Running from the light.
That's what vampires always do, don't they?
A small girl is running away desperately from the torches, pitchforks, shouting, and curses, panting. With the warm light creeping up on her back, she eventually escaped to an alley, finally getting the time to catch her breath.
"I should've been more careful-" Before she could finish her sentence, a mysterious hand pulled her into a corner.
"Who are you-"
"Be quiet."
Said the little girl wearing a dress that nobles would wear to a party.
"They're coming. You stay here and don't come out, got it?" She handed her a bag of dried peaches before walking out of their hiding, leaving the escapee confused.
"Oh? Isn't this lady Aileas? What are you doing here?" One of the villagers said endearingly. Putting the pitchfork down.
As she looked around the crowd, she replied. "I was just catching some fresh air. Is this a festival of some sort?" Just how an innocent young lady would ask. The man's face turned serious as soon as he heard her reply. "No, my lady. We're hunting a vampire, and she happened to escape to this area. Have you seen a small girl with black hair and pointy ears running this way?"
The little lady looked up. Her? Really? "Oh, that girl? I saw her running that way." Pointing to the opposite direction of the corner that the vampire girl is hiding.
As soon as the crowd heard her answer, they continued their hunt without hesitation after the man she was talking to thanked her for her cooperation.
"They've left..." Aileas's voice trailed off as she came back to the corner just in time to see her bag of dried peaches getting devoured by the very same girl that she saved.
"..." Her eye twitches as she crouches down. "Yummy?" "Ye-" the vampire girl froze before the young lady, prettified by the spine-chilling expression. "You're not supposed to talk while eating." Aileas spoke in a cold, stiff voice.
"I- i'm sorry! I was starving, and it smelled really good..." She replied after swallowing a mouthful down her throat in fear as she handed the bag back to the rightful owner.
Aileas pushed her hand back calmly. "You can have the whole bag. I'm not hungry."
"T-thank you."
"I'm Aileas, Aileas von Verstand. What about you?"
"I'm Gisela. Just Gisela."
Aileas reaches her hand out after she stands up. "Let's go, Gisela."
"Go where?"
"My house!" The young lady answered with excitement.
---
Back in the Verstand estate, chaos ensued. How could the young lady sneak out when there were several guards and servants assigned to watch and protect her at the party? The question is as old as the young lady herself.
"Sir Cedric! We've found the young lady!" Arlen, the personal assistant of Cedric himself, called out along the hallway.
Cedric von Verstand, the current head of the house of Verstand and the father of Aileas. He walked up to the servant before letting out a sigh. "That bravery of yours is working wonders right now, Valentia." He thought.
"Thank you, Arlen. Tell everyone to rest and ease up on the work tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." As Arlen leaves, the source of the trouble, who was hiding behind him, is left with no cover that she can take.
Cedric crouched down to talk to the little troublemaker. "Did you have fun?"
Aileas nodded. looking down with guilt. "The party was boring, and I heard that there's a commotion going on in the village. So I went to look".
"Didn't I tell you to bring someone with you when you want to sneak out?"
"Then that wouldn't count as sneaking out... And I don't like it when someone is on my tail."
Cedric took a deep breath in before slowly letting it out. "And who's this?"
"A friend." Aileas then softly tapped at Gisela as if to signal something.
"I'm Gisela. Pleased to make your acquaintance." "Was that right?" She whispered to the young lady.
Cedric couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Gisela, you don't need to be so formal with me, I don't mind." "Where did you two meet?"
"At the village. She had nowhere to go, so is it okay if she stays with us?" Aileas asks eagerly.
"What if I say no?"
"I'll throw a tantrum." The young lady answered with a serious face. She wouldn't take no as an answer.
"Fine. I'll ask someone to arrange a room for her." Cedric reluctantly agreed.
"It's fine, Father, she'll be staying in my room."
As they walked from the hallway to their room, Gisela couldn't contain her curiosity. "Is it that bad when you throw a tantrum?"
"Very much." Aileas replied with a red cheek. "But I only do it if I really need to, so don't get me wrong, I won't throw one just because of something trivial."
"Do you do it often?" Gisela shoots another question.
"No, the last time was 5 years ago." The young lady's face got redder.
"C-can we talk about something else?"
Gisela smiled after seeing her reaction. "Do you like peaches?"
"Yes. What about you?"
Gisela's smile opened wider as she answered with excitement. "Me too!"