Chapter 6
Mav's question had broke whatever spell her sister was under. Meanwhile Annabelle was still admiring Bea's beauty, her heart trying to escape her chest it was beating so loud. Annabelle thought it was probably just her nerves.
"Mavello what took you so long... I've been worried out of my mind, I sent patrols out hours ago" the panic in her voice was evident even if she tried to keep her cool. Mav might think her sister is cold but she cares an awful lot thought Annabelle.
"I'm sorry Bea... we ran into a small group of Skrill on the road" Mav replied sheepishly.
"My patrols sent word of a bloody murder scene!. I thought you might be dead... then what would I tell mother" Bea said in a strict parental voice.
"Come to think of it, how did you escape that? my men said there was blood enough to fill four bathing tubs" Beatrix added.
"Well... this is my new friend.. she rescued me" Mav smiled squeezing Anna's arm tighter. Bea glanced at there linked arms, now noticing their closeness. She hesitated before looking into Anna's emerald eyes again. She was not expecting what she saw the first time. Bea was good at sensing people's intentions, she could get a feel for if there soul was good or bad much like her little sister. When she looked into Annabelle's eyes she could only sense power.
"Rescued you how?" she asked inspecting Anna's physique. Annabelle felt a little amused by this, Bea didn't know what to make of her.
"Can we talk about it after we show Anna to a guest room?, I'm sure she wants to unwind after today, right Annabelle?" Mav said as she tugged Anna's arm. "Annabelle" Bea repeated to herself quietly, but loud enough for Annabelle to hear it, she let out a smirk when she did. Bea caught this and turned a pinkish colour.
If Annabelle had not been completely worn out, she would have wanted to stay and wind Bea up a little more. But Mav was right, she needed a good rest. Annabelle just nodded.
"Griff!" Bea called out, a few seconds later a guard emerged from one of the rooms, he was tall with a bald head and a wiry grey beard. Though he looked old, his muscles were huge.
He ducked and slid through the door sideways as to fit. "Yes your highness?" the giant replied in a deep husky voice.
"Could you escort this young lady to guest room four please, and have her brought something to eat". Annabelle didn't know what on earth Mav was talking about before, Bea seems like a breath of fresh air compared to the stuck up bitches she's had to deal with all her life. She even said please when addressing her own servants. "Yes of course... this way girl" said the guard.
Mav had gotten to know Annabelle quite well in just one day, she knew her resentment for that word and feeling her suddenly go tense she knew she had to calm Annabelle quickly. If she didn't Annabelle could shift, where she would have no control. Even Bea could sense the sudden change in the atmosphere. Mav quickly interjected "Annabelle... her name is Annabelle" Anna relaxed again and sent a quick sincere smile to Mav who smiled back. "Don't worry Griff, I've got this. Bea I'll be right back" Mav said quickly whisking Annabelle away.
As soon as the doors closed behind them Mav began speaking. "That went much better than I had expected, she was acting strange though, I've never seen her like that".
"I don't think she likes me very much" said Annabelle nonchalantly.
"Nonsense, if she didn't like you, why would she put you in the closest room to hers?" Mav said a matter of fact.
"Perhaps she is just keeping a close eye on me" Annabelle said playfully pushing Mav who pushed her back. The two laughed like old friends.
Annabelle was now alone in the bedroom. She ate the food that was brought to her. She didn't even ask what it was, she just devoured it. She had a bath and was now laying in a King size bed with satin sheets. The room was bare but cosy, a walk in closet, a bed, and art pieces placed all over the walls. It didn't take Anna long to fall asleep. It had been another really long tiring day.
Meanwhile downstairs...
"a Lycan? are you sure?" Bea questioned seriously.
"I know what I saw Bea" Mav replied almost annoyed that she'd have to answer the same question for the fifth time..
"Do you know how long it's been since a girl had a successful Lycan transformation?.... without dying?"
"No but I'm sure your going to tell me anyway" Mav rolled her eyes in boredom.
"It's been four hundred years since the last successful transformation was reported... Mav I don't think you know how serious this is.... if father finds out about Annabelle he will take her and use her any way he can and-".
Mav interrupted "oh yeah, I forgot to mention, she has absolutely no control over it" she admitted.
"Your joking right? a Lycan, who is supposed to be superior to us has no control in her wolf form? This is going to be a big problem. I can't believe you brought her here, what were you thinking Mavello?" She paused and looked at Mav who just sat there with her head in her hands frowning. "Talk with her tomorrow, tell her to meet me here at noon... I want to see if I can help.. after all she brought my baby sister back to me" Bea pinched one of Mavs cheeks a little too hard leaving a rosey patch,
"arg!... I'm not a baby get off me. Beatrix!'" Shouted Mav.
"Don't call me that!! you know I hate it" Bea said with a frown like a hurt child.
"You called me a baby first!".
After they were done bickering they continued to catch up. Mav told Bea almost everything she knew about Annabelle, keeping the private details to herself. She told her about the chest, the glow, the different world.
That night Bea struggled to get to sleep as she couldn't rid her mind of Annabelle. She thought about how hard it would have been for Anna. Alone for days, in the bitter cold, and in a new world, as a new species. Mav had said that Anna had no control over her shift, which means she went up against five men unharmed not knowing if she would even survive or not, all for a stranger. Bea might not be able to sense the good in Annabelle's soul but she knew it must be there.