The human world
Annabelle Hale stood behind her little cottage, hanging the sheets she just finished washing. She worked mechanically, her hands moving on their own accord. Her eyes were distant, looking faraway. A lot was currently running through her mind.
It had been twenty three years. Twenty three years since that faithful day she gave her baby to Maria, her sister. Twenty three years since she went into hiding, keeping her true identity a secret from everyone and living like a human.
People wondered though. They wondered how a young beautiful woman like her could live alone for so long, without a man to take care of her, or children to tend to. Annabelle indeed looked young, like a woman in her early thirties and she knew everyone would go crazy with fear if they found out she was almost a thousand years old. But she left them to wonder in silence while she lived her life in seclusion. And when the years started going by rapidly and they began to wonder why she didn't age, she took her most precious belongings and moved to another part of the city to start a new life.
Right now, her thoughts were on her daughter. Giving her child to Maria a few minutes after birth had been the hardest decision for her to make. But at that point, it had been the only wise decision. The realm of the supernatural couldn't discover Layla's existence. She was the very first of her kind and needed to be hidden. Her blood was too powerful, too dangerous and it would cause great havoc if placed in the wrong hands. Annabelle remembered the first few years she had spent watching her only child in Maria's home. She had been filled with so much pride for her daughter.
When the Vampire Lord began to search for her, she knew she had to go faraway from her daughter. She knew she couldn't let the bloodsucking vermin find out about Layla's existence. So with a heavy heart, she faked her death so the supernatural creatures would know that the last Great Sorceress was dead.
Many years passed and she came back to that same city her daughter lived with Maria. A part of her wanted to see Layla so badly, but the risks were too much. She couldn't let herself be discovered after faking her death. So she lived like a human in seclusion everyday, keeping her powers hidden from the humans. A simple alteration spell did the trick and changed her appearance. Instead of her vibrant purple hair and sharp purple eyes, she now had a dull blonde coloured hair and brown eyes. With this appearance, she drew lesser attention to herself.
She was still on her chores, hanging her wet sheets when a figure suddenly appeared behind her. She stilled, her fingers pausing over the lines. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"What do you want Jezebel?",her voice came out cold and unwelcoming.
Jezebel, Lord Brandon's personal witch servant laughed softly. She had to hand it to the Sorceress, she was good. Who else would know it was her if not a powerful Sorceress like Annabelle?
"Long time no see Anne",Jezebel said. "Or should I say Miss Hale?".
Annabelle turned around and stared hard at the witch. Jezebel was just as she had been years ago;bright hair and vicious looking blue eyes. She never aged, courtesy of the anti-aging spell all witches used on their forms.
"You know",Jezebel continued when Annabelle remained silent. "Living with the humans, changing your appearance and your name, acting like a human, it's not such a bad idea. It only comes crashing down when people find out that you're a Sorceress..."
"Would you keep your voice down Jezebel",Annabelle snapped and her eyes moved around the quiet cottage cautiously. She looked back at the woman standing before her in a black cloak and frowned. "What do you want? I'm sure you didn't come to find me after so many years just to chit chat".
"You're right",Jezebel said. She crouched and picked up a blade of grass, watching as it turned into a white Lily as her powers touched it. "I didn't come all the way to chit chat on your seclusive life".
"Then why are you here?",Annabella asked angrily. She finished her washing and took the empty pails towards the cottage.
Jezebel ignored her and moved around the little cottage. "I shouldn't have been so surprised when I heard of your death. I mean, who else can fake her death if not the greatest Sorceress of all time?".
Annabelle ignored her and continued her chores.
"But it got me thinking",Jezebel continued. "Why fake your death? Surely you had a reason for doing it".
"I did it to sever all ties with Brandon",Annabelle spat out in annoyance. "The bastard wanted me to be his personal servant, but it turns out he got one already".
"Oh don't tell me you're jealous",Jezebel said. "I may be his servant, but at least that makes me loyal. Unlike you that betrayed your kind years ago, and living like a human now".
Annabelle shook her head but remained silent. If only the witch knew the truth of everything. It was a dark secret she kept at the bottom of her heart and everyday, she cursed herself for making that grave mistake. She was so blinded with love for a creature that was never meant to exist and that one mistake she made with him caused her a lot of heartaches and sorrow. Her mood turned sour and she walked towards her front door. Noticing Jezebel coming after her, she frowned and turned around angrily.
"Just tell me why you're here Jezebel"
"I'm here because of your daughter",Jezebel said and watched closely at Annabelle's expression.
"My daughter is dead",Annabelle said with a straight face and turned away while her heart knocked wildly in her chest.
"Oh bullshit Annabelle",Jezebel snapped. "You might think everyone a fool, but not me. I know your daughter didn't die. I know you gave her to Maria".
Annabelle froze. Her hands shook slightly and she clenched them tightly while her eyes turned furious.
"What about her then? Why are you looking for her?",she asked.
Jezebel smiled, clearly enjoying Annabelle's discomfort.
"Seems you don't know she's no longer in Maria's home",she said.
Annabelle's head whipped around, worry clouding the whites of her eyes. "What are you talking about? Where's my daughter? What have you done to her?"
Jezebel laughed again and a smug smile appeared on her face. "I thought you said she was dead".
Turning furious, Annabelle's eyes slowly changed and began to glow purple. She stretched forth her arm towards the witch and Jezebel felt her body lift off from the ground. Her eyes filled with panic as she felt her entire body go still, unable to move again.
"If you kill me, you will never find out where your precious daughter is",she said quickly.
Annabelle grew more furious and flicked her hands, slamming the witch against the earth. Jezebel coughed out blood and glared at the Sorceress in hate.
"I mean it Anne",she choked out, black blood trickling down the corner of her mouth. "You will never find out where she is. Or what has been happening to her".
Annabelle's eyes refocused, dimming out and becoming brown again. Her face remained furious and she marched towards Jezebel. One hand shot out and grabbed the witch by the hair.
"You're going to tell me where my daughter is. And you're going to tell me now",she said coldly.
"Or what?",Jezebel asked angrily. A scream escaped her as she felt her insides tightening up in pain. "Stop it Anne, you will kill me".
"Start talking. Why the sudden interest in my daughter?",Annabelle asked.
"Lord Brandon wants to know what kind of creature she is",Jezebel gasped as the pain released her.
"Why?"
"Her blood hurt him. He thinks she isn't an ordinary creature".
Annabelle released the witch and turned away in thought. It was happening already. Her daughters powers were getting unleashed. She had to act fast.
"Where is she?",she asked.
Jezebel struggled to her feet and leaned against the cottage.
"She arrived in the hidden island weeks ago".
"How? She was supposed to be with Maria".
"Maria is dead. Lord Brandon killed her when she let your daughter escape",Jezebel said.
"Layla escaped?",she whispered. Why? How then did she get to the hidden island?
"I have to find her. Her existence can't be revealed".
"What kind of creature is she?",Jezebel asked carefully. She needed to know why Annabelle was so secretive about the girl.
"That's none of your business. Tell me where I will find her".
"In the home of Supreme Alpha Riven Qinn, whom she's mated to".
Annabelle felt the colour drain from her face as she digested what Jezebel just told her.
It couldn't be.