'It must be the fairy pops!' her friends squealed.
'Fairy pops?' Mrs. Seifert yelled. 'You know they are banned! How many have you had Briette?' The whole school had turned to look at her, Briette felt engulfed in rage. 'It's all her fault!’ she cried pointing at Annika, a flame shot from her hand and raced passed Annika's head, singeing her hair.
The flames kept coming, and Briette couldn't stop it. Then they hit the drapes, and they were engulfed. The fire travelled to the ceiling, attacking the ancient building with merciless hunger.
'Stop this at once, Briette!' Mrs. Seifert demanded.
'I can't stop it!' she cried. ‘I'm not doing this on purpose!'
'She's a witch!' the girls started screaming. 'She's trying to kill us!'
'I can't stop it! Bastien help me!' Briette screamed. Bastien raced to her side, removing his cloak. He placed it over her to stop the light; only to have the cloak catch fire.
Bastien jumped to his feet. This was all he needed; Briette's drama embarrassing him. For the love of St. Lavena, he thought to himself. This girl will be a princess one day, why did she need the damn internship, let someone who actually needed have it and stop the drama!
Bastien's thoughts may have seemed noble, but his main concern was that he maintained a good public perception. The rumours that had plagued the Baertschi family had not done the same to his family due to discretion and the belief in taking down one's enemy.
'What is wrong with her?' he cried.
The school's nurse pushed past everyone. 'She is one of them,' she whispered to Bastien. 'You know of whom I speak. Take her now to your castle and get her the best treatment you can.' Bastien's eyes went wide; he picked up Briette as the nurse whispered something into Mrs. Seifert's ear.
Bastien reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vile. He held Briette's head and forced her to drink it. Instantaneously, the flames burning from her palms was extinguished, and Briette collapsed. He picked her limp body up in his arms as she groaned.
'Come, now!' he ordered his guards, as they raced her to his dragon. 'We must leave immediately.' Bastien always travelled by dragon, and had left his in the courtyard, strapped with seats and reins.
Mrs. Seifert screamed at the top of her lungs, 'Everybody back to class now! Empty your pockets on the way out—if ANYONE is caught with fairy pops after today, they will be in serious trouble!'
Annika slumped over the podium. She was both disappointed and relieved she didn't have to make a speech, as she felt for the singed part of her hair; she wondered just how deep Briette's hatred for her ran.
Chapter Four: Anticipation
Annika had recovered from the day’s events, although, she wondered how long it would take her hair to grow back. She was a not a vain girl, but she didn't want to turn up for her new job, a new chapter of her life, looking like a street urchin—she was already an orphan—wasn't that enough?
She decided, she needed a heads up on her new employers—especially in light of all the rumours. She needed to know as much as she possibly could, before she arrived.
'When in doubt, there's always the library,' she joked out loud to herself. The library had always been a place of refuge for Annika. Ever since she had started at the school, she would bury herself in a quiet corner for hours on end, lost in magical worlds. Sometimes, they were far less frightening than the real world. The library's large arched windows exposed the world outside, the jutting peaks of the mountains, and the snow that aggressively fell to the earth.
The Ever Frost was setting in, and Annika wondered if she needed to escape the castle quickly, would she be able to? She shook her head, chastising herself, for letting her imagination run away with her. Remembering the wax seal on the envelope, she made herself comfortable at the large wooden table in the middle of the room. She had found an ancient Encyclopedia shrouded in dust, lifting the cover, she wondered what secrets it may reveal. With the letter in hand, she decided she would find out every scrap of information on this Baertschi family she could. She opened the page and flicked through trying to find some information quickly, but nothing caught her eye. Then she saw the words she was looking for; the words from the wax seal. There was a modern translation: 'He who feels the wrath of the beast’s hunger shall also be cursed.' Her blood ran cold, praying the rumours were just that—rumours.
There was actually very little information of the family, Annika discovered after hours of searching. They were indeed a very wealthy family; not royalty, but still of noble blood. There were a few photos here and there; professional ones, family portraits. Annika studied a picture of the count, he was handsome, yet something strange clouded his eyes.
Outside rain had begun to hit the earth, fighting the snow for a spot to land. It was really starting to become wild out there. Outside a tempest was brewing, but also something was stirring in her soul. She could not take her eyes off the picture of the count. The image was in black and white, and his eyes were mesmerising. He was handsome, yet he haunted her even through the book. She shuddered to think of what effect he may have on her in person.
Annika looked at the clock, her heart froze realising it was 3 am; if she was going—really going to take this opportunity—she would have to pack now! She couldn't risk falling asleep and missing her train. 'Right!' she decided. 'It's time to make myself a strong drink!'
***
Annika had been up all night, her eyes were starting to sting, and she was on her fourth cup of Junip Bean Brew. Annika picked up her luggage, looking around at her little dorm room. This was it, she realised, she was leaving school, her home, and she was taking up employment with a noble family who nobody wanted to know—let alone live with! She breathed deeply to allow the magnitude of what she was doing to sink in. 'Nothing left but to actually do this,' she told herself. She closed the door behind as she left, sneaking one last look at her home.
Florina and the other girls had been up early, and when Annika walked out into the corridor, she was bombarded by screaming students, throwing ribbons and sprinkles at her! 'We'll miss you!' voices cried, but most of all, she could feel Florina hugging her tight, tears streaming down her face.
'My sister!' she wept. 'Be safe at that wretched place! Write to me so that I know you're all right!' Florina's nerves made Annika's stomach turn, but she knew it was too late now, she wouldn't back out of this out of pride.
'I'll be fine!' she assured her friend. A loud clap broke up all the merriment, and all the girls turned to see Mrs. Seifert, standing with a smile upon her face. 'Be safe, dear Annika,' she said with a smile.
***
As Annika boarded the train, a growing feeling of excitement and panic was building in her heart. Taking the window seat, she admired the view. Pressing herself up against the window, it was revealed that the train track ran along a mountain's edge, giving her a scenic view into the valley below. She sighed with dismay that all of the beautiful wildflowers she had seen books were now smothered by the Ever Frost’s icy blanket.
Down below the ravines were deep and treacherous looking. Annika pulled her scarf around her neck to warm herself. A chill had run through her body when she realised how high up, she was travelling.
The old train was beginning to struggle now, as the mountainside became steeper, its gears began to grind and squeal. Annika mumbled about the state of the Talir Faye Train services. They were only one country away from the centre of Talir Faye, which was Epp, surely it wouldn't be that hard to have Spyro the Great's modern technology brought here somehow? Annika closed her eyes, as the old train chuffed and squeaked all the way up the mountain. She knew this was going to be a long journey.
Hours had passed as Annika had slept, content and lost in her world of dreams were mysterious castles did not exist. The exhaustion of the night before had drawn her into sleep's beckoning arms, and when she awoke that night, she had rubbed her eyes to see bright lights burning in the mountain side.
Wolf Blood Castle sat snuggly in the cr
evices of Mount Abraisias—where it had sat for centuries. The castle stood high and mighty, jutting out uncompromisingly from the landscape. The stone turrets penetrated the sky with unforgiving severity. It was from these turrets that wild orange lights shot towards the sky.
Annika shivered. This was the Baertschi family home—and hers now! What a frightful and intimidating sight, once she was actually confronted with it! Soon the castle disappeared as the train was enveloped by the mountain caves.
The train began to jolt and squeal as the driver applied the brakes. This was the last stop before travelling on to Epp. Annika checked her itinerary. That castle is at least twenty dragon tails away! Was she meant to walk all that way in the dark? She picked up her luggage and raced to the doorway where she saw an attendant.
'How am I to get to Wolf Blood Castle?' she enquired, the attendant thinking she was stirring begun to chuckle, and when he saw that she was serious, his face became cold and stern. 'What would the likes of you, young lady would be travelling to such an unholy place? By the will of Epp, may Spyro the Great watch over you.'
Annika froze, about to burst into tears when she realised the doors were shutting. 'Next stop Epp!' the attendant's voice called out, back to his cheerful self. Annika quickly wedged the door open and jumped off onto the platform.
Outside, the station was dimly lit, and the walls of the grey mountains seemed suffocating. A thin, willowy man was watching her; she had dropped some of the contents of her bag, yet he did not to offer to help her pick it up. He slowly approached her, looking bored and annoyed for having to be there.
'Annika Acklin?' he asked.
'Yes, that's me.'
'My name is Renaud; I work at Wolf Blood Castle. I have been sent by the count to escort you safely back to the castle.'
Annika didn't know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or to run as she stared at her escort's drawn in face. His eyes were set back deep in his skull, and his long, crooked nose reminded her of a shrivelled-up turnip. 'Oh, thank you.' She half-smiled, her body felt ridged as she said it, there was something about this man that made her feel uneasy.
He directed her to an elevator that was in the wall of the mountain.
Pressing in a unique code to the keypad, he informed her, 'Normally, people will just press what floor they wish to go to. For example, if they press the bottom button passengers will be taken to the ground floor, where they can catch a boat to their destination. As a river runs under this mountain, the river then becomes a lake and then a massive ocean, eventually taking one all the way to Mermaid Cove.'
Annika's face lit up at these words, she had read about Mermaid Cove in Ancient Books and had heard the stories her school friends had told her of their holidays there with their family.
'But,' Renaud continued, ignoring Annika's excitement. ‘If I press four specific numbers on this keypad here, it will take us to …’
Annika looked closer at the keypad, printed above it on a gold plaque it read: Do not touch. For elevator repairs only.
'How sneaky and clever!' Annika exclaimed. 'But where exactly are we going?'
Before he had time to answer, the elevator had stopped. The doors opened, and they were greeted by the icy blizzard of the Ever Frost. They were looking out across a giant ravine and on the other side stood the castle.
Above them was a large contraption, a pulley system. On the lines was a box that had little doors and seats. 'Climb in, 'Renaud ordered. 'This is the Bridge-O-Matic, straight from the Land of Epp, invented by the Great Spyro himself. It's been here for about a year. Before that, there was an actual bridge, but this is much more convenient, safer and faster. Tighten your seatbelt and let's begin our journey.'
As they approached the castle, it looked even more impressive and ostentatious than it did from the train. It was dark, but Annika could see the outlines of the walls in the moonlight. Every window was framed with ornate decorations and cherubim's playing flutes hung from many windows. But as they moved closer, Annika could see that the higher parts of the castle were very different. Covered in snow and vines, she could see monstrous gargoyle heads and statues upon the castle’s top balcony. Annika pulled her coat around her and said a silent prayer.
Renaud knocked on the door, to be greeted by a butler. He was fat, stern and his beady eyes nonchalantly judged Annika from above his multiple chins. A couple of maids pretended to be working in the background as they glanced at Annika from behind their feather dusters. No one seemed overly pleased to see her. Annika felt her heart sink as she stepped through the castle door. With these people's sour expressions and apathetic greeting, she wondered if the rest of the hosts would be as charming. Handing over her two small travel cases, she smiled. 'I travel light,' she jovially pointed out to the butler.
As Annika entered the ancient castle, again she gasped in awe. Inside the walls shimmered with golden paint. Royal red borders lined the tops of the walls, with gold leaf embossments. The ceilings were engraved with images of great wars and past royals, tea parties and victories. In the foyer stood a winding stairwell, made from decadent black and white marble, it was accented by the lush, red velvet carpet that flowed over its steps. Annika wondered where the stairwell led and who may come down from it to greet her. This was a truly decadent family! They had spared no expense in renovating their home!
Renaud was gone, and Annika was left alone in that magnificent room. The mural on the far wall drew her over. As she examined the painting in closer detail, she realised that it told a story. It began with the birth of a prince, and then the baby was surrounded by magic fire. All the courtesans and nobles were crying, and a King was banishing a young woman from the castle. The Queen was crying as she held her heart. Then the next painting showed a young man with a tortured look upon his face. Then the story abruptly ended. There was another story painted over where the rest of the story should have been.
Annika heard a noise at the top of the stairs; she turned to see a shadowy figure looking down upon her, her heart froze when she saw the handsome, but dishevelled count.
Chapter Five: The Count
He was tall and slender but yet, he had the frame of an ancient warrior; his defined muscles hidden beneath his sulky posture. His body seemed frail in a way, as if he was tired, as she slowly descended the stairs. His eyes were hidden by dark strands that dangled over his forehead, unkempt and unapologetic. His clothes were neat, they seemed to be from another time; he wore black trousers and a long purple jacket, embellished with golden trim and oddly shaped buttons.
Annika wondered if they were vintage family heirlooms, and if he always dressed like this, or whether he had dressed up especially for her arrival. She looked down at her own plain pinafore, with her grey overcoat. Feeling somewhat underdone boarding the train, but Annika had been told never dress up for travelling; not that she owned many pieces of beautiful clothing anyway or had ever really travelled.
She had been warned by her guardians when she was a small child that one should never dress up for a long journey least the Grobe-Goblins think you're wealthy and drag you back to their lair. She looked unglamorous, but comfortable yes. Despite her dishevelled clothes and wispy hair that had half fallen from her ponytail, her beauty was not unnoticed by the count's intrigued, yet hidden, eyes.
The count descended the stairwell, now directly in front of Annika, his tall frame still made her feel tiny and ill at ease.
'Hello', he said in a deep, husky tone. 'You must be Annika Acklin.'
'Yes.' Annika smiled, in her usual, confident manner.
'Please, Miss Acklin, you must understand that it is not that I am unpleased to greet you, but I am left in wonder as to why you are here.'
'Your uncle, he—'
The count raised his hand to silence her. 'I know why you are here, but for what purpose? Are you really needed here? I think not.'
Annika was confused. Hadn't she been summoned here for employment, and now who was this man telling her she had no right to
be here? Dashiell saw the look of confusion on her face.
'Come,' he ordered. 'Perhaps, we might be able to sort this out in more pleasant surroundings.' He motioned towards a door at the far end of the foyer; it was a rounded archway that seemed to lead out to a patio.
I'm not a dog, Annika thought to herself, frowning slightly.
'Have I offended you, Miss Acklin?' he asked perplexed.
'No,' she lied, following the direction of his gesture.
He led her out of the foyer and into the gardens. Annika breathed a sigh of awe as the beautiful fragility of the world around her captured her attention. Beautifully sculpted trees stood before her, their leaves lost to the Ever Frost’s icy smothering, the twisted branches had been sculptured to form love hearts, which had been showered in snow. Amidst the now bare trees, stone statues peeked, hinting of another life—of a time, when perhaps a loving couple may have danced in their presence. A frozen water fountain stood in the centre of the garden. It was tall and round, a cherub on top spurting forward an icy river.
'It's quite a sight when the Ever Frost has gone, and the blossoms reappear on the trees,' the count mused quietly.
Small lights lit the way for them to walk around the gardens and finding a bench to sit on Annika rested.
'I've travelled a long way to be here, Count Dashiell—this was not an easy decision for me to make, especially since there is a lot of…'
'Rumours?' he snapped. 'Then why did you come at all?'
'I'm not sure now!' Annika snapped back, biting into her bottom lip. The past few weeks had been so intense and stressful, she didn't know how much longer she could hold in her tears.
'Miss Acklin, I have been left this job by my uncle, and quite frankly I don't know if I want it—then without as much as a day's warning I'm told he is sending me an assistant—can you see why I am not very amicable here?'
'Well, I understand, but I am here now. Are you prepared to send me back, and ignore your uncle's wish?'
The Count of Wolf Blood Castle Page 3