The Shadows of Blood

Chapter One: The Last Box

'Ginny!' Said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. 'Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain?'

― J.K. Rowling,  (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

She was lying sprawled on the floor, her hair a tangled mass of midnight black, her lips slightly parted; a book in one hand, her knuckles white.

A knock at the door jerked her out of her dreams, scrambling upright, she crossed the length of the room to answer it.

Her room was messy, with piles of sketches and drawings piled high against the walls, books and notepads were scattered unceromoniously across the floor. The dangling LEDs taped on the polished furniture casted a strange eerie glow around the room. Definitely not the typical chamber for a princess, she thought with a shred of guilt, casting a look around the place.

It was Rebecca who stood at the door, her hair done up in a bun. Upon seeing Alina, she dropped into a curtsy. 'Breakfast at the banquet hall, Ma'am?'

Alina nodded grimly, then after a slight pause added, 'Rebecca, can you please stop calling me Ma'am? It sounds awfully formal.'

Rebecca blushed as she sank into another curtsy. 'Very well, your majesty.' Her cheeks flushed crimson as she scampered away down the corridor.

Smiling to herself, she got dressed and headed down the flight of crystal stairs.

'Saffi!'

The boy turned, his hands still in the pockets of his faded jeans, the golden strands of his hair glinting strangely under the curtains of black. His lips twitched into a smile as he saw her. 'Alina, happy birthday.'

She froze, hand still resting on the railing. Then, as though coming out of a trance, she gasped. 'How could I have forgotten?!' Sliding down the banister, she flung her arms around her brother.

His eyes sparkled with dark amusement as she let go of him. 'Breakfast?'

She nodded, breathless. 

They made their way down the stairs together, laughing and giggling all the way to the banquet hall.

It was luxuriously decorated, with silk curtains and velvet rugs carpetting the floor, a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling making miniature rainbows in the sunlight. A huge banner reading Happy Birthday Adelyna had been hung over a glass table which was laidened with gleaming plates of cakes and tarts next to glistening silverware.

Alina sucked in her breath as her gaze fell upon the pile of presents waiting to be unwrapped. She knelt down, and began tearing off the packaging of each.

Saffi's lips twitched with silent laughter. 

'Here,' Alina thrusted the wrappings at him. 'Hold these for me.'

He watched as she peeled layer after layer of wrapping off, until one last box remained. 

Her delicate fingers fluttered with excitement as she turned the box over, shook it, and weighed it carefully in one hand. 

Taking a breath, she allowed her fingtips to slide the wrappings away to reveal an elite box, not unlike those in jewelry stores. Prying the lid open, she found a crystal pendant lying on top of a red velvet cushion. Her fingers wandered to it, taking it out from its case and holding it up to the light. 

It was not an ordinary pendant, she noticed upon first sight. There was a strange silvery glow that hung about it that had nothing to do with the light, almost as if the pendant itself conceived some mysterious magical power. It was unusually cool against her fingers, and when she held it up, she could feel how light it was, like a handful of feathers.

She turned to look at Saffi, and was surprised to see the expression etched on his face.

He was not smiling as she had expected. There was something of mingled shock and pain flashed across his features. His pale skin in stark contrast to the ivory black of his hair.

'What's wrong?' She felt the whisper leave her lips.

'This is not right.' He seemed to be speaking more to himself. 'It can't be...All those years? How?' He was refusing to meet her eyes.

'Saffi?'

Very slowly he turned around to face her. 'It's dangerous.'

The fear in her heart melting like an icecube on a summer's day, Alina found herself laughing outloud. 'You're joking, right?'

His eyes were dark as he raised his eyes to meet hers. 'I'm deadly serious, Élisabeth.'

Her mouth fell open, he had said her middle name.

'Saffi...'

'We need to talk,' Not looking at her, he got up and took her wrist, his fingers cold as ice.

'But breakfast?' She stammered.

'Later.' He hissed. Pulling her along, they did not exchange another word as they ascended the stairs.