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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR4v7e3qyl
Marble draped over the entire room. Annalise slowly combed her hair with a golden comb with an attachment that bared a flower design.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtMZY9AKjV
"Mother said I must always be beautiful." She muttered to herself. "Sorry to disappoint." She groaned.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC2x3nArxF
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudi3P1vLpp
She stepped into he walk-in closet to see the outfit that her mother had presented her with.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa8vZtNsqF
Nothing.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSdgmoOboY
Well, not nothing but... a piece of paper?698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVjb2FblKK
Annalise picked up the what looked like to be a note, "What's this?"698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU7GfXmwzb
Happy 16th birthday, my darling. You may choose whatever you wish to wear for your special day!698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GX8voSWUV
- Love Mother698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZw3AnIE31
Annalise squealed, "Yay!" She proceeded to jump up in down like a child who is finally tall enough to ride a rollercoaster.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNflbxOxAr
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLXnNTXK4p
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYOEIDT1OV
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA5OfVrhmk
Annalise's eyes lit up, she sung, "This is PERFECT!"698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwH1NDG5jC
As she put on the dress, she realized that it showed a bit of cleavage. This only enticed her to continue wearing it.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI2upWxSGb
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnUTirPtUP
The man told her mother with a stern tone, "You made a deal."698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AvDBZdX2C
"Well the deal is off!" Her mother's brittle voice croaked.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LsQZ6t3uu
"That wasn't part of the contract."698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfGCjRkj3q
"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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyW6MCWfmv
"Get away from her!" Annalise threw her pumps onto the ground and ran for her mother.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYPFz3jun4
"Lady Annalise, you will be coming with me." He reached for her shoulder.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFykk0Kzl9
She jerked herself away, "I will be doing nothing of that kind, who are you and why have you come?"698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmil8zdcs8t
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgjdlzxKT4
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."698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkqermi7RE
Annalise stood numb in shock. Her whole life had been a lie.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CF3DlJ8Fw
"Is this all true Mother?" She turned to her old mother, tears streamed down from her bloodshot eyes.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhYca8e1PM
"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!"698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMQKUgkAB5
"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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuiGvgnlI1
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ScLRvrKNh
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhxbLLPvcS
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r9jsRzxIp
An hour or two had gone by, Annalise was still staring intently at her surroundings.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrU3N1bty9
The man looked over at her and chuckled, "Have you never been outside before?"698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPbNWqR2le
"Yep! How did you know?" Annalise chuckled.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA81AJ1562m
The man was taken back, "Wait, what?"698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIGptuG1et
"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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlCetEL4x7
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c3QsBLj0D
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.698Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM49weIwNI
What does this journey have in store for Annalise? Will she ever see her mother again?
ns3.147.67.34da2
