Grounded

40: Grounded

Lara embraced herself. Shivering at the mere thought of Noah's people causing harm to her father's people filled her with fear and uneasiness. Because if her concerns are correct. She'd be at a loss on what to do...

"Did the werewolves play a role in this?" she inquired.

Her father did not respond.

Lara clasped her fists against her chest. She needs to quit thinking like this. She needs to calm down. The whole story hasn't been told yet. She shouldn't be jumping into conclusions.

"No. The werewolves had nothing to do with it."

Lara's eyes gleamed. "Really?"

"Yes," Sebastien said, his eyes furrowed. He noticed the strange reaction on his daughter's face and wondered why. Is she aware of what's going on?

"Oh, I see..." Lara gave herself a nod. Her mind whirring with thoughts. "Then, who was the one responsible for this? Were witches involved? If it wasn't the humans or werewolves, they should be next."

"No, it wasn't the work of the witches either."

"What? Then who did this?"

Her father's jaw clenched. He looked like he didn't want to say this but, "…It was the work of our kind."

"Vampires? But that's not possible!" Lara jumped to her feet. "Our people are devoted to one another; nobody would dare to betray our kind! There must be a mistake."

Sebastien sighed. "No, daughter. There wasn't. The ones who attacked Cedric were vampire."

"But- you claimed they were under control, right. There's a good chance that our enemy is hiding in the shadows, controlling vampires to do their will. They must have found a method to control the lesser ones to do their dirty world for them."

"Your speculation might be true, daughter, but they haven't been proven yet. I, however, have decided to change my decision." Sebastien turned to face his daughter, his expression grave and said, "You will not leave Velhellah until I find Valenti's murderer…"

"What? Father, what kind of nonsense is this?"

"Language, Lara! Your tongue might be the price of your insolence." Sebastien scolded her as he sat on his chair, clasping his hand in front of his solemn expression.

"But this is not fair! Tell me why you're suddenly grounding me like this so I may understand why."

Sebastien sighed. "…You told me that your uncle visited you, am I right?"

"Yes. What does it have to do with this?"

"The enemy might have known about you."

"So, you have a feeling that the ones responsible for this must be following Uncle Val that day and since he stopped at my house, they might have already added me as a target."

"Yes. They must be searching for you right now so; you will stay here. Until it's safe."

Lara sighed. Finally understanding the situation. She felt dejected that she couldn't return right away but she can understand her father's thoughts and fears. "I was safe there..." She faintly said.

"Was." Her father pointed out. "But I will not exclude the possibility of you being harmed. Cedric also paid your residence a visit. Since the enemy has pursued him, that confirms the fact that you're not safe in that world right now."

Lara clenched her jaw, struggling to agree with her father's words but they made sense.

"But my job… I only had that job for a week. I only requested for a two-week leave, dad. I can't stay longer!"

"…I know you're worried about your life over there, daughter," Sebastien placed his hand on her shoulders, aiming to console her. "But now, I'm just glad that you came home... If you hadn't come, and told me about Valenti, I wouldn't have thought that your life was in danger.  I forbid you from returning to the human realm until the danger has been resolved, understood?"

Lara can only nod since her father already said it with firmness. His decision was final, and knowing her father, she couldn't change that.

***

"I'm too old for this..." Lara groaned as she sat in the gazebo with Cedric. Whining about her seclusion.

After that conversation with her father, she was dismissed without saying anything else.

Grumbling, Lara went to the palace gardens next to talk to Cedric about it and vent.

"I feel like I'm under house arrest!"

"You 'are' under house arrest." Cedric pointed out as he ate one of her crescent moon blood cakes. Lara glared at Cedric from the corner of her eyes. She loved those cakes so much but, she's right out ignoring them.

She felt like, if she started eating those sweet, tasty red pastries that's making her drool right now, she would instantaneously stop complaining at her situation and feel better about it.

That is something she doesn't want to happen at the moment. She wanted to whine, and whine some more until her father's ear itched from her whining.

She wanted him to feel how dissatisfied she is, even though she agreed to this arrangement.

"I do think uncle is right, pumpkin."

Lara rolled her eyes and grumbled; "Don't even think about starting." She threatened.

But it didn't work on him at all.

"…You take pride of your life outside the gates. It was your dream ever since we were small. But your safety is important to me more than anything else. And I think it's the same for Uncle Sebastien… If you leave, I'll pull you back here without commands, that's how determined I am to keep you safe."

Lara let out a sigh. "I know… But it will take months to complete an investigation and track down the culprit. I only asked for a 2 weeks-leave, I can't ghost my work!"

Cedric shrugged. "Then request a two-months leave from your employer instead. Simple."

Lara felt like she just heard something ridiculous; "Are you insane? Asking for more is not an option for me. I'm just an employee and my co-workers will talk about me for sure. I'm just a newbie, it'll be unfair for them."

"Well, in Velhellah, you're a princess and it's not unfair for you to ask more time from your employer. They should even feel honored that the daughter of the vampire king is working with them. And no matter where you go, no matter what double life you lead, the fact that you are royalty will never change. You have responsibilities here... Please don't forget that."