Fights were not exactly uncommon on the Dabeltorn household. It was normal for a parent and their child to disagree on things, to fight and then find a middle ground where they could both stand on. It happened all the time, especially when the parent in question was Marcus Dabeltorn and the child was Lizzy Dabeltorn. Their ideas clashed very often, considering that Lizzy was one prone to trouble, but they always found a way to resolve things.

This time, however, the conflict didn’t get solved…

Marcus didn’t leave for his trip right away, he still had stuff to prepare, giving Lizzy the chance to change his mind about the whole “being trapped in her own home” situation. She went to his study the following morning after getting herself ready for the day (before she could even take her breakfast) and knocked the door instead of barging in. It was better to have a good start rather than being rude and somewhat antagonistic.

“Enter,” she could hear from the other side of the door.

Lizzy opened the door.

Marcus’ study was what one could expect. He had a big dark wooden desk in the far side of the room, where he was working, in front of a window that let you see the sun rise, surrounded by shelves with diverse books that Lizzy had never read. At the end of the day, it wasn’t a very big study. Marcus spend most of his day on this room, if you needed to find him chances were that he was there.

“Oh, Lizzy. Is something wrong?” asked Marcus with worry. He was wearing a pair of round glasses that he needed to use to be able to read the documents in front of him. Lizzy was more used to see him with them than without them those days. He had also shed his jacket, leaving it on the back of the chair instead.

“No, it’s nothing. What are you doing?” said Lizzy in order to form small talk before delivering her request.

“Just working on some documents related to the import of iron for the company.”

“Is that related to your trip?”

“No, not really,” he said. “But you are not here to ask about my day so far, are you?”

Lizzy sighed. Ever so perceptive, eh? “Is there really nothing I could do to convince you to let me out while you are gone?”

“We already talked about this, you need to stay where it’s safe while I am gone.”

“Yeah, as if you would do anything if a vampire were to attack me…” she mumbled.

“Excuse me?!” He sounded so offended.

Noticing that she had been loud enough to be heard, she flinched. She hadn’t meant to say that, she had always meant to keep it as an inside thought, but now she had to deal with it. “You heard me! You never do anything to protect the village, not anymore. What difference does it make if you are not here?”

Marcus sat in silence stupefied. He then took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes in frustration, and sighed. He then look up again at her with a sad look. “Lizzy, I understand that you are not happy with this, but you need to trust me.”

“Trust you? Why don’t you trust me instead?”

“I do trust you, but not with this. I don’t want you to get into trouble while I am gone, or that trouble finds you while I’m not here.”

“And how I am supposed to avoid trouble if it comes here? What am I supposed to do if a vampire comes to take revenge?”

“The mansion is full of crucifixes, and if that isn’t enough, there is a safe room that has been blessed in the third floor — vampires won’t be able to enter unless they are invited in. You can stay there until morning comes if they somehow get in. It’s spacious enough for the staff to stay there too.”

“Is there really nothing that will make you change your mind?” she finally asked.

“No. I have no idea when I’ll be back, so it’s better to be prepared.”

“And what if something happens and you never come back? Do you even have to go at all?” Her initial anger turned into something sadder. Truth was she didn’t want her father to go away, especially since he himself didn’t know when he was going to return.

Marcus looked unsure. “I really need to do this trip, and if something were to happen… I guess it would be best for you to stay with your mother’s family…”

“And stay with Aunt Muriel? Hell no!” Lizzy didn’t like her aunt. She had only see her a couple of times, but she was far too strict with how ‘a proper young lady’ should be like. No wonder her mom decided to stay with Marcus instead of leaving with her family to the capital!

“I have to agree with you, she is not the best person to be around with…”

“So that’s it? You leave and I get treated like a child?”

“Elizabeth Dabeltorn, you are forbidden to go outside while I am gone, and that’s final.”

“So I’m going to be grounded? Wow, great! Thanks, dad!” she said sarcastically. “I guess I’m going to enjoy my last days of freedom while they last!”

“Lizzy–!”

She didn’t hear what else her father had to say, as she turned around and closed the door with force. She decided to do what she had said and inform Jimmy about the situation. She found him cleaning the house. He didn’t noticed her at first, making him jump when she talked.

“You won’t believe what happened!” she said without any greeting.

“Ah! D–Don’t do that!” he screamed.

“Why? Thought I was a vampire?” she teased.

“N–No, I thought that you were some bandit!”

“Yeah, yeah…” She of course, didn’t believe him. There were no bandits in Riverbel — and if there were, they would become an easy meal for the vampires. That was what happened when to those who couldn’t afford to live in the village, where it was relatively safe.

“So, what happened anyways?”

“Oh, yes! My dad is going to travel for a trip and he won’t let go outside until he comes back!”

“What?! That sounds too extreme!”

“I know! But he is as stubborn as a mule!”

“Not as stubborn as you!” he laughed. “You’ll figure something out.”

“I hope so…”

“When does he leave?”

“I think he is going to leave in about two days.”

“Two days?! Then I guess we have no time to lose!”