Endure

By 6:00 in the evening, Simon's entourage stops over in an eatery beside the road.

Laura went straight to the toilet to take care of the call of nature. They've been traveling nonstop and her stomach was also grumbling, she's starving!

After she's done in the toilet, she went to look for her father that was waiting outside.

They entered the eatery and occupied a table for two. There are few customers inside the establishment.

Laura let her father ordered food for them.

"Father, are we near to South Pond Town?" she asked after some time.

"Yes, we will arrive at my friend's doorsteps by 8:00 tonight," Simon answered.

Laura was getting nervous. A few hours from now, she will be facing Cooper, her future husband. Her future looks gloomy.

Simon noticed the sad expression on his daughter's face. "What's wrong?" he inquired.

Laura released a deep sigh. "I'm going to meet Cooper soon. What if he doesn't like me? What if he will reject me?" she said.

Simon smiled. "That will never happen, daughter. I'm sure the moment Cooper will see you, he will never let you go. I'm sure of that," he said confidently, trying to reassure her.

Laura wasn't looking forward to meeting Cooper. At her age right now, she wasn't ready yet to get married. All she wanted to do right now is to go back to their farm and be with her mother and sister.

"Don't worry, daughter. Your future will surely improve as long as you can influence Cooper to change his bad habits. Once you are married to him, you can finally steer him in the right direction. The ball is in your hands," he said.

"But what if Cooper won't change?" she insisted. "I don't want to stay forever with a man who loves frequenting in the brothel and engaged in all types of vices!" she huffed.

Simon let out a deep sigh. "I know. Just endure, try to give him some time to change. If after five years and he still hasn't changed his bad ways, then my friend can no longer blame me. I'll take you back to our house, you can always go back to us and live with us just like before," he said. After all, he was just going ahead with this arranged marriage just to fend-off the vampires from taking his daughter.

Laura's face brightened up. "Thank you, Father!" she said with a smile. Five years of suffering is short compared to a lifetime. She's willing to endure five years.

The eatery staff arrived at their table. The waitress arranged the dishes which consisted of seafood soup, vegetable stew, chicken, and rice on the table. "Enjoy your meal, Sir and Miss," she said, and move to another table.

"Let's eat!" Simon said.

Laura was very much delighted while salivating at the delicious dishes displayed on the table. Holding the spoon, she began putting a small serving of dishes on her plate and starts eating ravenously.

The father and daughter duo consumed their meals in silence.

Half an hour later.

They finished eating.

"Wow, such delicious dishes! My stomach is full!" Laura raved.

"I'm glad you like the foods I ordered for us, daughter," Simon smiled. "We will rest for fifteen minutes before we start traveling again. I'm looking forward to sleep in a warm bed. My back is aching," Simon protested.

"I'll give you a massage, Father," Laura suggested.

"No, it's okay. My condition will improve once we arrived at our destination," he replied.

"Okay," Laura murmured. She glanced at the two servants eating their meals at the next table. Her father ordered the same food for them.

Fifteen minutes later, they're out of the eatery, ready to resume their journey.

Simon and his entourage left the area and boarded their transportation.

They resumed their journey while the stars have exploded in the sky above coupled with the full moon lighting up the heavens in all its glory.

It was a beautiful evening. Laura opened the window of the carriage to gaze at the sky above. "The view above is so nice! I saw beautiful sparkling stars shining in the sky just like millions of fireflies!" she exclaimed.

A few minutes later, her view was hindered by the towering trees.

Then she notices something...a floating figure...much bigger than a bird!

Oh, no! She remembered those floating creatures. She immediately closed the window and never open it again, afraid that her thoughts materialized in front of her, 'coz right now she was thinking of those vampires who come to their residence to take her away.

What if...what if they already found out that she fled and they're trying to find her? They could be after her? Right now... at this very moment!

She can feel the beating of her heart speeds up. She's getting nervous all of a sudden. She tried to calm herself down. She glanced at her father sitting nearby, with his eyes closed.

No, she can't tell him yet. She might be hallucinating or just imagining things. She wants to be sure first, she pushed opened the window slightly and took a peek outside.

No flying creatures or shadows are hovering above, thank God! She closed the window, feeling relieved.

The beating of her heart returned to normal.

She closed her eyes and calmed her nervous self. She pushes away the negative things in her mind and thinks of Luke's handsome face and romantic smile, imagining their wonderful memories together. A sweet smile broke on her face. She was hoping that their path will cross again in the future. She hopes that he remains single waiting for her, and when she's free again, they can get married and raise a family together. Such wonderful wishful thinking that brought a smile to her lips.

What if... their paths will cross again?

She knows deep inside her heart that they will meet again someday. She was looking forward to that time to come. Even if her marriage to Cooper will end in doom, she still has Luke's sweet memories to accompany her during the darkest times of her tribulations.

Then her mind wandered back to the vampires.

She remembered that when the vampires returned to the mansion, the vampire couple was no longer with them. Hmm, where is the vampire couple now? Why is it that they didn't return for her and only instructed their men to get her? In the end, when they were about to take her, something unusual happened, a messenger suddenly arrived to tell them that there's a change of plan.

Hmm... her brows furrowed together.

She wonders where is the vampire couple now? Did they have a change of heart and no longer want her to be the bride of their son? or they found another woman to take her place?

But she heard it clearly from the leader of the vampire's mouth, he told her that his Lord will come personally to take her away from the mansion.

Well, it's too late to think of that right now. Her father insisted that she will come to South Pond Town to marry another man. She hopes that this will be the best solution to their dilemma even though her heart and mind were totally against it.

She took a deep breath thinking about what's going to happen after meeting Cooper for the first time.

Hours went by.

The carriage suddenly stops moving.

"Sir, we finally arrived in the heart of the South Pond Town!" the driver announced loudly.

Laura nudges her father's elbow gently. "Father, wake up! We finally arrived at the South Pond Town," she said.

Simon opened his eyes. "Where are we-?" he asked while rubbing his eyes.

"We finally arrived in the South Pond Town!" she repeated and opened the window of the carriage.

She looked around the surrounding. There were carriages in all forms and sizes moving past them. There were much bigger establishments made with concrete structures scattered everywhere. This town is much more progressive compared to Hallowpass Town. People were loitering around the busy street. Street lamps were lit up, a festive atmosphere is in the air.

She can see street vendors selling all kinds of things on the sidewalk. South Pond is indeed a very progressive town.

She was mesmerized by what she saw outside the window. It's like she was transported into another era.