Chapter Fourteen: Heart's Greatest Desire

Aiden. Lorraine, and Bates realized that their questions would remain unanswered for the time being. Therefore, Lorraine decided to go home, after asking Bate to help her find more about The Vancsura family. She tried to get more information about Cedric, but Bates seemed reluctant to share anything about the man with her. He, however, promised to tell her more later. Lorraine could have been wrong, but she felt like he didn’t want to talk about it in front of Aiden. “I might be wrong though.” She told herself, as she sat in the passenger seat of Aiden’s car, who had insisted on driving her back home.

Once Aiden pulled over in the driveway of her house, she exited the car, needing some time for herself. He exited the car after her, “Lorraine, wait.” She gave a small smile then turned to him, “I want to talk to you.”

She bit her lower lip, then her gaze caught his, “Can we do this tomorrow? I mean…” She struggled to find the words to explain to him how she felt, “I just need to process everything.”

Aiden gave her a sad look, “I understand, but I just want you to know that whatever I feel for you is genuine, Lorraine. It has nothing to do with what you are or what I am.” She didn’t really want to discuss whatever he felt for her at that moment. So, she simply nodded then walked away, leaving Aiden to watch after her. He wondered what to do or what to say. But the most important thing he wanted to know was how to rid himself of the feelings gripping his heart towards her.

Inside her house, Lorraine let out a tired breath. She wasn’t sure what was going on any longer, but she knew that whatever it was, it was only starting. And she found that thought terrifying. She wasn’t sure if she could talk to her mother about that, maybe try and know if the name Vancsura would ring any bells in her mind. *“This feels like a damn movie. A bad one at that.”*

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“This is more mess than we can handle, Aiden.” Bates said once Aiden entered the house. “You coming here was a mistake, you led us both to this deranged town, to do what? Fight Cedric?”

“When I came here, there was no news of The Vancsura witch being here. I came much earlier than that!” Aiden defended angrily.

“They pray tell, why did you come here? Because your reasons have been vague from the start, and the only reason I followed you is because I was worried about you. And don’t think for a moment that I bought that shit about needing a change of scenery!”

Aiden let out a sigh and threw himself on an armchair. He knew he couldn’t hide it anymore, not with everything that was going on. “Do you remember my visit to Williamsburg?” When Bates nodded his head, Aiden continued. “I met a witch there, and she told me that Secret Valley hides my heart's greatest desires. And before you say anything, she’s a strong witch, and her premonitions usually come true.”

Bates shook his head and with knitted eyebrows, he asked, “Your heart’s greatest desires? What are you even talking about? Is this about Lorraine? Because whether she’s a Vancsura or a human this relationship wouldn’t work out.”

Aiden shook his head, “I thought…” He paused, then corrected himself, “I think it’s about Mark.” Bates’ eyes widened and his anger was showing on his face, “

“Mark?” Bates asked with a clenched jaw. “Mark is here?” He then paused for a second, “Are you sure it was Mark they meant?” Bates asked with a repriminding look on his face. He sat down and crossed his legs over each other. He was staring at the glass of whiskey in his hand, swirling the drink inside slowly. “Are you sure this is your greatest desire?”

The question was met with silence. Aiden had been so sure when he came to the town that it was all about Mark, but at that moment he was having doubts. Being in secret Valley for a year and not seeing a glimpse of Mark only increased his doubts. He then met Lorraine. *“Could it be that fate led me here for her?”*

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Sheriff Fisher was sitting on his desk with a grim look over his face with the mayor on the chair opposite him. The sheriff glanced at the door of his office, making sure it was closed and locked. “Mayor Huxley, I am sure this isn’t a social visit.”

The mayor clenched his jaw, opposing the relaxed posture he took while sitting. “Fisher, I believe you know this isn’t the time for one.”

The sheriff let out a sigh, “We are doing everything we can. Soon we will have the Jonas’ murderer”

The mayor scoffed, lit a cigarette, then gave the sheriff a condescending look, “Do you really think I left the comfort of my own office, came here, because of that? There’s a headless body in our morgue, Fisher. There are three teenagers as witnesses.” He then huffed the smoke out and moved closer so his elbows were leaning on the desk, and he was face to face with the sheriff, “Vampires are coming back to the town, you remember the last time they did what happened, right?” He then sat back and arched an eyebrow, “I’m sure you don’t want that Fisher.”

The threat was clear in his tone, Harold Fisher was no stranger to Huxley’s ways. He knew Benjamin Huxley would bring down and tear apart anyone who would dare and put his position at risk. Fisher gritted his teeth, “The McMillian girl doesn’t remember anything. And the two kids who found her didn’t see anything. No one is going to know, Benjamin.”

“But it won’t be for long!” The mayor yelled and jolted out of his chair. He breathed in, his nose flaring, then in a whisper yell he said, “There are so many things at stake here, my family included. So, you better figure it out.” The sheriff nodded stiffly, and with that the mayor left.

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Suzan arrived at her house, pretty late into the night. She was surprised to find Lorraine standing in the kitchen making a cup of tea. She threw her bag on one of the chairs in her living room and headed to the kitchen. With a chastised tone she asked, “What are you doing up so late? It’s past midnight”

Lorraine poured the boiling water into the cup, “I couldn’t sleep”

“What’s keeping you up?” Suzan asked, walking around the kitchen island she took the cup from her daughter’s hand and took a sip. She scrunched her nose, “Why is it always Chamomile with you?” She handed her the cup again.

“It’s calming.” Suzan tilted her head, giving Lorraine a knowing look. She knew Lorraine would drink chamomile when something was bothering her, or when she was anxious about something. Lorraine had always been the suffer-in-silence kind of girl; she never really told anyone how she felt or what troubled her. Lorraine took a sip of her tea, and subtly asked, “Mom, have you ever heard of a family called the Vancsura?”