See You In Hell

The Journey To Garcia

The wedding ended almost as quickly as it had begun.

There had been no grand celebration.

No endless dancing.

No extravagant feast that lasted until midnight.

The ceremony had been rushed, the vows exchanged quickly, and before Ivanna could fully understand that she was now married, preparations had already been made for her departure.

She barely had enough time to say goodbye to her parents.

Her mother had held her tightly, whispering words of encouragement into her ear while trying desperately not to cry.

Her father had simply placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her for a long moment.

"Be brave," he had said.

Ivanna had nodded.

But she hadn't felt brave.

She had felt like a girl being sent away from everything she knew.

Now, hours later, she sat silently inside the carriage that would take her to Garcia.

Her new home.

Or so everyone kept calling it.

Ivanna stared through the carriage window.

The palace slowly disappeared behind them, becoming smaller and smaller until it was nothing more than a distant silhouette.

She didn't look back again.

She wasn't sure she could bear it.

Across from her sat Giveon.

Her husband.

The thought still felt strange.

She had known his name for months.

Yet she had only met him that morning.

And now she was expected to spend the rest of her life beside him.

Giveon sat quietly, one arm resting against the side of the carriage. His expression was calm, almost emotionless, as he watched the scenery pass outside.

He hadn't spoken much since they left.

Neither had Ivanna.

The silence between them wasn't exactly uncomfortable.

It was simply unfamiliar.

They were strangers who had somehow become husband and wife in a single day.

Ivanna lowered her gaze to her hands.

Her wedding ring caught the faint light from the carriage lantern.

She touched it with her thumb.

She still couldn't believe it.

A soft breeze shook the carriage.

Ivanna shivered.

Giveon's eyes moved toward her.

"You’re cold."

It wasn't a question.

Ivanna immediately shook her head.

"No."

He studied her for a moment.

Then he reached beside him, picked up a thick woolen blanket, and held it out.

Ivanna looked at it.

"I'm fine."

"I know."

His voice was quiet.

"Take it anyway."

She hesitated before accepting it.

"Thank you."

Giveon simply nodded and returned his attention to the window.

Ivanna wrapped the blanket around herself.

She couldn't help staring at him.

She had expected him to be cold.

Distant.

Perhaps even cruel.

Instead, he had noticed that she was cold without her saying anything.

It was a small thing.

But it surprised her.

She looked outside again.

The farther they traveled, the quieter the landscape became.

The roads stretched between forests and hills, with occasional cottages appearing in the distance.

Everything seemed peaceful.

Then, sometime in the afternoon, the first snowflakes began to fall.

Ivanna watched them through the window.

Tiny white flakes drifted through the air.

"It's snowing."

Giveon glanced outside.

"Yes."

Ivanna smiled faintly.

"I've never seen snow like this."

"You've never traveled north?"

"No."

She watched another snowflake land against the glass.

"It’s beautiful."

Giveon looked at her instead of the snow.

"Garcia gets more of it."

Ivanna turned toward him.

"Garcia."

He nodded.

"Our kingdom."

She swallowed.

"Our."

The word sounded strange.

Giveon seemed to notice.

"It will take some time."

"For what?"

"For it to feel like yours."

Ivanna looked down.

"I don't think it ever will."

Giveon didn't respond immediately.

She wondered if she'd offended him.

Then he said quietly, "You don't have to pretend."

Ivanna looked at him.

"What?"

"You don't have to pretend that you're happy about this."

Her expression softened.

"I thought you wanted me to."

"No."

His answer came without hesitation.

"I don't expect you to."

Ivanna stared at him.

"Do you hate me?"

Giveon frowned slightly.

"Why would I?"

"Because you're being forced into this marriage too."

He looked out the window.

"I don't hate you for something neither of us chose."

Ivanna didn't know what to say.

She turned back toward the window.

For the first time since the wedding, something inside her relaxed.

Not completely.

But enough.

The journey continued.

Hours passed.

The snow became slightly heavier, covering the roads in a thin white layer.

Eventually, the carriage slowed.

Giveon leaned forward.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine."

"Have you eaten?"

Ivanna blinked.

"Yes."

"When?"

She thought about it.

She couldn't remember.

Giveon noticed her silence.

He opened the small compartment beneath the seat and took out a wrapped meal.

"Eat."

Ivanna stared at him.

"I'm not hungry."

"You should still eat."

She frowned.

"Do you always give orders?"

Giveon's expression remained calm.

"No."

"Then why are you giving me one now?"

"Because you've been traveling all day."

She stared at him for another moment.

Then reluctantly took the food.

"Thank you."

He nodded.

Ivanna opened it.

There was bread, fruit, cheese, and roasted meat.

She ate quietly.

Giveon didn't watch her.

He simply looked outside.

That somehow made her more comfortable.

After a while, Ivanna spoke.

"Are there humans in Garcia?"

Giveon turned toward her.

"Yes."

She looked surprised.

"There are?"

"Many."

"I thought it was a vampire kingdom."

"It is."

He paused.

"But humans live there too."

Ivanna looked thoughtful.

"Are they safe?"

Giveon's expression became serious.

"Yes."

"Even around vampires?"

"Yes."

She hesitated.

"What if a vampire wants to feed?"

Giveon looked directly at her.

"They need permission."

Ivanna's fingers tightened around the piece of bread in her hand.

"Permission?"

"No vampire is allowed to drink human blood without consent."

She stared at him.

"Even you?"

"Especially me."

His answer was immediate.

Ivanna slowly nodded.

"What happens if they do?"

"They are punished."

"How?"

Giveon didn't elaborate.

"Severely."

Ivanna looked away.

That was the first time she began to understand that Garcia wasn't the kingdom she had imagined.

The stories she'd heard had always made vampires sound like monsters hiding in the shadows, waiting for humans to become their prey.

But perhaps Garcia was different.

Perhaps Giveon was different.

She wasn't sure yet.

She still had too many questions.

"Why did you agree to this marriage?"

The question escaped before she could stop herself.

Giveon became quiet.

The carriage continued through the snowy road.

Finally, he answered.

"Because peace matters."

Ivanna watched him.

"And if there had been another way?"

He looked at her.

"I would have chosen it."

Her heart sank slightly.

She wasn't sure why.

Perhaps she had expected him to say something else.

Perhaps she had hoped he would say that he wanted this.

But she couldn't blame him.

She didn't want it either.

Giveon looked back outside.

"That doesn't mean I intend to make you unhappy."

Ivanna's eyes widened slightly.

She stared at him.

He said nothing more.

But somehow, those words stayed with her.

That night, they stopped at a small roadside estate belonging to the vampire crown.

Ivanna was given a room to rest in.

She was exhausted.

Yet sleep didn't come easily.

Everything felt unfamiliar.

The strange room.

The strange kingdom.

The strange husband waiting somewhere nearby.

Eventually, she left her room.

She found Giveon sitting near one of the large windows at the end of the corridor.

He was awake.

Still.

Silent.

Watching the snow fall outside.

Ivanna approached slowly.

"You haven't slept."

Giveon turned toward her.

"Neither have you."

"I couldn't."

He looked at her for a moment.

Then moved slightly, leaving space beside him.

She didn't sit.

Instead, she stood near the window.

"Why are you awake?"

"Someone has to stay alert."

"Why?"

Giveon looked toward the guards stationed outside.

"Because we're traveling through unfamiliar territory."

Ivanna nodded.

She didn't realize until later that he had been keeping watch over the entire estate.

Including her.

The following morning, they continued their journey.

The snow had settled over the landscape, turning everything white.

Ivanna spent most of the day watching the scenery.

She asked questions whenever curiosity overcame her silence.

"What are the people in Garcia like?"

"Mostly peaceful."

"Are there human villages?"

"Yes."

"Do humans and vampires live together?"

"Some do."

"Does your father allow it?"

"Yes."

"Are there laws for vampires?"

"Many."

Ivanna glanced at him.

"You seem to know all the answers."

"I should."

"You don't talk much."

Giveon looked at her.

"No."

She almost smiled.

At least he was aware of it.

As the second day passed, Ivanna became tired again.

She fell asleep without realizing it.

When she woke, her head was resting against the side of the carriage.

The blanket had been pulled higher around her shoulders.

She looked across at Giveon.

He was reading quietly.

"Did you do that?"

He looked up.

"Do what?"

"The blanket."

"Yes."

Ivanna stared at him.

"Why?"

"You were cold."

That simple answer left her speechless.

She looked away.

"Thank you."

Giveon nodded.

By evening, the landscape began to change.

The forests opened.

The hills became gentler.

Lights appeared in the distance.

Ivanna slowly sat upright.

"What is that?"

Giveon looked out the window.

"Garcia."

Ivanna moved closer to the glass.

Her eyes widened.

She had expected darkness.

She had expected an ancient, frightening city filled with towering black buildings and creatures lurking in shadows.

Instead, she saw beauty.

A vast medieval city stretched across the landscape.

Beautiful cottages lined the winding stone roads, their roofs covered lightly in snow.

Warm golden light spilled from their windows.

Markets and small shops filled the streets.

Elegant bridges crossed clear streams.

Humans and vampires walked together beneath the falling snow.

Children ran through the streets, laughing as they played.

Beyond the city were rolling hills, snow-covered forests, and beautiful open landscapes stretching toward the horizon.

Ivanna stared.

"This is Garcia?"

Giveon nodded.

She looked at him.

"I thought it would be..."

She stopped.

"Different?"

"Yes."

A faint softness appeared in his expression.

"Most people do."

The carriage continued through the city.

Ivanna watched everything.

People noticed her.

Some stared curiously.

Others whispered.

She knew they knew who she was.

The human princess.

The vampire prince's new wife.

Giveon noticed her discomfort.

"You don't have to worry."

Ivanna looked at him.

"I'm not worried."

He studied her briefly.

Then said quietly,

"I know."

She almost smiled.

Almost.

The carriage moved farther into the city.

And then she saw it.

At the end of a long road stood an enormous castle.

It rose above the surrounding buildings, elegant and imposing against the snowy sky.

Tall towers reached toward the clouds.

Large windows glowed with warm golden light.

Stone walls surrounded the grounds, decorated with intricate carvings.

It wasn't frightening.

It was magnificent.

Ivanna stared at it.

Her heart began to beat faster.

That was where she would live now.

That was where her new life would begin.

Giveon looked toward her.

"Welcome to Garcia."

Ivanna slowly turned to him.

For a moment, she said nothing.

She looked back at the castle.

Then at the beautiful city behind them.

It was nothing like she had imagined.

Perhaps Garcia wasn't the frightening kingdom she had been warned about.

Perhaps her new husband wasn't the cold monster people had described.

But Ivanna still couldn't forget one thing.

She was here because she had been married to a man she barely knew.

And no matter how beautiful Garcia was...

She had no idea what awaited her inside that castle.