Bound

"I like those." I pointed to the Hawthorns that were in bloom.

It had been a month since Benjamin proposed to me in that sunflower field.

"Hold still before the hem is ruined." Mama told me, my feet beginning to hurt.

Ma was preparing my dress for the wedding and Mrs. Penelope, the village florist, had dropped by to see what flowers I wanted for the wedding.

"Now for the accents, I bought a few choices that go good for each flower." She talked on about the different types of flowers she had for the accents.

I was too distracted to even focus on my own wedding tho. Benjamin, pa, Xavier, Father Salvatore and Mr. Andres were all out hunting those vampires. Honestly, I had forgotten about them until Benjamin came to me, tellin me bout the hunt today.

I wanted to go with them, hunt'em with them but Benjamin wasn't havin it. Said it was too dangerous for me to go this time.

"When do you think they will be back?" I asked, trying not get worried.

"Last time it was morning." Ma said.

I sighed, standing still for my fitting and worrying cuss it was all I could do. Stand and worry for my love.

"Which one?"

"The white ones." I pointed to the white accents, as Mrs. Penelope called them.

Looking out the window again, my heart felt a sudden pain. I'd never thought of Benjamin getting hurt or, worse, till now. I'd been out hunting with him before but I'd never considered how dangerous it was till now.

"Ma, how you feel bout Pa going out and huntin those things?"

"I don't like it but I can't stop him from protecting us. He's doing what needs to be done to protect the village." She finished off the hem, standing up and helping me from the dress.

"What if they don't come back?" I began to think of, terrible things.

"Come, let's pray for their safe return."

•••

Suddenly being woken up by horses and the sun, I rubbed my eyes, then slowly opened them up. Hearing more horses and a carriage, I sat up and looked out the window to see Benjamin, Father Salvatore and Mr. Andres.

Getting up, I grabbed my shawl to cover myself before going out there to greet them. Hugging Benjamin tightly, taking in his scent and warmth.

"I'm glad you are safe." I said as he held me close, not saying anything before letting me go, hesitantly.

"Are you alright?" I examined him to make sure he was okay.

"I'm alright..." he said with this sorrowful nature in his voice.

"What's wrong?" I looked at both pa and Benjamin.

"Xavier."

"Right, where is he? I forgot he went with yall?" I looked around, not seeing him with them.

They didn't say none, just looked at me with this look of despair.

"I'm sorry." Father Salvatore said while sitting on the carriage.

"Sorry for what?" I asked, stepping back a bit before realizing that something was in the back of that carriage.

"We were following the course, as usual, when we came across an old house. We ain't know it was a nesting ground at first, till we got ambushed." Benjamin began.