Precious bride [WattAwards2019]

letters

974 words

Dear sister,

How are you doing? It's been so long since you've last written. You should know our big brother and his wife had another baby, so things have been busier here. They've named her Laura. You should come and see her.

Dorin still trying to get me a husband, but I tell him I want to stay on the farm. Unless I meet someone nice, I don't think I'm ever getting married. If I do, I want you to be the maid of honor. That's, if you bother to show up to my wedding.

I know you're busy working for that Count, but you haven't come to see us in 10 years! Why don't you visit us anymore? I should be glad you still write to me, but I miss talking with you face to face.

If you're going to visit, you should hurry, because grand-

"Maria!"

Maria quickly wiped away the drops of blood streaming down her cheeks and turned away from the desk to see Tabita in the doorway.

"Can I borrow quill, ink and some paper?" Tabita asked. "I need to write a note for the master. I tried asking Catalina, but even with that charm on, she's became...territorial".

Maria put a quill, ink and parchment to the side.

Tabita walked over to collect the items. As she picked them up, she caught sight of the letter Maria covered it with her hands. "I can't believe it after all these years. You're still in contact with them" Tabita said in pity.

Maria gulped "I just like to see how they're doing".

"Maria, you've been a vampire for 20 years. You've got to leave your old life behind and move on".

"Easy for you to say!" Maria spat. "You didn't care when you left your family!"

"They were going to marry me off to an old guy!" She gagged. "I was running away anyway!"

Maria snorted. "Admit it, Tabita. You were happy to be changed!"

"I admit it! It's better than being tied down to an old gesture. There was no way I was going to have all the blood drained from me!"

"But you had a choice! You had nothing to lose". She looked down and whispered "I did".

Tabita's face fell, knowing she'd gone too far. She gently put a hand on her friend's shoulder.

She spoke softly. "I'm sorry. But you know you can't hold onto them forever, right? They're not immortal like us".

Maria jerked her shoulder and said in a quiet voice "get out".

Tabita knew better than to linger, so she walked out of the room and closed the door behind, allowing Maria to finish her third read through of the letter:

If you're going to visit, you should hurry, because grandma hasn't been feeling herself lately. She was tending the sheep yesterday and fainted. She's been in bed ever since. I don't want to sound persisted, but you know how old grandma is. I'm sure she'll feel better if she sees you again.

Love from your sister,

Elena Donbre

Maria couldn't hold it back anymore. Her head fell into her hands as blood started dripping from her eyes and onto the letter.
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Cecila's scream caused Floarea to look up from her book in alarm. Cecila was storming into the parlor in a fit of rage, glaringly at an opened envelope and letter in front of her.

"The nerve, and he calls himself a Count!"

"What's wrong?" Floarea asked in concern.

"This!"

Cecila slammed the letter onto the table in front of her. Floarea picked the letter and it read:

My dear Lady Cecila Nastase, thank you for the invitation, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline because...

You stink!

Sincerely, Count Codrin Dita

Floarea suppressed a chuckle.

"I've never been so insulted!" Cecila exclaimed, falling backwards into an easy chair. "Someone! Get me a glass of water! NOW!"

Her voice must've been loud enough for the whole masion to hear, for at the instant a lady with brown hair and blue dress with a white apron came into the room carring a glass of water on a tray.

"Thank you, Amelia popa" Cecila heaved as she took a sip. "That's the last time I write to such a rude-"

"Which one is Count Codrin again?" Floarea asked.

"The old recluse who lives in the castle in the forest?" Amelia questioned. "Isn't he the one who never leaves his home and is rumored to be insane?"

Floarea leaned forward. "What do you mean?

"No one has actually seen him except the servants he keeps. Some say he refuses to come out because he's a hideous monster, or that he has scars on one side of his face, or that he-"

"Nothing but silly rumours" Cecila said. "The point I'd he's rich, high station and has a castle. I've been trying to get him to come to dinner for months, but after reading this, I'd rather marry you off to a baker!"

"Look on the bright side, you'll be getting a lifetime supply of bread". Amelia and Floarea giggled.

Cecila glared at both of them and quited down. She then began tearing up the letter. "There's still Lord Cristian Goldis and Count Valtrin Roman. I wouldn't trust you living with a recluse anyway".

Even though her words were harsh. Floarea couldn't help but feel relief that her aunt was rejecting a sutor for once. While she didn't believe the rumours Amelia told them, she didn't think the Count would be good for her, if he kept to himself most of the time. Besides, the woods frightened her and she shivered at the idea of living deep within them.

(This is a short chapter after that last one I did. Hope you have enjoyed this and see you all in the next part😄)