Forced Bride Of The Vampire Lord

"A secret mission?" she tilted her head and stared at her waiting for her to speak further but he stayed silent after that making her frown.

He did not want to tell others what he was thinking but at the same time always waiting for them to know the truth is one of his quirks.

"You are not guessing anymore?" she shook her head as she knew he was expecting her to analyze further.

"No! Since I will know about it in a few minutes, why would I waste my energy on it?" though she was behaving nonchalant, he could see a hint of annoyance in her voice and chuckled.

"Mm, we are already here!" he tapped behind him and soon the carriage stopped in a corner.

Like always, the coachman did not come to open the door but Rafael opened it like in the sharing carriages and helped Hazel in coming out too.

Hazel scanned the place around her that was full of people. A few of them turned to look at them when the carriage stopped but noticing the rust in it and their shabby clothes, they resumed what they were doing.

There were many small and large stalls all around selling different kinds of things. It felt like she was back to the land of ruins where she had seen the same bustling view.

The only difference was there are only humans while that place has both.

"It is a human area where they did not like the interference of vampires and witches." he explained when he saw confusion in her eyes, "why don't you look for some jewels at that shop. It looked like they had decent goods!" Hazel followed his eyes and noticed a shop with a lot of girls standing there and talking to each while choosing a jewel for them and nodded her head.

"I have heard that they are thinking of canceling the fair too. We were lucky that we got a chance to visit today." whispered one as she picked the chain and placed it on her neck as she looked into the mirror to see if it suits her face when others nodded.

"Yes, my brother said I should not come. The town is not safe anymore especially at nights when the dark powers and night creatures roam on the streets." a frown formed on her face as she said so while others sighed.

"They have the largest area and they are already dominating the council. I did not know what else they wanted to attack us all the time. I wonder if they do not like peace?" The girl finally picked up the silver one with a small cross in it hoping it would protect her when she would try to return home.

"Did something happen? I thought after the marriage of princess Hazel with the lord, everything would be peaceful?" asked Hazel as she picked up a small brooch with a pearl in the center.

All the girls turned to look at him as if she was a fool as they gave her a once over but soon turned back looking at her shabby clothing and how she had hid her face in a cloak.

"Do you now know wearing a cloak is ominous as it is connected with witches who try to hide their silver look and bright eyes and try to mix among humans?" came the sharp voice of the first girl who was already paying for her cross.

"Jeanette, do not be too harsh. The girl looked new to the town." she chided her friend who looked away.

The girl turned to look at Hazel with an embarrassed smile on her face due to the harsh words of her friend, "I apologize but Jeanette is right. Most of us do not wear cloaks. And there is a recent accident when men and women do not return to their house at night only to find out that they disappeared later.

Are you alone here?" Hazel wanted to shake her head and point at Rafael when she noticed he was not there anymore and had to nod reluctantly.

"You should not. But if you are here, you can come with us. We will show you the few paths that have guards so that you can return home safely later." offered the girl kindly with a smile on her face that felt warm.

"Tsk! Charity again! You should be worried about your life first." Though the girl with dark hair named Jeanette frowned, she didn't shoot the girl away.

"Do you want to buy anything?" they asked Hazel who shook her head and they all walked to another stall.

"I think I have spent a lot. My mother would chide me if I bought more. Do you want to return home?" It has been only half an hour since Hazel had joined the group while looking for Rafael all the time.

She was still not sure whether Rafael wanted her to roam with them or look for jewels in that shop.

They have gone to a few more small shops and brought scarves and hats when they decided to go back.

"Yes, it is late at night. We should go before mother gets worried." nodded another who had offered Hazel to come with them.

As if remembering her presence, she turned towards Hazel and looked apologetically.

"Aah! We have told you that we will show you other roads but we forget. Would you like to come with us? We will accompany you till the center where you can find local carriages and then you will be safe?" unsure of what to do, Hazel looked around with uneasiness.

She did not know if she should or not when her eyes fell on a man. Though it did not look like Rafael at all with his raven hair and obsidian eyes, but the way he looked at her and nodded as if he knew her and also what she was thinking about.

Call her crazy, but she followed his bidding and nodded to the girls who smiled warmly.

"Then let us go! It would be the most memorable journey you ever had."