldn't do it; in fact, she was willing to gamble on the chance that he would ignore it completely.

"I have an idea," she murmured. "I could pose as someone interested in joining. Enlist in their ranks and sabotage them from the inside. They wouldn't know what hit them if it all goes smoothly."

"What!?" Walter's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "No. No! That's just preposterous! It's far too dangerous! Even if you are a Hero there would be too many for you to handle at once!"

"As long as I have this, they won't lay a finger on me." Annabel held up Scarlet Flame and glanced over her shoulder at the city below. "We both know Logan won't even lift a bloody finger to stop them. It falls to me to undertake this task." 'Not only will it garner support for me, but it will also make Logan more paranoid. Feigning my loyalty to him is far too easy.'

"Is that confidence or arrogance, Annabel?"

"It is calm certainty. If a few lowlife thugs were enough to defeat a Hero, then the Hero of Oakvale would have died in Twinblade's camp."

Walter shook his head, sighing. "Annabel, you're not ready. Not yet. You may have bested me today but do you think you can take on a dozen thugs at once?"

"With this in my hands and my magic? Yes." Annabel nodded. "I have practiced with my powers since they were unlocked and my swordsmanship is better than it was before. I am not a defenceless little girl, Walter. I am the princess."

Walter opened his mouth to argue, but he could not come up with a response. He could not continue without implying she was still nothing more than a child. She was more than that. She was a Hero.

"Very well," he conceded, admitting defeat. "The best place for you to start looking is in Bowerstone Market. They're known to make trips to the pub there and make life unpleasant for everyone. If you can manage to catch one of them alone, you might be able to get some information out of him. Just be sure to get him completely pickled. These young thugs are bloody lightweights so it shouldn't be too difficult. And don't walk in looking like you're about to storm a castle; no one is dumb enough to give a soldier information."

Annabel chuckled and started to walk to her quarters to change into something more appropriate. "Don't worry. I think I can manage." 'Something that will get their attention, but also not make me look suspicious. Hmm.'

Acquiring new clothing would not be an easy task due to her not being allowed outside of the castle. Logan would absolutely lose his mind if he caught word that she had ventured outside of the castle's walls and into the city's streets.

Was she really bothered by it, though? Not really. Trivial matters did not concern her anymore. If Logan were to challenge her about it, it would make him look more like a ranting madman and that was something he could not afford to do. He had to know that. If he didn't then he was a bigger fool than she expected.

It would be the end of his reign and she would be victorious.

"Now, where the bloody hell is that irritating little butler of mine? Jasper! Where the devil are you!? I need you to get something! Don't ignore me, you bloody little insect! I will put you in a cave full of bats if you don't get your arse out here!"

A/N: Why do I love this so much? No really, why do I enjoy this as much as I do? WTF?

A Lovestruck A2#5371