"So as you can all see it is vital that Annie begins training immediately" said Stella seriously.
"I agree with that" said John
"And so do I" said Lisa
"It is the best course of action right now" said Lucas
"So when does she start training?" asked Lucinda
"Tomorrow, she needs to start as early as possible" said Curtis
"The earlier the better" said Curtis
"We understand" said John
"Okay then, I know that it was a long journey from the Vampire Realm here, so you can all go to bed now, Goodnight" said Stella
"Okay Stella Goodnight" said Lucinda
"Goodnight my dear" said Stella
"Goodnight Everyone" said Lucas as he and Lucinda left Stella's office
"Ahh John and Lisa, would you both stay behind?" asked Stella
"Of course" said John and Lisa.
Curtis, Lucinda and Lucas left Stella's Office, leaving only John, Lisa and Stella alone.
"John, Lisa I just wanted to ask you both something, seeing as you are Annie's parents" said Stella
"Okay" said John and Lisa
"John, Lisa, you both do not think that I made the wrong choice do you?" asked Stella
"No Stella, it was a tough decision and it does not only involve Annie but the whole realm, and you chose what you chose for a reason" said John
"Yes I agree with John, there must have been a lot of pressure on you, and in the end I am sure that you have made the best decision" said Lisa
"Thank you both, for being very supportive" said Stella as she smiled
"Your welcome" said Lisa as she smiled back.
"John I am sure that Alice would be proud of how mature you have become" said Stella
"And I am sure that she would be even more proud that you married the right woman that supports you" said Stella as she smiled.
"Thank you Stella" said John as he smiled.
"It really means a lot coming from you" he said
"Your welcome my dears" said Stella
"So now, don't let me keep you here, you can both go and have a goodnight" said Stella
"Thank you, Goodnight" said John and Lisa
Meanwhile back in Annie and Maddie's room.
Annie peeked over to Maddie's bed to check if Maddie had fallen asleep, it seemed like she had.
"Curtis, Curtis, can you hear me?" asked Annie as she talked in her mind.
"Yes I can" came the quick reply of Curtis
"Ahh, nice, so have you finished your meeting?" asked Annie
"Yes I have" said Curtis
"Good, so Curtis I just wanted to ask" said Annie
"Ask what?" asked Curtis
"So did anything happen while we were away?" asked Annie slowly
"Anything like what?" asked Curtis
"You know, anything out of the ordinary?" asked Annie
"Out of the ordinary like how?" asked Curtis
"I mean other than the security measures that were put in place did anything else happen?" asked Annie
"Annie look it's late and it's not good for you to stay up too late, so go to sleep and we will continue this talk in the morning" said Curtis
Annie was annoyed, Curtis was obviously avoiding the question, which meant that Azazel really did come to the Palace, but the question was why?
"You know what fine Curtis, see you in the morning" said Annie as she closed her eyes and went to sleep angrily.
"Mhmmm" said Annie as she rubbed her eyes, the sun shone into the room from the open window.
Annie looked at Maddie's bed and she saw that Maddie was still sleeping.
Annie lazily walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth and she took a shower.
"Maddie wake up, it's morning" said Annie as she smiled
"And don't you dare say five more minutes Anthony" said Annie as she flicked Maddie on the forehead.
"Sheesh Okay, what a way to wake someone up" said Maddie as she was annoyed.
"Well good morning to you too" said Annie
"Good Morning" said Maddie
"Sooo what's our plan for today?" asked Maddie as she got out of bed.
"What do you mean plan?" asked Annie
"Well I mean, are we going to ahem ask Aunt Stella about Azazel?" asked Maddie
"Okay firstly it's too early to be thinking about Azazel, and secondly we should not worry about him, you go take a shower and let's eat breakfast and then we will know what to do" said Annie
"Okay you are right" said Maddie
"Of course I am, now go take a shower" said Annie as she pushed Maddie into the bathroom and closed the door.
"Haha okay" said Maddie
Meanwhile in the Dining Room
"Good Morning Everyone" said Maddie and Annie as they entered the dining room.
"Good Morning girls" replied everyone and Maddie and Annie sat down.
It felt good to be back, Stella was also very happy, while they were gone she would usually eat in her office or in the dining room alone, since Curtis did not need to eat, and now that they had returned the atmosphere was lively again.
After breakfast, Stella stood up to go to her office when she stopped in her tracks and said "Annie, Maddie would you both see me in my office?"
"Sure Aunt" said Annie
Annie, Maddie and Matt looked at each other, they all had a had a feeling of what Aunt Stella wanted to discuss with them.
"Okay my dears, see you later" said Stella as she smiled.
"Hey guys can you hear me?" asked Maddie as she was talking in her mind.
"Huh Maddie? Yes I can hear you" said Matt
"Yes I can" said Annie
"Wait how are you in my mind?" asked Matt
"Haha it's a telepathy spell" said Maddie
"Anyway who else thinks that Aunt Stella wants to talk to us about Azazel?" asked Maddie
"I do, because it's very weird" said Matt
"I tried to ask Curtis about it, but he kept on dodging the question" said Annie
"Well you both will just have to wait and find out" said Matt
"No way, you are coming with us" said Maddie
"How come Aunt Stella didn't call me" said Matt
"Nope you must come with us you were the one who heard what they were saying soo" said Maddie
"I agree with Maddie, you are coming with us Matt" said Maddie as she looked at Matt
"Hey what's wrong with you three?" asked Evie suspiciously
All this while she was looking at the three of them like crazy people, they were all just looking at each other and raising their eyebrows, it was very weird and creepy.
"Haha Nothing Evie" said Annie as she smiled
"Mhmmm" said Evie as she looked at them suspiciously.
"Ahh well we have all finished eating so see you later Evie" said Annie as she stood up.
"Yes see you later hehe" said Maddie as she followed after Annie.
"Matt are you going to tell me what is going on?" asked Evie
"No" said Matt plainly.
"But why not? I am your sister" said Evie
"Mhmm yes the sister that cannot keep secrets, anyway see you later" said Matt as he stood up from the dining table and caught up with Annie and Maddie, leaving Evie behind.
Stella was in her office when she heard a knock on the door.
"Come In" she said as she was still looking at some documents
"Hi Aunt Stella" said Annie
"Hi Aunt" said Maddie
"Ahh girls come in" said Stella
"Thank you Aunt Stella, Umm Aunt you wouldn't mind if Matt is here with us?" asked Annie
"No of course not" said Stella
"Ahhh you see Matt, it's fine so come in" said Annie
"Ah haha, Hello Aunt" said Matt as he entered the Office and sat down.
"So now that you are all here, I want to talk to you all about something" said Stella
"Aunt do you mean someone?" asked Annie
"Someone like Azazel" said Annie and Stella was surprised.
"Aunt we want to know why Azazel was here" said Annie
Stella looked shocked for a while but she quickly composed herself and asked, "How did you know?"
"Matt overheard you talking about it with the adults yesterday" said Maddie
"So it is true? is it true that Azazel was here and why?" asked Maddie
"Okay look my children it is true that Azazel was here" said Stella
"So that's why we went to the Vampire Realm?" asked Matt
"Yes, it was for your own safety" said Stella
"A few weeks ago, Azazel sent me a letter, a letter that stated he had a proposal for me" explained Stella
"This was a shock to me, Azazel never sent anyone a letter, but he did and he said that he had a proposal for me, so me, Curtis and your parents decided that it would be best to have all of you far away from the Witch world when he arrived" said Stella
"Okay Aunt Stella we understand, but why did you lie to us? you could have just told us the truth" said Annie
"Could I? I did not want any of you to worry, especially you Maddie" said Stella
"We understand" said Matt
"So what was his proposal?" asked Maddie
"He proposed that either he continues to attack us restlessly or..." said Stella
"Or what?" asked Maddie, Annie and Matt in a chorus
"Or he will give us one year to train Annie of all she needs, and at the end of that one year, we will battle, and if he wins he gets to kill Annie" said Stella
Annie, Maddie and Matt shuddered at the thought of dying, they had been living well and relaxed that they forgot the real reason they were here, and that was to defeat Azazel.
"But if Annie defeats him which you will dear I believe in you" said Stella as she smiled.
"If you defeat him, Azazel will be gone once and for all, and that would end his reign" said Stella
"Now the tough part was that either way Azazel would die, if he won and killed you, he would be no longer to sustain himself as he has been doing all this time, and if you defeat him that would also mean the end for him" said Stella
"It was mostly trying to figure out what Azazel was up to, that was the real problem" said Stella
"So what did you choose?" asked Annie
"I chose the battle, it's better for us to have some time to train you Annie, and also I believe in you, I am sure that you will do your best" said Stella as she smiled.
"And Maddie, you don't have to worry" said Stella as she noticed the worried look on Maddie's face.
"I also made a deal with Azazel, I got to choose the area we would battle in, and also he agreed that he would not harm or contact you again" said Stella
Maddie looked relieved, "Thank you Aunt Stella" she said
"So when do I start my training?" asked Annie
"Well when do you want to start it dear?" asked Stella
"Today" said Annie
"Today?" asked Stella
"Yes Today, since the sooner I start practicing and learning the better chance I have to defeating Azazel" said Annie with determination.
"I admire your determination dear" said Stella
"Alright then, later today we will begin training" said Stella
"I am ready Aunt" said Annie
"Okay then, Thank you my children you can go and and do something fun" said Stella as she smiled
"Thank you Aunt" said Annie, Maddie and Matt as they stood up and left her office.
"Annie, you will be fine" said Maddie as she touched Annie's shoulder as they were walking.
"Yes, Maddie is right, you will be fine, we believe in you, just as Aunt Stella said" said Matt
"Haha Thanks you guys, I really appreciate it" said Annie as she smiled
"Along as there is a chance that I can defeat Azazel once and for all, I am willing to take it" said Annie seriously
"We agree right Matt?" asked Maddie as she looked at Matt
"Right" agreed Matt
"We will all help each other" said Maddie
"Awww Thanks you guys, you are the best" said Annie as she smiled and hugged Maddie and Matt together.
"Haha we know" said Maddie as she laughed