The chirps of little birdies greeted Annalise as she awoke from her peaceful slumber. Her long, red red hair cascaded down her back like a magnificent waterfall. She stepped onto the cool wooden floorboards, her feet tiptoed past her bed and headed towards the restroom.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sxz8rmO2G
Marble draped over the entire room. Annalise slowly combed her hair with a golden comb with an attachment that bared a flower design.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzXePJDKXr
"Mother said I must always be beautiful." She muttered to herself. "Sorry to disappoint." She groaned.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYAkBg8gP8
After some time had gone by, Annalise could finally choose what to wear. Her mother always gets the final say in what she can wear. Because of this, Annalise let's her mother pick out her clothing in advance.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5m6hDpmOr
She stepped into he walk-in closet to see the outfit that her mother had presented her with.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn2ioMmFqU
Nothing.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5N3UBeQCg
Well, not nothing but... a piece of paper?662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ428ayB7X1K
Annalise picked up the what looked like to be a note, "What's this?"662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCJt6MPYVD
Happy 16th birthday, my darling. You may choose whatever you wish to wear for your special day!662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtzbWxoK5J
- Love Mother662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdLe6F4qjp
Annalise squealed, "Yay!" She proceeded to jump up in down like a child who is finally tall enough to ride a rollercoaster.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JEWxxMykA
She wondered for a moment what to wear, her mother always makes sure that her clothes are conservative and proper. Being her mischievous spirit, she decided to run the opposite way.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV1aegVwEj
This is after all, a tradition her and her mother do. Annalise snickered as she imagined her mother's face when she sees what she will wear.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvthXU2F8vH
She scavenged her closet for anything scandalous. The closest thing she found was her undergarments, they were solid white and a bit sheer. They showed a bit of her shoulders and barely touched her knees.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qSvMuTD7x
Annalise's eyes lit up, she sung, "This is PERFECT!"662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD68vY8BRxG
As she put on the dress, she realized that it showed a bit of cleavage. This only enticed her to continue wearing it.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0Y64d5jRH
Annalise slid into a pair of black pumps and bounced through the hallway of her Victorian mansion. She heard her mother's muffled voice from downstairs, talking to what sounds like to be a man. She sat by the first step upon the long staircase, attempting to gather any input into what is being said.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e845rqCB0
The man told her mother with a stern tone, "You made a deal."662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITuIP9Zz32
"Well the deal is off!" Her mother's brittle voice croaked.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6bEGqhNKr
"That wasn't part of the contract."662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxIe9c7Ngp
"Get out of here. That was 22 years ago. Tell him I want no part of this." The man slapped her mother across the face. She fell onto the floor, too weak to stand.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiB8HuJQNO
"Get away from her!" Annalise threw her pumps onto the ground and ran for her mother.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aCtcaHtiU
"Lady Annalise, you will be coming with me." He reached for her shoulder.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoblfyzmaRd
She jerked herself away, "I will be doing nothing of that kind, who are you and why have you come?"662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRXJBDRNAu
The man's fiery ridden eyes burned through her soul. Almost as if he was deciding whether to kill her or not. His skin resembled the sand of the Sahara desert.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXISHkh61h
The man answered, "22 years ago, Lady Vanderbolt had been arrested for treason when she and a few other townsfolks started a riot to dethrown King Alexander. The crime was punishable by hanging but Lady Vanderbolt proposed a deal. She would give up her first born child to King Alexander's son by her 16th birthday. The day has come and I have been ordered to retrieve his soon to be bride."662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCgIcz45lV
Annalise stood numb in shock. Her whole life had been a lie.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XoWqIkfII
"Is this all true Mother?" She turned to her old mother, tears streamed down from her bloodshot eyes.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jAWPy3uiY
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Lord Alexander was a tyrant and so is his son!" Her mother forced herself to stand. "Daughter... I'm so sorry!"662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmOkOQ9wJR
"Mother, I have no doubt that you were young and did some stupid things in your past but this doesn't affect the way I will see from this point on. You are an amazing mother and I will always love you. I will find a way to be together with you once again." Annalise held onto her mother as they said their final goodbyes.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TBUIpZ7hR
The man grabbed her wrist and forced her out of her home. His strong grip tightened as the exited the front garden of the estate. A land that used to be colorful and heavenly had become dark and cold in a matter of moments.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2rfX4Esp3
He forced Annalise into the back of a horse drawn carriage that welcomed her past the silver gate. She sat in silence as she thought about the inescapable situation that she has gotten into. The man guided the chocolate covered horse away from the settlement. This is possibly the most fanciest form of kidnapping that Annalise had ever heard about, not to mention experienced.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPaMXmnXXc
She stared out toward the town in awe of her surroundings. She's never left the comfort of her estate. From small eateries to housing developments, she didn't know what to think. This was all so knew.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7Jgb5EDE9
An hour or two had gone by, Annalise was still staring intently at her surroundings.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a8CRsSYEG
The man looked over at her and chuckled, "Have you never been outside before?"662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqBi9De6I8
"Yep! How did you know?" Annalise chuckled.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknareGRpFv
The man was taken back, "Wait, what?"662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvIJzerHLB
"My mother wanted to make sure that I was safe and protected, it wasn't until a few hours ago that I understood why... But I can't really do anything about it now." She glared at him, making the man feel uncomfortable.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHFlGHyvb2
Her thin, emerald eyes are those of a feline. Annalise oozed intimidation out of her veins. Her lips pursed into a small scowl. Her long, lion's mane only accentuated her features.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MKACqgCaH
The carriage jolted to a stop, Annalise glared out and saw a magnificent castle made of dark brick stones. Gargoyles guarded the corners of the castle walls. The wooden draw bridge opened upon the moat, allowing Annalise and the man to enter.662Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsswrV9ri8o
What does this journey have in store for Annalise? Will she ever see her mother again?
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