Chapter 3 :

From the moment Anna moved in with the Ardley, time had flown by. Of course, Elroy hadn't been very happy about the new house guest but since Albert had authorized it, she didn't really have a choice but to accept it.

-C-

Annie came to visit a couple of times with Archibald but Candy was sad to realize the only reason her childhood friend came was because Archibald had asked her to. She spent the whole time with the Great Aunt Elroy, trying to get the old woman to agree on her using some ancient family jewellery during the wedding. Candy finally realized that Annie had been using her all these years because she wanted Archibald, now that she had him, she didn't want to risk her reputation being pulled down by Candy, the orphaned girl who worked as a nurse.

Of course, Candy's popularity was at the top. Everyday, in the newspapers, there was an article about Albert and the journalists always found a way to insert some news about Candy. They always wrote how big hearted she was, how charitable she acted and how pretty she was. After every article, Annie would invite Candy to eat with her in town, in public and the young heiress of the Ardley family always went with a smile because she was happy to spend time with her old friend.

However, after a few months of this behaviour, Candy came to realize just who Annie really was when she learned that Eliza would be the maid of honour at her wedding with Archibald.

After that, Candy let go of her friendship with Annie and even if she still behaved politely around her, being rude was just not in her nature, she didn't seek her out anymore. She understood that it was the way life went sometimes. Anna suggested compelling Annie to behave like a real friend toward Candy but the blond woman refused: it wouldn't have been right and she refused to have someone she cared about controlled by another person, it just wasn't right.

-C-

Candy had taken Anna to visit Pony's house and they spend a couple of days there. She wanted her two mothers to know her new friend, her sister of heart and was happy to see the two women loved Anna. She smiled when she spotted Anna suggested growing vervain and drinking it regularly.

Candy made sure every kid was in good health and they used the occasion to bring them toys, books and clothes. It had been a very happy couple of days for both girls and they went back home happy.

-C-

It was now Albert's birthday and a big party was being planed.

The Reagan's were all invited for the first time since Albert had taken his position at the head of the family back. At first he wanted to keep Eliza away for a little longer but Elroy and Candy both insisted that he gave her a new chance and he agreed. He could never say no to Candy…

"Don't worry Albert I'll keep an eye out for Candy!" Anna told him on the morning of the party.

"I know… I'm glad she found you Anna… I feel better knowing you're keeping an eye out for her." Albert said.

"I really don't understand it… From the moment I saw her I felt drawn to her… I don't know why but I really want her to be safe… Not only because we're friends… I feel like there's another reason but I don't see it…" Anna said thoughtfully.

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad you're here for Candy… She hasn't had the easiest life and I'm just glad she found a sincere friend in you." Albert said softly as Anna smiled and went to join Candy who was reading in the garden.

-C-

When the time for the party came, both Anna and Candy were ready and very beautiful. When they walked down the stairs, the Reagan's had already arrived along with Archibald, his parents, Annie and other members of the family.

They both greeted everyone politely before Candy hugged Albert and wished him a happy birthday for the third time that day.

Niel approached Candy and Anna, hoping to get a chance to apologize. He had spent the last few months working with his father and was now a changed man. Candy happily accepted his apology and let him know she had forgiven him.

When Eliza approached her a few minutes later, Candy tried to keep the smile on her face but she couldn't help but feel like there was something wrong. Anna was a few steps away, speaking with Archibald and Candy knew she would be by her side in an instant if she had a problem so she took a big breath.

"I brought a peace offering!" Eliza said as she handed Candy a glass of champagne.

"Thank you… Why?" Candy replied. She didn't like the smile she was seeing on the young woman's face but decided to be the greater person and to accept whatever she could get from the girl who had hurt her so many times before.

"Candy, I hear my brother apologized for his behaviour toward you…"

"Yes, Niel looks like a changed man since he started working with your father." Candy replied softly.

"Cheers!" Eliza said as she raised her own glass and drank.

Candy drank for her glass just as Anna called her name.

Eliza was already walking away when Candy could feel herself faint.

Anna caught her and carried her discreetly in her bedroom and asked a maid to call Albert.

"What's going on?" Albert asked as he ran into the room only a few seconds later.

"Eliza slipped Candy some poison… I smelled it too late…" Anna said as she laid a sick looking Candy on the bed.

"It's acting fast…" Albert noticed.

"I can give her my blood and heal her…" Anna said.

"Do it!"

Anna bit her wrist and put it on Candy's mouth, begging her to drink.

"You know Albert, if something happens in the next 24 hours and Candy dies, she will become a vampire…" Anna informed him.

"I know… We'll be careful… But if it happens, can you give me your word that she won't be alone?" He asked her.

"Of course Albert! I'll never leave her alone… If she was to change, I'll teach her control and make sure she is happy…never alone…" Anna promised as Candy started to awake.

"What's happened?" She asked in a weak voice.

"Eliza poisoned your cup of champagne…I had to feed you my blood in order for you to survive…" Anna explained.

"Thank you… I knew something was wrong with the smile on her face… I never should have trusted her…" Candy said as she got back up.

"Then you wouldn't be you Candy…" Albert said as he kissed her forehead and they all headed back down the stairs.

As soon as Eliza spotted Candy on the stairs, she let out a cry of rage… She couldn't believe it!

Candy had been intercepted on the stairs by Archibald who wanted to apologize for Annie's behaviour and Anna had kept on walking down the stairs with Albert.

Eliza was seeing red and managed to find herself behind Candy on the stairs.

No one saw her in time to stop her.

Eliza pushed Candy as hard as she could.

Everyone watched and soon Eliza was held back by Niel and Archibald.

People were crying.

People were yelling.

"She's dead! I can't believe it… She's finally dead!" Eliza was yelling over and over again.

"It's not true right?" Niel asked.

"Albert's face was blank, he was in shock. She knew Candy would come back but there were a lot of people around Candy's body and neither he nor Anna could cover and say she was just unconscious.

"Yes…It's true… Candy is dead…" A voice said.

Everything else was a blur to Albert.

People crying.

People saying they were sorry.

Anna asking people to leave.

Reporters taking pictures.

The police showing up and arresting Eliza for murder.

The maids carrying Candy in her bedroom after Anna asked them to.

Albert reacted again when Anna put her hand on his shoulder. They were alone in Candy's room.

"I asked for everyone to leave the house for the next couple of days… I said you needed time to say goodbye…"

"Thank you Anna… I just… I know she's going to wake up but… The violence of her death… She won't be able to come back… Everyone thinks she is dead… Her life here is over…" Albert said, holding Candy's hand tightly.

"I know… I told George to come back tomorrow afternoon… I figured we would have a plan until then…" Anna said.

"Thank you… Isn't there anything you can think of?" Albert asked her.

"If it had been with less people I could have compelled them but there were way too many people who saw everything…" Anna said in an apologetic tone.

It was silent for a few minutes when Anna said:

"I know a witch who doesn't live very far from here… I could ask her for Lapis Lazuli jewellery for Candy… I can go and be back before Candy wakes up…" Anna said.

"That's a good idea… Why don't you just ask her to come here with everything she needs… Tell her I'll pay her very good money if she helps us." Albert said.

"I will… I'll be as fast as I can." Anna said before she rushed out of the house in super speed.

-C-

The witch she was looking for lived in a small town near by and had a dream of owning a bar in Chicago.

"Hello Gloria." Anna said as soon as she appeared in front of the witch's house. It was a special night and the young woman was working on growing some special herbs.

"Anna… What can I do for you?" Gloria asked.

She was surprised to see the young girl.

"I need your help for a friend of mine… She is going to wake up in transition soon and I need you to make her lapis lazuli jewellery… her father is very rich and willing to pay very good money for this… He asks that you take everything you need and come back with me… he will make sure to compensate your time!" Anna said real quick.

Gloria could see the urgency in the vampire's tone and knew it was important. She could hear the spirits telling her to go with Anna, that it was important for her to do this so she nodded her head, rushed inside to grab a few of the needed stones and let Anna carry her until they arrived at a very big mansion.

Anna finally set her back on her feet in front of a bedroom door.

"She's in there, come!" Anna said as she opened the door in time to see Candy was awake and being told everything by Albert.

"I'm sorry it took so long, I wanted to be there when you woke up candy…" Anna said.

"It's okay.. Thank you for coming Miss." Candy told Gloria.

"You can call me Gloria… Usually the spirits don't like it when we spell jewellery for vampire but for some reason, this time, they tell me I have to do it… They trust you…" The witch explained to Candy with a soft smile.

"Will you please thank them for me?" Candy asked.

"They know… They are always around…" Gloria replied.

"You haven't completed the transition yet…" Gloria realized.

"I…woke up only a few minutes ago…" Candy informed her.

"I can't spell anything until you've completed the transition…" Gloria said.

"I don't have to kill anyone do I?" Candy asked Anna.

"Of course not… All you have to do it drink a bit of human blood… After that I'll teach you how to feed on someone and keeping the person you're drinking from safe." Anna said.

"What if I can't stop though?" Candy asked, worried.

"We'll pour some of Albert's blood in a glass if it makes you feel better." Anna suggested.

"Albert's blood?" Candy asked.

"Yes… I really want to do this for you Candy…" He replied softly.

After that, Anna used a knife to cut the man's arm and poured a full glass of it before she fed him a bit of her own blood so he could heal.

"How about Gloria and I go to my office and discuss the conditions of her helping us while Anna helps you get acclimated?" Albert suggested to Candy.

They all nodded and Albert told them to come and join him when they were ready.

"The sun is rising… I'll close the curtains for now…" Anna informed Candy.

Candy then went to clean herself and change out of her ball down before she walked back in her room and shared her worries with her heart sister.

"I'm scared Anna… I don't want to become a monster…"

"You won't be… Listen to me Candy, you heard Gloria: the spirits agree with you becoming a vampire! This never happens! It must mean that they know you'll still be a good person after your transition… I promise you everything will be fine! I'll help you with everything and you will be fine. I promise you!" Anna said softly.

"Okay… I need to drink it all?" Candy asked.

Anna nodded and so she drank the whole glass. She could feel her fangs coming out and the change was almost immediate.

Candy could see everything, she could smell everything and she could hear everything.

She could also feel much more than before, she realized that everything thought her to be dead and started crying. It took her a few hours before she calmed down and by then, she could hear Georges coming inside. She stayed in her room and listened as Albert asked for a very private closed coffin ceremony.

The two men arranged for everything before Georges left. Candy could heard the sadness in Georges' voice and was sad herself that she couldn't say good bye to him.

When they knew he was far enough, they left the bedroom and found Albert and Gloria eating in the kitchens. Albert had closed all the curtains of the house and it was safe enough for Candy to move around until she got the rings.

The next few hours, they realized that Candy had the control of an old vampire. She was perfectly able to control herself when Albert accidentally cut himself and she didn't even fanged out.

"This is exceptional… As soon as I can I'll ask the spirits for some answers… I don't know if I'll get them but there has to be a reason for this…" Gloria muttered in an impressed tone.

-C-

Gloria stayed at the mansion until the funeral. She had bewitched Candy several pieces of jewellery so she could go out in the sun and so if she lost one, she had a backup. Albert had paid her enough money so she could move to Chicago and buy the bar of her dreams. He even proposed to be a full investor as long as she promised to help Candy when she needed it. Gloria agreed.

-C-

Candy watched her funeral from the shadows.

It was hard for her to watch as people she loved cried and she was in tears herself. She watched Anna comforting the kids of the orphanage and her two mothers… It was a pretty unbearable day and she was grateful when Albert demanded he was alone in the house for as long as possible. He told them he needed to grieve Candy's loss on his own and people respected his wishes.

It was now a couple of days after the funeral and Candy, Anna and Albert where planning the future.

Since Candy couldn't stay there, Albert insisted she took some money…meaning a lot of money, and everything she owned in this house. He did some investments in her name and bought her a few houses all over the country. One was in Mystic Falls, one was in Florida, one was in California, one was in New York and one was in Seattle. He wanted to make sure she always would have a place to go to and enough money to take care of herself (and Anna, whom he considered family as well).

They packed everything and planned to have things moved. Albert had bought Anna's apartment too and made sure this would be a safe place for them to store the things they didn't want to travel with but wished to save for later.

Candy had an exceptional control for a new vampire and Anna had a theory that Candy was always meant to be a vampire. They didn't know who were her biological parents but Anna had a theory they were part of the supernatural world and that it was the reason Candy was so good at being a vampire.

They were now standing at the gate, in the middle of the night, saying goodbye.

"You have to promise me to come back and visit me soon Candy… And please write often!" Albert pleaded with her.

"Of course I will Albert. I'll use Anna's name on the letters so nobody gets suspicious…" Candy said as she hugged him close.

"Be careful… Both of you… If you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask me… If you need any magic done, I made sure Gloria would help you." Albert said.

"Thank you Albert… I'll always remember you… You'll always be my best friend, my big brother…" Candy said in tears.

"I'll miss you… You two take care of each others!" Albert said as he waved them off.

"You take care of yourself Albert!" Candy and Anna yelled back as they drove off into the night.

Albert knew his life would be lonely from now on, he would miss Candy dearly but he knew she would be happy and that was enough for him. Sighting, he got back inside, served himself a glass of bourbon and went to bed. The next day, George, Elroy and the others would come back and he would have to tell them that he gave to Anna all of Candy's things.

-C-

While Candy and Anna were on the road, planning on visiting the house they now had in New York, Gloria was looking at her new bar. William Albert Ardley had done a very good job in paying her back and she was standing in a fully functioning bar…her dream. Her promise to help Candy and Anna as long as she could in return was small.

The spirits, for some reason, needed Candy safe and protected as a vampire… She interrogated them of course but all they told her was that she would get the answered in due time, that Candy would be the one to save the world from the Originals…she would be their redemption… The witch didn't really understand how Candy could be the Original's redemption and destroy them but the spirits told her that saving the world from them didn't mean killing them…

Shaking her head, Gloria let those thoughts out and concentrated on her big opening. Her new life was starting.


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Lorelei Candice Black