The evening air was cool as Damon and Victoria walked towards his car, their steps echoing softly against the pavement. Despite the late hour, the streets were bathed in the gentle glow of streetlights, casting long shadows across the sidewalk.
"I really did enjoy my time with you," Damon remarked, his voice sincere as he glanced sideways at Victoria.
Victoria smiled in response, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "Same here. Maybe we can do it again sometime?" she suggested, a hint of anticipation in her voice.
Damon nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, that would be nice," he agreed as they reached his car.
As they settled into the car, Damon started the engine and began the short drive back to Victoria's parents' house. The journey was filled with comfortable silence, punctuated only by the soft hum of the car's engine and the occasional passing streetlight.
Upon arrival, Victoria's parents, George and Samantha, were waiting by the door, their expressions eager as they greeted Damon.
"Sorry to keep your daughter waiting, Mr. Fitzgerald," Damon apologise politely as he stepped out of the car.
George waved off his apology with a smile. "Nonsense, Damon. You can take her out anytime," he replied, his tone friendly but tinged with a hint of eagerness.
Samantha, too, chimed in, her voice laced with enthusiasm. "Who would like to come inside for some drinks, maybe?" she offered a hopeful look in her eyes as she glanced between Damon and George.
Damon hesitated for a moment, considering the invitation. "No, it's alright. I have to get back home," he declined politely, his gaze shifting towards the darkness beyond the Fitzgeralds' doorstep.
"Okay, Alpha. You are welcome here anytime," George replied, his tone deferential as he extended the invitation.
Vera, who was inside the house doing chores at night but could hear them talking outside through the open window, rolled her eyes to the embarrassing display her parents were doing.
As Damon bid farewell to Victoria's parents and prepared to leave, Victoria lingered by his side, a mixture of disappointment and anticipation swirling in her chest. Damon turned to leave, his gaze caught Vera's from the open window. Their eyes met for a brief moment, a silent exchange passing between them amidst the bustling energy of the night.
Vera stood by the window, her features illuminated by the soft glow of the outside light. She watched as Damon made his way to his car, his movements graceful and confident in the dim light.
Once Damon's car had disappeared from view, Victoria turned towards the house, her mind buzzing with thoughts of the evening. Despite her parents' overzealous attempts to impress Damon, she couldn't shake the feeling of excitement that lingered in the air.
Samantha's joy was palpable as she beamed at Victoria, her excitement bubbling over in a delighted squeal.
"Victoria, my dear, I'm so thrilled for you!" Samantha exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with maternal pride. "You and Damon make such a lovely couple."
Victoria grinned, basking in her mother's praise. "Thanks, Mom. It was really great," she replied, her voice filled with satisfaction.
As they entered the house, Samantha wasted no time in instructing Vera to fetch Victoria's dinner. "Vera, dear, bring your sister's dinner now," she called out, her attention already fully focused on the conversation unfolding between Victoria and her father.
Meanwhile, Victoria and her parents delved into a lively discussion about the highlights of her date. Samantha hung on every word, her eagerness evident as she listened intently to Victoria's recounting of the evening's events.
Amidst the chatter, Vera quietly entered the living room, her presence almost unnoticed amidst the excitement surrounding Victoria's date. "I am finished with the chores," she announced softly, her voice barely audible above the animated conversation. "If there's nothing else, I would like to go back to my room to read."
Samantha glanced briefly at Vera, her attention fleeting before returning to Victoria. "Run along, Vera, no one cares," Victoria interjected, a smirk playing on her lips as she dismissed her sister with a wave of her hand.
Vera's heart sank at her sister's words, the familiar sting of rejection washing over her once again. With a heavy sigh, she lowered her gaze, her spirit dampened by the callousness of Victoria's remark. Without another word, she turned and retreated to her room, seeking solace in the refuge of her own thoughts.
Alone in her room, Vera sank onto her bed, her mind consumed by a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't shake the feeling of being invisible. a mere afterthought in her own family's eyes. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried, she could never measure up to Victoria's standards or earn her parents' approval.
As she stared blankly at the pages of her book, Vera couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be the one at the center of attention to experience the same warmth and affection that Victoria effortlessly commanded. But deep down, she knew that such dreams were nothing more than wishful thinking…..A fleeting fantasy in a world that seemed determined to overlook her at every turn.
With a determined sigh, Vera pushed aside her doubts and distractions, returning her focus to the comforting embrace of her book. For now, at least, it was her solace, a sanctuary from the harsh realities of the world outside her door.
The Spelman mansion stood as the family's legacy, majestically bright against the moonlit night. As Damon arrived at the gates, he couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the ancestral home that had been passed down through generations.
The wrought iron gates, adorned with a meticulously crafted moon crescent design, swung open with a haunting creak as Damon's car approached. The eerie ambiance of the mansion was further accentuated by the wisps of mist that clung to the air, casting an otherworldly glow over the sprawling estate.
Built in the 1700s, the mansion bore the unmistakable mark of centuries past, its architecture a reflection of a bygone era.
As Damon made his way up the winding driveway, the mansion was larger and more imposing with each walk.The sprawling grounds were meticulously manicured, with statues of past Spelman family of notable personalities like Damon's parents, dotting the landscape, their silent sentinels guarding the secrets of the Spelman family.
At the eastern side of the mansion stood the family crypt. It was just like a solemn reminder of the passage of time and the generations of Spelmans who had come before. The crypt exuded an aura of quiet reverence, its weathered stones bearing witness to the lives and legacies of those who had gone before.
Inside the mansion, the mood was cool and still. Clearly different from what was out there. Now, he was here. Things are going to change.