The Hunter's Vampire {Re-writing}

Chapter 20 Marissa

 The village had been quiet lately, but not without a few moments of mischief from miss Marissa Duncan. She was an adventurous young woman, one who had her sights set on becoming a good wife to the one man that she adored more than anything. She had just come from picking some ripe strawberries for a pie that she had the intention of bringing up the hill where she was already told to not venture into alone.

"Hey, those are my berries!" Came a rough hoarse voice from the berry farmer that was marching towards her from a few feet away. Some onlookers and a few merchants looked around for the culprit, but Marissa only tugged at her hood and kept her gaze low as she tightened her hold on her basket that she has covered with a black cloth. The echoes of the farmer's voice followed her as he tried to make his way through the growing crowd of buyers and sellers. "Stop, you thief! That red-headed girl stole my fruits!" She played stupid, taking her time to walk, lifting her hood as she walked, making small haste with her pace as the daily shoppers gathered from off their carriages and carts and a few by boats at the docking stations.

She saw the Ginseng shop, that sold various spices and herbs that her mother liked and smiled as she got close to the end of the block then she ducked into another alleyway that gave way to the next street over and when she knew he was no longer in-ear or sight range she took off in a run through the throng of shoppers. She cut down another alley, then stumbled at the next left turn by the river way but kept her basket close and continued down the road. Her house was close and she made sure she took the precaution to change her hood from the brown one she stashed in her bag to a blue one that she kept with her. She slowed her pace and took in large breaths of air through her nose as she calmed herself and walked towards her father's bread shop. The sigh of victory she let out as she entered Duncan's Doughhouse had let the fear of being caught behind as it melted away.

The name of the bread shop was a play on words since her father was a man who favored humor and who enjoyed reading. "Morning father." She greeted as she passed from the front of the store, which was still closed, she walked into the kitchen at the back where Angus Duncan was taking out some fresh bread rolls that smelt of heaven. Those warm scents were something she grew to know as a comforting, especially when she had been out doing things that she rather not speak of.

"Morning sunflower, what mischief were you up to today?" She beamed at the burly man with his full ginger beard, shoulder-length hair pulled back at his nape and tied into a bun, his strong arms that gently placed the baked bread down into their respective baskets. Her cheeks grew red and her lips turned up, ready to deceive him, she enjoyed seeing him work, but she did not enjoy his curiosity of her whereabouts. He never had been a man to be seen with anything less than a smile on his face, maybe a reason why she too smiled so often. "Nothing at all father. I was just thinking of making a pie for Adam."

He rose a brow as he dusted off his hands. "The young hunter eh. Aren't ya over him already lass? He seems too busy for ya."

"Da', he's doing his daily duty to keep the village safe. Of course, he's got ta be busy most hours of the day." He rose his chin at her then hummed.

"Alright, but I'll be 'ere if your heart suffers from the truth. I will always have open arms to hug my sweet angel." She blushed and shook her head.

"I'll be fine father, I am a grown woman."

He scoffed, "you're merely a child who just blossomed into a woman, you still got ways to go. Don't rush growing up Marissa. Enjoy ya youth." She took in his words, but what did he know about being a woman and being smitten by a man who was as gentle as a soft caress?

She waved off his statement and turned to head towards their house which was connected to the shop, then looked back on him. "Okay, father. Thank ya." She stepped close and kissed his cheek before walking into the house.