That night, they stopped traveling at ten in the evening and found a small clearing near the main road. They have already eaten their dinner five hours ago at the eatery they found along the highway.
The driver and the horse went to rest while the couple was cuddling inside the small confinement of the carriage.
"Are you sure you are comfortable, my love? I'll sleep outside if you need more space for sleeping," he offered.
The interior of the carriage is a bit small and not comfortable for sleeping. They can't sleep outside because the rain might fall at any time. The two drivers sleep near the trunk of the trees located nearby. As for his men they're just out there somewhere watching over them while they were sleeping.
"No need! I sleep better when you're beside me," Laura replied with a sweet smile. "I'm at ease sleeping in the middle of nowhere as long you are by my side," she grinned.
"Okay, as you say so my love," Graven stopped insisting.
They found a comfortable position, Laura resting her head on his arm while he was hugging her.
They sleep peacefully throughout the night.
...
The next day.
After eating breakfast, they resumed their journey.
During lunchtime, they found an eatery along the highway, they stop for half an hour to eat lunch and then continue their journey.
Hours went by.
The carriage was now approaching the outskirts of Hallowpass.
Graven looked outside the window and saw the signage of the town's logo outside. It says that approximately one hundred meters ahead they will reach the town of Hallowpass.
When they finally reached the entrance of the town, they saw a bazaar near the road. People can be seen perusing the displays on the booth and buying stuff sold in the stalls lining up in the clearing.
Laura's eyes sparkled while looking at the festive atmosphere. "Can we stop for a few minutes? I want to buy a present for my family!" she asked excitedly.
"Okay..." Graven nods his head. He instructed the driver to park the carriage somewhere near the bazaar.
The driver parked the carriage a few meters away from the festivity.
Graven and Laura exited the carriage and went to all the stalls lining up near the road.
One hour later.
Laura managed to buy two pots of beautiful flowering plants for her mother who loves growing ornamental plants. Then she also bought a leather belt and cowboy hat for her father. As for her sister Sofia, she bought her a pretty bag, embroidered handkerchiefs, and a bottle of perfume.
She glanced at Graven who was carrying all her purchases. "I'm done buying my presents. Let's go home!" she said eagerly.
"Alright, after you, My Queen!" he grinned.
They marched towards the carriage.
Graven motioned at the drivers standing nearby. "Let's go!" he said.
"Yes, My Lord!" the drivers replied and prepared the horses.
The couple entered the carriage and resumed their journey.
Laura was beaming while looking at her presents. "OMG! I'm so excited to give them to my family! You will meet my family soon! You will love them," she told him.
Graven smiled and kissed her arm. "I'm sure I will!" he assured her.
They reached the town's plaza. Laura bought pastries from the bakery and gave instructions to the driver on how to proceed to the mansion.
Twenty minutes later.
They finally arrived at their destination. The driver parked the carriage outside the gate.
Laura left the carriage excitedly assisted by Graven.
When she looked at the gate, she didn't see any guard, her brows furrowed. "What's going on? Where's the guard?" she asked loudly.
Graven took a peek inside the iron gate. He saw lots of dried leaves scattered all over the lawn. It seemed no one bothered to clean the lawn. The mansion looks like it was deserted.
Laura went to the gate and saw the padlock. Why the gate was locked? Where is her family? Where are they?
Then fear took over her senses. She rushed to Graven's side and began sobbing. "I'm afraid something bad happened to my family! They won't abandon the house!"
Graven hugged Laura. "Shhh... don't think about bad things..." he said comforting her.
"What if the vampires took my family away because they were angry that I leave town?" she said between tears.
Graven sighed and rubbed her back to console her. He looked heavenward, darkness will envelop the land soon because it's already past 5:30, it's going to be nighttime any moment from now.
He inspected the padlock, he can open it easily with his power, but once he's done, the gate can be opened easily by anyone and the mansion will be trashed by thugs and thieves.
"Let's go back inside the carriage, I will try to enter the house and investigate what happened inside," he whispered.
"Okay," Laura replied.
The couple went back inside the carriage.
Graven wiped Laura's tears with his fingers. "Stop crying...and stop worrying...I'm sure they're alright," he said. "I'm going inside the mansion now..."
Laura can't wait outside without knowing what's going on. "Please, take me with you! I wanna know what's going on inside. Only by seeing the condition inside, I will have a clue on what's going on with my family," she pleaded. Her mind and heart were bombarded with fear and worry for the safety of her family.
"Alright," Graven yielded. "Just closed your eyes," he ordered.
Laura obeyed. Graven hugged her.
They vanished from the carriage instantly.
The couple appeared in the living room of the mansion.
Laura roamed her gaze around the area. "The place is intact, nothing is missing. No destroyed furniture of any kind," she commented.
"Yeah, it looks orderly to me..." Graven agreed.
Laura noticed the dust covering the surface of the furniture and the cobwebs hanging on the ceiling like curtains.
Graven noticed it too. "It looks like this place has not been cleaned for many days or weeks," he said.
"Yeah...let's go upstairs and check the rooms!" Laura said, heading to the staircase.
The couple climbed the stairs hurriedly and reached the second floor in no time. They walked into the hallway.
Laura ran towards her parent's room. She opened the door and rushed inside, she went to the closet. Their clothes were missing!
Graven entered the room and closed the door behind him.
Laura looked around the room. Her parent's things were also gone. The room was empty!
Graven inspected the inside of the room, opening drawers and cupboards, he found nothing that warrants his interest. He glanced at her.
"What do you think?" Laura asked for his opinion.
"My theory is that they left the mansion for a reason. If they were abducted or taken away forcibly by the vampires then they won't be able to bring all their clothes and other valuable belongings with them. I think they're hiding in a safe place," he expressed his opinions.
"That's also my thoughts," she agreed with him.
"Does your father have any properties aside from this mansion?" he asked.
"There are two places that I can think of, one is the farm and the other is a property in the next town," she replied.
"Which is much closer from here, the property or the farm?" he inquired.
"The farm!" she answered.
"Or we can find an inn in the town first then proceed to the farm tomorrow morning after breakfast," he offered another alternative.
"No! I want to proceed to the farm tonight! It's just a two hours ride from here. I won't be able to sleep peacefully tonight if I am not 100% sure that my family is safe and not abducted by the vampires!" she insisted in a hysterical voice.
"Okay, calm down my love. Let's go back to the carriage and start our journey towards the farm," he complied.
Laura went to his side and hugged him. "Thank you!" she said and bury her face into his chest, squeezing her eyes tightly because she was already on the brink of crying again.
Graven wrapped his arms around her in great tenderness. "Okay...let's go back now to the carriage," he said.
The couple vanished from the room in the blink of an eye.
They appeared inside the carriage a few seconds later.
Graven opened the window of the carriage and spoke to the driver. "Pio, come here, Laura will give you the instruction on how to go to their farm outside the town," he said.
The driver walked towards the window and listened to Laura's instructions for a few minutes. "Okay, I got it!"
"Just ask me again if you think you got my instruction wrong or you are confused," she said.
"Yep, Miss Laura!" the driver replied and went back to the front where the horses were located.
They resumed their journey as darkness descended on the land.
Laura was unusually quiet while looking outside the window. Her mind was preoccupied. She was dreading the moment when she will arrive at the farm and learned that her family is not there. "Please God, let my family be safe on the farm," she prayed fervently.
Graven reached Laura's tensed hand and squeezed them. "Hey, don't worry too much. Everything will be alright," he assured her.
Laura looked at him and smiled a bit. She was thankful that during tormenting moments like this Graven is by her side ready to lend his support. His presence is a big help already. She rested her back on his broad chest while continue looking outside the window. It will help her keep track of their location and be on the lookout if the driver was indeed following the right direction.
'Dear God, please keep my family safe!' she prayed over and over again. She doesn't know what do to with her life anymore if her family was abducted by the vampires!
Minutes went by.
She stared at the pitch darkness outside the carriage.
A few minutes later, they were finally leaving the heart of the town.
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