Vampire Residence

XIX

Morgana's eyebrows furrowed, she was clearly confused. But she was definitely listening.

"How..? Why?"

The woman's expression grew even more serious, her eyes not breaking contact with Morgana's.

"I..." she started, hesitating for just a split second, "I will get you away from here. Away from... this. Permanently."

Morgana hesitated, she didn't know what to do. On the one hand, she desperately wished to get away, but on the other, this was all she knew... she barely even knew this woman. But she needed to escape before she was killed.

"What would this entail?"

Daciana smiled faintly, understanding the question- and the hesitation behind it. But she was determined to help this girl, to free her from a life of torment and abuse.

"Temporary discomfort- but you need to trust me," she said, her voice still a hushed, conspiratorial whisper. "Can you do that?"

Morgana could feel her heartbeat in her chest. This was the way out she'd desperately wanted. She could finally be free. A bit of discomfort couldn't stop her.

"I can."

A flicker of relief flashed across Daciana's expression, though her face remained mostly serious.

"Good," she said, a determined set to her jaw as she continued to speak. "There's only two things you need to know before proceeding."

"What are they?"

Daciana leaned against the counter, her hands tapping a pattern on its smooth surface. She looked directly into Morgana's eyes, making sure to maintain an aura of complete and total seriousness as she spoke.

"One," she said quietly, "You cannot tell anyone- anyone at all- about this. No one is to know what has happened, where we're going, or why. Understood?"

Morgana nodded, only half caring about the risks. She'd never been this close to freedom and she didn't want it to slip away.

Daciana gave a small nod, her eyes staying fixed on Morgana's face.

"And two," she said, this time her tone almost more serious than before, "No matter what happens, you do not scream."