Chapter 42

~Morgan Vale's~

The words of Black Soul echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain as I stood there, grappling with the memories of that fateful night. "Her soul is mine," he had said, his voice dripping with malice. "She is indebted to me as well."

Meanwhile, Annabelle lay asleep, tormented by nightmares. In her restless slumber, voices screamed in her head, replaying the horror of the night her family was attacked. Despite the recurring dream, she could never recall the face of the assailant who had shattered their lives.

I vividly remembered the moment I had picked up Annie's knife, determined to confront the Culprit. But my efforts were futile; he easily pushed me aside. I locked eyes with him as he spoke, his voice laced with sinister intent. "What? You are twins? Your soul was split into two? What are you scheming?"

My heart clenched with pain as I pleaded, "Stop it!" But his response was chilling. "It won't make a difference. I will just destroy both."

"No!" I shouted in desperation, but Annie intervened bravely. "You will never be able to kill her. You won't be able to touch her."

The culprit sneered, his laughter dripping with malice. "Is that so? There's only one way to find out. You're first."

With a surge of rage, he seized me and flung me aside, leaving me sprawled on the floor. Helpless, I watched in horror as he turned his attention to Annie, his knife gleaming in the dim light. I tried to scream, but my voice caught in my throat as he plunged the blade into her chest.

"No!" I cried out, but it was too late. Annie's gaze met mine, filled with sorrow, as she whispered her final words. "Find that man. He will help you."

Tears clouded my vision as I rushed to her side, pleading with her to hold on. "Don't die, Annie. You can't die. Please, don't leave me."

But even as I begged, the culprit approached, his intentions clear. He raised the knife, poised to strike, but then something unexpected happened. He doubled over in agony, clutching his chest as if consumed by unbearable pain. Blood spilled from his wounds as he collapsed to the ground, his strength failing him.

I watched in disbelief as the tables turned, the once formidable assailant now reduced to a broken, writhing figure. Despite the chaos and grief that surrounded me, a glimmer of hope flickered within.

Surprised by the unexpected turn of events, I refused to let it distract me from the urgent task at hand. With a renewed focus, I called out to Annie, urging her to wake from her troubled slumber. "Please, Annie," I pleaded, desperation obvious in my voice.

The culprit, still reeling from his sudden affliction, muttered in confusion. "What...? What is this?" He staggered to his feet, his movements unsteady as he fled the scene in haste.

In the midst of the chaos, Morgan Vale' entered the room. His expression mirrored my own surprise as he took in the disarray. Without a word, he darted after the fleeing culprit, disappearing into the night.

Turning my attention back to Annie, I watched as blood was dropping from her wound, my eyes brimming with tears. Then jolt up from my dream suddenly, muttered, "It was Black Soul," she whispered to herself, the realization dawning upon her. "He was the one who attacked my family that night."

Sensing her distress, have been waiting for her to wake up, then my words cut through her thought. "Do you also dream like humans do?" I inquired, curious about her experiences.

Annabelle was taken aback by the voice, she quickly stand up from the bed but before she could respond, she asked, "Where am I?" Confusion clouded her features as she surveyed her surroundings.

"I brought you here to keep you safe," I explained, determination flickering in my eyes. "I couldn't let that bastard take you."

As I stand up and moved closer to her, concern etched on her face, I pressed for answers. "Why does he want to kill you?"

Annabelle shook her head, her voice trembling. "I don't know. My sister didn't explain why."

Frustration gnawed at my heart as I probed further. "Are you saying that your sister knew everything?"

Annabelle composed herself, her gaze steady as she revealed a startling truth. "I know this may sound strange, but my sister remembered her past lives. She knew he would try to kill me, and that you would help me."

My mind raced with disbelief as I struggled to comprehend her words. "Me? Help you?" I repeated incredulously.

Annabelle smile was bittersweet as she affirmed, "Yes. She told me to find the man with the scar on his right hand."

Anger surged within me, threatening to consume my senses. "Did she really say that?" I demanded, unable to contain my frustration.

Bending down to Annabelle level, I sought confirmation once more. "She told you to find me?"

Annabelle nodded solemnly, her resolve unyielding. "I'm sure. That's what she told me. Didn't you seek me out to help?"

My emotions churned as Annay revealed her intentions. "So I could get revenge on him for killing my family?" she concluded, her voice tinged with determination.

With a mixture of disbelief and anger swirling within me, I couldn't contain the frustration that bubbled to the surface. "Help you get revenge for your family? You..." My grip tightened on the bedspread, knuckles whitening with the force of my emotions. "Of all people, you're asking me to do that? Even after what you have done?"

Confusion clouded Annabelle's features as she searched my eyes for understanding. "What? What are you talking about?" she questioned, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

I met her gaze squarely, my tone edged with accusation. "Do you really not remember, or are you just pretending?" I demanded, the weight of my words hanging heavy in her mind.

Stepping away from her, I turned to leave, but Annabelle's urgency halted my retreat. "Hold on!" she implored, her voice tinged with desperation. "I need to check on my sister."

My frustration mounting, I shook my head in disbelief. "You will never see her again," I stated firmly, my resolve hardening as I moved to slam the door shut, locking it with finality.

Inside, confusion and panic gripped Annabelle as she rushed toward the door, pounding on it in desperation. "What... Are you doing?" she cried out, her voice echoing through the empty room. "Why did you lock the door? Why are you locking me inside? Hey!"

Ignoring her pleas, I left the house without a backward glance, the weight of my decision did not heavy on my conscience because it is time for her to pay, for what she did to me.

*************

Meanwhile, in a hotel room across town, Jade anxiously dialed Annabelle's number, only to be met with frustration as the automated response informed her that the phone was switched off.

"What's going on?" Jade muttered to herself, a sense of unease settling over her. "Why did you switch off your phone?"

Before she could dwell on her thoughts further, a knock at the door startled her. "Who is it?" she called out, tension creeping into her voice. The knocking persisted, prompting Jade to rise from the bed, her nerves on edge. "Is that you, Annabelle?" she asked tentatively, her hand hovering over the doorknob.

A voice on the other side identified itself as the hotel owner, breaking the tension in the room. "How much longer will you stay here? You need to pay extra for an extension," the voice stated matter-of-factly.

Quickly gathering her belongings, Jade prepared to settle the matter. "Okay, I'm sorry," she apologized, reaching for her handbag.

Slightly opening the door to face the hotel owner, but to her surprise, it wasn't the hotel owner standing before her. Instead, it was Elena who is attempting to enter her room, her presence unexpected and unwelcome.

As Jade opened the door a bit wider, a sudden movement caught her off guard. "Gosh, you shouldn't open the door so easily like this," Elena said.

Startled, Jade reacted instinctively, slamming the door shut as Elena's head became wedged in the frame. "Hey! Who are you?" Jade exclaimed, panic rising in her chest.

Elena cried out in pain as Jade recoiled, fear coursing through her veins. "That hurts! My head is stuck!" Elena's frantic pleas filled the air, mingling with Jade's own screams of alarm.

As Elena tapped Jade's hand reassuringly, she spoke in a soothing tone, "I'm on your side, Jade. Please, calm down." Jade's panic began to ebb as she listened, trembling, albeit with a lingering sense of apprehension.

"I came here to take you because it's dangerous here," Elena continued, attempting to allay Jade's fears. But Jade, still reeling from the shock, cried out in disbelief, "You're lying!"

Elena winced as Jade's hand pushed against her head, trapped in the door frame. "That hurts! She exclamid. "Calm down, someone your sister know sent me here," her voice tinged with pain.

Struck by Elena's distress, Jade's demeanor softened slightly. "Someone my sister knows sent you?" she questioned, uncertainty coloring her words.

Elena nodded fervently, her own discomfort obvious. "Yes! I thought my head was going to break," she groaned, holding her head gingerly.

Reluctantly, Jade released her grip on the door, allowing Elena to step back. Elena's complaints about her head and neck pain filled the air. "Oh goodness! My head! My neck also," as she made her way towards a waiting van out side. Jade was slowly following her at back.

But their path was interrupted by the appearance of a formidable figure stepping out from the van. Jade's heart pounded with fear, and she instinctively turned to flee, only to be stopped by Elena's firm grasp.

"Hey! Goodness, he works for me," Elena reassured Jade, her tone conveying a sense of familiarity with the imposing man.

Despite Elena's reassurances, Jade remained wary, her eyes darting nervously between Elena and the intimidating man. "Did my sister really send you?" she pressed, her voice trembling with fear.

Elena sighed exasperatedly. "Gosh, you have so many questions," she remarked, casting a glance at Jade's bag. "Is this all you have?"

Attempting to assert her independence, Jade declared, "I changed my mind. I'll wait for her here." But Elena's grip tightened, her expression grave. "You are not safe here. Bad people might come for you," she warned.

Jade's fear deepened at Elena's words. "Exactly! How can I be sure you are not one of them?" she demanded, her voice tinged with desperation.

Elena shook her head in frustration. "Do I look like them? Do I look like an Imoogi Vampire? Or one of those reincarnated monsters?" she retorted, her tone laced with exasperation.

Jade's eyes widened in surprise at Elena's knowledge of such arcane creatures. "You know about Imoogi Vampires?" she asked incredulously.

Elena nodded emphatically. "You bet I do! That jerk is driving me crazy!" she exclaimed before regaining her composure. "Anyway, someone you know sent me here to get you."

Despite her lingering doubts, Jade couldn't deny the gravity of Elena's words. "Someone I know? Who is it?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.

Elena hesitated momentarily before responding cryptically, "You've known him for a long time. I've heard a lot about you too. You see weird stuff when you touch people's hand."

Jade's eyes widened in shock at Elena's revelation because she knows too much about her, even her secret. "Who told you that? Who is it?" she demanded, her voice rising with urgency.

"Gosh, that's enough!" Elena exclaimed, growing impatient. "Let's just go. I'll introduce you to him later."

Elena dragged Jade into the van and as the van pulled away from the vicinity, neither Jade nor Elena is aware of the vampire who sat inside his car, watching their every move with keen interest.