The Market

The market busted with life as the festive season drew near. The people walked under the hot sun not bothered about the dust that rose slightly in the air as they rubbed their sweating body against each other which they didn't mind.

Traders and travellers in the moving carriages drove past the middle of the market to their destination. The roads are wider than that of Glasgow, but indeed the market is more crowded as everybody was busy buying or selling their goods to earn their livelihood.

Here, lilliana is waiting for Ellis, for the mean time it been nearly two days since she came here. Yesterday she received her friends letter about her job at palace, her aunt clearly won't appreciate her living at their house for free of cost. That women doesn't like her and the feelings are mutual.

Due to the respect of her uncle, lilly had not said anything yet. She already paid twenty silver coins to her aunt for her stay at their house for the mean time, and surely these handful tales would not be enough for her during her stay. Everything is five times costly as compared to her village.

Lilliana was lost in her own thoughts, she flinched when someone patted her back.

"My goodness Ellis, you scared me!" the young girl said while trying to calm her heartbeat.

"What? I literally called you for 3 times lill'." Ellis exclaimed, expressing it like her friend did a huge crime.

"Now come with me and let's buy some good food." Ellis said with a huge grin on her face. After all, her friend has got some sweets tooths.

The two ladies made their way towards different stalls, big or small, all of them are filled with variety of things, some of these things are entirely new for lilliana. Especially those lip paints. Is that even a thing? How can someone paint their own lips with colours?

Indeed it looks enchanting, but how does it even taste?

She so wanted to buy it, but it cost entire six silver coins. No way, she would never waste that much of amount on some mere paint.

Her thoughts are like vast forest, limitless sky, never ending.

As she watched her friend Ellis trying to bargain- more like fight with some shopkeeper as if her life depends on it, 'dramatic' lilliana shakes her head at her friends unladylike behaviour.

Away from the main market and behind the stalls in the market stood two mens whose dresses spoke the volume of their social standing. Their dresses was in stark contrast to the dirty and crowded area of the capital. As it was one of the most cheapest area.

"...milord, I think it is not a good idea to come here. Especially with the circumstances, it would be alot more safer to stay at the palace." Spoke one of the men with frown on his face while trying to avoid those dirty smells around him.

"I don't pay you to think, Darius." The second man replied, ignoring what the other man just mentioned.

"And you worry for nothing, Darius. There's no harm in seeing how humans celebrate their festive season, is there any?" He questioned raising his eyebrows and continues his search for something or someone among the crowd that gathered at the far end.

"But milord considering how our kinds are approved and is repulsed by the humans-"

Before the former man can complete his sentence the latter interrupted him.

"Shhh.... again you worry for nothing Darius. No one can overthrow me, from my throne-

The dark Lord, Theodore welcher, from his rightful place. Now don't make me snap your head but if you do interrupt me again then I won't hesitate to do it." Theodore replied with a grin while eyeing the crowded market.

Theodore walked as his feet glided down the dusty roads where few people were. Some of folks looks curiously at them as they were not one of them. It was indeed an one of the most cheapest markets in the capital and by judging their clothes they seems to belong to high society.

"I am sorry milord for this interruption but what you plan to do?" Darius asked without a clue, he didn't even knew why they are here at first place.

"Nothing, just trying to understand humans, and wants to quench my hunger" he replied while eyeing some humans who are looking at them with hate yet fearful eyes.

"But they are the subjects you pledged to protect, milord." Darius said trying to understand his master. As much as Theodore words sounds clear and straightforward but Darius is aware of his master.

"It would not be held against me by the Church as they aren't even aware that it was their beloved king"

"But there are some people here milord. They seems knows your identity." Darius said eyeing two young ladies who are trying to avoid their eyes. One of them is clearly frightened while the another is calmed as heaven.

She seems to be a familiar one.

"One of them works at the castle milord and another one-"

"Don't, let's move to the carriage." Sometimes Darius is even confused 'is his majesty is suffering from the mood swings?'

"I can hear what's going in your brain, Darius" upon listening Theodores voice, Darius eyes got widen.

"I-I am sorry milord, didn't meant any sort of dis-disrespect." A pureblooded vampire like Darius who lived for more than one century is still afraid of his master. Afterall, an angry king is never a good news. Especially when the king is Theodore welcher.

"Hmm." The Lord hummed, remembering the events that happened a while ago.

°°°

Whereas, lilliana is clearly frightened after her encounter vampires, she heard many stories about them even had seen some cases about their cruelty at their village. But seeing one with her own eyes is completely different.

She remember her visit with her uncle at the cemetery to check that body and it does not belong to her father. By the grace of God, there is still chances of her father being alive.

She wants to mock her stupid self, it isn't that much easy to find her father, in this big country. On day to day basis, there are many cases of murdering and when it comes to humans, it is like a daily routine in capital, with an increase in population of night creatures humans are just source of food for them. And She doesn't even know how she will find her father. It is so messed up, everything is so messed up!

Her entire life changed within a span of five days. The sexton also claimed that it won't be easy for her to find a single man in this entire capital, neither he is noble person nor a vampire. Even the chances of him being alive is very slim.

"Lilly, do you find anything related to your father?" Ellis asked, she knows her friends dilemma. The feeling of loosing someone. Someone very closed to our hearts.

"I do visited that cemetery but the body was almost destroyed and face was irrecognisable, but that body does not belongs to my father."

"How come you're so sure?" Even though, Ellis wants to remain positive for her friend but there are possibilities.

"My father has a birth mark at his arms."

"I am sorry, I didn't mean it in a negative wa-" Before Ellis could complete her lilly hushed her.

"I know, even I was frightened to look at that man's body. At some point I believed that it belongs to my father."

"I will try to ask one of my friend to enquire further, he is half blooded." Ellis commented and trying to lift up her friend's sorrow.

"Half blooded? You mean half blooded vampire? No, what if he is not trustworthy? Or maybe dangerous"  Lilliana exclaimed, the cases and stories she had heard in her hometown was enough for her to never trust a night creature especially vampires and witches.

"No lilly, not every vampire is bad. As I said he is half blooded, he was forced to turn into one of them and how you will find your father alone in this city?" Ellis said calmly while asking a question.

Ellis is right, how I am going to find papà in this city alone without someone's help? And what if that friend of hers can really help me but how he is going to find him? I don't even have any sort of clue with me apart from his ring.

Lilliana thought about all the other possibilities.

"Okay but are you sure that he will help us? I don't even have enough money with me right now, but I would surely pay every single penny-"

"Shhh.. take a breath lill'. Obviously he will help us and about money I asked madam cabello for the job at the palace, and she told me she would decide that after seeing your work." After seeing her friends worried face Ellis quickly added.

"But I am sure. You will secure that place." She grinned.

"Thank you elli'." They young lady hugged her friend in the pace of emotions.

"Now stop these tears and hurry up, We must arrive to the palace before dusk" Ellis said as they have to visit Mr. Samuel House first.

°°°

Lilliana and Ellis reached her uncles house,  the things aren't very pleasant here. Her uncles house is not very big neither too small but considering their family it is more than enough, well these are the thoughts of Ellis. But her aunt 'Melinda' seems to unhappy with her current financial circumstances.

In these two-three days she heard the couples fighting, her aunt is always comparing her house and her husbands income with them and their living.

Isn't is absurd? Her uncle is doing everything within his power to make them happy but lilliana chose to ignore the situation because even though they are her relatives but it's their personal matter. And she is more like forced guest.

She doesn't want to burden her uncle more than she already did. She doesn't even want to put further strain on her uncle. She has made up her mind to look for work, search for her father, and then most likely go back to her village, afterall her family is waiting for them.

In addition, she can stay with Ellis if she succeeds in landing that position at the palace.

Lilliana went to her cousins room as they're sharing it, their house consists of only three room and one kitchen. One is occupied by the couple another one is taken by her cousin where she is currently staying and lastly third is more like a storage room. While the sitting room is infront of the main door.

Lilliana swiftly changed into another pair of plain white and blue dress with fluffy sleeves. The arms are too short for her taste because they belong to her sister aera, and although the fit is almost ideal, it emphasises her curves.

She quickly wore her gloves and moved towards the lounge as Ellis is waiting for her. They had to cover the distance to the palace by walking and eventually lilliana had to return alone and it won't be safe for a human after the sunset.

"Good afternoon aunt"

"Good afternoon, where are you going now?"

"I am heading to the palace-" Melinda interrupted her.

"Listen, young lady, I don't care wherever you go as long as you return before dusk or your uncle will blame me for that as well." Mrs. Samuel replied after eyeing lilliana for a mere second.

"Okay" lilliana replied trying to end this conversation as soon as possible. 

As lilliana and Ellis left for the palace. Mrs. Samuel went to her daughters room. She is having a hard to find a wealthy man for her daughter. She spoilt her daughter 'lola' with everything in her power and that made her more and more rebellious and stubborn.

Lola was never a responsible child. Being a single child of her parents, she already got the whole attention of her parents since childhood and she likes the things how they are.

Never ever wanted someone to steel her limelight. Even in their town she is one of the most beautiful girl and with the arrival of Lilliana, everyone is asking about her within their neighbourhood even her friends, them complementing her is somewhat undigestible for her.

As someone is stealing her place, even the boy who she always dreams off is seems to like her cousin. At first lola didn't had any sort of grudge with Lilliana but after seeing how Bram always looks at lilliana makes her somewhat jealous.

She wants this cousin of hers out of her house as soon as possible. Bram was, is and will always be hers.

°°°

▪︎ Hello lovelies!🖐

▪︎ Well, how's this chapter?

▪︎ Drop your thoughts on the following characters and comments your favourite one.

▪︎ And most importantly was the entry of our ml was upto your taste?

▪︎ Please vote!

▪︎ Comments!

▪︎ And share!

▪︎I'm still waiting for my first comment😭.