Elena has read hundereds of novels but none of them prepared her for today.
Today was the day her life would change, the day when all her fantasies would either come alive or turn into ghoulish nightmares.

Today she was supposed to marry the count, and though he seemed to be a good man with a kind heart and helping nature but despite all tries, she never got the opportunity to meet him personally. Through years they communicated through letters and post messages but there was no day when he expressed the desire to meet her in person, which made Tella question the probity of their marriage. Through the letters the count had mentioned numerous times,how much he liked her, how much he cared for her but he never truly had the nerve to meet her in person.

Thinking it was just her mind playing tricks with her, she accepted his proposal to marry him. Also, marrying him would save her debt ridden family and would secure a future for her siblings who along with Elena were left by their father when she was 16. It was like, one day her father had a huge dinner party and the other day he was gone like the wind.
Since then she has worked every day and night to feed the hungry bellies of her siblings and her mother who got lost in a dark state since her father left.

“Come out of the room Elena, the priest is here” Her brother called form outside the room. “Coming!” Elena replied with vigour of a 5 year old recieving candies from her parents.

Though, she was excited for her marriage, there was a tiny bit of her that wished she could have achieved her dream of working in the women's organisation and express her views freely in front of the town, rather than marrying a person she never met.
But deep down she knew there was no backing up now, she had to marry the count for her own good and for her siblings.

Finally, she checked her reflection one more time in the mirror adjusting her blond curls, and checking her white dress that complimented her olive skin, she trotted down the stairs.

But as she came down, she was welcomed with the sight of a familiar man, her father.

“What are you doing here?” asked Elena
“Im here to tell you something that you should protect with your life” her father replied. Her father had grown old but still had the handsome face her mother fell in love with.
“What are you talking about, there's no way I'm am going to believe you after what you've inflicted upon my family”
Elena said.Her father's gaze softened as he said ,
“Sweet pie, listen to me, there's a family secret that can save your life or even this world but in the wrong hands it may even destroy the world and everything you love along with it.”
“I can't...”
Elena wanted to say I can't trust a person who just got plummeted into our lives after leaving us wretched for years but stopped as soon as she heard footsteps coming form the other room. The count...