Annabelle: A Fallen Angel

Prologue

April 22 1858

London, England

Annabelle raised her umbrella over her head as the London rain came pelting down. Truth be told, it was not for her that she pulled out the umbrella, but for her sister who was standing beside her. The slight image of a thirteen year old had just been recovering from a frightening case of pneumonia; the last thing she needed was another cold to come and put her back in the sickbed. Annabelle's hand reached the small of her sister's back as she ushered her towards the door of the fashionably set London house.

"Go on Lucy," she handed the little girl the umbrella, "go and knock on the door."

As her sister ran to the door, Annabelle walked further out into the sidewalk to bring her and her sister's luggage that had been left there by the cab driver. She brought the minimal items that belonged to her and her sister to the door, where it had been opened for them. Annabelle walked up to the grand house to see a maid standing there, helping her sister into the house.

"D'you need any 'elp wi' ya things miss?" the buxom lady in a black and white uniform said as Annabelle entered the house.

"No thank you," Annabelle kept a firm grip on the cases as she exited the cold spring air.

She set the cases down for a bit and went over to her sister whose mouth was wide open in amazement. Annabelle could see why. Before them now was the grandest house they had ever seen. They saw a winding staircase that went both left and right and curved overtop of marble pillars. Above the center where they stood now, was an enormous chandelier. It was far better than any house Annabelle or Lucy had been in their whole life. It was all Annabelle could do to tear her eyes from the luxury before her and help Lucy take of her coat. The both girls gave their cloak to the maid who was still standing there.

"So you two are the Miss Conway's," she said and the girls nodded, "we've been 'specting ya for days now."

"I hope we have not kept anyone waiting," Annabelle said, concerned not to be a burden.

"No miss, it's all been fine around 'ere. We've 'ad more time to prepare for your arrival."

Annabelle smiled and then remembered her luggage by her feet, "where can we put these away?"

"Oh, ya don't 'ave to move it miss, we have other servants to do that for ya," the maid nodded her head as she said this.

"Tell whoever moves it, that I am grateful for their help," Annabelle said politely.

"I will," the maid them took Annabelle and Lucy's arms, "come let's introduce ya to the family."

She led them to their immediate right and into a parlour, where Annabelle saw her relatives sitting.

"Presenting the Misses Conway," the maid announced as Annabelle and Lucy were ushered into the room.

Everyone sitting in the room raised their heads to the girls' direction. Annabelle glanced at Lucy to see how she was doing. She saw her sister shrink back at everyone's stare and she saw her face pale. Annabelle curtseyed to the room and she moved closer to Lucy to urge her to do the same. At that a tall, beautiful woman got up from her seat and came to the door with a smile on her face.

"Dear nieces," she said as she outstretched her arms to embrace the girls.

Annabelle reluctantly succumbed to the embrace and bid her sister to do the same.

When the hug broke, the woman said, "come both of you sit down, you are most welcome here as this is your home now."

She led them to chairs by the fire as she could see they were both chilled from the rain. Annabelle gazed into the fire as she knew not what to do with herself.