Chapter 2 :

The day went by pretty fast and soon Candy found herself back in her room, helped into her ball gown by her maid who was also helping her with her hair and with sorting jewellery. Albert had given Candy a big box full of family jewellery and the girl couldn't find words to say how pretty they all were.

Albert was just like her: very generous and since he loved her like his daughter (or sister), he was willing to do everything he could to make her happy. He had given her a lot of things that used to belong to his sister Rosemary and everything was very pretty on Candy.

As soon as she was ready, Candy walked down the stairs and was greatly complimented by the guests that had arrived early as well as her father.

"You're very pretty tonight Candy. This green dress does wonder with you!" Albert said.

"Thank you, but you're the one that bought it for me!" She said with a soft blush.

"I got you dresses and jewellery Candy… It wouldn't make you pretty if you weren't already a pretty girl inside!" Albert said with a wink before he turned to introduce her to some of his co-workers.

The young heiress was looking around for a friendly face and couldn't see Annie and Archibald yet but the front door was wide open and she could see Anna arriving.

"It's her Albert. Anna is here! Come, I'll introduce you to her!" Candy said as she dragged a chuckling Albert behind her.

He loved seeing her that happy. He knew that Annie had often used Candy's friendship when she could use it and left her alone when she had what she needed. Albert was happy that Candy had finally found a real friend.

"Anna, thanks for coming. This is my adoptive father and very good friend Albert… Well, he is the Great uncle William but I call him Albert." Candy said.

Anna greeted them with a polite smile:

"Thank you for inviting me. It's a very pretty house you have here." Anna said softly.

"You're welcome, please come on in. Any friend of my darling Candy is welcome here!" He said joyfully as he showed Anna inside.

Anna smiled at the invitation and walked inside with Candy.

"Your father seems pretty nice." The dark haired girl said.

"He is… Oh look, my friends Annie and Archie just arrived. Come, I'll introduce you!" Candy said softly.

Anna smiled and followed as Candy introduced her to the few people she liked. It didn't take long for her to realize just how much Candy was loved by the people she knew. Also it didn't take a genius to see that Annie was as sincere in her feelings for Candy as Candy was to her. She over heard William Albert speaking with a man named George about how Annie often ignored Candy when she had what she wanted in life… Anna was sad for her new friend because that was what Candy was already… A friend that had warmed her heart and made her feel hope for the future.

After a while, all the guests had arrived and Albert had to make his speech so he climbed the stairs, asking Candy to come by his side along with Great aunt Elroy, Archibald and the other main members of the Ardley family. He started by introducing himself, then he introduced Candy and talked about his company, his investments… All the things people wanted to hear about.

Everyone was mesmerised by how pretty Candy was and Albert knew that the picture they took of the both of them on the stairs would make it to the Newspapers.

"You didn't seem very comfortable up there…" Anna told Candy once she went back down.

"I wasn't… Before I found out Albert was Uncle William I actually worked as a nurse in a hospital in Chicago… I've always been a worker, never a rich girl…" Candy explained.

"Maybe that's why this Eliza girl was so mean to you…" Anna suggested.

"Probably…" Candy shrugged before they went to get something to drink and walked around.

At some point, Candy had to agree to dance with some sons of the families working with Albert and even if she didn't really enjoy it, she figured it would be rude to deny them… It could hurt Albert's working relationships and she didn't want that.

Anna also danced with a few peoples before she went to join Candy at the bar to get a drink.

"That man was so rude! He didn't stop speaking about himself!" Anna said.

"The one I was dancing with couldn't keep his hand in a proper place!" Candy replied.

"My mother always used to say it took men longer than women to mature… I'm getting to see she was right." Anna said.

"You're mother was a wise woman!" Candy smiled before she took Anna to the Rose garden and they talked some more about their lives and their tastes.

By the time the Ball was over, Candy had had a lot of fun with Anna and they parted only when the last guest left. They promised each other they would meet the next day during the afternoon in town.

Anna felt guilty that she had to hide the truth from her new friend but she was afraid she would get rejected and it was an idea she hated. She tried, discreetly, to compel Candy during the night and was shocked to see that the girl couldn't get compelled. There was something different about that girl and Anna felt drawn to her.

-C-

Albert watched from afar as his Candy was saying goodbye to her new friend. The two girls seemed pretty close already and he had to admit that he liked the girl. She was making Candy happy so she had to be a good person. He managed to talk a while with her and realized she was just a girl who had lost her family too soon.

-C-

As she got home that night, Anna was happy. She felt she had found a true friend in Candy and she couldn't wait to spend more time with her. Maybe the next few years wouldn't be so lonely after all. She almost felt human with Candy… That night, as she went to feed, Anna fed on a man who had just robbed a house before compelling him to fall asleep on the house's couch.

When she fell asleep, she couldn't help but think about all the things that made Candy a different kind of girl… So full of life, so happy, so forgiving… Candice White Ardley was the picture of everything that was pure, good, nice and innocent in the world and Anna felt the need to protect her.

-C-

The next morning, in the newspaper, the picture of Candy and Albert was all over the front page and Albert was sure it would reach New York in a few days… Would Terry come back for Candy or would he respect his promise to take care of Susanna? Albert didn't know but he secretly hope the boy would stay away… Only tears and more heartbreak would come out of him coming back in Candy's life and he knew it. It was the reason why he asked him to stay away last time he saw him in Chicago.

-C-

Candy was happy when she got up and went by her morning pretty fast. She got George to drive her in town once again and he told her he would be back in a few hours. She met up with Anna and the two girls shopped, talked and drank tea together.

Over the next few days, the two girls met some more, every day. Becoming best friends, almost sisters and Candy was sad that Anna was all alone in her small apartment. She really liked her and after a few months of spending a lot of time together, she wanted to help her out so she went to see Albert one day and asked him if it could be okay to invite Anna to stay with them on a permanent basis.

Albert smiled.

He knew this was coming and told his adopted daughter that he would happily invite Annabelle to stay with them. He actually already had the bedroom next to Candy's ready just in case. Candy hugged him and rushed to meet with Anna, eager to invite her.

"Are you sure it wouldn't be a problem Candy?" Anna asked.

"I'm sure. I asked Albert and he said it wouldn't be a problem at all!" Candy reassured her.

"I… Thank you Candy, really… But before I accept I have something important to tell you and your father about myself…" Anna said.

She couldn't lie to her friend anymore.

"What is it?" Candy asked her.

"It would be easier if I could say everything to the two of you at the same time…" Anna said.

"Sure, why don't you come with me, we'll have lunch with Albert and you'll be able to explain everything then."

"Okay… Thank you… You're a very good friend Candice." Anna said truthfully before they both got into the car and got back to the Lakewood mansion.

Candy now had her own car and Albert paid for her to take driving lessons so she could get around town on her own… This way George was free to work without having to drive her around all the time.

-C-

As soon as they arrived, a maid opened the door for them and showed them to the dining room where Albert was waiting.

"Annabelle, I'm happy to see that you accepted our invitation!" he said with a smile, putting his newspaper down.

"Not yet Albert…I have something to tell the two of you about myself before I do." She, too, had taken to calling him by this name after he authorized her to.

"What is it?" He asked as he motioned for the two girls to sit down too.

"I would really rather be completely alone with the two of you for when I tell you… I don't want anyone else hearing this…" She said.

Albert nodded and motioned for the maid that was still in the room to leave until they were called back with the bell.

"Okay… It's not easy to say and it won't be easy for you to hear and believe… First, you have to know that the supernatural world exists…" Anna said before she proceeded on telling them her story, her real story.

She told them about her mother, about Mystic Falls, about vampires, Original vampires, witches, werewolves…

She told them everything from her ability to compel to the effects of vervain on her. She told them that if they were mad at her and wanted her out of this house for good they had to change to name of the owner and have the new owner keeping her out. She told them how Candy somehow couldn't be compelled and how she really liked them, how she tried to feed only on bad people or big animals because she didn't want to be a monster…

She truly told them everything and they listened.

"Wow…" Candy said.

"I give you my word that I would never try to hurt any of you!" Anna promised.

"I believe you Anna." Albert said.

"So do I." Candy added with a smile;

"How can you accept this so easily?" The young vampire asked them.

"I don't care what you are Anna…you're my friend for who you are… And you're a great person!" Candy said softly.

"So, will you move in with us then?" Albert asked after a few seconds of silent.

"I would love to!" Anna replied with tears in her eyes.

For the first time since she lost her mother, Anna felt like she was part of a family and it made her really happy. Candy was her sister and they would stay in touch for a long time.


What did you think of this new chapter?

Suggestion? Comment?

Please REVIEW!

Please check out my other stories... you'll like them!

Keep reading me,

Lorelei Candice Black