Wonderland

Prologue

The ravenette sat on the edge of the balcony, her eyes scanning the soft lights of the sleeping town below her. She couldn't of been older than twelve, but her crimson eyes held a level of sadness to them that made her look much older.

Another stepped into the balcony. He looked like a copy of the girl, but with his hair cut short. A sigh escaped his lips as he walked over to her. "Estelle. I was getting worried."

The girl, Estelle, spun around, nearly falling off the railing she was perched on. "I'm fine Waltz." She told the boy, brushing a lock of hair off her face. Her eyes met his, and she immediately knew something was wrong. "Spill."

Waltz took a shaky breath. Estelle noticed the tears gathering in the corners of his gaze. "Hildyr killed them."

The girl slipped down from the railing, waking over to him. "She's killed many. You're being needlessly vague, brother dear."

Waltz's eyes flashed with a bit of aggravation, but it faded back into sadness. "She killed Mom and Dad. So she could get me."

Once, when Waltz talked about being chosen, her heart would have clenched in jealousy. But now, Estelle knew her brother was a prodigy. Their teacher often told her that she was only a step behind Waltz.  had realized was highly talented, but her brothers magic always would be stronger that hers. He was the older twin, after all. Now, her heart dropped for different reasons.

"She killed them?" A overwhelming sadness filled Estelle's body. Her heart ached at the mere thought of her parents. She had been only five when they had died, but she still held the faintest memories of them. Their deaths had plunged the twins into the world of witchcraft at a far too young age.

"It's not only that. She erased us from Lucette's memories, remember?" Estelle winced at her brothers words, recalling the events that had transpired. The little princess, only eight, had seemed so lonely. So the twins had went behind their teacher's- who was Queen Hildyr, Princess Lucette's mother - back, and comforted and played with the young girl. But they had been caught, and the little princess had suffered the consequences. Hildyr had kept a close eye on her daughter ever since, making sure the twins couldn't see her.

Estelle began to cry. Her silvery tears reflected the moonlight. Waltz wrapped his arms around his sister, and left loose a few tears of his own. The twins stayed like this for a few minutes, comforting each other, and crying over everything they had lost.

"Hildyr needs to be stopped." Estelle stepped away from her brother, looking at him with a puzzled look on her face.

"Are you insane? I know you hate to hear this, but we are children, Waltz! What can we do? Throw a few balls of light at her and hope she doesn't kill us?" Estelle's voice was tinged with panic. Her brother laid his hand on her shoulder.

"We need to find the Lucis Bearer." Estelle stared at her brother, barely comprehending his words.

"Let me get this straight. You want us, the well known apprentices of the most hated witch in all of Angielle, to go to the leader of the fairies, who will probably have us killed on sight?" Estelle threw her hands in the air in frustration.

Waltz gave her a slightly crooked smile. "Hey, we're the Cresswell Twins. Together, we're unstoppable. Besides, the fairies and humans are getting desperate to get rid of Hildyr and restore balance. I think they'll believe us."

Estelle sighed. "You have your mind set on this, don't you?"

"I won't do it without you. You're the only thing I have to lose, Estelle." Waltz held his sisters hands, looking into the crimson eyes that matched his own. Estelle sighed.

"You're crazy. But I can't let you do this alone. We stick together."

A smile formed on Waltz's lips. "Forever and Always?"

"Forever and Always."