The Waltz Of Shadows

"Annabeth."

I turned around, suddenly looking for the voice that called out to me. Behind me, my mother stood a warm, huge smile painted across her face. She wore her beautiful violet dress. Strangely, she had roses sticking out of her dresses that weaved all over her instead of her usual violet theme. A top hat and white gloves completed the dressings. It's absolutely stunning.

"Get ready. The guests are all here." She told me.

I remember distinctly how welcoming her voice was.

"What guests?" I asked, confused by the ceremony that was coming.

"For your birthday. Don't tell me you forgot it again?"

"It's my birthday?" I asked.

"Yes, now hurry up, everyone is waiting." She said before leaving the room in her usual womanly manner.

Looking around, I realised I was inside my room. Beautifully carved statues that stood in the corners faced towards me. I had made them during my time at university. The old grandfather clock slept silently behind me. The pendulum remained constantly reminding me that it still lived. Yet it was slow and sluggish, reflecting its age. There are no ticks as it swung left and right. A chandelier hung above my head. Crystals that drooped down like tears as I could just about touch the point of them with my fingers. To my left, a large, ancient mirror watched me.

Carefully assessing myself, I noted that I wore my favourite red dress. Yet, for some odd reason, my roses had been replaced with violets instead. Strange. Very strange. I pondered. From the other side of the door, I could hear loud chatters. Excited guests were waiting around for my grand entrance. Anxiety began to fill me.

How long had it been since I had made such a grand appearance? Was I properly dressed? Will I mess up?

The constant negative thoughts flooded my mind intensely. It had really been so long since I had celebrated my birthday at such a grand level. Slowly turning the doorknob, I pushed open the doors to reveal a large herd of people swarmed around the entrance.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They all cheered at once, sending immense joy across my body.

Letting out a small chuckle, I began my usual ritual. Walking around shaking everyone's hands, answering how old I am a billion times, taking a handful of money that I would pass onto my butler and constantly hearing my mother's voice pridefully boasting in the background.

After a line of meeting, I found the perfect time to escape into my own peaceful corner. Taking my seat, I watched as people drank together, gossiping about daily life and their business. It was almost time for the annual ball.

My mother was incredibly old-fashioned.

Was? I thought to myself.

My brain began to confuse itself. However, that thought vanished almost instantly afterwards. Suddenly, a swarm of men surrounded me. They all asked for my hand in the dance that was coming up. My anxiety began to skyrocket. Trying to reject them all at once, all I could do was move my hands awkwardly in a way to signal no.

"She is taken for this dance. Forgive me, gentlemen, but tonight she is mine." A voice said from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned their heads towards the voices attention, and so did I. My eyes shot wide open upon realising who it was. Wearing a tailor-made black suit, white shirt, black shoes, and black tie, he stood with a gentle smile across his face. His scruffy yet soft brown hair shining out the most.

My brother. I thought to myself ecstatic by his presence.

Getting up, I walked slowly towards him as he bowed down, holding his hand out, which I took willingly. We strolled elegantly towards the middle as the light zoomed in onto us. People gathered around us as they waited for the waltz to begin. As the music started, we danced as we had practised for many years growing up. It felt as if we were flying across the stars, the warm wind inside the room hitting against us, trying to stop us, to slow us down, yet we marched forward our bond unbreakable.

Not long after, everyone began to join in, taking a partner in hand and followed our rhythm. It was a peaceful, long yet entertaining dance. My mind had ascended out of my body as I subconsciously continued to move my feet. Reminiscing about the old days brought a huge smile to my face.

"I'm still better than you, sister." My brother said mockingly as we continued to dance.

"You wish." I said a smirk on my face.

As we chatted away about his studies, I noticed a woman behind him that I had never seen before. Normally, all the people who attend my ceremony are, in fact, relatives or business-related partners. Yet she was someone I had never known in my life. Her hair was as black as the night, and her face was as beautiful as an angel. Her appearance, however, didn't match her clothing.

Out of everyone in the crowd, she stood out the most. Wearing a farmer's clothes in such a grand ball yet still being the most beautiful was a sin. One sin that I could not allow any longer, and so I approached her. Tapping her shoulder, she turned around, smiling at me.

"Jolynn?" I said my face, shocked.

"Hey, Beth. Are you ready to wake up?" She asked me, her voice completely different from the Jolynn I had met before. It was much more distorted and harsher. In an instance, my head started to throb, making me scream out in pain. Clutching my temple, I tried my best to stop the pain. My brother rushed to my aid, asking how I was.

"This isn't real. You're not real." I said, looking at him, tears in my eyes.

"What do you mean, Annabeth? Of course I'm real. Look, I'm touching you right now." He said, his voice breaking down.

"Stay back!" I shouted, pushing his hand away. And then his demeanour changed from the loving brother I once knew to a stranger that you would encounter on the street.

"Ah man, I thought I could have made it last for longer. Next time, I don't think I should use Jolynn. What do you think, Annabeth?" A man said, his voice low yet childish.

He then appeared in front of me. Wearing a black suit and black tie. He had black hair, and his eyes were a dark red, just like the devils. His face was young and handsome, but his mannerisms were those of an old man's. He stood in a certain empowering way that made me move back instinctively in fear. This was the man who brought us all together.

"You're the scientist, aren't you?" I said, regaining my balance, my face sweaty.

"Pleasure to meet you." He said whilst bowing down.

"What is all this?" I asked.

"I created it just for you. A fabrication of reality. Of course... the best parts of it. Do you not like my gift? I thought I made your brother a very good character." He said whilst he caressed my brother's cheek, his body frozen.

"Don't touch him!" I said, moving his hand.

"Aw, sibling bond. But why do you care? He isn't real. You said it yourself, didn't you." He retorted, mocking me. A cold smirk creeped across his face.

"No... That's not it." I said, beginning to question myself.

"Don't stress, my dear Annabeth." He said, lifting my chin. His eyes stared deep into my soul. I couldn't quite understand the feeling inside me at that moment.

Is this fear? Or love?

I could see my own blue eyes reflected from his. For instance, it felt as if we had been staring at each other for eternity. After a few seconds, he backed away, leaving me awestruck.

"Well, if this world isn't to your liking, should we change the scenery." He spoke.

And with a click of his finger, everything zipped out of existence, and we were suddenly in a desert. Shining down at us, the sun burned my back as it loomed closer and closer.

"Maybe you shouldn't wear all those clothes, eh?" He said before clicking his fingers and then I was only covered by a singular cloth.

"Idiot, give me back my clothes!" I shouted my face, turning red out of embarrassment as I covered my body with my hands.

"Alright, alright." He said before letting out a small chuckle. And then the world zipped out of existence. Looking down, I saw Earth beneath my feet. Exclaiming in fear, I jumped back, shocked as to how I wasn't falling.

"Care to dance?" He asked, reaching his hand out.

Instinctively, I took his hand, and before I knew it, we were dancing across the cosmos. It felt ethereal. My mind could not fathom the experience that I was going through, but it did not question it. Closing my eyes, I let my body take control as we danced for eternity. It was such an experience I had never imagined, yet it was so beautiful.

"Your beauty precedes you." He said in a seductive manner.

"T...Thanks." I said my face covered in red.

He smiled at the sight I was in, and I could not help but smile. After a while, we stopped dancing, and he clicked his fingers again.

"Time to wake up." He spoke.

My eyes flew wide open as I slowly got up. Looking around, I was in a beautifully made room. The bed I lied on was as soft as a feather, and everything had been neatly organised. Slowly standing up, I flocked towards the shelf of books that lay solemnly. Flipping through the wide collection, my eyes beamed with great fascination as a hunger for knowledge to eat me alive. After a few minutes of checking out the catalogue, my mind started to remember everything.

I must find Jolynn and Harold.

I thought.

Rushing towards the door, I turned the handle. Nothing. It didn't budge. And I tried again. And again. And again. And again. But to no avail. I was trapped within these four walls. Confined like a rat in a cage.

How could I be so foolish and get distracted like that. His stupidly beautiful mannerisms blinded me from what was really going on.

Sliding down the door, I leaned against it, and my head tucked into my legs.

Forgive me, Jolynn, but I am...trapped.

I thought to myself, my hope beginning to fade. All I could do was sit and wait for time to pass. It could be forever, but I had to wait for the right moment. And so, the waiting began. An exceptionally long wait.

God give me strength...