At that moment, the question hit Lilah again,
'Do you want to live?'
Lilah took two seconds to answer this time.
'I'm tired of living a life that has been defined by others.' That was her response. 'I just want to end it at this point.'
"What bullshit did you just spout from that fancy lip of yours?" Patrick asked, his face disgruntled, and Lilah tilted her head in the direction of her brother's face as if she could see it.
It was time. He could give up the act now and meet her expectations.
Though she had wished that, for a little longer, they would still be able to act protective over her.
In the novel, the emissary did not choose a particular girl as he stated he wanted to take one of her father's daughters.
At that time, Lilah was someone who could never catch the eye of the emissary, but this time, he had specifically chosen her, and Lilah did not understand why.
Maybe it was because of the commotion surrounding her, but it looked like he wanted her in particular, as if it had been specifically ordered.
Well, it didn't matter. The result was the same. She would still end up in the vampire's clutches by nightfall and become food for them before midnight.
She pursed her lips. It was regrettable but she had prepared herself.
"It seems I didn't understand your words." Harry spoke up, trying to act calm as his eyes glazed over the emissary. "Did you just say what I think you said? You want us to hand our sister over to you?"
"Oh, you definitely understood and heard me right." The emissary said. "My Lord wants that woman. If it's a legal document you want to sign so it can be considered an arranged marriage," he took out the file that he had kept in his coat and showed it to them with a smile. "Then I have that covered already. All she has to do is sign and we will be on our way."
He made it sound like Lilah was going on some fun trip, on a vacation she would absolutely love when it was the opposite.
Everyone knew of the vampires and their infamous reputation for thirsting for human blood. Many were scared to go near them, but it was true that the vampires were noble by birthright and owned vast businesses.
So, it was extremely beneficial to go into business with them since one could never get a loss from dealing with the vampires.
That was why some people wouldn't mind selling off their daughters just to get some ties with the vampires and gain the opportunity to grow their family and reputation.
This was what was in vogue but it was said that the vampires were extremely picky about who they wanted as a partner. And even with their insatiable thirst for blood, they only picked the finest from the lineage that they were sure would give them satisfaction.
So, on this day, they had set their eyes on this family's lineage.
"Tch, I don't know who you think you are or where you think you are right now but if you think you can take my sister away like some product, then you're awfully mistaking." Patrick rudely exclaimed and this got the emissary slightly furrowing his eyebrows as he felt displeased.
"So, are you declining the orders of my Lord?"
"As you said, it's your Lord, not ours. We have no obligation to listen."
The vampire's gaze suddenly turned dark as his smile fell, and he glared at them.
"Even if that means your family, as well as all business affiliated, will burn to the ground?" He threatened and they flinched.
His threats held so much water that they felt like they would drown if they made even the slightest bit of mistake.
"What... What are you doing?" Dawn suddenly asked and they turned to her, her eyes unstable and filled with determination to get rid of Lilah. "Just give her up. It's not like she's of any use to us anyway."
"Lilah!" They called in shock, but she did not listen and continued.
"It's true. It's better than having everything taken from us. Just... Do what he says and give up sister Lilah." She had shed her fake colors and was showing her true colors now that she had gotten to the end of the rope.
There was no way she would let her bottleneck brothers reject this offer. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get rid of Lilah. She would not miss it for anything.
"Oh my, that one speaks some sense." The emissary said, his lips twisting up in a smile again but then that smile started feeling dangerous as he said. "But I would appreciate it if you don't rudely call the one my Lord has set his eyes on, useless."
Dane felt her entire body shiver. Just what was this?
Was this the feeling that vampires made others feel? It was crazy.
Lilah was confused. It was about time, right? They didn't need to drag the entire family down with their act. She was patiently waiting for them to hand her over so why... She clenched her fists... Why were they still giving her this false hope that things weren't as they were supposed to be?
Instead of waiting, she decided to just stop and do it herself.
"Brother," she called and Patrick looked down at her. "Please put me down."
Patrick wondered what she was on about but he placed her down regardless, only for her to walk up to the front, her steps light and uncertain as she didn't know where she was going.
When she felt she had stood in front of both her brothers, she clutched her soaked dress and allowed the emissary to look into her dull eyes.
"You're here to take me away?" She asked, her voice soft and serene like a nightingale on a full moon night.
"Yes, my lady." The emissary responded.
"Your Lord sent you?" She asked, once again and he responded in the same manner.
"Yes, my lady."
What could she ask next? It was obvious, right?
"If I go with you, will you leave my family alone?" She asked and this left her brothers dumbstruck and got Dawn smiling like an excited witch, thinking Lilah was an idiot as always.
"Lilah, you can't be serious." Harry said but Lilah shook her head, her head held high.
"That is certain, my lady."
"And if I don't want to," her clenched fists trembled ever so slightly. "...if I don't want to become a vampire's bride, what did you say you would do to my family?"
"That depends." The emissary said and glanced at them. "They might be let off according to my Lord's mood, but as for you," he brought his eyes back to her. "...there's no telling. And of course, they could also suffer for refusing to hand you over. So, it's left to fate."