Valentine

Chapter Twelve - Elizabeth

The week moved by quickly, with the usual day to day happenings continuing on with my parents. Neither of them found it surprising when I opted to stay out of school for the period. Not that it happened before, but they both mom and dad were too busy with their own lives to notice something like this. After returning home, I immediately regretted not taking the opportunity earlier, but I also knew that this was just because I couldn’t really stand my parents for longer than a little while before they grated on me.

It was a hard decision, still, knowing that I would never be able to see them again and that these would be my last goodbyes. I was letting go of a lot, not that I would aspire too much anyway if I stayed, but they would worry, eventually. In my younger years, I often ran away for short periods of time until there was nothing for me to do anymore but go back to the cesspool that was home. There was a kind of comfort there that I couldn’t get anywhere else, between the hatred and depression I felt being there. My small room wasn’t great, but it was all I needed.

Even so, I couldn’t stop thinking about Orion. I couldn’t stop thinking about vampires and the shadowy underworld that I never knew existed just outside of town. There were a few things that I was worried about, of course, but that just seemed natural. I was going to be married off to someone I didn’t know and probably wouldn’t have cared for, I had to rule a kingdom of vampires after only just hearing about them and the thought of being turned into a vampire was daunting. Was it like in the movies? Where you had to get bitten? Was there some kind of blood sacrifice? Was it as easy as just a bite and then you turned or was there a chance of dying from it?

After all, I didn’t want my life to get cut shorter when I was promised that it would be extended.

It was light, the sun was setting out over the horizon and the night before someone delivered a letter saying that Orion would be over tomorrow. A looming fear crept over me throughout the day and I didn't know what to expect. Mom was getting stoned in the kitchen and dad was sitting in front of the television the same way he always did at this time of day. He used to try to make something of himself during the days and only watch TV at night, but even that's come to change now. He's given up completely, the farm was a waste of money and time and even he, though it would never be said out loud, knows it’s true.

“So what are you and Orion going to be doing tonight?” Dad asked, pressing a button on the tv remote to pause the show that he was watching.

“He wants to take me somewhere. I’m not really sure what else we’re going to do.” Through the week I made a decision, one that I knew was probably the wrong one to my human self, but the future vampire queen would never look back on. Orion was right, I was trapped behind a wall that I would never be able to escape if I didn’t take this chance. I was never going to make it big in the acting, there wasn’t a chance that it would come to be. Vampires and arranged marriages, ruling a kingdom and being adored were the closest thing to greatness I would ever be able to attain and it was the right option.

“Well, just be careful. I like him, but he’s a bit unstable.” It was the first time I’d ever seen my dad show this kind of support and sympathy in a situation. He actually tried, in his own way, to be a good parent.

“You don’t know the half of it,” I replied, trying to make it look like a joke but still bowing my head. I was abandoning them and they didn’t know it, they wouldn’t know it. They were going to be forever alone, searching for their daughter that they will believe was abducted by someone strange, but I was wise before my time and knew that cutting toxic ties had to be done sooner, rather than later. It was a quick slope between where I stood as independent and strong and turning out like my parents.

“He’s a good kid, I can tell. Who knows, he might even be your first real boyfriend,” Dad joked and I hoped he was right.

“What time do you think you’re going to be back, though? Mom and I are going to watch a movie with you a little later. We haven't done anything as a family in a while and it might be a good time to start." He finished, shuffling from his recliner to a table beside and grabbing a box of smokes off of it. Why was he trying to be a good parent now? This was the wrong time for this kind of stuff. I was about to ditch them for good and with comments and thoughts like that, I might have had second thoughts. But my mind was made up and my decision was set. I was going to be a part of the Valentine family. It was crucial, right?

"I'm not sure. It might be another full night affair. I can never tell with Orion, so it's best to just see what happens, you know?" Shaking my head I stood up, "Come here and give me a hug." I waved my arms at him to get up, and so he did, wrapping his arms around me. I felt the tears well in my eyes but I fought them back. It would be more suspicious if any of them dripped.

“Mom, come here,” I shouted and she came to the lounge.

"Group hug," Mom said, wrapping her arms around me and dad, squeezing tight. This was going to be my last goodbye to them and so I reveled in it. This was one good situation out of many bad, and this I knew for a fact, and though it was harder to let go now, I knew it had to be done.

Now it was just the wait for Orion Valentine, and everything would be able to start.