Annabel's POV

"Annabel, dear, it's time to go to bed." my mother said to me, smiling gently.

"Awwwwww do I have to Mother?? It's only 8:00 o'clock!" I whined, stomping my feet on the floor.

"Hush now; go to bed. A proper lady needs her sleep!" my mother scolded playfully, a wide grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Awwwww, ok." I groaned, trudging to my room slowly. Soon, I was ready for bed and my favorite maid, Lucy, came in. "Hello my lady!" She grinned while curtsying. "Lucy!!!" I shrieked. She gave a beautiful laugh and sat down on my bed. "Now, my lady, what kind of story would you like for me to tell?" I thought about it carefully, then exclaimed, "Oh! The story of how you met my parents!!" "Huh?!" Lucy laughed again, shaking her head. "You must have heard that story a million times already!!" "But I like it," I said, pouting. "Oh, fine! You win! I'll tell you the story again!" Lucy chuckled, gesturing to me to sit next to her. I smiled and scooted next to her, happy to hear the story again. "The day I met your parents was an interesting one....." As Lucy continued the story, I fell asleep.

*Annabel's Dream Sequence* 

I opened my eyes and saw a beautiful field of falling snow. I started to play in the snow, shrieking with laughter. A few moments later, I saw a bright light. I squinted my eyes and saw a beautiful lady wearing a pure white dress. "Who are you?" I asked her. "I am Arabella," She said gently; her voice was so comforting and as smooth as velvet. I then noticed that the field of snow soon became a field of white feathers. "Are you an angel?" I whispered. Arabella laughed, shaking her long, periwinkle hair. "You are quite the observant child. How did you know I was an angel?" She asked, smiling. I blushed. "Because I have never seen such a beautiful lady wearing a blinding white dress. Do you have wings?" Arabella nodded, taking a step back and spreading her arms. I saw two majestic wings come from her back. They looked so beautiful and fragile, almost as if they would shatter with the slightest touch. She caught me admiring them. "Do you like my wings, Annabel?" I nodded, then realized something. "How do you know my name?" I marveled, recalling the fact that I never said my name. "Child, I know everyone's name," she replied with a light laugh. I was astonished; how did she know every single name. Arabella then asked me, "Would you like to go to London?" "Now?!" I yelped, not expecting her question. Arabella laughed. "Yes, Annabel, now." I nodded quickly; I wanted to spend more time with Arabella. She started to disappear slowly, saying, "I will show you the way to London when you wake up." "Wait!! How can I see you again after this?!" I yelled, not wanting her to disappear forever. Arabella smiled and said, "I will come to you when you need me." Then there was a flash and she was gone. I woke up and got dressed immediately.

I looked out my window and gasped, seeing here a trail of small white feathers. I quietly walked down the stairs and went outside. The trail looked more beautiful up close. I followed it for a while until I saw London. I turned around and saw that the beautiful, white trail of small feathers disappeared. Slightly disappointed, I decided not to go into the heart of London but just take a look around. A few hours later, I decided to go back home.

When I got close to home, I smelled something horrible in the air and my eyes began to sting. Smoke. Coughing, I ran towards my home and saw the fires beginning to devour it. "MOTHER!! FATHER!! LUCY!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I climbed up the stairs, being careful of where I stepped. I threw open the doors and gasped in horror. There, on the floor, was my family, dead. Father was full of stab wounds, drenched in blood. Mother's throat was slit, red trails streaming down her neck and onto the floor. Where was everyone else, the butlers, maids, and...LUCY!!!! Where was Lucy?! I soon got my answer. I heard a loud scream and turned around, eyes wide. I saw Lucy, on the ground, stabbed in the chest and a being covered in blood. They looked at me and grinned. "Looks like I missed one," they said, and they lunged toward me, a bloodstained knife in their hand. I ran down the stairs and away from the person that killed my loved ones. I saw a bright shadow and I looked up. The person was flying above me. Soon I was cornered, and they flew down. "Please don't kill me!" I cried, covering my face with my hands. Images of my parents' and Lucy's dead bodies flashed into my mind. The person gradually walked up to me and raised the knife with a menacing grin. With my last efforts, I shouted one name before the entire world went dark. Arabella.