Part One
“Father, must I do this?” Seventeen year old Annabel Nicol Sterling watched her father walk from one of the room to the other. Books in his hand and a concentrated look upon his aging face. Annabel or Anna for short was but a young girl cursed with the blood of angel thanks to her mother. Speaking of which, she just walked into the room with her baby brother. “Sweetie will you stop the pacing already, you are making her nervous.” Stopping and looking at his angelic faced young daughter he sighed.
What else could he do? His only little girl was going to be sent off to someone to be considered a Devil by everyone in the small town they lived in. Why did he agree to this again? Why did he accept this for his daughter? Maybe it wasn’t to late, maybe he could change his mind.
“I am sorry Honey,” He placed a hand on her soft lavender hair and looked into her worried face. “I wish I could take it all back.” She smiled, but it wasn’t a true smile; A smile which has warmed their hearts over the years. “Don’t worry dad, I will be fine.” He kissed the top of her head just as soon as a knock was heard at their front door.
Anna’s eyes were quickly drawn to it. A force tugged at her very core beckoning her forward. She didn’t move and instead looked at her mother who also appeared a bit frightful and her mother wasn’t easily afraid.
Once the aging father reached the door Anna wanted to cry out and tell him to not open the door. Just to let go away on their own. But it a sound never escaped through her light pink lips.
“Welcome to our home…Malik,” Blue eyes met grey dead ones in a clash of amusement and fear. Fear coming from the young girl being sent away to be with this…man, “So this is the lovely Annabel,” His voice was like ice, cold and never changing always calculating. “That is her,” Anna looked at her father and smiled briefly before she stepped forward in her purple and light pink skirt with a matching long sleeved top. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Shutting his eyes and shoving his hands into his pockets.
“No need for formalities…” Opening his eyes once more his eyes trailed over towards Anna’s mother who was holding a quiet sleeping baby. “I haven’t seen you in awhile Cassandra. How are those wings of yours? Still causing some trouble?” Cassandra narrowed her eyes and was about to speak when Anna’s father stepped forward.
“I would ask that you respect my wife in my home or leave.” Malik laughed and raised his hand to run it through his short silverish grey hair. “I do apologize and I won’t be leaving until I get what I came for.” Holding out his hand to Anna she stared at it.
She felt like she was being sent straight into the lion’s pit. He was the lion and she was the stupid young warrior trying to defend himself from the lion. Except she was a she and she wasn't fighting anyone she was marrying this man.
“So shall we go…Annabel?” Sighing and raising her hand, she took his in hers and she moved to stand next to him. He towered her by a few good feet. Two be exact, his hand was warm to the touch but from the look in his eyes he was growing tired and more then likely hungry.
“You better take care of her.” Malik looked away from Anna back to her mother. “Of course what kind of man do you take me for?” Walking towards the door Anna gave her parents one last look and walked out of the door. From that day forward. Her life would be changed.
TheBloody_Swan · Mon Dec 10, 2012 @ 10:46am · 0 Comments |