Unfavorable Decision

The breezy night showed the validity of winter to get harsher in few days coming.

The white curtains swirl in rhyme with the wind, Dana who was sitting on her bed, with her back rested on the bedrest, and half of her body hide in bedcover, her eyes focused on the book in her hand.

When her fingers find their way to her mouth, she wet them and went to open the next page.

While engrossed in her readings, a knock on her door divert her attention, and without looking up she invited the person in, "yes you may"

The door pushed opened,and her maid Thea, enter holding the brown kitten in her arms. She bowed to Dana even though not a look was spare to her, she said,

"The kitten have lost it way back, I was in charge of closing the windows ,so I bring it back"

Dana lift her head upon hearing that, she smile, "how thoughtful of you, let me have it"

Thea walked over the bed, and gently give Dana the brown kitten which meow.

"It seems to have liked your short company, just like I do" she said, putting the kitten on her lap.

Thea smile receiving the compliment and bow in appreciation, she move her feet to the wide open window, pulling the handle, she closed them with a thud.

"The winter begin early this year, it will get frigid" Thea told Dana as if warning her to stop opening the window after she has closed them, adjusting the curtains, she left there and went to put some woods in the fireplace to keep her ladyship room warmer.

"You remind me of someone Thea"

Dana recalled when she was suffering from fever in her former life as Jessica Baker, Bella stay with her for whole night looking after her. She smile at the memory. Her hand rubbing the kitten back, emanating a purr from it.

"I'm sure she's kind" Thea added from where she was squatting, busy adjusting the woods in the fireplace.

The smile on Dana failed to cease,agreed "she is, but she exist in my dream" adding the last words to eliminate any rising doubts in her maid's mind.

Thea chuckle not expecting the last statement,"dream can come true my lady"

"Of course, they are already coming true"

After a moment of silence and only the sounds of the wood cracking due to the adjustment Thea was making on them.

Done with it, she stood up dusting her hands, her eyes stopped on Dana who was back to reading her book. She smile and left to pick the few books on the floor which were scattered.

"The Legendary Snake?" Thea read out, gaining attention from Dana who look up from her book.

"It's a great book, read it?" She raised a brow watching her maid who shook her head, "no I don't, but I listened to my late father reading it for me. I'm unable to read, The book cover help me in knowing the tittle"

Realizing she must have triggered some painful memories, Dana quickly went to add, "listening is better than reading, sometimes I wished someone could read for me. Your father is a good responsible man"

Thea smiled recalling the bittersweet memory, "yes he was, what book is that?"

"This?" Dana lifted the book in her hand showing it to Thea that was sitting on her toes, "The Djinns Within Us, it's a great book, contains 856 pages, just reach half"

Bobbing her head, The maid agreed, "it sure is"

Thea went back to packing the book s scattered on the floor without saying anything again, feeling bad for her Dana began,

"Ali Alim, a Moslem from Egypt, he wrote the book from experience and their were some guidelines that help someone to accumulate situation such as djinns deception"

Thea stopped on midway, she jerked her head at Dana with slight surprise on her face, Dana who was looking at her with a knowing smile speak. "Next time I will read the first five pages for you, what do you think"

A lovely smile broke on Thea's face, she stood up and curtsy, "I will appreciate your kindness milady, thank you"

Dana chuckle and returned her gaze on her book, not long after Thea arranged the books on a small shelf attached to the mirror, she blow some few candles keeping some to aid the Marquee daughter in her reading.

After Thea's departed from the room, Dana carefully lift the the kitten she brought yesterday with her in Heyday and carefully put it on the second pillow so that the kitten will enjoy it's sleep, and returned her focus on her book.

Inability to sleep yesterday and today have lead her to brought books from the library, thought she might as well fall asleep reading them.

Meanwhile on the order side of the manor; Lady Edwina was seen walking toward a door, in white robe trailing behind her, her hair was packed in a messy bun, and in her grasp was a tray contain two tea cups of blood tea.

She gently knock on the door, patiently waiting for the other person inside to invite her in. When the door clicked opened, a smile crept her lips locking gaze with the Marquee who gave a half smile.

"Let me help with that" the Marquee quickly stretch his hand and take the tray from her hand, he leave the doorway, and Edwina follow her husband closing the door behind her.

"You look awfully distracted" the marchioness pointed out her gaze sweeping across the room then settle it in her husband back, who now bent putting down the tray on the table "is something weighing your mind?" She asked walking over to him.

"Til on today, it still surprised me how you are able to read the room, thought I wonderfully conceal that from my face" he said, turning to face her.

The marchioness smile, and nods, "You didn't denied the fact, which means something was weighing you down, what's the matter?" She inquired, taking a seat on the chair, her slender fingers went to take a teacup in front of her locking her eyes with him.

"I don't know where to begin" he confessed taking a seat across her.

"Anywhere, start from the end I will rearranged them"

The Marquee smile, he picked his own cup and lift it to his mouth to take a sip.

"The council members..." He stopped midway, sensing his wife gaze harden on him. He put the cup away from his lips, and continued, "what do you think if we send Dana to Northbliss?" He suggested but the marchioness has already note the underlying meaning.

Lady Edwina squint her eyes on him, and then raised her brow. "Council members, Dana, Northbliss" she listed and finally sip her blood tea "I knew it had to do with the council members, what did they want to do with my daughter?" She probed.

"Why did you allowed Dana to take a tour to the market? What happened to 'she needs to stay away from public for the time being'? We both agreed on this"

Registering his questions in her head she carefully put the teacup back on the table, and look at the Marquee, she moved her mouth "you mean we agreed to confine her because we're ashamed of her"

"That's not-"

"Yes that's not your intention" she cuts in, and continue, "I remember asking for your consent to allow Mr Finns to examine Dana, if she could be turned back to a vampire, which we legitimately agreed on. You quite look disappointed when I told you she couldn't be turned, but I hide an important fact from you, Williams" she confessed, piquing the Marquee interest, before he could asked what? She beat him to it.

"First of all, I had to know what's trouble did Dana caused the council members to be interested in her"

The Marquee sighed and put down his teacup, " they required us to lower her rank to a commoner"

"That's impossible!" Lady Edwina exclaimed in surprised,

"What's her crime, because she tour the market without their consent?" she sarcastically enquired her brows drawing together, while her crimson eyes remained on her husband.

" You see, touring the market have gotten the attention of public to her, creating false rumors and saying bad things like she's a witch, also a lot of letters had been sent to the council opposing the idea of keeping Dana with us"

"The public are clearly saying we should disowned our own daughter and sent her far to live as an unknown? Is she the only human born a noble?" The marchioness tone laced with anger, and her eyes glint in exasperation.

"As per their words, they said she's a witch, or maybe we faked our vampires identity that we are witches"

"Nonsense! My daughter being human doesn't change the fact she's not from purebred vampires" after the burst, she bit her lower lips harder then exhaled deeply.

"And what did you do Williams? Don't tell me you stand idle while those comments from the public were read to you?" She inquired, and judging by the frustration in her eyes he rather chose his words wisely before breaking them to her.

After a moment of hesitation, he moved his mouth, "the council members have asked me to decide within a day and report tomorrow at the meeting that will be held in the council "

"And what's your decision?" She asked.

"To protect our daughter"

"How?" Lady Edwina asked but before he could make an utterance she dismissed him waving her hand, "nevermind, I will retire to my room" she rose to her feet leaving the Marquee gawking at her in surprised,

She bow and start walking towards the door, thinking he could speak a few words to calm her down, he tries, "I-"

"Oh!" She exclaimed as if forgotten something, and turned her whole body to face him, with a smile plastered on her face,she relay, "I'm visiting Peak Hill tomorrow"

Confused the Marquee inquired, " A friend?"

"No, the council and we are attending the meeting together" dropping the statements she picked her pace and stride out of the room in hurry.

The Marquee blinked, that was fast. He told himself and continue to stare at the door his wife left, gaping in amazement.

The following day was cold and windy, it was early morning when Dana feel a hand stroking her hair. She became half awake and slowly opened her lids settling them on her mother who was looking at her with a smile.

"Mother" she called in gruttal tone sounding so sleepy, and try lifting herself to sit but Edwina stopped her by pushing her back to bed, "it wasn't my intention to wake you up, get some sleep for some minutes more"

The marchioness carefully made herself comfortable on the of the bed, with affection her thumb trace under Dana's eyes, she spotted the dark circles under her eyes "it seems you didn't sleep much these days , nightmares?" She asked.

"No, it wasn't nightmare" she whispered, "reading help me gets some sleeps. I slept off while reading, I-" her remaining words stuck in her throat when she noticed her mother all dressed up. "Are you going somewhere? It's too early" Dana pointed out looking at Edwina crimson eyes that was looking back at her affectionately.

"Your father happened to be attending a gathering, I'm just accompanying him"

"Where is he?"

"He's waiting downstairs, you shouldn't overexert yourself" the marchioness told her daughter, and picked the book beside her. "The Djinns Within Us?" she look at Dana giving her a look that says she needs and explanation.

Dana took the book away from the marchioness grasp and hid it under her pillow "I enjoyed it" she responded.

Lady Edwina stare at her daughter for a moment, she intake a deep breathe and avert her gaze, "I brought you some hot milk, it will ease you, have some before going back to sleep" her delicate fingers gently shove the hair that settle on her face and lower her head to plant a kiss on Dana's forehead, the marchioness whispered, "love you"

Dana watched her mother leaving the room with one last look from the marchioness, she closed the door with a soft click, that's when she Dana sat upright and look at her bedside drawer where the milk was placed.

She sighed, stretching her hand to take the milk, she inhale the scents coming out of the milk then lifted it to her mouth to drink.

An hour later, Thea rushed to her lady's room but find her still on bed. She went ahead and pushed the window opened and carefully shoved the curtains to each side, separating them and letting the light beam into the room.

This awoken Dana from her short catnap, she pushed herself up and Thea who has turned now locked eyes with her lady.

"Milady! Good morning" she quickly curtsies and Dana only nod, because of the yawn that escaped her mouth, she covered her mouth with her hand and removed the bedcover, sliding her small feet in her fluffy slippers she strained her neck, and command, "prepare my bath, I would like to have breakfast indoor today"

"Yes milady" Thea answered, scurrying to the bathroom in haste.

Dana walked inside the bathroom as slow as ever, she slid her robe on the floor, followed by her night dress, in full naked she gentle walked down the steps into the minor hot steaming bathwater, and sat down, she sighed of a relief when the water touches her body.

Nice as the water is, she feel calm and decided to take a dip into the water.

Thea who was busy putting the bathoil in the bathwater glance at her lady "looks like something is weighing you down milady" she remarked staring at the bubble surfacing on the water.

Dana emerged from the water, her brown hair stucked on her back, she used her hand to shove back some of the strands hair on her face.

"It's about nothing. Just a random thoughts popping out of nowhere. Scrub me" she ordered.

"Gladly, this fragrance oil ease your mind. The marchioness brought them yesterday" Thea said, kneeling behind Dana as she poured the fragrance oil in her hand, rubbing it she started massaging Dana's shoulders with it.

Dana inhale the oil scents, "it sure works. What's is it made up?"

"Only higher-ups gets to used things like this, the oil is made from daisy extract oil and a small mixture of fenugreek seeds. It smoothen the body and-"

"I guess my life will still be the same, same story and different ending" Dana interrupted her maid elaboration on the fragrance. Hearing Thea mentioned daisy remind her of 'Liza', 'Elizbeth', 'Beth' who bear all the name in her past life, but in this life she's called. Daisy.

Confused Thea take a peek at Dana whose eyes was on the wall of the bathroom. "Forgive me, did I speak of something that I shouldn't have"

"No" Dana sigh, and splash some water on her face. "I was daydreaming again, my bad. What was that were you saying on the oil"

"Oh" Thea smiled, going back to her duty,she continue rubbing Dana's back as she responded, "I heard, if a rose oil is added, it will create a spark between two marriage couples who has failed to consumate. Usually the kings used it"

"Speaking of which, don't you wish to be married someday Thea?"

"Eh!" Thea exclaimed in surprised.

"What, you don't want to?" Dana looked at her maid in the corner of her eyes.

Confused, Thea stammered stopping what she was doing, "I-I-I mean erm- I have never been court!" She rush the words out feeling embarrassed.

Thea closed her eyes, biting on her lower lips, "no man has ever fancied me. I know it's embarrassing milady"

A chuckle escaped Dana's lips, followed by her laughter her shoulder shaking along.

Thea blinked, both her hand on her side looking at her lady, bewildered.

"What's funny milady?"

"You of course, what's so embarrassing about not be fancy or court. I really find that amusing"

Thea's cheek flushed, clearing her throat she asked, "what you about milady, won't you be married?"

"Umm.. As for me, I think I will enjoy the remaining years living as a spinster"

"Milady!" Thea scolded and another wave of laughter fill the bathroom

....

Upon reaching Peak Hills, the Marquee William's carriage came to halt, stopping behind the carriages parked outside.

The Marquee was the first to stepped out of the carriage and helped his wife, Edwina to unmount the carriage.

"My, my" the marchioness sang on spotting the carriages in front of them, "today's going to be a long day, I remember the last time I came here it almost half a decade now. Time really flies, don't you think?"

The Marquee stare at the stone wall of the council, the wall is thick and high, built aeons ago.

"It sure does, shall we?" And the marchioness nods in anticipation.

The two guards guarding the entrance and only exit of the council quickly opened the gate for the couples coming.

They bowed, only to receive a nod from the couples.

Williams walked side by side with his wife whose hand was hooked inside his arm.

The marchioness chin lifted a little when they met one of the council members whom appeared to be a newbie.

"Greetings" he greated with curtsey.

The marchioness looked more confidence and bold than how her husband appeared, he looks a bit nervous of what might happened today but still his wrecked nerve calmed when he remembered his wife's with him.

Walking inside the council, they came across members of the council, before taking a left and walked down the long wide hall before coming to stopped in front of a large doubled door that two men were guarding.

The guards bow at the marchioness and the Marquee, then went to opened the door wide for them.

The nobles inside the meeting room turned their head to the guest, on noticing the marchioness few men couldn't helped but show their distaste.

"What's the marchioness doing here, Williams?" One of the men inside commented, sitting at the end of the table.

Knowing that will happened, the marchioness and her husband welcomed themselves in, "what a pleasant morning, greetings" the marchioness curtsies with a smile plastered on her face.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of having you here, Lady Edwina"

Said the head council member, Raphael, who was sitting at the head chair.

The man has black hair, with a thin moustache laced under his nose. He looks more humane and welcoming but he's a vampire.

"Williams here was kind enough to invite me to such a great gathering which I nearly declined if he hadn't mentioned it was a meeting regarding my daughter, aren't you such a good man?" She asked her husband who could only stare at her, after hearing her. Sure his wife used opportunities she finds useful to herself.

Realizing he needs to clarify what his wife has just said, he regained his compure and respond, "I do asked her to accompany me, considering it's not a decision I will have to decide myself"

Raphael nods, "sure, you did the right thing, please take a seat" he point to the two empty chair at the far end.

When the Marquee and the marchioness sat down, Raphael cleared his throat to garner the attentions of the nobles here with him.

"I will start with a question Marquee Williams, have you noticed any slight attitude in your daughter before she became human"