Annabelle woke up an hour later after the incident with the crow, she was able to catch some sleep the moment Emma offered to stay with her. She couldn't erase that chilling experience off her memory, it was haunting. How did the crow even get to her room in the first place, she remembered her windows had been shut close.
The morning sunlight filtering through the windows of Annabelle's grand bedroom cast a warm glow on the empty space beside her bed. She got up from bed when she noticed a presence in her room, it was Emma who was standing far from the bed, Belle wondered how long she stood there.
"Good morning Lady Belle" Emma bowed her head.
"Good morning, I didn't know you'd still be here. I'm sorry if I disrupted your sleep" Belle apologized.
"I'm always here at your service milady" Emma said.
Annabelle hummed, reached for a jar of water, poured it into a golden cup and sipped from it. She was quite parched.
"You may leave now Emma. I'll sleep some more" Annabelle dismissed her politely.
"Very well milady" Emma bowed and left, shutting the door lightly.
Few hours passed and Belle was still sleeping on her bed when she heard a faint knock, she creased her brows and heard another knock.
"Come in" she groaned.
The maids entered Annabelle's room, their footsteps quiet on the soft carpet. "Good morning, Lady Annabelle," one of them said, smiling. "Your mother instructed us to bathe you today. She's gone to a tea party with your father."
Annabelle rubbed the sleep from her eyes, sitting up in bed. She stretched her arms, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from the previous day's activities which was just to sit in a carriage. "What time is it?" she asked, noticing the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"It's just past nine, miss," the maid replied. "We've brought everything ready for your bath. Your mother specifically asked us to use this daisy-scented soap on you today."
Annabelle looked at the soap, the delicate packaging adorned with illustrations of daisies. She shrugged, it was always daisy and she wondered why. She let the maids help her out of bed and into the bathroom. As they filled the tub with warm water, the sweet scent of daisies wafted through the air, mingling with the steam.
The maids gently helped Annabelle into the tub, and she closed her eyes, letting the warmth envelop her. As they washed her hair and body with the daisy-scented soap, Annabelle felt her muscles relax, and her mind began to wander.
"Your mother said it's her favorite scent for you, milady," one of the maids said, gently massaging her scalp.
Annabelle smiled, feeling a little more awake and refreshed. "I suppose it's nice," she said, enjoying the pampering. "But next time, can I choose the soap?"
The maids chuckled, exchanging knowing glances. "We'll mention it to your mother, Lady Annabelle," one of them said, smiling. "But for now, let's just enjoy the lovely scent, shall we?"
As the bath came to an end, Annabelle felt rejuvenated, her skin feeling soft and fragrant. The maids helped her out of the tub and wrapped her in a warm towel, gently drying her off.
"Let's get you dressed and ready for the day, milady," one of the maids said, leading her to the dressing area.
Annabelle nodded, feeling a sense of relaxation wash over her. She let the maids style her hair and dress her in a comfortable gown, enjoying the gentle ministrations. As they finished up, Annabelle looked in the mirror, feeling like a new person.
"Thank you," she said, smiling at the maids. "You all made me feel so pampered."
The maids curtsied, smiling. "It's our pleasure, milady," one of them said. "Now, would you like some breakfast brought up to you, or will you be coming downstairs?"
Annabelle thought for a moment, feeling a little peckish. "I'll come downstairs," she said, heading towards the door. "I think I'll join my brothers in the library. They're probably getting into some kind of trouble."
The maids laughed, nodding. "Very well, miss. We'll let the kitchen staff know you're coming down."
Annabelle walked into the library, the warm glow of the rising sun casting a golden light on the rows of books. Her brothers, Petiron, Brandon, Dimirki, and Samuel, were sprawled out on the couches, engrossed in a heated debate. Nicholas, their cousin, sat in an armchair, observing the discussion with a hint of amusement.
"Anna!" Petiron exclaimed, looking up from the book in his hand. "Come join the discussion. We're planning a hunt for today."
Annabelle's eyes lit up as she approached them. "A hunt? Can I come?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, Annabelle. Hunting can be dangerous. Are you sure you're ready for it?"
Annabelle's face fell, but she quickly recovered, her determination evident. "Please, Nicholas? I promise I'll be careful. I've been practicing my archery skills, and I want to prove myself."
Her brothers exchanged skeptical glances, but Nicholas could see the eagerness in Annabelle's eyes. "We'll think about it," he said, trying to placate her.
"She's good at hunting" Samuel said.
"I know but the area isn't just safe" Nicholas pointed out.
But Annabelle was not one to give up easily. She pouted, her lower lip jutting out, and began to plead her case. "Please, please, please can I come? I promise I'll stay out of the way and follow all the instructions. I just want to be part of the hunt."
Her brothers couldn't resist her charming smile, and Nicholas's resolve began to weaken. "Alright, alright," he said finally, laughing. "You can join us, but first, let's have breakfast. We can't go hunting on empty stomachs."
Annabelle let out a squeal of delight, bouncing up and down. "Thank you, thank you! I promise I'll be a good little girl."
Annabelle was a very skilled hunter and Nicholas and her brothers admired that about her.
As they headed to the dining hall, Annabelle chattered excitedly about the hunt, asking her brothers and Nicholas about their plans and strategies. Nicholas smiled, impressed by her enthusiasm and determination.
"Let's focus on dinner first," he said, chuckling.
As they sat down at the dinner table, Annabelle couldn't contain her excitement. "So, what's the plan for the hunt ?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Nicholas smiled, serving himself a portion of roasted meat. "We're going after a stag. We've been tracking it for a while now, and we think it's time to bring it down."
Petiron nodded, his mouth full of food. "Yeah, and we've got a good spot picked out for the ambush."
Annabelle leaned in, her voice filled with curiosity. "What's the strategy? Are we going to drive it towards the ravine?"
Brandon grinned. "That's the plan. Nicholas will take point, and we'll drive the stag towards him."
Dimirki nodded. "And I'll make sure to keep an eye on the surroundings, just in case."
Samuel chuckled. "You're always so serious, Dimirki."
Dimirki smiled wryly. "Someone has to keep us out of trouble."
As they continued their conversation, the topic turned to their favorite hunting stories and memories. Nicholas regaled them with tales of his own hunting trips, and Annabelle listened with wide eyes.
The dinner table was filled with laughter and teasing, the warm atmosphere making everyone feel at ease. As they finished up and the plates were cleared, Nicholas stood up.
The group set off into the forest, their footsteps quiet on the damp earth. The trees towered above them, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Nicholas led the way, his eyes scanning the ground for signs of game. Annabelle followed closely behind, her senses on high alert.
As they walked, the forest grew denser, the trees closer together. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves. Annabelle felt a shiver run down her spine, a sense of unease that she couldn't shake.
Suddenly, Nicholas held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. "Do you hear that?" he whispered.
Annabelle listened, and soon she heard the faint sound of rustling leaves. Nicholas nodded, and the group moved forward, their bows at the ready.
But as they emerged into a clearing, Annabelle's heart sank. A group of rogue vampires was waiting for them, their eyes glowing in the fading light.
"Ambush!" Nicholas shouted, drawing his bow.
The group scattered, arrows flying as they tried to fend off the attackers. Annabelle's heart pounded as she followed Nicholas, trying to keep up with his swift movements.
The rogue vampires were relentless, their movements lightning-fast. Annabelle drew her dagger, ready to fight for her life. Nicholas appeared at her side, his bow firing arrow after arrow. This was the first time Annabelle was seeing Vampires and she was terrified. There were blue veins under their eyes and all over their body, their eyes were faint red nearly orange, they were definitely not like the tales she'd read.
"Stay close to me," he shouted, his eyes locked on hers.
Annabelle nodded, her heart racing. She fought with all her might, but the vampires seemed to be everywhere. She stumbled, her foot catching on a root. Nicholas grabbed her arm, pulling her up.
As they fought, the forest grew darker, the shadows deepening. Annabelle's breath came in short gasps, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew they had to get out of there, fast.
But it was too late. A vampire lunged forward, his fangs bared. Annabelle tried to defend herself, but he was too strong. He pinned her to the ground, his eyes locked on hers...
And then, everything went black.