Then there she was

If you could only see the beast you've made me

So you say you have a secret weapon?

She smiled. Oh yes.

May I see it?

Her.

Her?

Yes. A village girl... infact I think you might know her quite well. Childhood friends and all. Darling, you may come out now.

A young woman stepped from the shadows, dressed in a simple yet alluring red gown, her face hidden by her thick black hair.

He rose from his throne and studied her. Something about her brought up memories from long ago.

Stephen come on! The flowers are in full bloom and you promised we could go look at it today. He sighed, irritated. Girls are the most annoying things on planet earth. I know Annabele, but I am busy.

But you promised... Her huge green eyes started tearing up.

He knew she wouldn't cry, but just seeing her like that made him get up. Fine. But we are only watching from a distance okay?

The same green eyes watched him intently now. Annabele? The great war planner's deadly weapon is the girl who hated violence? He laughed out loud. Oh dear war planner. Now I know you're just messing with me. This girl here is merely just that. A girl.

Oh my lord you are so wrong. She started circling Annabele slowly. You see, my dear king, the sweet girl you once knew can be controled.

Controled? He didn't like the sound of that at all. He respected witchery, but on someone once close to him? Unacceptable.

She exchanged her life for her father's. A dark look crossed Annabele's face, and he notcied her clenching her jaw. His war master turned to face her directly. A thief, murderer and liar, you're father was. Trying to steal a Death rose? Killing one of the guards when he tried to escape? And then that idiotic excuse of a dying wife? The whole town knows your mother passed away in the plague.

Annabele glowered at the woman, and Stephen himself had to step back. The look was enough to make a man happily jump into a grave. The hatred... It was like entering a pit of firey green hell. He returned to his throne and looked at her thoughtfully. One thing was for certain, this...girl infront of him was not the girl he once knew. What did you do to her?

Nothing that she didn't agree to.

He expected that. Annabele adored her father. You did not answer my question War Master.

She was trained by the best assasins in the world. But when I sent her on her first assignment, she failed because she hated violence. I threatened her family, so she agreed that we found something that could 'turn it off'. The Black Witch helped us in that aspect. Turning off all emotion by just a click of my fingers. Now, she's the most lethal weapon we have Your Majesty. Exactly as you ordered.

Stephen slumped in his throne. That is true. He needed something that could protect his people. War is unavoidable in times like these. But...it's Annabele. I want to see her in action.

His war master smiled gleefully, and clapped her hands. Men were brought in, some he recognised as men he himself have banished from the kingdom. Dangerous men.

His war master joined him on his left. These men were found in one of the local taverns my lord. Planning out loud your assaination. Annable dear, please take care of them.

Stephen leaned forward, anticipation running through him. Annabele turned to her opponents, and stood still for a few seconds, waiting. He frowned. Was she hesitating?

The next moment, she threw a sharpened boomerang up at the chandelier, destroying the candles, leaving them all in the dark. After a few moments, his eyes adjusted a bit and he could barely make out something red darting around. One would expect to hear the movement of her skirts or groans in pain, yet there were only soft thumps as the bodies dropped.

Several minutes later, it was deathly quiet. Everyone was killed he assumed, but she was missing. He jumped when she suddenly appeared infront of him, candle in hand. If you could only see the beast you've made me. Her voice dripped with venom and hatred. She bowed and disappeared once more.

Beauty and beast, captured in one single girl. Beautiful, don't you think?

Beauty and beast... The girl he so nearly married was truly gone...