Flashback: New York City. December 5th, 1950:
"But...I thought you wanted me..."
"Is that what you thought? A foolish one indeed. You are not the one I crave. Whom I desire does not yet understand of their destiny. So the circle will continue spinning, for a predator must have their prey."
"W...What?..."
*Tsk* Such a waste conversating with my food while so rabid with hunger. Though I must thank you for allowing me the honor to collect my thoughts before killing you... "
*Growling*
"AHHMMM!..."
I turned nervously to the bedroom I knew to never enter. My sister and I were warned that if we even so neared it there would be consequences. But that night, I heard animalistic noises coming from within. The door was cracked open just enough to hear the struggle of a young man. He tried his hardest to scream, yet seconds later I only heard fading whimpers. I neared the room slowly in fear.
From the beginning I knew I was right about our savior, of what she really was. Yet I couldn't get myself to say the word aloud. Two days earlier sparked my suspicions. Her crimson eyes, her cold touch, the drained bodies of those who killed my parents. I knew she had a secret, one darker than I ever thought to be possible. But what I didn't know was that my first experience of love, no matter how distorted it was, would be from a woman, an immortal one that had me bound to her the moment we met.
Two Days Prior...
"You're going to have to trust me young one. No one can hurt you anymore." A smooth unfamiliar voice of a woman spoke against me in the cool night air of the vacant courtyard. I was imprisoned in her iron grip as we were both knelt to the ground floor. She was freezing to the touch, her even cooler hand covering my mouth to keep me from screaming while her opposite arm was wrapped around my waist. She had talked over my shoulder, not being able to see her face. I was traumatized as I shook furiously to both her bitter touch and the horrific images running through my head. I had just witnessed my parents being murdered right in front of me. The three men wanted their wicked way with me and Evelyn after, predicting our deaths would too soon follow. But neither came, only hearing their petrified screams. I had witnessed each one being lifted into the sky at blinding speed only to come down dead, completely empty of blood. Whatever was killing them was too fast for me to catch it's figure. The last alive of the three tried to make a run for it as he pleaded out for help. Yet a ferocious snarl filled the air, the man being swooped up before he could even make another sound.
Now a mysterious woman was holding me here, a weird smell coming from her of a coppery tone. Her one hand left my mouth to wrap herself fully around me. I heard her take an extensive breath as her head was nestled into my neck, remaining there in complete silence. I was scared for my life. Something had told me despite her words of affirmation moments ago, I wouldn't be alive for much longer. What I knew for a fact was that whoever she was, she wasn't normal. I had an awful feeling she was something else entirely.
"Come closer child. It's over." I heard her speak out as her breath tickled my skin.
"Evelyn..." I whimpered. I was afraid for the worst until I heard my sister's approaching footsteps.
"I sense this is your sister. What is your name dear?" The woman spoke again towards me. I didn't have words, the trauma of this night still continuing it's course as tears streamed down my face. I was also terrified of the stranger. I knew she was the one who although saved me and my sister from death, gave my parents' murderers an even more gruesome fate.
"Who are you?" I finally spoke, whispering with a fearful harshness as my body was involuntarily being turned to face my captor. In front of me I saw a beautiful young woman with dark brunette hair, her face locked on mine in an expression I could not pinpoint. I was shocked by her attire, for her upper body was entirely bare. She had extremely pale skin yet it was free of any blemish. My eyes widened even more as for just a moment her eyes were an illuminating red, glowing in the night. In seconds they faded to a captivating light shade of brown. I looked immediately to where the dead men lay. There I saw a caramel brown corduroy coat matching the dress pants she was wearing on the ground, knowing it had to be hers. The coat itself and the snow around it was heavily stained the color of blood. I was horrified, wanting to escape from the odd woman's hold. But I did not dare to move as I looked back to her.
"You're...not..." The woman stayed silent for a moment before stopping the last sound about to come from my mouth, seeming fully aware that I saw she was far from being human.
"I assume you have nowhere to go, and see you are both growing weary due to your suffering this night. My name is Annabelle. Allow me to aid you. I even offer you my home as a place of refuge. If you wish, stay with me."
Suddenly a bright light was shining towards us as it entered the square. It felt like salt on a freshly opened wound as the last light I saw was the flashlight one of the killers shown upon my family before he shot my mother. I whipped my head down in fright to the heart-wrenching memory.
"Be not afraid. It's only my driver." Annabelle soothingly reassured me as she leant down to my hidden frame before getting up to face the group of deceased bodies along the courtyard. I became panic-stricken as she began to head towards where my parents lay.
"Wait! My family...What will become of them..." Annabelle's movement ceased, slightly turning her head to speak again.
"They're gone dear, I'm sorry. I promise to bring them no further detriment. However it is best for you to look away while I do what I must. Evelyn, I ask that you come beside your sister for a moment to keep her calm. I won't be long."
Before I could even process what was happening Annabelle was above the body of my mother, picking her up carefully. She then went to kneel before my father. She placed mom's head right beside his, her body facing the opposite direction. Annabelle' s own face was shaded from my view as she was leant over them. After a few moments she got up, beginning to slowly approach the bodies of the three killers scattered closely together to the right of my parents. She suddenly stopped and lifted her head to make direct eye contact with me. There was an unnatural darkness within Annabelle's features, proving me right she was something extremely dangerous. Yet I couldn't tare my eyes away from her.
"This would be the moment you look away young one...close your eyes..."
It was unclear why, yet I couldn't help but to listen to Annabelle's voice as it somehow reached me from a distance. I settled my head into Evelyn who had embraced me from the side. All of a sudden I felt an intense heat upon my back. My eyes snapped open, breaking from my sister's embrace as I turned to see there was now a stream of fire between each of the men's bodies. They were engulfed completely within the flames yet somehow my parents remained untouched. Annabelle to my even deeper confusion was nowhere in sight, but right beside Evelyn the instant I turned back around.
"How did she...?"
She was knelt back down in front of me, her features now relaxed as her hand came to touch my temple. The both of us were not able to keep our eyes off each other, mine remaining of pure shock while hers stayed unreadable.
"What is her name?" Annabelle finally spoke again as her head turned to my sister beside her.
"L..Liza...Ma'am." Evelyn answered with hesitance. Annabelle turned to gaze back to me. She removed her hand from my head only to pick me up with ease, rising us both off the ground. She looked to the dark car up ahead.
"Come Evelyn, I will bring you and Liza somewhere safe." I did not have any strength to protest as Annabelle held me in her arms, leading Evelyn and I away from the roaring flames. I looked one last time as my parents' bodies in sight set an overwhelming guilt within me.
"Forgive me Papa...Asking of you to be home for just this day. Now you and mother are dead..and it is all my fault..."
I forced myself to turn my head away for it was becoming too painful. Instead I was now stealing glances at the woman carrying me, her piercing eyes set straight ahead. There was a heavy silence as we made our way to the car.
"Excuse me Miss. But aren't you...cold?" Evelyn spoke up to both my surprise and concern. Out of the many things she could have asked this suspicious stranger it had to be about her current lack of a wardrobe. Annabelle just smirked to herself before resuming looking ahead and continued to move forward.
"I think I can manage. And please, call me by my name. You two will be my honored guests and treated as such." Annabelle sent a warm grin to my sister who returned the gesture. Her attention however returned to me again as she noticed I had been absently transfixed on her and her fleshed upper torso as she spoke. I quickly looked away with a stone cold face as we arrived to the car.
Annabelle sounded as if she was more like royalty than one's ordinary New Yorker. I believed she was from another place and time even more so as a chestnut haired woman in a black maids outfit came from the back of the car to meet us. I assumed her to be in her mid thirties, her features more mature in comparison to Annabelle's. Yet both women were just as pale and flawless in complexion.
"Zieh mich an, wenn du willst Demetria." Annabelle began to speak in a language I couldn't make out. Without a word the woman went to open the front door. She grabbed a black bra and the exact caramel corduroy coat I saw earlier in the courtyard from the passenger side. I watch confused as she approached Annabelle from behind to put her arms in each bra strap and clipping it without the woman ever dropping me. She then put on the coat, now partially covering the other female's upper nudity. Our savior acted like it was completely normal to wander around like this, not phased as she literally held me to her bare chest before. As Annabelle headed closer to the car, she looked to another pale woman in the back with an outfit identical to the first. She was the youngest of the three, appearing my age with dark blonde hair and honey eyes to match.
"Gale geht nach vorne." Annabelle spoke towards her. "Natürlich, Madam." The youngest responded in what sounded like compliance to an order as she descended from the vehicle.
All three women were stunning, hard to believe that one could be that beautiful. Yet Annabelle stood out from the others, her beauty appearing to be timeless. I was expecting to be placed in the back while she left to enter the front. Yet I never left her side, placing me in her lap as she sat behind the driver while the older maid led Evelyn next to us and seated herself after. The two women in the back secured their doors while the younger woman took her place in the front passenger seat, closing the door beside her after.
There was an undeniable tension in the car as I heard the final door close shut; now only hearing my heavy breaths as it dawned on me the situation. Me and Evelyn were about to be taken away by a woman that screamed danger. I felt my sister's hand intertwine with mine, giving it a tight squeeze. My eyes mdrifted to hers as she looked to me worried.
"Liza are you alright?" I barely heard Evelyn's voice as I was now hearing my own throbbing heart beat, so loud it was pounding in my ears. I felt everyone watching me as I now eyed the door beside Annabelle in panic.
"Liza."
The car began to move, making me want to cry out for my life.
"Jeffrey stop the car!" Annabelle called out to the driver. I felt like I was having a panic attack, my body trembling as I took harsh breaths. Annabelle pushed my head upon her shoulder facing away from her, stroking a gentle hand in my hair.
"You're safe now." Annabelle spoke softly into my ear. Once my breathing began to steady, she motioned for the driver to start up again. As the car resumed it's movement, she began to hum an unknown melody. Although pleasant to the ears, I was still on my guard due to how close she was, feeling every vibration that was coming from within her. I found myself settling to the comfort of music, her voice subduing my body's trembled movements. Yet I felt my body tense again as minutes later the vibrations ceased, Annabelle putting a light kiss just below my ear. She was yet again at my neck as her head inched a fraction lower, hearing her breathe in deeply yet as faint as she could muster. Evelyn could not see what Annabelle was doing, and I did not want to put her or myself more at risk. So I sat in complete stillness, the uncontrollable tears once again falling down my face.
"A young damsel like you shouldn't be filled with such anguish; one who's air about her so intriguing...so invigorating..." Annabelle quietly spoke to me as she remained burrowed in my neck. Her attempted efforts to settle my nerves in the end deemed themselves useless, only keeping still and silent for my own withering sanity. I surely didn't feel safe in the embrace of this woman, her odd words and intimately close touch only making me more wary of her. I tried to distract myself as I look to Evelyn whose hand was still connected to mine. I secretly observed the woman beside her. Her eyes were transfixed on something upon my sister then quickly faced forward. I could have sworn I had seen her light brown eyes darken in shade.
"Were these two women like Annabelle, all monsters in disguise?"
I could tell Evelyn was uncomfortable as she put a harder pressure to my hand, from the side of her vision seeing the woman's gaze upon her once more.
"Is everything alright Evelyn?' I hadn't even realized Annabelle removed herself from me, yet never ceased stroking my head as she looked to my sister then to the woman beside her with more of a stern expression. This makes Evelyn detach her hand from my own in an instant, trying to appear nonchalant about her accomplice's strange behavior.
"Umm...yes. I'm fine. Who are they...if I may ask?" Evelyn asked in a timid politeness. Annabelle's expression eased in severity.
"Of course. Pardon me for not introducing. These are my serv...housemaids. To your right is Demetria and up front is Gale, mother and daughter. Ladies this is Evelyn and Liza. They will be staying with us for the time being."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Demetria spoke with a smoothly mild accent as she bowed with grace to Evelyn and I, yet nothing came from Gale. I watched as her hard eyes viewed me in the rearview mirror, making me feel even more uneasy.
"Gibt es ein problem Gale?" Annabelle now spoke in a tone that was rather grave. Even though I did not understand the language, it was apparent she was bothered by the lack of a response from her maid. Her boss's voice turns around Gale immediately in her seat. Demetria shot a nervous glance towards her daughter, yet remained quiet.
"Nein, Miss Annabelle. Pleased to meet you both." Gale now bows low, her English nearly perfect. Nein was the one word I had understood, learning the three women had been speaking German. Although Annabelle didn't have much of an accent at all, her deep German roots were evident in her fluidity as she spoke to her maids. I did not dare to speak one word during this entire exchange, refusing to reveal any sense of retaliation for both mine and my sister's sake. Yet I already feared the worst as Evelyn speaks up again.
"Thank you for your kindness...Miss Annabelle. How can we ever repay you for your generosity?" This immediately made me come back to my senses. Evelyn was beside a woman I feared could kill her in an instant right where she sat. I was in the arms of Annabelle, the one who had just killed three men. Her inhuman strength, her cold pale skin, her once blood red eyes. It led me to one conclusion: This was a trap. I believed this woman only had one motive in mind, deeply fearing our debt to her would be our own lives.
"EVELYN DON'T TRUST HER SHE'S NOT HUMAN!" I snapped, thrashing in attempt to get out of her grasp. This only caused Annabelle to clutch me tighter to her.
"Please don't do this my dear." She spoke quietly against me.
"LET ME GO!" I screeched out with a cry, reaching towards Evelyn.
"Unterwerfe das Mädchen, Demetria." Annabelle said with a firm composure as her eyes were locked to her maid's next to Evelyn. Evelyn looked confused as the woman grabbed her by the shoulders to look to her. When the she let go my sister's head laid back on the seat, staring forward with her eyes glazed over.
"EVELYN?" The younger girl was unresponsive, making me look to Demetria in outrage.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" I screamed again. I continued to struggle against Annabelle's unbreakable hold as she calmly spoke onto me again.
"I didn't want to do this my way young one. Yet you leave me with no choice." I cried even harder, preparing myself that this was the end. Maybe this is what I wanted, the trauma and fear becoming all too burdensome to carry any longer. Yet I felt no pain as Annabelle positioned my body towards her, grasping both sides of my face to force me to look into her deep depths of brown.
"It is foolish to speak of things you do not know nor understand. You musn't fight me dear, I want to help you." Annabelle finally let me go as my walls came crumbling down. My defenses were gone, beginning to weep upon her chest as every recollection and emotion of this night now started to hit me all at once. She adjusted my body again only to draw me in closer, cradling me as if sheltering me from the never-ending storm in my mind.
"I'm going to take care of you Liza, I promise." Annabelle whispered to me as she held my grieving figure. She stroked my hair once again as I shut my teary eyes. For once this night I felt an easing comfort in her arms, giving up a battle we both knew I wouldn't win. My tears finally ceased, the car soon after coming to a complete stop.
"We're here." I opened my eyes to see Demetria opening her door, grabbing Evelyn's hand to lead her out. I wanted to follow them, my maternal instinct for the younger girl kicking in as the fear started to reemerge within me. I put my hand to the door beside me yet I felt Annabelle place her cold hand on mine. I raised my head to look into her eyes as they laid still upon my own.
"What are you?' I asked as we were alone in the car. Annabelle's thumb lightly wiped the remaining tears from my face before her hand stroked it .
"All I want to be is what you and your sister need right now. Allow me to do that honor." She said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. We were insanely close, a closeness that had me lost in her eyes. Although still brown they had a dark intensity to them again, as though she was fighting a pull to move in even closer. After a few moments her eyes go to the door. She pushed it open and stepped out with me still in her secure hold. As we exited the car I look up to an establishment, one bigger and more astonishing than any other I had ever come across.
"Welcome to my home, Miss Liza."
I still remember to this day Annabelle saving me and Evelyn from those men. She was intrigued by us, so much that she brought us into her home, only to later make us into her immortal vessels once she gained our trust. Annabelle took much interest in me since the night she laid her eyes upon me. I didn't know what this meant at the time, yet quickly found that she had many surprises in store. It began the night she revealed her blood lusted nature to me for the first time, confirming the beliefs I had about her to be true.