Clockwork Princess

Page Eight

Where Tessa lay was cold and damp, and eerily silent. It was the silence she noticed first, of course. Silence always meant that she was alone, yet not alone. It meant someone had placed her there because they wanted to watch her, to keep her alone. It was not darkness that scared Tessa, but silence. Flashbacks of her days in the Dark sisters' house hit her so violently she swayed, despite the fact she was sitting. She quickly blinked her eyes open, shaking off the stupor with cold sweat.

Everything around her was in shades of grey and black, with shadows etched in every corner. A shiver went through her, but she did not let it show. If she had been here over a year ago, she possibly would have cried out for help. But she knew better now. She simply sat there, letting her eyes adjust to the poor illumination, watching as the room took shape.

It was a long room, she could see that, and judging by the darkness ahead of her, she had been placed as far away as the door as possible. She was almost certain she sat opposite it, but the world before her disappeared into shadows before she could make anything out. The walls and floor were made of large slabs of stone and marble, cold and unfeeling, chilling her to the bone. Torches were placed high on the wall, unlit, looking down over her like gargoyles.

Tessa was startled at the lack of fear she felt inside. She was a weak little girl to the naked eye, an easy target, and she knew it. But she was dangerously powerful, because she did not know what she was, but she knew what she could do. And evidently, this made her feel safe. Though she would have felt safer with Will or Jem by her side.

They would come for her soon, she thought. Of course they would. Despite the horrendous amount of trouble she had caused in the Institute since she had arrived months ago, she felt as if she were part of their family now. Not a duty, or a burden. A family member. Wasn't she? They would come for her soon; Jem would have to. He'd want to. She was betrothed to him. But surely that wouldn't be the only reason he would come?

A sick sinking feeling flooded Tessa's stomach. She had seen something in his eyes lately that had spawned a niggle of doubt within her - but she didn't know what. She had been so disorientated since she had burned herself that she had blamed that; it had been clouding her judgement. But now, lying in the darkness, she wasn't sure.

But Will would come for her. She knew it. She wanted Will to save her more than Jem, something she would never had said aloud, and something she cursed herself for thinking. But it was true.

She felt weak again, a terrible shudder coming over her. She had not the faintest idea of how long she'd been here in this dungeon-like place, and her lack of appetite over the last few days re-enforced her weakness more so. Could she take on the Magister all alone, if he came down here? Had he brought her here to kill her, finally? Or worse? To finally marry her?

A roaring sound defeaned Tessa as the torches suddenly went alight, blinding her momentarily. She had no time to answer her last question. A voice emerged from ahead, hidden deep beneath the shadowy part of the room. Tessa shielded her eyes, but nothing could stop the shiver that wracked her as the voice spoke:

"Tessa Gray," the voice said, low and eerie, a mischievious smile blantantly evident in the tone. "We meet again."