Decision

The next day, after eating breakfast in the dining room, Laura went back to her room to ponder about her dilemma. She's starting to hate herself because until now, she still can't decide on what is the best thing to do regarding her situation.

It's obvious that for the safety of her loved ones she needs to marry the vampire son.

All her problems will dissolve quickly that way.

But why she's still hesitating to decide? What's holding her?

The truth is, she's afraid to live with the vampires. She's feared that they will suck her blood dry every day. She fears that they're going to eat her flesh and drink her blood. She had nightmares thinking about those frightful things that she's going to encounter when she's already living among those bloodsuckers.

It scared her to the bones. It terrifies her.

What's she going to do now? She still has eight days left to decide. She must decide quickly!

"Oh, God! Please help me!" she begged the Heavenly Father in heaven for a quick deliverance from her dilemma.

She picked up Cooper's photo from the bedside table and stared at his face. At least with Cooper, she had already seen his face. But when it comes to that couple's vampire son, she has never seen his face. It would be scary to marry someone, not of your kind, and worst he is a vampire, and she had no idea what he looks like in person.

Those thoughts were killing her inside.

She should just accept her fate and prepare herself to plunge into darkness!

What she's going to do?

Sighing, she exited her room and went to the basement. His father and the servants are constructing a trunk that she can hide with, so that she can escape to South Pond Town, undetected.

She went down the basement just in time when the men were having a break. She went to her father's side. The chest-like box was already finished, and the only thing lacking is the cover. It doesn't look like a coffin, more like a chest that travelers are using to store their clothes and stuff.

She sat on the chair, facing her father. "I want to inquire about the castle. How it looks like, Father?" she asked.

Simon looked at the ceiling, trying to recall what the castle looks like twenty years ago. "Hmm...the only thing I can remember is that it was a big place twenty years ago. But during those times the castle was already showing signs of decay. I was surprised to see a castle hidden so well behind a mountain. It was surrounded by towering trees. No one would think that there was a castle in there..." he said, lost in his thoughts for a moment.

"Anything else? What else you see inside the castle?" she inquired.

"Grandma and I were taken to the living room lighted by hundreds of candles that can be found everywhere. There was a grand staircase leading to the second floor, but I haven't had the chance to explore the whole area because we're told to stay in the living room only."

"How about the outside of the castle?"

"There was a huge lawn with garden and high iron rusted gate. That's all I can remember. I didn't think much about the whole place because I'm not there for sightseeing. So...I wasn't paying much attention to everything around me," Simon replied.

"Okay...how about the couple's son? Have you seen his face?" she asked.

Simon sighed. "I'm sorry, daughter. During the whole time that we're there, the couple didn't introduce me to their son. I guessed the son was already born during that time or maybe he was ten years older than you. I dunno..." he said, shaking his head.

Laura reached a dead end. "So... if they will take me away from here...they would bring me to that castle hidden behind the mountain?" she asked.

"Yes. I think that's what they're going to do," Simon replied.

"But I don't want to live there! It's too far away from here!" she grumbled.

"I know, that is why we have to finish this chest quickly so that you can finally leave this place before the vampires come back!" Simon said. He patted his daughter's head affectionately. "Don't worry daughter, you will be safe. I will make sure of that..."

"B-but Father how about your safety and that of my sister?" she reminded him.

"Daughter, don't worry too much about me. I'm already 70 years old. I only have a few years to live. I will try my best to save your sister. It doesn't matter if I will die in the process as long you girls are safe. I'm sure my friend will take good care of you since you are going to become his daughter-in-law," he explained.

The two servants returned to the basement after their break.

"You go now back to your room or talk to your mother so that we can finish this chest quickly," Simon said.

Laura left the basement and went to find her mother outside the house.

Rosa was in her garden, getting busy with her flowers and ornamental plants. She finds joy in her garden and if she will leave her plans behind to live in another place, she would be missing her plants dearly.

Laura lowered herself on the chair, watching her mother watering her plants.

Because of her... her parent's peaceful life will be affected, her sister's life in danger, and the servants as well. It's a chaos that can be prevented if she's willing to sacrifice herself.

And it all comes down to her.

Why is that her normal life suddenly turned upside down?

At her age right now, she doesn't want to marry yet. First, she wants to have a romantic date with her love interest, and enjoy the getting to know each other phase of every relationship, then savor the long engagement.

The vampire couple disrupted her life abruptly, but she can't also blame them entirely. Her father entered into the deal without thinking much about the consequences.

She can't also blame her parents. After waiting for so long to have a child, and have it delivered into the world, only to find out that their baby died...they were devastated. Their happiness only continues after she returned from the dead.

Just thinking about it, maybe, she should have remained dead a long time ago, than to suffer all these kinds of pain and confusion. Right now, it feels like she was just waiting to be thrown into the cage filled with fierce lions, no way out!

Rosa turned her head and looked at her daughter. "What's wrong?" she asked after seeing the problematic expression on her face.

"Nothing, Mother. Just continue what you're doing. I won't take much of your time. I'll just stay here for a while and admire the beautiful flowers," she said.

Rosa resumed her activity.

"Mother, I'm sorry... you're going to miss your plants when we relocate to South Pond Town," she said apologetically.

Rosa glanced at her. "Don't be sorry, child. Your life is more important than anything else in this world. I'm willing to leave everything behind. I can give up my flowers anytime for you!" she said without a hint of sadness. She resumed her activity, sweeping dry leaves around the garden.

Laura sighed heavily. "Thank you, Mother," she said feeling wretched inside. Her parents are already old. They should not be subjected to any difficult and dangerous situation. They should be enjoying the remaining days of their lives in peace.

She was rubbing her temple, trying to prevent a painful headache from forming in her head. She only had this frequent headache after thinking so much about her current problem.

Rosa looked at her daughter. "Tomorrow, we will start packing our things for the journey towards South Pond Town. We will pack your things first and mine will be next. Then let's also pack Sofia's clothes," she said.

"Mother, I think there is no need to pack clothes. I made up my mind already. To prevent bloodshed, I will just marry the vampire's son. I'm doing this for the good of everyone," Laura said with finality in her voice.

"B-but...daughter...we already decided on this matter!" Rosa said.

"I know, Mother. I grow up in this house, it becomes our beloved home. You and Father don't need to abandon this house just because of what happened twenty years ago. Since my fate has already been sealed during that time then I should honor it. Father agreed to the deal twenty years ago. We should honor it! Besides, I'm just going to marry someone. I can come here for a visit anytime. I will ask my husband to relocate us here in this town so that I can visit you often," Laura explained.

Rosa took a deep breath. "Daughter, you are going to marry a vampire, not our kind! Those vampires will try living in far-flung areas away from humans so that nobody can discover their secret identity," she reminded her.

"Mother, it doesn't matter. I will visit you here as long as I have the time, I'm sure my husband won't object," Laura insisted.

Rosa was shaking her head. "Your Father and I already agreed to marry you to Cooper, at least he is human! This matter was already decided. All you need to do is get inside that chest and you will arrive safely in your groom's house..." she said firmly.

Laura sighed and bit her lip. "Mother, I'm going to tell Father my decision," she said and left the garden.

She went to the basement. His father was alone in there.

Simon looked at her. "Daughter, we already finished the cover. Why don't you try it?" he said.

Laura shook her head. "I'm sorry father. I'm not going inside that thing!"

"Huh? Why?" Simon's eyes widened in confusion.

"Because I have already made up my mind. I'm going to marry that couple's son. It's the only way to prevent anyone from getting killed because of me!" she said in a determined voice.

Simon took a deep breath. "Daughter, we already talked about this..."

"I know, but I've changed my mind already," she said and walked away.

"Laura...! Come back here!" Simon called her.

"I'm going back to my room, Father," she replied and exited the basement going to her room.