Resolve

Skyla froze, her eyes glued on the rattling door. Panic spread across her body as each second passed making her tighten her hold around the maid subconsciously. Upon feeling the tight grip, the maid lifted her head towards the door in concern before her eyes slowly drifted towards the small girl beside her.

Yet another rattling on the doorknob made the maid grit her teeth in realization, 'It won't be long before they find them.'

Skyla found herself stepping back in fear, making her frustrated with her own weakness.

THUD

Her body shook violently when she heard a loud thud signifying that someone was trying to break open the door she had locked carelessly upon her entrance.

As the thuds got louder by each second, Skyla's mind swirled as she thought of how to save themselves. Her lips trembled when she couldn't think of anything making tears gather in her eyes. She bit her lips in hopes to stifle her sobs as she knew crying in this situation would do no good.

However she heard a weak voice beside her ear, "There is a shelf at the end of the room"

Skyla raised her eyes and glanced at the maid who was looking at her while pointing her finger at the end of the room. Following her direction, she found a long wide shelf almost covering the end of the room. Immediately, Skyla picked up her pace as she made her way towards the shelf.

Surprisingly and to her delight, the shelf was long enough to hide them, earning a few minutes to think of a more concrete plan.

BANG!

When she heard the door bang open, Skyla immediately jumped behind the shelf and let go of her hold around the maid. Lifting her finger to her lips, Skyla motioned for the maid to be quiet as she peeked through the gaps of the shelf.

Her eyes widened in horror when she saw shadows filling her vision, she couldn't see them yet from the sound of their footsteps she could make out the estimate of the crowd and that left her dumbfounded. Instantly she felt someone pulling her face, glancing down she saw the maid's persistent gaze.

Immediately realizing what she was going to do, Skyla clutched her hands in a tight grip as if she was telling her silently that she refused whatever the maid was going to do.

Yet before they could do anything, they heard a cruel laugh, "My my, did the dog escape her cage?"

Skyla's face grew stiff as she turned around to glance at the woman she had thought was kind.

Aurelia stood in front of the crowd, her eyes staring at the cage before a blinding smile formed on her face.

"Hahaha…. She just made everything so fun, honey"

Alec stepped out from the shadows and patted her head as if he was admonishing her for her joyfulness yet the gentleness in his eyes said otherwise.

"So" Aurelia turned towards to stare at the shelf as she smirked, "Shouldn't we play along with her?"

Aurelia laughed crazily, "The night is still so long"

'Damn it' Skyla cursed as she quickly bowed her head and looked at the maid worriedly.

'What can I do?'

'How can I protect her and myself?'

Her eyes moved back and forth as her palms turned sweaty. But before she could think of anything, she felt a grip around her hands.

Lifting her eyes, she saw the maid staying upright on her knees with a soft smile on her face. The maid glanced at the shadows which were slowly moving towards the shelf before returning her gaze to Skyla.

"Thank you," she said in a low voice, making Skyla shake her head violently.

She did nothing...nothing to protect her.

The maid's face softened as she cupped Skyla's face and said, "Thank you for saving me… Thank you for telling me that my life also matters… Thank you for standing up for me when no one did"

Skyla closed her eyes as tears trickled down. She shook her head as if saying that she didn't save her. She didn't know why but the reassuring pat on her cheeks reminded her of her almost-forgotten mother.

"But" The maid's face turned serious, "This is it… so stay here and don't come out even if the sky breaks down"

Skyla opened her eyes instantly as she gripped the maid's hand tight.

No.. she won't allow it

The maid looked at the strong grip around her wrist, her eyes flickering, when she heard, "Come out… come out dog. The earlier you come out, the earlier you can die"

Skyla shivered upon the coldness in the lady's voice. How could she have ever thought that this beautiful vampire was a good person?

When she felt the maid stand up, Skyla pulled her wrist tighter making the maid purse her lips. Sighing, she hugged the girl tightly as she whispered, "Julie...my name is Julie"

Skyla tightened her hug as she mumbled, "Skyla" but why did this feel like a farewell?

Julie patted her head as she said, "That's a beautiful name..but too bad, I won't be able to call you that again, Lady Skyla"

"I'm no lady," Skyla argued, making the smile grow on Julie's face.

Julie moved back and said, "I'm sorry for this… but remember to stay put." On saying that, Julie shoved Skyla hard making her loosen her grip around Julie.

And, before Skyla could regain her stance, she saw Julie stepping out into the battleground and heard Aurelia say in mock-sadness, "Ah! You came out too early"

"Tch! No fun," Aurelia complained but in the next second, her eyes turned cold as a ruthless smirk formed on her face, "But I could still make you die an easy painful death"

Julie pressed her lips as she stood in front of the shelf in front of those cold-hearted shadows. Her body frame trembled as fear and panic thrashed inside her violently but at the thought of Skyla who was behind the shelf, Julie strengthened her resolve.

She was adamant on protecting her… protecting her saviour even if it meant she had to lay her life down in the process