I looked in the crack of the door to witness Annabelle straddling a boy on her bed. She was moaning hungrily, pinning the body under her with no struggle at all as her head was intimately latched onto his neck. The audible pleasure coming from the woman set a deep panic in me.
"What have Evelyn and I been brought into? Are we going to be Annabelle's next victims? Just two more souls for her to devour?"
I began to shake, paralyzed at what I was witnessing. I saw the male's chest rise as he was fighting to stay alive. He was still conscious, barely. I could see him weakly notice my figure in the doorway as if it was a last outcry for help. His chest soon halted it's movement, his face becoming cold and lifeless. I breathed heavily as I witnessed this, frozen in place as I couldn't tear myself away from the sight. I should have left. Hell I should have ran, but leaving the boy there alone with the creature even in his state of death would have been inhumane. What happened next I would never forget. Annabelle shot up from the boy's neck, at first lost in bliss as she licked the blood from her red painted lips. Her hair was different, a curly crimson visible as the moon's light hit the window of the dark room. Soon after I heard her voice in an echoing hiss, predicting the predator in her detected another human in close proximity. Yet in those few moments I realized whether it be due to my rapid heartbeat, my audible breathing, or the very blood pulsing through my veins, she knew exactly whose presence it was all along.
"Liza..." Annabelle's eyes opened, her head snapping to meet mine as my body now trembled with an all consuming fear. Her face would soon haunt me in my dreams, for her eyes were a glowing crimson, glazed with hunger as blood dripped from her open-fanged mouth. I had just enough sanity left to bolt from the doorway. I anticipated that she would arrive to me before I even managed to move, pulling me in to take me as her second course. I imagined the memorably alarming sensation of her breath upon my neck, holding me with a stone cold grip as I brace for her teeth to sink in. I started panicking from the inside out at the thought, to my dismay tripping down the hallway. I landed on my side, grabbing my leg in pain. I then felt a sudden chill surround me.
"EV -MM!" I never got the chance to call out to my sister for within seconds Annabelle was right beside me, meeting me and my eyes at ground level as she covered my mouth. She put a finger to her lips, every part of me shaking as if I saw death right in front of me. I looked in horror as there was blood all over her lower face and torso. Yet I noticed her eyes were their original brownish hue, as though the blood turned her back into something almost human. Annabelle soon removed her hand from me, only to guide the back of it along my cheek. I flinched slightly to her touch. I could tell she knew I still feared the worst of her as her expression somewhat saddened.
"Please don't be afraid of me young one. I'm not going to hurt you." She said. She had a look in her eyes enough for me to become entranced, but still in shock from what I just witnessed occurring in her bedroom.
"You look so different. Why? And that boy...his blood..." The woman now intensely looked at me, taking off a red wig to reveal her dark brown hair as her eyes once again turned a bright red.
"I knew you would come looking for answers Miss Liza, for you were indeed correct about me. I am not human, but a vampire." I remained frozen in place as Annabelle's words left me bewildered. I wanted to fear her for what she was. Vampire, the undead, one that must feed on the living for survival. This creature however did save me and Evelyn from death. She could have killed us all if she wished that night. Yet she didn't . It was as if she sympathized with our pain, particularly mine as she saw right away the severity. She treated me with such fragile care. But the question remaining was why.
"What are her true motives?"
Without any further thought, I reached out my hand slowly, beginning to touch the vampire's cool skin. I traced three fingers under her wild eyes, not being able to take my own off of them. Annabelle didn't move, watching me carefully yet allowed me to continue in my curiosity. It was visible she was enjoying it, as though my touch was overwhelming her as she soon closed her eyes with a light hum.
In this moment I forgot all the questions, all the confusion as to who Annabelle truly was. I looked past everything, just entranced at the supernatural woman before me in her current beauty. But as my fingers hesitantly neared closer to her mouth, they opened as a soft yet instinctive hiss came from the woman. An instant shiver ran down my spine as she revealed to me once again her fangs, descending to my careless actions.
"You're reaching dangerous territory dear." I heard her say, her tone dark in warning. Her sharp incisors remained visible as she spoke, reminding me she was a monster.
"I cannot lie to you in this regard; your blood sings to every part of my being. So I would advise you not to extend your exploration any further." I pulled back, an intense unease building within my mind.
"My blood sings to her? What does she mean of this?"
Annabelle sensed my apprehensiveness, her eyes fading back to brown as her fangs retracted. She looked at me with a gentler expression to calm me down as she placed her hand on mine.
"When it comes to you Liza, I promise to not take your blood without consent." I now panicked on the inside, for I had no idea what to make of Annabelle. Her words were barely reassuring, knowing she could turn from someone of elegant grace to a bloodthirsty beast in the blink of an eye. And my fears were now confirmed that there was a deep part of her that infinitely desired my blood. What that meant for me was something I could not ignore to inquire.
"What am I to you? I saw you drain the life from that boy with my own eyes. How can I trust you at your word?" I asked almost in a whisper, unsure of her intents. Annabelle then neared closer to my face. I was becoming nervous, almost ready to jerk away from her again. Yet her face was one of tenderness, grasping my own with her hand.
"If I just saw you as another mortal, the night I found you would have gone far differently. My dear, you are so much more than that." The woman then had me captured in an embrace, my body secure within her hold.
"More than you know. You do not understand now, but it will be clear to you in due time." With this Annabelle stood up with me in her arms. I watched her transfixed as her pupils began to dilate, her eyes boring into my soul. Alarm overtook me as I felt my own growing heavy, trying to keep them open.
"Don't fight it young one. I know you are seeking rest." She said as she pulled me in close, resting my head onto her. I heard her voice only faintly now, my vision faltering into darkness as she spoke once more.
"I will protect you from this world Liza, for I know all too well that it is cruel. Too cruel for someone so pure. Rest well my love. Until I see thee again."