Stuck with my Vampire Mate

21 - Ready to go

Our baggage was neatly arranged outside the mansion, waiting for our mode of transportation to arrive. I took a moment to say my goodbyes to Ebenezer, Elizabeth, and Marg. Each of them expressed their concern and well wishes as we prepared to leave. Elizabeth, in particular, was almost obsessively worried about me. 

Earlier this morning, she had made sure I had a substantial breakfast before we set out, her fussiness reflecting a care that bordered on maternal.

"You are so skinny," Elizabeth said with a note of exasperation in her voice. "How will you grow stronger if you peck like a pigeon?"

Her words, though tinged with irritation, carried a deep concern that I found oddly comforting. I could almost imagine my own mother nagging in a similar fashion, had she been around. However, on hearing Elizabeth's complaints about my eating routine, Adrian scoffed in disbelief.

"She eats more than the two of us." He exclaimed, waving a finger between him and Sid.

Before I could respond, Elizabeth, clearly unimpressed by Adrian's remark, gave him a sharp smack on the back of the head. 

Adrian winced, but managed a smirk, clearly unfazed. The playful exchange was a welcome distraction from the gravity of our departure. It reminded me that, despite the challenges ahead, I had people who cared deeply about me. 

Adrian, Sid, and Ryan accompanied me on the trip, though Helena was notably absent. A sleek BMW, model unknown but impressive nonetheless, was parked in front of us. Adrian and Sid were busy helping the driver load our luggage into the trunk while I searched around.

"Guys, what about Helena?" I asked, my confusion evident as I glanced between them.

"It's better if she doesn't show up." 

Yup, you guessed it right. It was 'Sid the Great'.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Sid's act of playing it cool despite being shitlessly nervous about meeting his ex after years.

"Shut up, Sid," Ryan interjected, with a touch of exasperation. "And Atarah, get inside. Helena will come on her own."

Ryan's tone brooked no argument, so I quickly complied. He took the front seat, leaving Adrian, Sid, and me to make ourselves comfortable in the back. As we left the mansion behind, we drove into the depths of a dark forest. The morning light filtering through the trees was a welcome relief; had it been evening, the shadowy creatures lurking in the darkness might have posed an actual threat. Despite being their master, I was still unsure how to control them. In fact, our mission was straightforward: find Ignacia. It felt like an elaborate game of hide-and-seek, except the stakes were far higher. 

Exhaustion from the previous days caught up with me, and I ended up sleeping through a significant portion of the journey as we made our way towards the human dimension. Each time I woke up, I found Adrian and Sid adjusting their maximum to make sure I had enough space to rest comfortably. My head was leaned snugly on one vampire's shoulder, and my legs were draped over the other. After several hours of napping, I awoke feeling more refreshed. 

As the car finally came to a halt, I followed the others out and was taken aback by our destination. Before me was an actual airport with people walking around with their luggage. The sight of the airport led to an immediate flurry of questions in my mind.

"Are we flying?" I asked, my voice tinged with surprise and confusion. Adrian nodded his head, smiling widely, and though I was happy to have my very first flight experience, I was worried. 

"But I don't have a passport. They are going to send us back."

Ryan shrugged his shoulders and produced a small book from his long black coat before handing it to me. As I flipped through the pages, I saw my own photo alongside personal details I had never shared with anyone. The realisation struck me with a mix of shock and curiosity—Ryan had somehow obtained a passport for me, and that too in such a short time.