The Crow that Wears the Crown

Prologue

Prologue

"Did you hear the news?"

"Regarding?"

"The Lockhart family. They're returning to town and looking to bring their business with them."

"Is that so? Looks like we have some work to do. Send her in."

In the dimly lit back room of the Crow's Nest, the Queen sat at her lavish wooden desk upon a chair fit for royalty. This is where you could find the Queen most days, flicking idly through papers filled with some of the town's darkness secrets. Her hair had long turned silver with age, despite this she held a beauty that made men bend to her will, a trait she did not squander. Always looking the most powerful person in the room, wearing her suits made of the most exotic fabrics and standing with rigid pride.

Off to the corner of the room was the man who she held as her most trusted informant, Dr Phineas Markel, tending to one of the Queens latest annoyances. The Doctor, like most who found a home amongst the Crows, was a man of mystery. He announced himself as Doctor, but no one knew what of. Those who questioned or misplaced his title would often find themselves at the wrong end of his scalpel.

For the most part he looked as well dressed as one would imagine a Doctor would, except for the times he would appear from his 'operating room' donning a once white apron. They say that when he had first arrived the screams from that room were so disturbing that they had made quick work to soundproofing it the following day. However, it was his seemingly endless amount of knowledge on any given topic that had landed him a place at the Queens side.

The Doctor abandoned the nuisance tied to the radiators grill with promises of his swift return upon carrying out his Queen's orders.

The door opened and a second later a girl walked through. The Queen looked up from her papers with a warm smile, a gesture only reserved for her.

"My Little Rook, do come in."

Rook walked to the desk with dauntless confidence. She was the only junior member of the Crows permitted to enter the Queens Office, a privilege all hoped to one day earn.

"I have a Job for you."

The Doctor spared no time returning to his 'patient'. Their muffled screams did nothing to waver the little Rook's resolve as she kept eyes trained on her Queen, she knew better than to let her attention waver.

"What will this job entail?"

"There's a family moving to town," the Queen turned a picture of a wealthy family towards her, "They have a daughter your age who will be attending your school," she drew attention the young girl in the photo, a petite, thin looking girl who wouldn't have been given a second glance if not for her families notoriety.

The Queen flipped over a second photo showing only the daughter, sliding it towards her.

"Keep an eye on her for us."

She picked up the photo folding it and stowing it in her inside pocket. It was task not unlike the ones she'd been given before, but rarely had her targets been this young or beautiful.

"Is that all?" She asked not with misplaced confidences but in her experience, there was always more to the job.

"Her family is powerful, if you happen to come across anything that... could help keep them in their place, I would be very grateful."

She chuckled lightly. Just as she had expected.

"As you wish my Queen."