Rockabye // Kol Mikaelson

Chapter 1

Annie had lived in cities before. Chicago being the original one. She would always feel a connection to it, as it was the place She was born and raised. But through the past year She had hopped from place to place. New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Montgomery, Jackson, Baton Rouge. She went as far as people were willing to take her. But her destination was the City of New Orleans; her Mother's Home Town. Annie, herself, had never been to the city, but from the stories her mother told her, it was a magical place full of music and parties and fun. That was the place for her. A place for her to move on and start over. She was already slipping into the cycle her mother once did, but she was going to stop it before it went any further. And that's how she found herself with a small smile on her face, walking through the busy streets of New Orleans. It was change from the streets of Chicago, especially south side where most people stayed in badly done up houses with crappy yards, and even the city of New York, where you couldn't move without bumping into someone. No, Annie decided that New Orleans was the perfect mix of her home and the city she stayed in for a year before her mother passed.

"It's beautiful, Tobes." Annie states as she weaves in and out of people, her hand holding the slightly battered phone to her ear. Her voice held a Chicago accent as she continues to talk to her old friend.

"It just all seems fun, and happy and magical." Annie explains, causing her best friend to laugh.

"I guess it's perfect for you then you Fucking DayDreamer." Toby jokes from the other end of the phone, causing the girl to laugh.

"Language Toby!" Annie scolds, causing the older boy to laugh. The young girl was never keen on crude words, which was a real problem with being brought up in south side Chicago.

"Oh come on doll, you can't scream or scold everyone who swears." Toby teases, remembering a younger version of his blonde friend telling off everyone on south side who swore, even big gang members who no one dared to mess with.

"I can try." Annie sings as she hops down the curb and onto the road, but making sure no cars are coming. "I sure did it to south side and we all know that this place is nothing like that."

"Well let's fucking hope not. I can't protect you in New Orleans." Toby states seriously, all joking gone from his voice. He had always been protective of her, she was, is, his little sister. No one was allowed near her, no one could hurt her, she was the princess of South Side and he was her most trusted Knight.

"I don't need protecting, Tobes." Annie replies, ignoring the crude word.

"You're my little Sister, Annie. Corse you do." Suddenly, shouts come from the background of the phone and Toby sighs. Annie could easily picture the annoyed look on his face.

"I've got to go. Marc got into a fucking fight, again. Love you." Toby rushes out and Annie rolls her eyes at the same old shit.

"Alright, patch him up. Love you too." Annie says before hanging up. Fights were one of the only things she didn't miss from south side.

The blonde slips her phone into her small white bag before looking around. She knew her new apartment should be around here somewhere, she just couldn't remember where. Slowly, she made her way across the road only for the skirt of her dress to fly up. A gasp escapes her lips as she pushes it down, her eyes glancing around. But as she turns to see if anyone saw, the heel of her shoes catches, causing her to trip and fall backwards. Her hands fly to her sides to help reduce the impact but the floor never reached her finger tips. However, instead, two arms wrap around her, stopping her.

"You alright?" A voice with a strong British accent says and Annie looks up to see a boy smiling down at her, amusement in his eyes. She laughs, nodding, placing her hands on his arms to steady herself.