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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmvthc9my3
Marble draped over the entire room. Annalise slowly combed her hair with a golden comb with an attachment that bared a flower design.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOCvaJnYd8
"Mother said I must always be beautiful." She muttered to herself. "Sorry to disappoint." She groaned.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJQ1n3m2tf
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbbMMx4nAh
She stepped into he walk-in closet to see the outfit that her mother had presented her with.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIo4mb7JYy
Nothing.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkya4WRund
Well, not nothing but... a piece of paper?599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsx8XgnW2i
Annalise picked up the what looked like to be a note, "What's this?"599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkLGVKnUgo
Happy 16th birthday, my darling. You may choose whatever you wish to wear for your special day!599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9mZOharSC
- Love Mother599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IQXRZIb3x
Annalise squealed, "Yay!" She proceeded to jump up in down like a child who is finally tall enough to ride a rollercoaster.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzphAoM57B7
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ezFA2RQhY
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzbn1XwQMX
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoqbI1Hai1
Annalise's eyes lit up, she sung, "This is PERFECT!"599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbycxtDd4A
As she put on the dress, she realized that it showed a bit of cleavage. This only enticed her to continue wearing it.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABcAhXMFqC
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1a6sGuxVS
The man told her mother with a stern tone, "You made a deal."599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGKRBx4pvL
"Well the deal is off!" Her mother's brittle voice croaked.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Gi0K33KZ
"That wasn't part of the contract."599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRLn4QERYS
"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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm2doWOyNJ
"Get away from her!" Annalise threw her pumps onto the ground and ran for her mother.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mtfEAaXNN
"Lady Annalise, you will be coming with me." He reached for her shoulder.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f2GzC3Tfp
She jerked herself away, "I will be doing nothing of that kind, who are you and why have you come?"599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpOp4pWFKZ
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXFLt58FHc
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."599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzANfpE3Tfr
Annalise stood numb in shock. Her whole life had been a lie.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI9p2yETe3
"Is this all true Mother?" She turned to her old mother, tears streamed down from her bloodshot eyes.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCdsXZHlU0
"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!"599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkjdywlsLy
"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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA1jtKaHD8
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40Lgdmga17
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7cliROt7l
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblhDEe6FfL
An hour or two had gone by, Annalise was still staring intently at her surroundings.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq8IngUG5N
The man looked over at her and chuckled, "Have you never been outside before?"599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUwoEwpb3H
"Yep! How did you know?" Annalise chuckled.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQiKFhEE2g
The man was taken back, "Wait, what?"599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zbyyrMbg2
"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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ef3C0h2Gy
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoohyUPE9j
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.599Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqGmGpcmPD
What does this journey have in store for Annalise? Will she ever see her mother again?
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