The Sisters Sinister.
Thank you so much for your reviews, follows and favourites, you have made me so, so happy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away.
Thank you to RebelYouth, the very first reviewer of this story and to Shannie83, Zippy Was Here, WinxClubLover1999, Sabrina.H, Guest, TwilightMortal, MollyTamale, TMI Lover, TheRubyRed, FluffyFlufLover, SoWhatIfImAnAddict and LemonOfWeirdness! Your reviews made me smile to no end!
I'd also like to thank the following for favouriting: HowMyCatsAnnoyMe, Phobbers, RebelYouth, SoWhatIfImAnAddict, TIDnerd, TheRubyRed, Zippy Was Here, LemonOfWeirdness and WinxClubLover1999.
The Mortal Instruments and all its characters belong to Cassandra Clare (Sassy Cassie), the story line, however, is mine.
The Voice Within The Walls Of Solitude.
The Great Chamber was an exquisite building; with its spiralling staircases, grand archways and black and white diamond shaped tiles that were so heavy and thick each tile could have been taken out of the side of a mountain-face. The five-storey layout was built centuries ago, and so it held an air of traditional elegance and untold riches. As a young girl, Clarissa would often find peace in The Royal Gardens revelling in the scent of roses, orchids, hyacinths and thyme. Clarissa would sit amidst the flowers and admire the tall, pointed spires of The Great Chamber, she would trace the outline of the enormous, thick mahogany doors and memorise every little flaw on the heavy, brass knockers and door handles at the front entrance. Clarissa would walk around the entirety of the building and run her fingers along the sand-coloured brickwork as she went. She would stare into the mahogany framed windows and imagine herself flying through the stars that they so perfectly reflected at night-time. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside, with high ceilings that were pointed all over. The paintings were works of great talent; they depicted an image of a time before time, when rotund cherubs with little feathery wings as white as falling snow would fly around naked, bow and arrows in their chubby fingers. In these paintings the sky was a perfect shade of crystal blue, the sun seemed to shine from every point in the sky, and bathed everything in its warm glow. The ground was made of snowy clouds, tinged with a rose colour at the bottom and grapevines grew nearly everywhere. Clarissa supposed these images were supposed to be happy and inviting, though whenever Clarissa saw them, she felt a terrible mixture of foreboding and longing in her gut, though she knew not why. The rooms were all as decadent as the other, though one room quickly became a favourite of Clarissa's. The Omniscient Library had always been intrigued Clarissa, even before she could read. At those times, she would just wander around and admire the thousands of leather-bound books that were stacked as high as the ceiling. The bookcases were all full and still there seemed to be a lack of space. Books spilled out of every nook and cranny. Back when Clarissa couldn't read, she would just pick up any book that took her interest and unlatch the bronze lock set upon it and just sit there for hours tracing the inked letters, enjoying the feel of the thick parchments beneath her little fingers and finding a beautiful comfort in the smell of parchment and friendly dust that blanketed every space in The Omniscient Library. Young Clarissa had loved following the path of semi-precious stones that was inlaid into the shiny, marble floor, she had loved having to climb up the huge ladder to be able to reach the highest books, she had loved sitting on the leather chair opposite the hearth while she attempted to understand the letters in books, cuddled up in front of the fireplace. Her most favourite place to read, though, was on the upholstered window sill of the window that over looked the wondrous Hall of Chance. The tiles of The Hall of Chance formed together to make an image of a huge crescent moon, a smaller sun and white clouds; like a giant mosaic. You wouldn't be able to tell unless you were looking at it from above. Clarissa loved watching as The Sisters danced with The Potentials, their full skirts swirling around them elegantly. During Courting Sessions, there was an endless supply of drinks and sugared fruits and buttered meats and rolls being served at The Hall of Chance. Only half of the rose shaped candles were lit, lending the room a soft, romantic atmosphere. The candles burned along the walls, in brass brackets, large candelabras stood proudly upon the Head Table where Mother sat with The Dignitaries and oversaw The Courting Sessions. The Hall of Chance was decorated with rose petals, gauzy gossamer and pale silks that had been teased together so that they made strange shell-like shapes at the tops of the walls. It was during The Courting Sessions, when The Sisterhood had forbidden her from entering the Hall of Chance, that Clarissa would sit upon what she now thought of as The First Step on the Stairway to Heaven and watch the proceedings, hidden amongst the rich, thick floor-length curtains. She would always feel a twinge of sadness and envy watching everyone dancing and enjoying themselves, but her mood would instantly lift when she spotted Miss Isabelle talking to that dark haired man that she had told Clarissa about. The man was called Mr Lewis, and Miss Isabelle was completely enamoured by him. He's not the most handsome, Miss Isabelle had said with a clouded expression in her eyes, But he has an honest face and the sweetest, most lovely heart, Clarissa. I hope for you to meet him someday, I am certain you would like him. Clarissa assured Miss Isabelle that she would indeed like him for if he could make Miss Isabelle this happy then he must certainly be a wonderful person.
It was here that Clarissa sat at this very moment, though this time under very different circumstances. This time, she was allowed to dance and sing and enjoy herself, because this time, she would be with her husband-to-be, today, she would be meeting Mr Lockwood for the very first time in her life. And in a fortnight, she would be marrying him. Mr Lockwood was said to be quite handsome. He was the same age as Clarissa, he was a lot taller though, Miss Isabelle had informed her. Miss Isabelle had also told Clarissa that he had rather small eyes. No matter though, Miss Isabelle had said, his eyes are a dull grey anyway, Clarissa, it isn't as unfortunate for him to have small eyes as you might think. Clarissa smiled weakly and told Miss Isabelle that she didn't want to talk about her future husband anymore, when Miss Isabelle asked her why, Clarissa just told her she was nervous, but the reality was that talk of her wedding and of Mr Lockwood just reminded her of the way Young Master Blackthorne had held her in his vise-like grip and whispered hotly in her ear, promising to finish what he had started. Now, though, Clarissa was faced with the inevitable. She was meeting Mr Lockwood, she would dance with him and she would pretend to be happy, all the while she would know her true fate was getting closer by the minute.
Miss Isabelle had helped Clarissa get dressed today, as she would be making her debut appearance. Clarissa wore an ivory, floor length dress that hung loosely from her shoulders and had a plunging neckline and a high slit through which her right leg could be seen. Her dress was made of silk, upon her shoulders were golden leaves from which a gauzy cloak flowed, the cloak was longer than her dress and trailed along the floor after her when she walked. Her curly, auburn hair had been laced with small white flowers and though most of it was let loose, two parts at the front had been sectioned off on each side of her face and braided around her head with flowers, creating a halo-like effect. Upon her feet Clarissa wore little white sandals that laced all the up her calves. Miss Isabelle squealed in delight when she saw the complete look. You look like an angel straight from the Heavens, Clarissa; she had said. Clarissa didn't think so, she thought she looked a little silly, like an imposter. Her green eyes looked even greener and her hair looked like early autumn leaves, but she didn't voice her opinions for fear of offending Miss Isabelle.
"What, pray tell, are you doing here, Clarissa?" She heard Miss Isabelle ask irritably from behind her.
Clarissa turned around hastily, "I was just watching everyone dance."
"Why watch when you can so easily join them?"
"I was going to join them, but I thought I'd wait for you."
"That was sweet but unnecessary; Kaelie and Joan shall escort you."
"I am aware, but I was rather hoping you would also be at my side. I do not wish to do this without you, Miss Isabelle." Clarissa pleaded.
"Well then, how can I say no?" Miss Isabelle smiled kindly. "Give me a spin before we leave." Clarissa twirled and smiled, all the while the sense of unease grew in her gut. "You look marvellous. Far better than any of The Sisters." Miss Isabelle praised. Clarissa smiled shyly, "If I look marvellous then you must look delightful, Miss Isabelle." Clarissa said, sincerely, for it was true. Miss Isabelle wore a long dress of a midnight material, the skirt was full and she held a matching midnight fan in her hand. The dress was strewn with small pearls, and it looked like she wore the night sky. Her hair was pinned up elegantly, revealing her soft, long neck and envious décolletage. Miss Isabelle had strategically left some glossy chocolate hair loose to frame her face.
"Are you prepared to leave?" Miss Isabelle asked.
"To be able to answer that question fully, one must have the power of retrospect to aid them." Clarissa replied.
"I take it I am to assume you are ready, then, if you will not say so in words?" Miss Isabelle said, an amused smile gracing her lips.
"You have assumed as correctly as I expected you to, Miss Isabelle." Clarissa smiled sadly.
Clarissa turned to face the window once more, she saw The Sisterhood and The Potentials from past Courting Sessions, as she had expected. She was about to turn away from the window when she spotted a new face. He looked young, but older than her. He had an unrealistically handsome face, high cheekbones, chiselled jaw line, high forehead, straight brow bone, full, pleasing lips all framed by a glorious mess of curls of spun gold. Clarissa felt her breath catch in her throat and her heart stopped, a new feeling unfurled in her heart like a flower in the Spring-time. Hope. She was feeling hope. How could it be? She didn't even know the man. Clarissa couldn't see the man's eyes from this distance, but she found herself wishing she could, hoping she would.
Clarissa turned away from the window, "Let us make our way." She announced.
Clarissa entered The Hall of Chance with Kaelie at her right side and Joan at her left. Miss Isabelle walked ahead of her and announced her arrival. Clarissa flushed with shame and embarrassment as she felt the glares of both hate and lust fixed upon her from every corner of The Hall. She kept her eyes trained on the tiles, willing the moisture in her eyes not to form into tears and fall. The whole Hall went silent at her arrival. So when she heard the voice, loud and clear as ice, soft as honey, yet low as sin, she tensed all over.
"Such a lovely flush there is upon your skin. Won't you lift your eyes, Clarissa? I have heard they are more enthralling than an endless well of riches and jewels. I hear you could command an entire army with just a single look from those eyes of yours. Lift them." Clarissa slowly lifted her eyes, out of curiosity more than anything. She looked around, searched the faces around her, but it seemed that no one else heard the beautiful voice.
"You are truly as beautiful as I have heard, if not, then even more so. I look forward to speaking with you, Clarissa." The Voice spoke again. Still, the faces stayed still, no one reacted. Have I truly gone insane? She wondered to herself. Suddenly, the room broke into deafening applause. Clarissa craned her neck to see what everyone was looking at. Mother had arrived.
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Yours Faithfully,
ClaryFrayMockingjay.
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