Chapter Text
1991
Lenore takes a deep sigh then clears her throat before wishing to continue her story to Duke. Thoughts coming in and out of her head with lightning speed, there was so much she wanted to say, so many things she's seen.
“In short I was right and Annabel was completely wrong, there was a maid who was aware of our antics and had reported us to the other help. Somehow and someway other maids belonging to other households had also heard the stunning rumors and had put Annabel and I in intense danger.” It was one of the few times that Lenore had bested Annabel by following her own gut and intuition.
“The next week there was another party to be held, it was near where the last one was hosted. The gossiping rumors had galloped their way into the event. I remember walking into those rooms with a great amount of anxiety. I felt as if everyone had their eyes upon me at all times.”
“So basically you got, got?” Duke questioned.
“Yes but there's far more that took place that night than some petty rumors about Annabel and I. Yes the maids were tedious to deal with but it was what Annabel had done in the end that I intend to focus on here.” Lenore said, words leaving her mouth faster then she could think them up. All she knew were her memories which guided her through her undead afterlife.
1902
Lenore was absolutely positive Annabel could smell the fear off of her, her hands were shaking and she could barely focus on the things around her. She was on edge and wanted nothing more than to be back at home and to let sleep claim her. However she needed to eat, she had not been leaving the house since the thoughts of getting caught plagued her mind with endless torment. She felt paranoid and jumped at every slight knock on the door.
Annabel, as observant as a hawk had obviously noticed Lenore's newfound paranoia and was determined to seize it.
“What thoughts have been occupying your mind recently, pet?” Annabel says while tying her hair into her signature soft curls. The next social event was coming up the next day and Annabel couldn't have her “husband” roaming the halls with such obvious worry on their face.
Lenore contemplates if she should tell Annabel her true thoughts or keep them to herself. Besides the last time she told Annabel what she felt, she was told off for her senses not being fully developed enough. But when will she be a full vampire? When will she be ready to conquer the night at full speed? These are all questions that she has. Lenore just got stuck with a vampire who refuses to tell her most things.
“I have a bad feeling about tonight, I have been stressed about it for quite awhile.” Lenore finally said. Annabel laughed at that, a slight chuckle which filled the quiet room.
“Still reminiscing on the potential ways we could have got caught the other day?” Annabel questioned.
“I am not reminiscing…” Lenore told her, crossing her arms in the process and making a slight annoyed face at the way Annabel had responded to her fearful pleas.
Annabel got up from where she was sitting and made her way over to Lenore, staring up into her eyes.
“There's absolutely nothing to fear, pet. I've already explained that.” Annabel puts her hand to Lenore's cheek in an attempt to reassure her. For the moment it feels nice to hear reassurance. But it doesn't stop the truth, it doesn't stop the way Lenore had swore she saw something or someone catch her. She has to be completely on guard for the next party or they could both suffer extreme consequences.
“I appreciate the gesture, I really do but… I'm not sure how much is true about what I'm feeling.” Lenore grabs Annabel's wrist and gently lowers it down. There's obvious disappointment plastered on Annabel's face.
“I suspect you are just getting a lack of rest. Or perhaps you’ve not been drinking good blood, it can mess with your head you know” Annabel taps Lenore's forehead with her finger.
“No I did not know that…” Lenore says with some anger in her voice. Annabel doesn't tell her anything besides the bare minimum of what she needs to do. Lenore is roaming this world as an undead creature with little knowledge on how to actually navigate said world. She wants not just to survive but to also thrive. She wants to know how to be powerful and not trapped by others in an endless cycle.
Alas, Lenore begrudgingly takes Annabel's advice and she goes to sleep. Some little bit of Lenore desperately hoped that Annabel was right and that all she needed was a good meal and some nice sleep, but the feeling of paranoia wouldn't fully cease not until she would get confirmation that she was not crazy.
Because that's the thing, she felt crazy for feeling these things. For daring to not push her stress deep down until it could no longer puppet her. It was infuriating for her to feel.
When Lenore awoke the next evening, the pit in her stomach hung heavy. A mixture of guilt and like Annabel suggested earlier the former night, hunger. She often forgot to feed, and not to mention the fear she felt when she took a human life.
Lenore found Annabel sitting in the drawing room. Busy reading some book with a crimson drink in her hand. Lenore could only assume what that drink might be.
“I was under the impression that creatures like us couldn't drink blood outside of its source like that.” Lenore said
Annabel turned her head around, closing her book and placing it on the end table next to her. She raised the glass up and offered Lenore a sip.
“I didn't know you were awake” Annabel said gesturing for Lenore to drink
Lenore meekly took the glass from Annabel's hand, turning the thick liquid around the glass.
“Did you not notice the blood I would drink around you when you were a mortal pet? I can assure you that we can drink from a glass.” Annabel told Lenore, making eye contact “Besides, it's only dead blood that we can't drink. I source my fresh, alive blood ethically” Annabel joked
Lenore took a sip of the blood from the glass, immediately she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She quickly chugged down the rest of the drink without hesitation, but she still wanted more.
“Do we…. Have any more?” Lenore asked
Annabel got up from the couch and pulled Lenore gently down to take her place on the couch. She then left the room for a moment before returning with a wine bottle in her hand.
Annabel, with all her manners, attempted to pour the blood “wine” into the glass for Lenore. However Lenore grasped Annabel's wrist, taking the bottle for herself and chugging it down in an instant. When the blood sated her hunger, it seemed the world felt a little less intense. The colors were not as bright and blinding, and Annabel didn't seem too intimidating.
In fact, Lenore seemed to appreciate Annabel's appearance more than she initially had. She was always aware of Annabel's beauty, that was undeniable. Her hair was always the right amount of curled, never a single hair out of place. A perfect amount of blush would cost her cheeks when she fed.
She placed the now empty bottle next to the empty wine glass. Gesturing for Annabel to sit next to her on the couch.
“Why me Annabel? Why did you turn me?” Lenore asked, her tone genuine
The smile Annabel seemingly always had shrunk. She was certainly not expecting that question.
“I didn't at first, you were originally just going to be an easy meal for me to consume and move on. It made sense at least, your family wouldn't suspect that a vampire killed their daughter and would've likely moved on.” Annabel said crudely much to Lenore's dismay
“Yes, I am well aware of how much my family would be thrilled about my death, no need to remind me.” Lenore said, slightly rolling her eyes at Annabel's comment
“But I quickly, and I mean very quickly changed my mind! I saw something different in you that I hadn't seen in any mortal I've met. It was just a shame that your family couldn't nurture that spark. I had to do it myself” Annabel said quickly after Lenore stopped
Lenore looked at Annabel in her eyes, really getting a true look at her. Her feelings of guilt and fear of the former night have been put on hold for the time being.
“I don't know how I can explain it thoroughly, but I adored the games we played and the…. Friendship we developed. At some point I just couldn't find any good reason to kill you, and I especially couldn't just let you rot alone in that attic never knowing how I would feel to be… alive” Annabel said
The irony of Annabel taking Lenore's life to make her feel more alive wasn't lost on the brunette, but she could see the sentiment behind Annabel's words. Even though Lenore often felt like she couldn't fully trust Annabel, for some reason in that very moment she felt as though she could trust those words. The words of affection, even if motivated by Malice.
“I cannot fully get a grip on you Annabel Lee.. your motives surprise me, they confuse me on a bad day.” Lenore said, taking Annabel's hand in her own, gripping it gently.
“But can I trust you?” Lenore finally asked
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1991
“Deep down I wanted to trust her, she was the only vampire I had met. Either way it felt like I had to trust her anyways no matter what opinions I had regarding her.” Lenore said
“If you couldn't trust her, why on earth would she have turned you. I mean come on! It's not like you met any other vampires in the span of knowing Annabel, surely she has to have some merit that grants her worthy of your trust!” Duke said to Lenore
“My suspicion of Annabel was based on the fact that I had originally believed her to know everything. And that she was intentionally keeping certain facts and knowledge of this world away from me for whatever reason. My basis for this was due to past feelings of my mortal life which poured over into my immortal one. I felt like at any minute someone that I had invested so much time and effort into knowing would just turn on me or betray me. I suppose my fear was that I would return back to the state I was when I was mortal, hidden, ashamed, an embarrassment. I dreaded that, that would happen again with Annabel. I convinced myself that every action Annabel made regarding me was some extreme calculated move to tear me down. When in hindsight she was just trying to gain my attention because of some crush she had on me.” Lenore explained
“Did you ever return the feelings to Annabel?” Duke asked, writing down something in his notepad before turning his head back up at Lenore. This story of hers was something that captivated his entire evening, a world of vampires.
Lenore chuckled
“I would eventually, when I realized that I could see her in a romantic light. Goodness I wish I had done it earlier though, she was quite affectionate. And I never truly rejected her, as I didn't want to reject her. She made me feel powerful when in my mortal life I felt nothing but silence. I can surely give her that I think, alas though, I believe the sun is coming up in a short while and I must make haste.” Lenore said, with a tone of sadness under her words.
Duke was obviously dissatisfied, they didn't even make it to the true crux of the story yet. But that'll have to wait until the next night, that is if Lenore even returns to finish her story.