Graven cleared the lump in his throat. "Rebecca is gone..." he said.

Laura's eyes widened in shock. "W-what do you mean by gone?" she asked in confusion. ​​

"After we vanished from the basement, and went outside, the bats were attracted to the smell of your blood that was smeared all over Rebecca's body. They followed us in the air going away from the South Pond Town. When I was about to unleash the deadly flames from my body to burn them into ashes, the bats suddenly transformed into three giant big birds and told me that even if I will kill them all, they will still send more bats to the town to kill all people unless I will surrender you to them...." Graven said.

"Huh? W-who are they?" Laura's eyes widened in shock.

"They are the servants of the king... sent to fetch you as their Queen," he answered.

"Who's king?" she asked in confusion. Then recognition dawned on her face. "Y-you mean...the...the..." she stuttered and can't finish her words due to fear.

"Yeah...I think the king that they were talking about is the vampire son of that couple that your father made a deal with when you're still a baby," he finished her statement for her.

Laura's body trembled in horror. "S-so...they're looking for me all over the place?" she feared the fate of her family in Halowpass. "I'm worried about my family back home!" she said, fresh tears sprang from her eyes.

Graven caresses her back to comfort her. "Don't worry too much, I think they are not harmed," he said to assure her.

"How can you be so sure? If they are willing to kill the people here in this town then they must have already killed my family back home!" she said, sobbing hard.

Graven embraced her, trying to soothe her. "Shh...don't think negatively," he said.

Laura cried in his arms in the next thirty minutes. She was fearing for her family's safety. "I need to go home and find out what they had done to my family!" she cried.

"Don't worry, you will go home soon. I'll go with you," he said.

"What happened to Rebecca?" she asked between sobs.

Graven sighed. "Rebecca borrowed your image and pretend that she is Laura. She realized that it is the only way to stop the bats from returning to the town. She told me not to worry because she can take care of herself and she needs to know their location as well. What I'm worried about is that how long can Rebecca hide her true identity? And what they will do to her after her secret is revealed?" he said anxiously.

After hearing the reason why Rebecca was unable to come back into the mansion, Laura's heart breaks into a thousand pieces. She's worried to death about her family then she's also worried about Rebecca's safety. "I should be the one that is in Rebecca's place!" she said, blaming herself for putting her friend in a dangerous situation.

If only she can turn back time, she shouldn't have followed her father's command to come to South Pond Town. She should have accepted her fate and just wait for the vampire to fetch her in their mansion in Hallowpass.

Rebecca's life shouldn't be in danger right now and the innocent people should have not died at all in the hands of those bats!

She put everyone's life in danger because she was trying to escape her fate!

"I blamed myself for everything that happened in this town, including the people who died in the villages and for what happened to Rebecca! It's all my fault!" she said as tears continue rolling from her face.

Graven sighed deeply. "My love, please listen to me... stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault!" he said trying to stop her self-blaming.

Laura continues weeping despite him comforting her.

One hour later, her lamenting and crying finally ended.

She looked into his eyes. "Did you blame me for what happened to Rebecca?" she asked.

Graven shook his head. "No, how could I blame you? It's not your fault! Always remember that..." he said.

"Where to find those beings that took Rebecca away? I want to replace her!" she demanded fiercely.

Graven sighed. "Laura...you should go to sleep now," he said.

"But how can I sleep when my mind is deeply troubled?" she continues lamenting.

Graven rubbed her back trying to console her. Laura's emotion is not stable right now, he will stay by her side all night long to support her.

"What happened to Rebecca right now? Do you think she's still safe? We need to find her!" Laura remained rambling.

"Sure. We will find her. Do you still remember the name of the place where you were born? That was the place where your father made a deal with the vampire couple, am I right?" he asked.

"Yes. But I don't know the name of the place anymore... my father seldom talks about that place because he wants to forget everything related to the deal and the vampire couple," she replied.

"Ah, okay. We need to go back home to Hallowpass and ask your father the name of the place so that my men and I can rescue Rebecca," he said.

"Okay, let's go home! I want to know what happened to my family back there in Hallowpass. I can't continue living like this without knowing their condition," Laura agreed.

"As for Rebecca, don't worry much about her situation, the girl is powerful enough and knows how to protect herself. This will allow us enough time to rescue her before her identity is discovered..." Graven said.

"Hopefully so..." Laura murmured.

Graven sighed softly and planted a kiss on Laura's forehead... she snuggled closer to him pressing her body to his...resulting in him kissing her more than he planned and their lips locked in a passionate kiss as their bodies start clamoring for a release.

They were now consumed with intense desire, longing for each other as pleasure enveloped them.

They want to be free from their worries for a while and need a good distraction in the form of petting, hugging, kissing, and snuggling as they enjoyed the delicious warmth of their bodies.

Their kiss deepens... and Graven's hands freely fondled and stroke Laura's erogenous body parts...a few minutes later...they ended up naked as their bodies continue burning with sensual desire...

Graven's pulsating manhood entered Laura's silky wall and together they went higher and higher until they reached the peak of pleasure and stay there for a few minutes savoring the result of the mind-blowing release of their lovemaking.

A few moments later...the couple begins to descend back on earth. Laura rested her head on Graven's chest, loving the cozy feel of his hard body...feeling secured and protected. Sleepiness took over her senses too tired to open her eyes, she bid him good night and snored softly afterward.

Graven wrapped the blanket around their naked bodies, savoring the pleasure of sharing another glorious night with his lady love. He could spend the rest of his life having her by his side. Coveting his brother's woman filled his heart with guilt but also pleasure and excitement. Laura is one woman that he could never get enough of.

Would it have been better if... he dismissed the idea quickly.

Sighing, shaking his head, although he truly loves Laura, he won't stand in the way of his brother's and Laura's happiness. He is willing to take the backseat, stay hidden in the dark and let the couple enjoy their flourishing love.

Laura is his for the time being but as soon Luke returned to their lives, he swears to himself, he will never touch Laura ever again.

He can't understand why Laura had such a profound effect on his consciousness. His entire being would turn alive every time she's near him.

He used to avoid her but now it's inevitable that they will spend each other's company in the next days to come while they are traveling together. It's another opportunity to enjoy her company and enjoy their short-lived togetherness.

Short blissful moments with Laura are more than enough for him, he considers himself lucky to be able to taste her beauty and her loveliness while he still can...'coz tomorrow might never be the same again between them.

Graven feels sleepy... he embraced Laura tightly and sleep peacefully beside her throughout the night.

The following day.

Laura woke up alone to a bright new day. The morning sun already high up there in the sky. She was disappointed that Graven was no longer by her side when she woke up in the morning. She's yearning for his company. He can make her feel better.

She stared at the open window and pondered about her situation. After deciding to go home, she feels much better now. Next is to help Graven rescue Rebecca back to safety.

After Rebecca was taken away she's now ready to face her supposed-to-be vampire husband...this time no more innocents live will be taken again. This time she will surrender completely to her fate to prevent anyone from suffering again in the hands of her vampire husband.

This recent development altered her plan again, originally she decided to just hide away from the twin brothers... but now... new happenings required her to evaluate her decisions...running away from her fate will only make other people suffer gravely, to avoid all these things from recurring again she needs to put a stop and embrace her fate blindly.

It's all for the best and Graven doesn't have to know about it.