Her teeth chattered against each other and she feared they would break. Goosebumps riddled her arms and she rubbed them with her slowly freezing hands.
"Lucia!" Anna called out. Her reply was the echo of her own voice.
A shiver escaped her lips. Going further was suicide and she knew it. There was no way she would find Lucia in such a large, thick forest.
"Lucia!" She called out weakly. Her knee gave way and she collapsed to the ground.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she whispered this time. "Lucia…Somebody…Anybody, please, help."
Her eyes grew heavy and she let them close, sending her to sleep.
Warmth tickled her feet and she wiggled her toes. It wasn't cold anymore. She could breath freely and the goosebumps on her arms were gone.
Her eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in her surroundings. The cave would've been shrouded in deep darkness save for the faint glow of the lit candles. The aroma of scented warm tea filled her nose. Her heart raced as she tried to recall what happened before she passed out. Her skin crawled with unease and she pulled her knees up to her chest.
"Ah. You're finally awake." A voice interrupted her.
Anna sat up immediately. "Who are you?"
The man who spoke had his back to her.
"Let's just say I'm your saviour. A little thank you will suffise at this moment, don't you think?" He poured warm tea from the kettle into a little mug.
"My saviour?" Anna remembered she had passed out in the middle of the woods. Then she bowed her head, "Thank you so much, kind Sir for rescuing this poor maiden's life."
"It's alright." He turned around to give her the mug.
Anna received it with thanks. She looked around the cave wondering where exactly they were.
"Pardon me asking, ma'am but what on earth were you doing in this dangerous woods alone?" The red haired man asked.
Anna gave him a suspicious look and he chuckled.
"Forgive my rude manners, my name is Alfred. I'm with the Knights of Canterbury." He gave a bow.
Anna instantly recognized him. How could she have missed that long brown or those cool blue eyes? It was indeed Sir Alfred.
"Sir Alfred, it is indeed an honour meeting you. I'm Annabelle Weselton from House von Burren." Anna beamed him a smile. She knew with the commander next to her, she was safe.
"Hmm. You came all the way from the estate?" Alfred asked.
Anna bit her lowerlip. "Well, it's a long story."
"I've got time." Alfred smiled.
Anna narrated to him how Lucia fell unconcious after an unnamed vampire drank her blood and how she awoke and escaped after she was locked in her bedroom. She also mentioned Lucia asked about a man named Damian
When she mentioned Damian, Alfred grew vigilant. "That bloody vampire!"
"Vampire?" Anna gasped, "Do you know who he is? Everyone seems to while I have no recollection of this man."
"Damian is the one that drank Lady Lucia's blood. I'm sure of it." Alfred gripped the edge of his sword.
"Oh no. But if he's the one that almost drained her, why is she looking for him?" Anna asked.
"I don't know. Maybe, she is under vervain."
"What is vervain?"
"It is a mind controlling spell vampires cast over their victims. They can make anyone do their bidding or erase their memory at the mere whisper of a word. It can also be made into potions. If Lady Lucia is after that devil then he surely has his vervain on her."
Anna didn't say a word. She caught her lowerlip in her mouth and looked up.
Alfred met her eyes and stifled in shock. He could see the eery glow in them and feared the worst.
"Anna, you're under vervain." He unsheathed his sword.
"What? How?" Anna gasped in shock.
He sensed an odd presence in the room and pushed her from harm's way. He swiped the sword in the air but it was knocked away by an invisible force.
"Sir Alfred!" Anna cried.
"You're really skilled, human. No wonder you are the youngest commander in Canterbury." said a man who materialized out of thin air.
"Who are you?!" Alfred barked.
Anna was stunned to speak. Could humans appear out of thin air? Before she could answer the questions to her thoughts, she found herself in the arms of the strange man.
"You're not welcome here, Knight." The man told Alfred.
"And if I want to stay?" Alfred gritted his teeth.
"Well, Armin and Layla will have to grow up without a father."
Alfred was shaken with fear, he collapsed to the floor.
"Alfred!" Anna screamed. In an instant she vanished with the strange man.
"N - No! No!" Alfred grabbed his coat and sword, bolting out of the cave.
*******
"Let go of me!" Anna beat her fists against the stranger's chest.
"One more word and you'll never find Lucia!" The man scoffed.
When she pursed her lips, he slowly put her down.
"H - How do you know about Lady Lucia?" She asked, moving backwards.
"Why wouldn't I? Lucia is a friend of mine." He said with a smile, moving towards her.
"I believe Lucia has humans for friends. What on earth are you?" Anna retorted sharply, still reeling back steps to safety.
"Well, I am a human if you must know. Don't you remember me, Anna?" he chuckled.
"You know me?" Her lips fell agape and he reached out a hand to cup her cheek.
"Remember this?"
"Who are you?" Her question came out as a whisper.
He whispered slowly behind her ears. "It's Bat, Lord Damian's trusted man."
The invisible glow in Anna's faded and she blinked twice.
Bat leaned down till they were nose to nose. "Remember me?"
"B - Bat!" Anna cried.
"Yes, it is I." he kissed the tears off her cheek.
Anna pushed him away. "W - what are you doing here?"
"I came to find you," He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Find me? Wait, were you the voice in the Whisper Chamber?" Anna asked.
"What voice?" He gave her a stern look.
Anna was confused. If he wasn't the one that helped her escape August then who was?
"Never mind." She shook her head.
"Come with me." Bat extended his hand to her.
"You just abducted me from Sir Alfred and now you want me to go with you? To where?" Anna slapped his hand away.
"Fine. I apologize. Happy?" he takes her hand.
"No. Where are we going?" Anna asked.
"Home." He peeled off his coat and draped it around her shoulders.
"Where exactly is this home?" Anna wore the coat and let him button her up.
"Back to the Von Burren's." He said with a smile.
"No! I can't go back. Lucia and I got locked up in the castle. Lucia might be left off with a slap on the wrist but what do you think they will do to me if I go back there?" Anna replied.
"Fine. Let's go see Lucia."
"Lucia? You know where she is?" Anna's dull eyes brightened up.
"Yes. She's in the castle." He said. "But you'll have to be careful. Where we're headed is where humans shouldn't tread."
"If Lucia is there, then I will go." Anna said, determined.
"Fine. Hold onto me." Bat opened his arms and she walked into his embrace.
Wings protruded from his back and he flew up in the air with Anna cradled in his arms.
"You can just vanish like you did last time." Anna rolled her eyes.
"And miss having you in my arms? Never." Bat flew forward.