In the old library where silence had made its home, light barely saw through. The place where the darkness slept and the light woke it up, books silently told their stories. And in the remote corners of worn-out bookshelves and torn and crippled books was a girl. Her extremely long blonde hair draped over her shoulders and some strands mingled in front of her eyes. Her white skin was dusty a bit from the dust-ball debris on the highest of shelves. Most say that after her grandfather died, no one dared to enter the room. They said that his spirit still remained and haunted the library. But she didn't mind. She never really did mind whether her grandfather's ghost was there or not. In fact, she liked the thought of having a ghost around. Though, her mother despised it and had the library blessed many times over. But, whatever was in the library still lingered on and on. It never left. "Serafine?" a voice opened the door. It was her mother. Well, stepmother to be precise. Serafine did not even bother to reply to her. She despised her as much as her stepmother hated her. Her stepmother was younger then her real mother. She had black hair that was neatly cut into a clean bob. She wore bright colored dresses that matched her bright make up. Her father loved her sense of style. He said that it brought the modern times along unlike her real mother who decided to stay in the past of Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth. 'She's a witch; I tell you Serafine. A horrible, old, nasty witch; who eats little children like you three times a day. I tell you, if only mother didn't get mad at father much, then she wouldn't have left us. Besides, where did father meet her?! She's terrible. Just like Ivan, the terrible.' Her older sister, Anastasia always complained. She hated the woman than anyone in the world. Anastasia, more commonly known as Anya to the family, was the only real company that Serafine had. But now, there was a serious problem. Anya had gone missing. And it has been hours since the last person saw her which was her maid, Natasha, who said the Anya ordered her to go and leave her alone. Anya ordered that near the lake. And the major problem was, Anya couldn't swim. The police had already arrived. But still, there was no sign of Anya anywhere near or in the lake. "Serafine, how many times did I tell you that it is not proper for a young lady like you to be sitting in the library with your lovely sundress all in the dust!" her stepmother complained. Serafine did not like the bright floral patterned sundress that her stepmother bought for her. It was supposed to bring the modern times into these days with its bright neon colors that blinded mostly Anya and gave her such migraines. She threw away all the dresses that Serafine and Anya liked most, the Gothic-Victorian dresses that their real mother used to have especially made for them. Anya hid a few dresses that were of sentimental value, those that her mother spent days on making by hand. She also kept a few of Serafine's. Just incase that they may do something stupid and have no clothes. Of course, their stepmother didn't know about it. Anya hid it in the forest shed in which their stepmother wouldn't dare to go. "Answer me when I speak to you girl!" her stepmother slapped her very hard that Serafine even fell to the ground. Her cheek was very red.

"Serafine? I'm here." a more familiar voice said. Serafine instantly recognized who it was, her real mother. She was ravishing even though she was nearing her 40's. She resembled Anya alot. Except for the eyes. Anya's was just like her father's, a deep shape of violet. Serafine's eyes were sky blue. "Mama!" Serafine rushed to her arms. They hugged tightly. After all, it has been a few months since they have last seen each other. "Serafine, your cheek… it's red! What happened to you?" her mother asked. Serafine gave no reply again. Even to her mother. So, she just looked at her stepmother. Her mother knew instantly what had happen. "What did you do Dunyasha?" her mother asked, a hint of rage filled her voice. "I did nothing to her, Brianna." Dunyasha simply lied. Another reason why she and her sister despised Dunyasha, she always told lies. For example, the time when Dunyasha forgot about what she was cooking and left it on the stove. The kitchen was set afire. And Dunyasha blamed it all on Natasha for reminding her. Natasha was almost fired by that if Anya didn't back her up. Or that other time when she accidentally knocked over a vase during the party and blamed it all on Anya. Most of Anya's privileges were taken away. Only did she redeem it was when she bought the exact twin of it which it cost all her life savings.

"Just tell the truth Dunyasha. I'm tired of hearing all your stupid lies." Brianna told Dunyasha. Dunyasha's daughter, Aina, was all there to watch. She normally bullied Serafine more than Anya since that Anya was a year older than Aina. But, Aina still got what she wanted. "I am telling the truth." Dunyasha added to her lies.

Then, Serafine's father stepped in. He was tall, handsome, and very formal. Similar to a General in the army. But, he was extremely strict. He wore something very similar to a tuxedo. "Brianna, you're here." he said. Brianna turned around to see her ex-husband standing there. "Oh Edmund, have they found her yet?" she asked. He shook his head in dismay. This made Brianna had some tears in her eyes. Serafine was also about to cry. "Well, at least there's one less mouth to feed." Serafine overheard Dunyasha tell Aina. Serafine just hid her feelings after hearing that. A knock came to the door. It was a police officer.

"What news do you bring?" Edmund said. Yet, the police officer lowered his head. Something was terrible.

"I'm terribly sorry sir. But, this is what we only found." the police officer replied entering the room with a necklace in his hand.

"Anya..." Brianna started to cry. Dunyasha, didn't want to have all the family emotion. So she and Aina left the room. "We found it hanging on a branch just near the edge of the waterfall downstream." he said handing the necklace over to Edmund. "Anya..." he replied. Brianna knelt down and hugged Serafine. "Mamma, what does this mean?" her tiny voice asked.

"It means she's never coming back..." Brianna wept.

"Never coming back?" a voice appeared on the door. It was Steffan, Anya's bestfriend. "I came as soon as I heard." he said. Edmund shook his head. Serafine swore he could see tears forming around his eyes. This was the end.

In another location far from the von Eizebergh mansion....

"I'm alive... *cough*..." she said to herself.

"I can't believe it..... It's a miracle.... *cough*.... I'm alive....." she slowly stood up soaking wet.

It was Anya.

A/N: So, this is the prologue. Was it interesting?