Annabelle La'Crain - The Prophecy

Chapter 2 - The Town Of Dawn

3 Years Later

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It was a dark, depressing morning, and Annabelle La'Crain was riding through the woods on her horse, Nightshade, when suddenly, she heard rustling. Then she heard voices, she stopped Nightshade, and dismounted him. She walked to the edge of the path that she had been following and quietly drew her knife, and then her stake, remembering that the Blood Woods are called just that because it is a popular place for vampires to feed on humans.

"Shush, I think I heard something" said a little girl as she stopped not far in front of Annabelle, the little girl had long brown hair, and fair skin, she was wearing a torn up black dress. Another little girl ran up to the one in the black dress and said, "I'm scared, I think this is the place where vampires are", she had black hair and was wearing a torn up red dress. Annabelle was about to walk over to the girls when she noticed someone hiding in the bushes not that far in front of them, straight away she knew it was a vampire. She approached the girls, and said,

"Do you two know where you are?"

"No, all we know is that we're trying to find our way to Town Of Dawn, our brother is there, and we have nowhere else to go." said the little girl in the red dress.

"You're in the Blood Woods; and as for getting to the Town Of Dawn I'm on my way there, so I can take you there, if you want, these woods are dangerous for any human, especially on days like this, when there is no sun to keep the vampires from coming out."

"Yes, we'll go with you" replied the girl in the red dress,

"What? No! We'll be fine on our own, thanks." said the girl in the black dress.

"If we go with her she can protect us. Please" begged the girl in the red dress, the girl in the black dress had a stern look on her face, but after the other having pleaded, she finally caved, "Okay, fine" said the girl in the black dress, "We'll go with you." Annabelle sheathed her dagger and put away her stake.

"Come with me." Annabelle said, and led them to her horse. She helped them up onto her horse, and led them down the path.

"Okay, we're almost there." Annabelle said, but all of a sudden, a vampire jumped out from the side of the path and went to grab the girls of the horse, Annabelle turned around and pushed him away from the horse, she then pulled out her stake, but before she could stake the vampire, he hit her, and sent her flying into a tree, Annabelle got up, and while the vampire was walking over to the girls, Annabelle ran at him and knocked him to the ground, she then stabbed him with the stake, he started to struggle and then suddenly disappeared. Annabelle grabbed Nightshade's reigns and continued leading Nightshade down the path again. After around twenty minutes, they had reached the edge of the woods, and started going up a hill. "Almost there" said Annabelle, and turned to look at the girls, which had fallen asleep. Annabelle continued leading the girls down the hill and took them into the town, she then woke them up, and asked them what their brother's name was, and they told her that his name was Harry DeLain. So Annabelle took them to the town center to ask around about a 'Harry DeLain'. Fortunately for Annabelle, the first person she asked knew who she was talking about, and directed her to the town house, and said that Harry DeLain was their mayor, and she took the girls to the town house.

Annabelle brought Nightshade to a halt and then helped the girls get off of the horse. Then she tied Nightshade to the wood fence that was not far from the door, and then Annabelle led the girls up to the door and knocked on it. "Come in!" shouted a man's voice. "That sounded like...." Annabelle started, as she opened the door, but once she saw the man on the other side of the door, she stopped. "Annabelle!!!" Harry exclaimed as he came over and hugged Annabelle, and then his eyes fell on the two girls standing next to her, "Selena!! Katherine!!"

"Harry!!!" the girls squealed excitedly in unison, and then ran towards Harry and pounced on him, bombarding him with hugs. "What are you girls doing here?" he asked, sounding frustrated but relieved. "We were worried about you, besides we wanted to come and see you, and see if you had found what you were searching for." The older girl that was wearing a black dress replied confidently. "Yes, I did find what I was looking for, but you were supposed to stay with Esther, what happened Katherine?" Harry asked the older girl. "She was killed by vampires on her way back from the Still Waters. She went to collect some shells for the jewellery that she makes." The younger girl, that was obviously called Selena answered. "Yes, well, you guys know that it's too dangerous for you to be seen with me, that is why I wanted to leave you with Esther, where you were safe," and then Harry brought his voice to just above a whisper, so that I could only just hear it, "besides, if someone figures out who I am, or they find me, the first thing they are going to do is kill you two, because I refused to help them and I'll refuse to help them again." "We know we're sorry." The girls said in unison, with ashamed and sad looks on their faces. "It's okay, but now I'll have to find somewhere else for you to stay, but for now, go inside, and help yourselves to some cookies, okay" Harry replied, ending his sentence with a big, ridiculous grin on his face. The girls smiled and said thanks before running inside to eat all the cookies. Harry then stood up straight and faced Annabelle, "It's good to see you" he said, smiling a warm, and happy smile. "I've got to talk to you..." Annabelle started, sending Harry a serious look, he nodded in response, "Shall we take this conversation somewhere more private?" Annabelle asked, indicating for them to go inside. "My study's this way." Harry said, pointing towards the door and gesturing for Annabelle to go first. She nodded, before entering the house, and making her way to Harry's study with Harry at her side.

Once they had gotten into the study, Annabelle sat down in an armchair, and Harry across from her in the other. "So, who are you running from?" Annabelle asked, getting straight to the point, with an unmistakably offended, but serious, tone in her voice. Harry sighed and gave Annabelle an apologetic look, before saying, "A vampiric order that has been after me ever seen their prophet told them I could help them take control over "The Ultimate Power"." "Why didn't you tell me this when I saved you? Oh! And now that I mention that, you can't tell me that it's simply coincidence that your sisters just happened to be on the road that I take here at the same time that I was taking it, can you?" Annabelle asked. "I didn't plan it, if that's what you're trying to imply." Harry started and was met by a questioningly raised eyebrow by Annabelle, "Look, all I know, is that fate seems to keep throwing us together... and that according to the local prophet, I am supposed to leave with you." Harry ended defensively. "Leave with me??? According to the local prophet??? And how would you know that this prophet can be trusted, anyway??" Annabelle yelled at Harry, clearly angry and enraged. "Because he's my closest friend and ally. And yes, that's what he said." Harry said, with an exhausted voice. "Look, even if I did believe this prophet, I can't risk taking you because it's too dangerous, I am going to investigate another possible vampire sighting, possibly even a witch sighting." Annabelle said, secretly worrying for Harry's safety. "I can protect myself, the only reason the vampires were able to take advantage of me last time was because the animal scratch had some kind of poison and it weakened me." Harry replied confidently, and seeing the still unsure expression on Annabelle's face, he continued by saying, with a desperate but sincere voice, "Look I understand that you are worried that I'll get hurt, or in the way but the thing is that I can guarantee that I won't get hurt, and that if I do, you won't be held accountable, because it will be completely my own fault" Annabelle sighed, and, with a defeated look on her face said, "Fine, I guess you can come." Harry began grinning and so Annabelle continued, "But I swear to you this, if you die, I will resurrect you just so that I can kill you again myself. Is that understood?" "I understand" Harry replied, a completely self-assured grin on his face.

Annabelle just shook her head at Harry, but in the back of her mind, there was something in her that was absolutely elated that she would have Harry as her company on her next journey, but when these thoughts entered her mind, she pushed them to the back of her mind, and pretended they didn't exist, her last thought on them being; "No! I can't feel this way. I can't..... No..... I won't let what happened last time happen again! I just have to forget these feelings and not let him close. It's too dangerous...".