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“We were kids, Lilith, come on,” he scoffed. “We’re adults now and we need to act like it. You can’t just disappear in the middle of the night. You know better than that.”
“Obviously, I don’t,” I pouted.
“It’s not because of you, Lil,” Cassandra suddenly interfered, and we all looked in her direction, waiting to see what else she would say. “You know it’s the vampires. And the situation has gotten much worse in the past couple of years.”
I didn’t say anything to that, but the truth was that she was right.
“Cass, we can’t be helpless damsels in distress all our lives,” I reminded her boldly. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be that. I don’t want to be daddy’s little princess.”
“But… what’s so wrong about that?” Cassandra asked somehow sadly, and I realized that I’d offended her without meaning to.
“Cass,” I said softly, walking over to her. She refused to look up at me, instead focusing on the sleeping kitten in her lap. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“How did you mean it?” she wondered, finally looking up at me. “Not everyone wants adventure. I like being safe. I like being comfortable. And I was very frightened last night. I, for one, am grateful for your bodyguard who saved us.”
As always, Cassandra knew how to disarm me. I didn’t know what to say to that.
“You’re right,” I did what I always did when I wanted to end a conversation. I would agree even when I didn’t mean it,just so the conversation wouldn’t go on. But this time, I felt like a simple agreeing wouldn’t suffice.
Instead of saying it was alright, as she usually did, she got up, the kitten still in her arms. “I’ll go to my room. I’m a little tired.”
“Cass, come on,” I quickly told her. “Don’t be like that.”
“I’m not like anything,” she turned to me to reply. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long night.”
She cut me off with her gaze. It was the first time I’d seen her like that, and I knew that it was better not to say anything that we both might regret later on. I watched as she left the room and closed the door behind her.
I sighed upon being left alone with Luke.
“She’s right, you know?” he said, breaking the silence which felt more comfortable than the sound of his voice. In fact, I started to feel that the more time passed, the less I liked to hang out with him. This forced marriage was becoming more and more real with each passing day, and I started to like it less and less.
However, I couldn’t say anything, especially not to Father. I’d already agreed to everything. The wedding date was set. Truth be told, the preparations were still ongoing, but everything would be ready for the due date. Nothing could change. Everything had to go according to plan. Father was counting on me. I couldn’t let him down.
“I really don’t want to talk about this right now,” I frowned.
“I’m not your enemy here, Lil,” Luke reminded me.
“I know,” I inhaled deeply, raking my fingers through my hair. “I just feel like I don’t have control of my own life and I don’t like it one bit.”
“Of course, you do,” he assured me, walking over to me and taking my hands into his once more. This time, I allowed it.“You and I are getting married. I know it might feel weird at first, but we can make it work. I promise. We’ve been friends for such a long time. I doubt there is anything we can’t agree on.”
If I thought about it for a moment, I had to agree that he was right. I knew him and he knew me better than anyone else, except maybe Cass. He would know what I needed and when I needed it. So, what if our marriage wouldn’t be romantic? Who wanted romance in their life?
I did.
I wanted it all. I wanted romance. I wanted adventure. I wanted to be in control and out of control at the same time, if such a thing was even possible. Nonetheless, I wanted to try it and see what that would feel like.
“Maybe you’re right,” I sighed heavily, still not completely convinced, but I wanted him to believe that I was on the way there. Because this was something I needed to sort out on my own, without anyone’s interference.
“We all want the best for you,” he continued. “Cass, your father, me. But we can’t do what is best for you if you keep disappearing in the middle of the night, taking your sister with you.”
Sometimes I wished that Cass and I were like other sisters. Usually, the older sister was the one setting all the rules. With us, it’d always been the other way around. She was the shy introverted one, while I was the one causing mischief. Father said it was our mother’s trait, which was a little too accentuated in me. I’d always been especially proud of that.
“Just promise me you won’t put yourself in danger like that again,” he urged me.
It was a promise I knew I wouldn’t be able to give, even to my father if he had asked for it. But he knew better than that.
I inhaled deeply, staring Luke right in the eyes. I smiled. “I won’t.”
