Chapter 3

She didn’t know what to do, so she slipped out of his hold and ran into the forest as fast as she could. She wasn’t sure what would happen to Pete, but she couldn’t wait for him to try and get away from them.

She ran until she couldn’t run anymore, and she managed to find her way back to the cave. Again she was without food, but she didn’t have to worry about the rain anymore. She was glad the storms stopped.

“Anabel!” Marcus said appearing in the cave in front of her. Anabel tried to run past him, but he caught her. “Please stop I need to talk to you.”

“No please I don’t want to die.” She said shaking her head. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Relax Anabel.” He said shaking his head. “I am not going to hurt you, the fact that you remember this place shows you know who I am.” He said wanting to let her go, but he knew she would run away from him.

“Pete said you are going to kill anyone that you capture.” She said shaking her head, she didn’t want to look at him, but she couldn’t help it. Something about him she knew, but she didn’t know who he was. “I don’t even know who you are.” She said looking away from him.

“I am Marcus.” He said relaxing his grip. “I run this place, how, where have you been?” he said shaking his head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said wanting to run. “What did you do with my friend that man I was within the market?”

“He is fine; we didn’t even know you were there until your friend continues to go on about me.” He said shaking his head. “You would have gotten away, but I had a feeling to come here.”

“Well, I still don’t know who you are.” She said forcing her hands out of his grip. “Please just leave me alone, I am here to figure out where I am.”

“Well you could come with me, and I can show you where you are. I don’t even know where to begin with you.” He said shaking his head. “The last I heard from you, you released me from my prison, and then you ran into the darkness and you faded into a portal.”

“I woke up here.” She said shaking her head. “I have no idea how I got here, or who you are.” She said shaking her head, she walked towards the entrance; she wanted to run from him, because of what Pete said.

“Please come back with me, let me take care of you.” He said walking towards her. “Please don’t run out there, you should know better about that, I can catch you faster than you can run.”

“Well why didn’t you catch me when I ran away from you?” she said turning to face him. “I don’t think you’re that fast.”

“Well we could always make a game out of this, but I want you to come back to the house, we need to get you warm and fed, this isn’t going to be a nice place to be in a few days, winter is coming and you are not dressed.” He said shaking his head. “So since I am the ruler of this realm, I am ordering you to come with me.”

“Fine.” She said shaking her head. “I will run away from you when you are not expecting it.” She said walking closer to him. “So how does all of this work?”

“Well hold onto my arm, and I’ll take you, but you cannot let go of me.” He said shaking his head.

“Fine.” She said shaking her head. “I told you, you can do what you want right now, but I am going to run away.” She said taking his arm.

“Good at least you are trying to come to terms that you have to do what I ask.” He half-smiled. “Alright don’t let go.” He said shaking his head.

Marcus took Anabel back to the house, when she saw she was in a house she let go of him. “Well, this is kind of nice, and warm.” She said walking towards the fire. Her body ached for the warmth.

“I will get you something warm to wear,” Marcus said clearing his throat.

“I already have it,” Elena said coming down the stairs with a long robe. “Dremis told me you were after the human, so I prepared her room as well,” Elena said looking at Marcus.

“Good,” Marcus said half smiling. “You can get changed upstairs with Elena if you want?” he said looking back at Anabel.

“Alright.” Anabel half-smiled, she followed Elena up the stairs, Elena didn’t say around. She gave Anabel the robe and closed the door so she could change. Anabel walked around the room, something about the house was familiar, but she didn’t know where.

After Anabel was done changing, she walked back downstairs and sat near the fire, she knew this wasn’t her house, so she didn’t want to just go into other rooms without permission.

Anabel watched the fire for the longest time before Marcus came into the living room with a tray full of food. “I’m not sure what you feel like eating, so I made you a little bit of everything, I hope you like it.” He said setting the tray down and finding a seat near her.

“Thanks,” Anabel said shaking her head. “I’m not sure when the last time I had a good meal.”

“You don’t remember anything do you?” Marcus said questioning her. “What was the last thing you do remember?”

“Waking up in that cave.” She said shaking her head. “I must have fallen and hit my head pretty hard.”

“Well, Anabel you’ve been missing for at least twenty human years.” Marcus took a bite of her food, it wasn’t that bad, but he knew he could do better. He rushed around the kitchen to make her food.

“Twenty years?” she said shaking her head. “What happened to make me go missing?”

“I don’t know, that is what I’m hoping you can tell me,” Marcus said looking at Elena when she walked in. “She doesn’t remember anything.”

“Well, that’s good.” Elena plopped down on the couch next to Marcus. “So that means we can tell her whatever we want and she won’t know if it’s true or not.”

“Quiet Elena!” Marcus growled.