The Secrets of Marigold

4. The deal

As I wandered through the dimly lit alley, the reality of my decision settled in. It had been only an hour since I'd left the café, but the weight of my thoughts made it feel like a lifetime. I had decided to accept the woman's offer, but now I felt an itch to make it official.

Boredom clawed at me, urging me back to the café. Curiosity danced at the edges of my mind—what would this deal entail? Would it truly help me navigate my new existence as a vampire? I took a deep breath, steeling myself. My instincts told me this path wouldn't be easy, but there was a thrill in the uncertainty that I couldn't ignore.

"Why not get it over with?" I muttered to myself, already turning on my heel.

As I entered the café, I spotted the girl's mother seated at a table, her expression a blend of eagerness and confidence. My heart raced; this was it.

"Girl," she greeted me, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I'm glad you decided to join me."

"Let's get to it," I replied, trying to mask my nerves.

The mother leaned forward, her voice low and conspiratorial. "You've thought about my offer, I presume? The chance to survive in exchange for a few favors?"

I nodded, feeling the gravity of my decision. "Yes, but what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Simple," she said, her eyes glinting. "The first one is to help me find an old watch that leads to sources of magic. It's essential for my work."

I took a deep breath, considering her words. The allure of mastering my abilities was too tempting to ignore. "Alright," I said finally, my voice steady. "I'll help you find the watch."

"Excellent," she replied, her smile widening. "Together, we'll achieve great things."

"Hey," I said softly, drawing her attention.

She looked up, her sharp, elegant features framed by an air of disinterest. With a measured motion, she handed me a neat stack of notes. "Here," she said, her voice cool and refined. "I found some information on the watch."

I glanced down at the notes, my heart quickening as my eyes landed on a key detail: The watch has been passed down through the Montgomery family, who were vampire hunters.

"Interesting," I murmured, carefully observing her expression.

"There are still a few Montgomerys around here," she replied, her tone even but tinged with faint disdain. "Though most of them keep to themselves. There is, however, one old man who has been particularly vocal about his hatred for vampires. It's made him something of a local oddity—most people dismiss him as eccentric."

A knot began to tighten in my stomach. "What exactly are you saying?"

She tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes piercing as she spoke. "I'm saying that if he discovers what you are, he won't hesitate to try to kill you."

Her warning sent a shiver down my spine, but her calm demeanor made it clear she wasn't concerned. I swallowed hard. "So... we need to be careful."

"No," she said smoothly, a hint of exasperation softening her clipped response. "You will need to be careful. I'm simply relaying what I've learned. Whatever you choose to do with this information is entirely your responsibility."

Her words, precise and deliberate, cut through the tension like a blade. I nodded, reluctant to press her further, and stood. The weight of her lingering gaze followed me as I resolved to speak with her mother. If I was going to take this risk, I needed absolute clarity about what I was getting in return.

After that totally not depressing conversation I saw the woman I made a deal with wave at me, I walked towards her.

She smiled "Now, let me give you something to remind you."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a delicate bracelet adorned with three shimmering pearls. "Each of these pearls represents one of the tasks you will need to complete. They will disappear once you have fulfilled the task."

I took the bracelet, admiring the way the pearls glimmered in the light.

She turned the watch over in her hands, revealing its polished surface. "Here, you will find the name of whatever you need to find engraved on it. However, the watch itself isn't on it since it doesn't count as one of the tasks."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "So, I'll have to find the watch and complete these tasks?"
————————————————————————

I know this chapter was extremely short but I promise the others will be longer.

Did you like this chapter ?
Do y'all like this book so far?
Any songs recommended for this chapter?
Any idea how I should introduce the love-interest ?

Btw this had 986 words