Hey, I forgot to say this before, but none of these characters belong to me. They are all property of Angie Sage.

Please review! :)

Jenna was walking back to the Palace, cheerful after a lovely day with Beetle. The two had gone out to Wizard Sandwiches, explored a few bookstores on Wizard Way (on Jenna's insistence) and watched a play in the Ramblings 'Little Theatre'.

Jenna was nearly to the Palace when she heard something behind her. She immediately turned around, and saw a blonde girl, who had clearly been following her.

"Who are you?" Jenna asked. "Present your name."

"I am Anirem." Said the girl.

"But you sound and look just like-" Jenna then realized the girl was actually Merina, who she had seen with Beetle. 'Anirem' was her Reverse name.

Merina read Jenna's expression with ease. "Yes, I am daughter of the deceased DomDaniel, the Darke Wizard and Necromancer."

"D-DomDaniel?" Jenna stuttered. Merina clearly was awful. "Get away from the Castle! You are not welcome here!"

"But you see, I am very powerful. You shan't meddle with the Darke ones, dear Princess. Has your mother told you that?" Merina asked. "Oh, yes. I have forgotten, your mother and your dear Alther are dead. Because of my father. I will do as he wished, and that begins," The girl brought out a wand, "with killing you."

In a mere millisecond, Jenna was sprawled in the alleyway, unconscious and bleeding from the hit on the hard cobblestone path. Merina walked away with a smile on her face, I have killed the Queenling, she thought with a smile. Father would be proud.

But little did Merina know that the Princess was still breathing; her heart was still beating, she was still alive.

The first thing Jenna saw when she woke up was a blue wall, and many faces. "W-where am I?" Jenna asked slowly as she got up.

A familiar voice sounded. "You're in the Sick Bay, Jen." It was Beetle.

"Oh, Beetle!" Jenna hugged him.

"I was so worried! You were unconscious for nearly a week."

"Jenna" the voice of Marcia Overstrand sounded as she came next to Jenna. "That Darke girl, Mery, Moryn, whatever her name was, she had the wands of Dramindonnor Naarn, and Shamandrigger Saarn, the Darke Ring Wizards. The wands had a less fatal impact on you, however, for your ancestor killed the Ring Wizards thus they have less power on you." Dandra said. "Any other person, and they would've died."

"The girl also said she was the daughter of DomDaniel." Jenna said to Marcia. "I know she could've been lying but, I actually think she is."

Marcia Overstrand became quiet for a moment. "Septimus!" She called. The boy with unkempt straw colored hair and green Apprentice robes aran across the room; he had been chatting with Rose, now promoted to Sick Bay wizard. "Get the girl, Merina." Marcia said.

Jenna was surprised how they had gotten Merina. But, with Marcia many things surprise you.

Septimus then walked back into the Sick Bay, bringing a girl with wild blonde hair, (supposedly from a week being locked in a cell) and green eyes full of hatred. She had iron chains tied around her wrists. She eyed Jenna. "So we meet again, Queenling. You shan't dilly-dally and frolic long," she said as saw Jenna standing up and saw she had failed her mission, "I will kill you and continue my father's legacy." Merina attempted to free herself, and run away but Septimus kept a firm grip.

"I can't believe I even let you into the Manuscriptorium…" Beetle said, looking at Merina in disgust.

"But, you did." Merina eyed Beetle evilly. She couldn't believe how easily she had tricked him...but with Darke powers, wasn't anything easy? She sure needed to get close to the Princess-to kill her, of course-and this foolish fellow was the easiest way there. But that plan had failed of course...

"You, Merina," Marcia eyed the Darke girl with suspicion, "you will not succeed to kill Jenna. You will not succeed to terrorise the Castle. You will not succeed to return Darkenesse."

Merina glared at Marcia with an uncommon look of pure hatred in her eyes. "I am not so sure about that, Aicram." Marcia nearly fainted at the sound of her Reverse name.

"That was in the past, Merina. That was when I was foolish-" Marcia's speech was disrupted by a piercing scream that came from her.

Merina began a chant. "smooR ekraD eht ot reh ekaT. smooR ekraD eht ot reh ekaT."

A black portal suddenly appeared in the Sick Bay, and Marcia was being dragged forcibly by an unseen force to it.

"Marcia!" Septimus screamed. He couldn't bear to see his mentor, friend and mother-like figure in such turmoil.

"Septimus! I want….know…..I'm…..Darke…..NOT! NOT DARKE!"

Marcia's voice came to an abrupt stop and everyone in the room stared in shock at the black portal on the wall that had disappeared, and then all eyes turned to Merina.

Merina began to run, but Septimus came to his wits first, and used a FastFreeze. Merina, much to her discomfort, froze in her position.

"What just happened?" Jenna asked.

"I don't know, Jen. But we have to get Marcia. We have to."