Lord Grey was dressed in a purple suit that fit his aged figure perfectly. His hair was combed back and styled, and his piercing steel eyes seemed to peer into my very soul as he examined me as I sat on the ground naked. I didn’t care, though. He could look at me as much as he wanted. It just boosted my self-esteem as a sexy vampiress.
He spoke, “I see you’ve done something rather impertinent again, haven’t you?”
I replied, “Yeah, I guess I have.”
He sighed and scratched his chin. “I was ordered to punish you, but I don’t feel it’ll have any effect seeing as how the last time did almost nothing to you.”
I stared at his fingers which clutched his tie tightly. Was he nervous? His left foot tapped against the floor, and he chewed his bottom lip. Hm.
He went on, “I actually want to tell you something, if you’ll listen.”
I asked, “What do you wanna tell me?”
He smiled. “I want to tell you about Annabelle and who she is. I have known her for a great deal of time and have come to understand that her circumstances have shaped her far more than anything else in this world.”
I nodded. “Okay, tell me about her then.”
“Very well. You do know that she is a real queen, right?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Well, now you know. Anyway, as a young heiress, Anna was full of vigor and happiness. She loved helping tend the garden and going for horse rides. However, she was very intrigued with the knights of the time, but her social status kept her from studying in that area and her gender restrained her even more so.
“Anyway, since she couldn’t become a knight, she resigned herself to becoming a benevolent queen who ruled her country with compassion and empathy after reading many fantasy books. She loved her mother, father, and little sister dearly and studied hard to become the queen she so aspired to become. But one day she woke to not the serene quiet morning she was used to but of yelling and screaming and fire. People from a neighboring country had seized the castle and captured her father and little sister. In an attempt to save her, Anna’s mother hid her away in the torture chamber in the ground and then went to meet her death at the hands of the new queen and king.
“Anna spent days in the basement all alone, and when she was finally found, she was thought to be a poor peasant, and they spared her life. She was thrown on the streets where she was to fend for herself, a rich, privileged girl now reduced to a groveling slave. It was ridiculous in itself. She struggled and was beaten and raped for not working on time. She had to sew and learn to do work a woman was supposed to know, and she hated it. Mind you, she was only nine when this all happened.
“Men took advantage of her beautiful physical appearance which only grew with age, and she was sold to the beds of lowly men just to scrape by and survive.
“But Annabelle’s resolve had not been broken. And one day she would rise again and take revenge on all those who had wronged her.
“She became a vampire by chance. One of the men she slept with had turned her, because he wanted to immortalize her beauty, but she quickly killed him and began to exact her revenge. Well, she did, and she took it upon herself to hate men but not all—your Sang always had a spot in her heart that she couldn’t give into. Over the years, she grew bitter and power-stricken, and now, she wants more power to get revenge on the person who killed her family and who just so happens to be a very powerful werewolf.
“And she needs you to do it, because you seem to boost her in some way. You compliment her power and make her stronger, and she adores you, you know. You may not realize it, but she has come to love you, she really has.”
I was stunned. She had been through so much, and I had just thought she was a cold bitch by nature. And, she liked me, huh? Well, maybe I could help her but just with this one thing. Then I’d go home and be done with her for good.
I said, “I’ll help her.”
Grey was speechless. “Really? You will?”
“Yeah.”
He cracked his knuckles. “Good. Because this is what she instructed me to do, not punish you. So, now you will come upstairs and get ready as we are leaving very soon to confront that werewolf.”
I swallowed hard. Everything was happening so fast. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
I went upstairs with Grey in the lead and went into Annabelle’s room. She immediately showered me with kisses and hugged me as if we’d been apart for decades. I breathed deeply when she let me go and sat on the bed beside her as she began to speak, “Oh, Lily, I’m so happy to see you.”
It’s only been ten minutes, I wanted to say.
I stared fixated at Annabelle. She was out of her riding uniform, and she wore a stunning dark green dress with sparkling sequins and intricate lace around the hems. Her obsidian locks were free and fell smoothly down her back in one thick wave. The dress was snug on her body and fit her like a glove. It showed prominent cleavage, and I found myself trying to avert my eyes from that. I sat silently as she rummaged through her closet, fishing through dress after dress.
I guessed she searched for a dress for me, as I was naked. Sang was in the room, and he was handsomely fitted into a long sleeve black shirt with golden buttons and matching pants. Black leather boots were laced to his knees, and a creamy ruffle was tied to his neck. He was so delicious in that attire and I just wanted to run over and kiss him on the lips hard but then that might be rude to Annabelle.
I wondered if he was still under her spell and waved a finger. His eyes were still glassy, so I took that as a yes and bowed my head. Why didn’t she release him? Why was he still under her control?
“Yes! Here it is!” she exclaimed happily. I watched as she walked over to me with a black dress in hand. It was a ball-gown and was beautifully crafted with lace and spiraling designs that curved and ran along the entire length. It had a petticoat inside, was sleeveless, and had a sweetheart neckline encrusted with rubies. Annabelle motioned for me to stand, and I did and put my arms over my head as she slipped the dress onto me.
It settled onto my body, and I admit I was a bit uncomfortable without any underwear, but the dress made up for that with its gorgeous appearance. Annabelle moved me over to the mirror where I gazed into it and gasped at my reflection. I was like a movie star with this dress. She took out a pair of glittering high heels and buckled them onto my feet. I was a bit upset that they were high-heels but was I to do? They completed the outfit beautifully.
She snapped her fingers, and Sang rubbed his temples and whipped his head around the room like a lost puppy. When he saw me, he rushed over and embraced me tightly.
“Lily, you look so…so lovely,” he said breathlessly.
I felt my cheeks heat up and played with the ruffle around his neck. He examined himself and said he looked like Darius, to which we both laughed. Annabelle paced back and forth and stopped before us as our lips connected in a small kiss, and we quietly broke apart.
“What are we doing?” Sang asked no one in particular.
Annabelle responded, “We’re going to a party, Sang. Now follow me outside.”
He gave me a confused expression, and I whispered that it would be okay. We strode along the narrow corridors until we reached the huge double doors. They opened by themselves, and we went outside. Waiting for us was a sleek white limo. We all filed inside, and I noticed that Priscilla was already in the back seat where Annabelle sat. She beckoned for me to sit next to her, and I did. Then Sang occupied the spot next to me, and we were all crammed into the very back as the driver sped off.
I peered out the window as trees and cars flew by in an endless blur and thought about what was happening. We were going to meet the werewolf that ruined Annabelle’s life, right? The one who overthrew her parents and took the throne for himself. Excitement rippled through me. Were we going to fight? Were we just going to talk it out? And why did Annabelle need me so much? I sighed and propped my chin on the back of my right hand and nestled my head on Sang’s shoulder.
Annabelle grabbed my left hand, and I almost jumped at the iciness of her touch. “Don’t doze off now,” she said.
I grumbled, “I won’t.” I snatched my hand back. Her eyes lowered to the floor as I did so, and it made me feel bad. Did I hurt her feelings? I grunted and offered her back my hand which she scooped up and petted gently.
Sang snored loudly already, and I supposed that when he wasn’t the one driving he got bored easily. And tired. His neck lolled to the side, and I shifted my position so that his head rested on my shoulder instead of the other way around.
Annabelle barked to the driver, “Music, please.” And some crappy classical song blew through the speakers. I didn’t hate classical, I just didn’t like it. Rock was more my style.
Finally, the car began to slow down and parked. It was dark outside, and a thick fog smothered everything. We piled out of the limo and stood near it, the fog disrupting any view I might have had of the enemy.
Annabelle’s voice soothed, “now, relax. Just relax and let me do everything that needs to be done.”
I closed my eyes and imagined myself being cradled in a blanket of warm water on a beach. The sand was velvety between my toes, and the salty breeze tousled my hair.
Annabelle took my hand again and led me to the inside of a clearing of bushes. I glanced around for someone else, anyone else, and saw a woman approaching us. She had short brunette hair and almond-shaped brown eyes. She wore a simple outfit of jeans and a blue camisole, and raw electricity buzzed in the air around her.
I tightened my grip on Annabelle’s hand and instantly knew that something wasn’t right.
“This woman isn’t a werewolf,” I said almost robotically. How did I know that? I continued, “She’s a witch.”
Annabelle then hugged me close to her and said, “Yes, she’s a witch, Lily. The witch that will bind us together for eternity.”
I was so lost and confused. “What do you mean?”
Annabelle’s lips curled into a sadistic grin. “There is no werewolf, Lily. I killed him ages ago. Instead, this witch, Lyra, will sever the bonds of you and Darius and bind you to me instead.”
I tried to push her away, to get away from her hold, but she was too strong. “No. No.” I grunted, dazed and puzzled. “You lied to me.”
“Sometimes one has to lie to get what they want,” she replied sharply. I wriggled and writhed, but she was just too strong, and then my whole body went limp, and she set me down onto the wet, dewy grass.
“Sang!” I yelled. “Sang!”
“He won’t be coming. He’s under my control.” Annabelle laughed like a hyena.
Lyra stepped closer to me and knelt down. “You’re sure you want this girl to belong to you?” she asked Annabelle.
“Yes, I most certainly do.”
I ground my teeth. “You,” I whispered. “You’re the one who cursed Darius.”
Lyra smiled faintly. “Yes, that would be me.”
I wanted to just sock her right in the nose. “Why do you listen to Annabelle? Why do you do these things?” My lips became numb as well. How could Annabelle do this? Make me feel pity for her and then stab me in the back? What did I ever do to her? How could someone do this?
Annabelle spoke, “Lyra, you may begin the ritual.”
I saw Priscilla walk toward Annabelle, rope her arm around hers, and settle her head inside the crook of her neck. Lyra began to chant some foreign language and draw a circle around me in white chalk. I saw Sang out of the corner of my eye standing still, crimson eyes glazed over with silent obedience.
As Lyra chanted more and more, the circle began to glow and hum, and my body felt heavy, so, so heavy. It was like everything around me was becoming lighter as I became a weight of a million tons. The circle glowed a bright blue and buzzed as the witch continued her ceremony and then everything stopped, suspended in time as Annabelle sliced her hand with a fingernail and pressed the wound to my mouth. She pinched my cheeks and made me swallow the salty, sweet blood as she pierced my own arm and drank my blood herself.
Lyra began to chant again, and the circle surrounding me grew brighter, so bright it was blinding. My whole body began to ache and throb with the ritual; I felt so heavy and out of place. Annabelle got onto her knees and lowered her mouth to my throat.
Lyra told her, “You may now drink from your servant.”
Just as Annabelle’s fangs grazed my neck, a flash of metal flew in front of my eyes, and a familiar voice penetrated the darkness. “It appears I’ve arrived in time.”
I squinted my eyes to see Darius step from the fog and into the circle.