Reinhold guided Annalena down to the cellar, to where he believed that they would be the safest. Margarete always told them to hide in the cellar if anything dangerous came their way. While he knew that he could defend himself well enough, he wasn't confident that he could protect Annalena. She was small, but she was fragile due to her being human. So many different things could easily murder her, and he wasn't going to take any chances.

Annalena let him lead her to safety, lifting her skirt in the front so she could move easily. She wondered what kind of danger that Margarete would be afraid of. She was the apex predator, she shouldn't be afraid of anything. Annalena wondered if she should ask Reinhold about it, but decided against it. Instead, she would just ask Margarete when she returned.

Reinhold found a small room within a room in the back of the cellar. He thought that this was the safest place, as you would have to know the castle well to even find this room. It was well hidden in plain sight, which made it perfect. He sat across from her and sighed.

"Does this happen often?" Annalena whispered, hoping to make casual conversation. 

"It hasn't happened in a while, but it does occasionally. Especially in the last decade or so. It never happened when we were younger. It seems that the word is getting out that vampires live here," Reinhold answered in a normal tone. 

"That's not very good," Annalena murmured, wondering what they would do if people found out that they lived here. She wondered if they would move, but she wasn't sure where they would go.

"It'll be okay. Nothing will happen while we're around, and no one will kick us out so easily," Reinhold reassured with a wink. Annalena sighed, relaxing a little. "Besides, I don't think my mother would be able to leave you alone."

"I don't know, I think she's just humoring me," Annalena smiled with a small laugh. Margarete was incredible old, and she probably would live centuries longer than Annalena could ever dream of living to. Reinhold scoffed and shook his head.

"I don't think she's humoring you. In all the years I've known her, she has never brought someone home other than us. She never trusted anyone to show them the castle, which was why Ottomar was so opposed to you staying. It was strange and weird at first, but you're starting to become a part of the family," Reinhold explained with a half smile. Annalena turned red and bit her lip. "She really cares for you."

"I'm very happy to hear that," Annalena whispered with a full smile. "I care about her a lot."

"It shows," Reinhold laughed, embarrassing Annalena. "Once she returns, you should tell her, though. That way she won't assume that you still want to go to Stuttgart."

"What if I want to go to Stuttgart?" Annalena countered, folding her arms.

"I mean, if you still want to leave, you're more than welcome to," Reinhold informed before smiling again. "But you won't."

"How are you so good at reading people?" Annalena asked, surrendering for the moment. Reinhold shrugged.

"It's a gift. I've also had to act as mediator between my brothers whenever they got into a fight," he replied. She nodded understandably. Then there was a noise in the cellar a few doors down. 

Annalena covered her mouth instinctively to prevent a noise from escaping as Reinhold stood. He pressed a finger to his lips before peeking around the corner. She watched him carefully as he left the hidden room. Annalena desperately wanted to follow him to find out where it came from, but she knew that if it was something, she would be in the way. She had no weapons and no training, so she would stay put for the moment.

Annalena closed her eyes as she listened to the fading footsteps. Her heart pounded in her chest, hoping that it was just a rat or a squirrel. She wanted Reinhold to come back around with his smile, telling her that it was a false alarm. That everything was fine and that Margarete had returned. Annalena desperately wanted everything to be fine, and that she was stressed out over nothing.

"Oh, what a pretty thing you are," a voice whispered as Annalena's eyelids opened immediately. An older woman stood above her with a maniacal smile and small vial in her hand. 

Annalena tried to stand and push the woman aside, but the woman had surprising strength and was able to push her back down with one hand. With a glare, Annalena kept her gaze on the newcomer. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing, yet they were filled with joy and malice.

"Are you Margarete's new plaything? I'm surprised that she chose you, but not many come through the forest anymore," the woman remarked. "Where is Margarete? I thought I would pay her a visit, but I can't find her anywhere."

"She went out," Annalena answered, trying to look past her. The woman stepped in front of her gaze, but not before Annalena saw a pair of legs laying in the hallway. She frowned. "Who are you?"

"My name is Greta," she answered with venomous smile. "I'm Margarete's stepmother."