#annbelle

Annabelle sat at her piano quietly as she did every single day since she passed. She tinkered over the keys lightly, going over her scales slowly as she practiced. It was one of the few things that made her still feel…human. Something about pressing into the keys gave her some satisfaction, as if she still had a true physical form and it wasn’t just her ghostly abilities making up for her lack of a mortal body. Changing her hand position once more she began a new set of scales, going up and down and then up again. Next, the many chords of the scale and then the sharp and flat versions of the scale. Always the same, and always every day…

 Just like she promised.

 “Annabelle,” Maestro spoke up suddenly, causing the little girl to turn from her place on the bench and look over to the man working at the desk as he had done some many years ago.

 “Yes Maestro?”

 “Could you please play the B major scale for me quickly?”

 “Of course.” Annabelle answered with a smile before turning back to the piano and doing as instructed.

 It seemed they had slipped almost seamlessly back into routine once more, as if they had never been apart. Maestro had refused to leave Annabelle alone one more second in her manor, insisting that he come stay with her in the rotting home. Of course, he spent most of the time there sneezing but even with that Annabelle found comfort in his company. Luca, his companion, was a little bit more difficult to get used to. There was just something about that angry little man that made Annabelle uncomfortable. However, he never really seemed to stay around them long, instead preferring to go off and do his own thing around the estate until the Maestro summoned him for one reason or another.

 The pair of them had come to rest in her company for the time being, something that she could easily tell that Luca was not pleased over; then again he rarely seemed pleased by anything. She had no idea what their plans had been before they had come to stay with her but they didn’t seem in any rush to hurry on their way, and that was something Annabelle secretly felt grateful for. Having someone to sit with and speak with was a luxury that the living took far too lightly. There had been one thing that had started to eat away at the back of Annabelle’s mind since the Maestro had returned…

 What really had happened to the Maestro?

 Annabelle had believed that since she had gotten his last letter that he was dead and gone, buried in a grave somewhere in his homeland. Suddenly, he waltzes right into her rotting home as alive as he had been on the day they had parted with only the addition of some scars! It just seemed so out of place, as if maybe this was nothing more than her own mind playing tricks on her as her solitude started to take its toll. But he was there, physical and warm to the touch, very much alive and well. He didn’t even age either, or at least not enough to fit with just how long they had been apart. It was odd and it kept bothering her more and more.

 Why did she get a letter announcing his death if he had not really been dead? Where had he been for so long and why did he hide from her until now? What was keeping him from aging and where did he get such terrible scars? So many questions…and Annabelle didn’t have the heart to ask for answers. Besides, who was she to ask about what happened when she had been keeping her own secrets from the Maestro? After all, it wasn’t as if she had been telling him everything that happened since she had “died”.

 Having gone back to her scales after doing what Leopold had requested, she glanced over her shoulder to the working man. He was working on yet another composition, though she had not had the chance to look at this one. It seemed he still wrote music at a feverish pace, constantly pulling out new songs from his talented mind. That was something she was glad to see. It made the Maestro still seem like the kind man from all that time ago. Not that he wasn’t still kind and sweet to her but there was a change in the air around him that she felt. She couldn’t quite put a finger on it, at least not yet, but there was something about the Maestro that had changed permanently.

 “Annabelle, the same scale again please.” Leopold requested, not once looking up from his papers.

 “Of course, Maestro.” Annabelle said softly, once more playing the B major scale for him.  

 “Thank you, my dear.”

 Annabelle finished the scale simply, letting her hands linger on the keys for a moment before she pulled them back and rested her hands in her lap. Glancing back at the Maestro one more time she bit her lip in thought before turning fully on the piano bench to face him. It wouldn’t hurt to ask…She just had to know what happened…why he had just disappeared from her life for so long. Annabelle had shed so many tears for his loss and to have him return again into her world was not easy on her heart.

 “Maestro?” Annabelle asked softly, kicking her legs lightly as she looked over the man.

 “Yes, Annabelle?” He said, still looking at his music score with an ink pen in hand.

 “May…May I ask you something?”

 Looking up at her then he blinked a few times, smiling a little as he seemed to chuckle at her question. Setting down his pen then he motioned for her to approach him. Instantly Annabelle floated up into the air and over to the Maestro, letting herself float down to the desk edge to sit near him. Crossing one leg over the other he leaned back into his chair then, motioning for her to continue.

 “You are always welcome to ask me questions, Annabelle. Of course, I do hope you’ll allow me to ask a few questions in return.”

 “Oh, Of course, Maestro…You can ask me questions too!” Annabelle retorted as she seemed to relax a bit, even giving a smile to the giant before her.

 “Splendid! So, what would you like to know?”

 Annabelle blinked a bit as a small blush took to her cheeks. She had so many things to ask and now she had permission to do so. It was probably best to start with the most basic question she had for him…since it seemed to be the root of all her other questions.

 “Did…Did you really die?” She questioned softly.

 The words seemed to cause the Maestro to blink in shock, more than likely not having expected her to ask something like that. He fiddled with his thumbs for a moment, as if trying to find the words to say. Seeing the struggle Annabelle quickly piped up again, just to give him a bit more time to gather himself.

 “I-I just was wondering since you…you are alive now. I remember…the letter about your death very vividly. It’s one of the strongest memories that I have. It just doesn’t seem possible that you could be dead and then be alive…I know that is not how the world works.” She finished, fiddling with her own fingers as she glanced up at Leopold.

 It seemed her continuations relaxed him a bit, bringing out another kind and understanding grin to his face as he sat there before her. Nodding his head a bit he spoke simply in response. “Yes, I did die…The reason I am alive is because of my magic.”

 “Your magic? You mean those things you can do with your baton?” Annabelle questioned as she mimicked the motion of waving a baton in her hand.

 “Yes! Exactly! You see…My mother was a special type of witch and I inherited that special type of magic. However, I had to die technically before I could use the magic. So once I died, the magic activated and then brought me back to life so that I could use it.” He explained, grinning more to her

 “Oh…I see…I’m glad then, it means I got to see you again! Does the magic also make you look like you do? I know it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen you last. You should be an old man with gray hair by now, Maestro.” Annabelle teased, giggling a bit as she pointed to his pink hair. Leopold laughed as well, smiling even more as he ran a hair through his hair.

 “Yes, yes…it is also the reason I look as young as ever! In fact, it might be aging me backwards so keep an eye on me if I’m suddenly a child again!” He joked, laughing then and causing Annabelle to laugh aloud as well.

 “Maestro, you already act like a child, you might as well look like one.” Annabelle said back quickly, the two of them quickly slipping into fits of laughter together as they shared their joked.

 Annabelle couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so hard and deeply, it felt so nice and comfortable. Especially to be laughing with the Maestro, it just made her feel as if it was back to their visit when she was ten, the two of them just together in the practice room enjoying each other’s company. She truly missed those wonderful days. The Maestro seemed to finally gather himself from his laughter and pulled off his glasses; wiping his eyes a moment before he started to clean his glasses.

 “Ah, Annabelle…It is times such as this that I have missed sharing with you.” He said simply, smiling at her. Grinning back she nodded her head, pale cheeks flushing pink as she giggled a bit.

 “Me too, Maestro.”

 “Now, I do have a question for you, Annabelle. What exactly happened to the Penterghast Estate? When I first arrived it seemed that everything had been prepared for as if your family was leaving for a good while.”

 The question hit Annabelle oddly, her face seeming to freeze a bit and loose the pleasant pink hue it had gotten. Looking down at her lap she seemed to think, not looking at the Maestro as she gathered her words together.

 “My family did leave…They did not wish to stay here any longer so they all left in a rush.” She eventually said her voice very soft and light.

 “Why were they leaving?” He then asked.

 Annabelle said absolutely nothing for the longest time, just staring off at the ground as if she was completely consumed in her thoughts. Her black and blue eyes had glossed over, seemingly in a daze as she went as still as a statue. She might have been reliving a memory in her head…or maybe just thinking about the answer forced her to use all of her concentration. Noticing this, the Maestro leaned forward, looking slightly concerned as he tried to catch Annabelle’s attention by gently waving a hand in front of her face. The little girl he knew seemed to be lost in her own world rather deeply. Just as he was about to speak to try and pull her from her stupor she murmured something.

 “Me…”

 “What?” Leopold asked, not having exactly caught what she had said.

 Sitting up slowly, Annabelle gave a look to the Maestro that shocked him. Her expression seemed so much more aged than it usually did, completely void of emotion. The once bubbly girl had grown up several years in an instant. Her lips were in a firm line, her eyes suddenly appearing so much emptier than they usually were. Annabelle blinked slowly as she looked right into his eyes, her words taking on a tone that she would not usually use. It sounding almost hallow and without any feeling.

 “They left because of me…”

 Then, just as quickly as it came, it left. Annabelle blinked several times and the girl returned to her bubbly self once more. She seemed to realize that she had lost herself in some way then, a small look of panic resting on her face as she pushed herself right off the desk and started to float about in the air. It was obvious that she did not usually have herself change like that, at least not around Leopold. Seeing the distress on her face the Maestro stood up instantly, moving over to the small ghost girl as he spoke with deep concern.

 “Annabelle, are you al-“

 “I’m fine! I-I am fine, Maestro.” She interrupted roughly, waving a hand at him to stay back as she floated closer to the ceiling. “That happens, I…I lose myself and I don’t realize it until it passes…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just need to control it better…I’ve let myself get lazy since you arrived.”

 “Lose yourself? Annabelle, what does that mean?” Leopold asked.

 “I…I don’t…It’s…” Annabelle seemed to be unable to answer the question, either because she couldn’t find the right words to explain…or the right words to lie with. Putting her hands on either side of her head she shook it wildly, her whole form seeming to vibrate suddenly and causing the Maestro to back up a step in surprise before he reached out for her. He had seen it before; spirits that vibrated like that quickly lost themselves in a panic or rage. It was common with spirits who had suffered tragic deaths. Thinking back on the event could throw them for a loop and cause them to hurt innocents. It seemed that his questions had accidentally provoked it. Grabbing an ankle, as she seemed to have randomly made herself physical for a moment, he pulled her down quickly and hugged her.

 “Annabelle! Calm down, It is alright, you don’t have to answer!” He said quickly, holding the little girl in his arms as she kept pressing her hands into her ears. She shook her head more for a moment before the vibrations suddenly slowed, coming to a stop. Annabelle looked weak, her form no longer physical and causing her to float through the Maestros arms. Translucent almost to the point of being invisible, Annabelle let out a weak groan as she let her hands fall to her side.

 “S-sorry…I didn’t mean to do that.” She groaned, sounding truly like a ghost for the first time since the Maestro had seen her.

 “You have nothing to apologize for, my dear…Are you alright?” He asked his voice soft and filled with concern as he tried to reach out to the little girl, only for his hand to phase through her arm in his attempt to touch it.

 “yeah…I just weakened myself a bit too much…I…I can’t be solid now, at least not for awhile…I might not even sound normal for awhile either.” She explained as she floated like person in water, bobbing up and down slowly as if to an extremely slow beat. “I…I think I need to go relax. It’s not good for me…to be exerting energy now.”

 “I agree…” Leopold said instantly as he stepped back.  “Go gather yourself for as long as you need, Annabelle…You know I shall be right here, waiting for you.” He grinned gently then, the concern still on his face even as he tried to part with a more uplifting expression.

 Annabelle smiled in return, tiredly though as she hovered over to him. Reaching out, she pet his cheek, the touch feeling more like ice and wind than the physical hand he had once touched before. It was strange to see her so ghostly now, the young girl having spent most of her time as a physical being than a translucent one. She kept smiling as she spoke then, her hand drifting slowly from his cheek.

 “I don’t think I can answer any questions from you Maestro…at least, not for awhile…Maybe another time.”

 “I understand…now go rest, please.”

 Annabelle left through the ceiling, going right through the wood work into the next story.  Left to stand in the practice room all alone, Leopold gave a deep sigh that he seemed to have been holding in. What had just happened was not a reaction that he had expected from the little girl. It scared him a bit even and considering what he was…not much could really scare him now. Wandering back over to the desk he put both hands on the back of the chair, his eyes looking to the piano for a moment before he whispered to himself.