The Heavenly Appeal {A Vampire Diaries Fan Fiction}

{24} Till We Meet Again

Sorry for the wait:) Varvara is back! And so is another femme fetale! Oh, and I had to edit this chapter. My computer kind of messed up some of my paragraphs. -Her Lady

Chapter Twenty-Four

Till We Meet Again

=-Kavarna, Bulgaria-=

1490

Gracefully returning the porcelain cup to the table, I met the cool gaze of my younger sister, who recently turned fifteen. Anastasiya seemed much more mature now that she understood the basic rules of aristocratic society. In other words, a lot of changes were to be expected during the autumn season. My younger sister did not appear like her once childish self - her hazelnut hair lengthened to her narrow waist, her eyes filled with calculating mischief, and her round lips freshly rouged with pale pink lipstick. She certainly grew up, but unfortunately, so did her competitive taste for victory and her swelling pride.

As we partook on afternoon tea, the pompous expression that marred her gentle features did not slip from her face. "Do you not find their vacancies strange?" She questioned out of the blue, her tone all too virtuous. I merely raised an eyebrow when she didn't wait for my answer. "For example, Katerina Petrova has avoided the public's eye for eight months."

Considering Katerina was able to hide her bulging stomach for the first three months of her pregnancy, the truth about her disappearance was easily concealed. The guilt of her current welfare burdened my mind since it had been my fault that Paskal was provoked. Then again, if I were to confess my dealings with Katerina herself, she would argue otherwise. I lied, "She is sick. Her absence is already condoned by the ladies." When I said by the ladies, I meant by our mother. Attendance meant too much to the aging brunette, for in her eyes, it played a major part in one's reputation.

"Will she miss her own debut?"

I confidently said, "No." Katerina would be healed then, and perhaps, be given a chance to move on from her naïve shame.

"And what of the Ignatieva clan? Surely they cannot disappear altogether when some lords and ladies still dwell in their summer homes here,"

"They were simply honorable guests, Anastasiya." I saw the flinch that quivered her body when she caught the patronizing tone in my voice. As heartless as it sounded, I did not offer her consolation and continued, "Their stay was not planned to linger on for a handful of months, especially when Lord Ignatieva has duties to fulfill before winter arrives."

"That is it?"

Suspicion blossomed in the pit of my stomach. "What piqued your interest with the belated subject?"

She managed a gentle shrug of her shoulder. "You know how the ladies love to gossip. I am not the only one curious for the answers."

When silence drew out, I presumed that was the last of her questions and slightly slumped in my seat, basking under the warmth of the sun. My parasol remained hidden in my room, unused and certainly unwanted, though being seen without it would result in a disappointed scolding from our mother. She preferred our fair, light tans to the dark skins of the hard-working commoners, pointedly ignoring the sun-baked color of Father's own tan. He was not only a member of blue-blood prestige, but also a sailor at heart from all the adventures he experienced as a boy.

If anyone was to understand my need of free will, it was my father.

Of his given land, it was appropriate that the wealthy town of Kavarna was a sea port, rich with trade and crowded with peculiar travelers - all of different skins. It was pleasant during the kind seasons of spring and summer, and during those times, other aristocrats around Bulgaria would travel here to escape the responsibilities of their birthright. Anastasiya suddenly asked, stubborn, "Are you implying that they returned to their land in the north?"