The Eternal Burden

1| A New Start in Town

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I entered Mystic Falls, driving past the welcome sign. After spending over 10 hours on the road, I reached out to the town's current owner, who happened to be Tobias II Fell, grandson of the original owner. He mentioned his son, a news reporter.

I parked my car, took a deep breath, and hoped this new start would bring me the peace I needed. No one knew me here, so perhaps I could finally find some stability. I turned off the engine, grabbed my suitcases, and entered the apartment building. An older woman, Mrs. Lynn, sat behind the desk, and her warm smile greeted me as I dragged my luggage to the counter.

Mrs. Lynn looked up from the computer, her blond hair adorned with a few strands of silver, and warmly greeted me, "Ah, you must be Miss Labelle. Mr. Fell informed me that you'd be stopping by this afternoon."

"Yes, thank you. And please convey my regards to Mr. Fell; I hope he's enjoying his trip to Paris," I replied with a charming smile. "By the way, could I get the keys Mr. Fell mentioned? While there are certain services available for renters, he kindly mentioned that he'd allow some exceptions given my special guest status."

"Of course, Miss Labelle," Mrs Lynn responded, her friendly demeanour unwavering. She retrieved a set of keys from behind the counter and handed them to me. "Here are your keys. Your apartment is on the third floor, number 15. Feel free to contact me if you need anything."

"Ah, yes," Mrs Lynn chimed in, Mr Fell did mention that room and meal services were included. Rest assured; we've got everything taken care of for you."

I nodded and responded with a smile, "Of course, if possible, I'd like to pay for those services in advance since I've made a special arrangement with Mr. Fell about the room. When you come to clean, could you please knock and wait until I open the door? Regarding the meal services, you'll only need to deliver if I specifically request it."

"Sure thing, Miss Labelle. Let me just process your payment and get you all set up." Mrs. Lynn proceeded to process my transaction, offering a polite smile. "And I'll make a note about the cleaning and meal services. We'll be sure to follow your instructions."

"Excellent," I replied, pulling out a handful of cash from my purse. "This should cover the cleaning services for the next month, and I've already settled the payment directly with Mr. Fell for the apartment," I reassured her, placing a generous amount on the counter.

Mrs Lynn's eyes widened slightly at the amount of cash I handed her. She quickly gathered the money and prepared my receipt.

"Well, Miss Labelle, thank you very much. That's more than enough for any cleaning services you might need throughout the month."

I smiled warmly at Mrs. Lynn before politely requesting, "I hope I'm not being troublesome, but is there anyone who could assist in bringing my bags up to my apartment? It would be greatly appreciated."

"Well, there is one thing. Could someone please bring my bags up to my room?" I ask her, looking up at her again.

"Of course, Miss Labelle! I'll have someone bring your bags to your room right away." Mrs. Lynn replies, nodding her head and smiling at you.

"Oh, don't you worry at all, dear," Mrs. Lynn replied with a kind smile. "We can certainly arrange for someone to assist you with those bags. Let me just call one of our staff members to help you out."

Mrs. Lynn handed me the keys, and I nodded in appreciation. "Sure, I'll grab these keys and go grocery shopping. That should give you ample time to prepare the room for me," I said, offering another smile.

"Take your time, Miss Labelle," Mrs. Lynn reassured me. "We'll have everything ready for you when you return. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to let me know."

I got into my car, starting the engine and driving towards the grocery store on the outskirts of the town. It was nearing 7:30 p.m. as I parked my car and made my way inside the store.

I pushed a trolley along and moved through the aisles, mentally reminding myself, "I'm not a vampire. I'm a wealthy girl from New York, here in Mystic Falls to visit my aunt." With those words in mind, I began selecting items I'd need for the upcoming week.

My grocery list was extensive, including items that went beyond the basics. Bread, milk, cheese, pasta, rice, sugar, Himalayan salt, gourmet peppercorns, flour, vegetables, meats, fruit, herbs and spices, dust cloths, microfibre cloths, olive and avocado oils, butter, condiments, nuts, bleach, soap, disinfectant, cleaning spray, sponges, cleaning gloves, band-aids, antiseptic cream, an ice pack, plasters, a thermometer, tape, bottled water, tea, coffee, a toothbrush, toothpaste, paper towels, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, laundry softener, dryer balls, shampoo, body lotion, tissues, as well as a few items for personal care, such as deodorant. I placed each item carefully in my trolley, making sure I had everything I needed for the next couple of weeks.

With the grocery items now in my trolley, I headed over to the checkout area, drawing out an expensive wallet and retrieving my credit card to pay for my purchases.

As I reach the checkout, I greet the cashier with a warm smile. "Hello there," I say, setting my items on the conveyor belt. "I'd like to pay with this card," I say, holding out my credit card.

The cashier takes my card, swipes it through the machine, and the total amount appears on the screen. "Your total is $234.56," the cashier informs me.

Night had fallen, and after returning home and unpacking all the groceries, I took a moment to breathe. Curious about the local news, I reached for the newspaper and began to read.

My eyes scanned the headline of the newspaper, revealing news about the disappearance of people due to a series of strange animal attacks. A memory of George resurfaced in my mind, as he had once explained to me that this was a typical explanation put forth by the council.

As I prepared for bed, I went through my usual routine, brushing my teeth, washing my face, and applying my skincare products. Given my supernatural abilities, I did not strictly require these grooming rituals. However, there was a sense of normalcy and comfort in maintaining these habits.

As I settled into bed, I pondered the thought, "Who is currently in Mystic Falls?"

Satisfied, I extinguished the bedside light, settling into a peaceful and contented sleep.

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Thank you for reading my story and for your support. It means a lot to me that you took the time to read and enjoy it. I hope you continue to enjoy reading about my adventures.
- Honey <3