Leaving

The sound of a gunshot was heard in the square, sending shivers down people's spines. Sleeping birds scattered about and flew up from the trees into the sky as people in the square ran and scattered in different directions. Life in the village could be traumatic at times, irrespective of its calm and chilly atmosphere.

Ezekiel stepped out of the building with his servant to meet the quietness of the square, unlike when he had entered. Examining everywhere and seeing there was no one present, he pulled down his cloak hood.

"Master, do you think perhaps… he is dead?" Thomas tried to ask in a wavering voice standing behind him. Up till now, he was still not used to these kinds of escapades his master ventured into and why must he take him along?

"Hmmm," he licked his lips examining the pistol in his hands. "I think you're probably right, we should go in and finish him off." He motioned to go back into the building.

"No, no, that's not what I meant." He waved his hands to stop him from entering back into the building.

"Then keep shut!" He snapped. "Quit being antsy, it's not a good sight."

"Yes, sir." He bowed and moved to the corner.

Two figures in cloaks appeared, approaching them from the opposite direction, and he pulled up his hood.

"Good evening, sir." They bowed, removing their hoods to reveal a man and a woman who had their hair dyed dirty blonde and packed in a ponytail.

"Good job." He placed a pouch in the woman's hand.

"We're pleased to work for you, sir." The two smiled, feeling the weight of the coins.

"Don't be so sure." If at all you try to gossip, you will surely regret it," he said.

"No such thing would happen," the lady said, trying to catch a glimpse of the man under the cloak, but she couldn't see as it was dark. Was it strange to say they had no idea who this man was?

"Now, turn around and move," he ordered, and they turned back to the direction they had come from.

Just in time, the black carriage pulled up in front of them. The footman opened the door, and they stepped in, leaving the square.

༺༻༺༻

It took two weeks of thinking and reasoning before Bia decided she would be going to Farshield to live with Aunt Anne.

It had been quiet between her and her mother, but in the end, she couldn't help seeing her mother's reasoning and came to the realization that living with her aunt would provide her with new opportunities and experiences. So, despite the initial tension between her and her mother, they were able to come to a mutual understanding. It also set her heart at rest when Liam promised to take care of her mother for her. She trusted he would do that.

Her mother was happy, while Liam, on the other hand, having promised to take care of her mother for her, was quite unenthusiastic about her leaving, unlike what she expected. Though as she prepared for her new life in the city, he began to advise her, given that he had traveled a lot more than her and also partly began to reveal some secrets she saw as quite grim about the city.

"You must be careful, Bia," he began one evening when he visited their cottage. They were sitting at the table after supper, and a while after her mother had retired to bed. The candle burned between them on the table, reflecting in their eyes.

"In as much as it is exciting to go to Pelinburst, I must warn you of the dangers of this beautiful city and its elite ton."

Bianca gulped and nodded. He was whispering and talking in a hushed tone as if he was sharing a great secret.

"You won't hear this from anyone in the village for they do not know what went on in these places." He leaned closer. "In my little travels, I have heard of dark secrets, creatures….."

"Creatures?" Now this one got her worked up. She tightened her lips in a hard line. A habit of hers whenever she was thinking or confused. Her brows squeezed. "What do you mean?"

"I'm sure in one of your history books you must have heard of the night creatures."

She drew back with widened eyes. "Night creatures?"

"Vampires, Bia, vampires!"

Bianca gasped but clasped her mouth to avoid waking her mother this late at night.

"But I thought they were just old stories…."

"That never died." He cut her short. "The man I worked for in the town, I often overhear him and his numerous friends of the ton discuss it. Though they say these particular creatures in the town are in hiding. One can't tell."

It was only now that the chill ran through her body, the strange encounter that rainy night. The red eyes…. No! She shook her head. That couldn't be possible. It was all hallucinations…. And she wouldn't let whatever Liam said get into her head. She had decided to make the best out of her stay in the town.

She nodded in agreement nonetheless.

He took an inhale and drew back as if satisfied. "I trust you would protect yourself and keep yourself safe for us, for me, for your mother. Even as you get a job, be careful and inquire about the household. Be wary of the fancy ones; I've heard many people mutter it in the town. So heed to it."

She nodded. "I will, thank you so much."

Packing her bags only took a day, but she had to visit the parents of the children she taught after her last class with them. Both the children and their parents were emotional about it.

"How would they cope without you? There is no one else here who could teach them." One of the parents of her two favorite pupils, Anna Penn's mother, lamented when she visited them at last that evening.

What she said was true, and the children too cried in her arms. Truly there was no one else qualified enough to volunteer to teach the little ones.

"Nonetheless, we are happy for you. Surely you would find better opportunities in the city. And may our God go with you."

"Amen." She chimed as she bent down to calm the two pupils crying in her arms while their mothers stared at each other emotionally.

"I will be well." She said to them. "Remember to read your books and keep practicing all I have taught you. Okay? If the job I would end up getting, if God be kind, would allow me, I would surely come to visit every holiday."

She patted their tear-stained red cheeks and then stood up to bid the two mothers farewell.

"Can we visit her the day she leaves, mother?" Mercy Grim asked her mother teary-eyed.

"Yes, yes, sure you both can."

Early the next day, Bianca set out for Farshield with her luggage. She had woken up before the first cock crowed, dressed in her most presentable gown and old pelisse. She was accompanied by her mother and Liam, who had slept over just to be able to see her off to the nearest place she would take the carriage.

Like they said, Mercy and Anna with their mothers had left their houses early enough to say their final goodbyes.

Bia hugged her mother, who was covered in a blanket to keep warm due to the cold that early morning.

Mrs. Wright shed tears she couldn't blink back. She couldn't believe her only daughter and child were leaving her, but it was all for her good, so she broke the hug, kissed her as much as she could, and set her off.

"Go in peace, dear. Be well." She kissed and patted her cheeks.

"Take care of yourself, mama, remember all I told you."

"The early morning carriage might leave if we do not hurry," Liam said, and they broke the last hug.

She bade Anna and Mercy with their mothers for the last time. Her last gaze settled on her mother, who stood at the door before she turned and followed Liam, who held the lamp that lightened their path.

Mr. Lamwel was the only coach driver who traveled out of town for the villagers, delivering messages and goods. So, they had informed him early enough to make a space available for her.

They walked through the fields to the house of Mr. Lamwel, who lived near the major road that led out of the village. When they got there, he was already done packing his deliveries and was about to set off in his old carriage.

"God saved you, I was about to leave."

"Well, thank God you didn't," Bia said through her breath, given that they had walked faster than was normal not to miss him despite the cold. She gave him her bag, which he loaded atop the carriage as the last one.

"Aye! Time to go." He hit the carriage excitedly.

Mr. Lamwel's wife and two children stood at the door watching them, having said their goodbyes to their father.

"You should go in, miss." He told her while fixing and checking the luggage for the last time.

Finally, the time she dreaded the most about this travel arrived: saying her final goodbye to Liam and turning her back on this place she had known all her life.

His messy blonde hair appeared more golden in the night, being illuminated by the lamp he was holding, and his brown eyes held a deep sadness that he tried to mask. Even in the cold weather, he was in his loose shirt, trousers, and boots and appeared unperturbed by the cold.

"Thank you." She began. "For everything, I…"

"You don't have to say anything, it was my pleasure." Their eyes locked and the emotions swirled between them. She had to lick her lips that had gone dry. There was so much she wanted to say, but how much could she say that would be enough to describe what she felt?

She nodded at last. Then he hugged her, unexpectedly. She held him back and smiled as he snuggled into her neck.

Liam, she knew, was not much of a hugger, so this was surprising.

"Be good." He smoothed her back, held her hands, and then kissed her forehead.

"You should go." He opened the door for her. "And remember to write to us."

Bia managed a tiny smile at him and pecked his cheek hurriedly before she entered the carriage, leaving him starry-eyed. He was quick to recover as he closed the door and stepped away for them.

Mr. Lamwel got into his seat and paddled the reins of the horses while waving his hat at his children.

Bianca waved at Liam and watched through the back window until she could no longer see him as they sped out of the village in the old local carriage that squeaked.