In the dimly lit bar, sisters Olivia and Sophia sat side by side, dressed in a similar dress but with a different colour. Olivia wearing black and Sophia in a white and grey dress. Olivia nursed her glass of whisky, it was a slow night at the bar. There wasn't much meat or new people she could mingle with. She was already getting very very bored.
Her sister on the other hand, had her eyes fixated on the new bartender across the counter and it was not because he had a smile to die for and dimples that could make any girl swoon.
As Olivia glanced over at her sister, she couldn't help but notice the playful smirk on Sophia's face. Sophia acting coy?! How original! She thought as she rolled her eyes.
"He's cute, isn't he?" Olivia teased.
Sophia rolled her eyes.
"Yea. Kind of..."
"Well... when you do eat, make sure you clean up after yourself."
Sophia didn't give her a reply.
Olivia sighed, taking another sip.
"I told you I caught Damon and Caelia in the garden together right?"
Sophia nodded her head slightly.
"Yes you did."
"Well I thought about telling Mum. But then again... with everything going on.. I didn't think it was the right time."
Sophia shrugged.
"I'm sure she has her suspicions about them too."
"But a maid?! Really?!"
"I don't think it's anything serious."
Sophia sounded bored as she hid a yawn. Olivia was way too interested in their brother's lifestyle.
"You should have seen the way he was looking at her and how he defended her against me! I think he might be falling for her!"
Sophia raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Really? I find that hard to believe. Damon's always been a bit of a flirt, but I doubt he'd actually like her like that."
Olivia's face turned serious. "I hope you're right, but we know our brother, he hasn't been involved with a woman for a long time. Heck! We barely see him with anyone since that unforgettable incident that happened years ago..."
"And now this... another human?!"
Olivia sounded truly concerned and Sophia turned to her sister with a concerned look on her face. Olivia might act tough and mean, but she truly and really cared about her family, even though it might seem like she and Damon don't get along.
Sophia's gaze softened, reaching out to hold Olivia's hand reassuringly. "I understand your concern, Liv, but let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe it's just a fling and I'm sure it'll pass."
Olivia nodded reluctantly, still feeling troubled. "I guess you're right. I was just concerned."
Sophia leaned in, whispering, "We'll keep an eye on things, okay? If things get serious, we'll intervene, but for now, let's not ruin our night. And besides, I think Damon will come to his senses eventually."
"He's bound to, I mean he's bride is somewhere out there and he'll find her soon."
Their conversation shifted, and they spent the rest of the evening chatting about lighter topics, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the bar. Sophia managed to get a conversation going with the charming bartender, and Olivia had more drinks and headed to the dance floor.
As the night wore on, Olivia left the bar first, claiming she was tired and needed to sleep. Sophia stayed a while, eager to talk to the bartender.
She waited until the end of his shift and then they talked for a bit before he invited her to his home. She went home with him under the pretext of wanting to sleep with him.
She should have smelled it on him, the unmistakable scent of those poison herbs in his bloodstream or even the silver necklace he donned, but she had been sloppy and ignored all red flags.
What had turned out to be what she perceived to be a prey now became the hunter.
As she had reached for his neck during their heated make out session, she bit into his neck and tasted the poison in his blood, she pulled away and spluttered, trying to spit it all out before the effect's took hold on her. She didn't have enough time to react and in a flash he had pinned her down, a gun in his hand, no doubt silver bullets too.
"I got you! I got you!"
"Fucking vampire!"
He exclaimed loudly, proud of his kill.
But she was Olivia Wright and he didn't know the kind of vampire he was dealing with. She sharply manoeuvred, disarming him and pinning him to the ground, her heel on his neck, threatening to end him.
"Pathetic."
She murmured.
If she killed him and her brother found out she had murdered someone he would go on and on about how she had disobeyed him and upset the natural order of things.
But she couldn't let it go, the fact that he had the audacity to try and kill her was sickening to her. It was disgusting. It furled a rage in her like never before.
She removed her heel from his neck and rammed it into his chest, right where she was sure his heart would be. In an instant, he was gone.
..........
“I think the best way is to return the ring.”
Caelia said as she paced up and down the room with the ring in her hand.
After a while, she sat back down on her bed. Her mind was in a state of unease and confusion. Returning the ring and the consequences of it weighed heavily on her mind.
“And how would you do that?”
Greta asked with concern, her eyes on the dress she was mending. It was late and most of them had retired for bed, although Rachel was probably in the pantry looking for what to pilfer and eat. She had a knack for that.
Caelia shrugged as she looked at the piece of paper in front of her. The paper was still blank, she had to put actual words on them but she had no idea what she would put. Or how she would start.
How do you start a letter when you’re rejecting to be someone’s bride?
“I could drop this in the mailbox, make it look like someone dropped it off for him.”
“Hnmmm… what if he doesn’t pick it up himself and if falls into the wrong hands?”
“Well… I know he picks up his own mail He checks every time he’s out for a run.”
“And if someone else picks it up they’d had least give it to him right?!”
“Oh yea!! You’re right.”
Greta murmured.
“Well then… what will you write? Do you think it’ll work?”
“Well it has to.. things are getting weird now… Samantha is missing… they’re looking for me…”
“I need to let him know I’m not interested anymore. Maybe that’ll make him stop looking for me.”
Greta didn’t look too sure, but she nodded her head and said.
“I hope it does.”
“So, I will write a letter, attach it with the ring explaining my reasons.”
“Wait.”
Greta said as she moved towards her.
“Let me write the letter, just to be safe.”
Caelia nodded.
“Oh yes. I think he must have seen my handwriting before. You writing it would be so much better.”
“That’s why I offered.”
Greta sat on her bed as she collected the pen and paper from her.
Then, Caelia started dictating what she wanted while Greta wrote them.
When she was done, she folded the letter neatly and handed it to Caelia.
“Here. It’s up to you now.”
………..
She had gone back home with a broken heel, she managed to hitch a ride half way home and walked the rest of the way. She didn't find her phone, she must have left it at the bar. She would deal with the consequences of what she did and everything else later, but for now, she could really use a nap.
As she approached the wrought iron gate of their mansion, she paused when she saw Caelia, it looked like she was stepping out of the gate.
Where was she going this night?!
Sophia wondered as she crouched behind a car so she wouldn't see her.
Caelia looked around, there was an envelope in her hand and she walked towards the mailbox and quickly stuffed it inside. Then she ran back inside.
Sophia waited for a bit. What was going on?
She though she was sneaking out, but why would she come out only to put a letter in the mail box?
Sophia ran towards the mailbox, opening it as soon as Caelia was out of sight. She picked up the envelope.
She had added their address and Damon's name as if she had mailed the letter or had it dropped off. Sophia knew she shouldn't snoop but after what her sister told her at the bar, she was too curious. She opened the envelope and reached into it. There was a letter in it and there was something else.
A ring!
The ring... it looked so very familiar and it felt different...
It felt familiar.
She skimmed through the letter and gasped.
"Caelia..."
"She's the bride Damon is looking for.”