Although the ceremony was in the evening but the preparations were all done. Ava hugged her tightly, not giving her a chance to place her bags.

'You finally made it, Charlotte!"


Charlotte patted her back for a length of time.

'You are totally changed. Perfect! This is the best solution for your fear of rejection. Now, I am sure that your beloved wouldn't even think about abandoning you."

'Who's talking about this nonsense?"


A pleasing young man emerged from the bedroom, wrapping his arm around Ava's shoulder protectively.

"Nothing, dear. Have a seat!"


They all sat down in the living room whose setting wasn't change a bit after all these years.

'She is Charlotte, my friend, whom I told you about. She was always so disheartened about her soulmate's reaction but gist of the problem is solved now."

Allen was in bewilderment, like he was struck by a weird revelation.

'She isn't that Charlotte you showed me. That girl was seriously damaged."

Uncle Tadd coughed and Ava pressed his arm to stop it. Charlotte just smiled on his comment and brought out an envelope from her bag.

'I came in hurry, so I couldn't but any gift. Please accept this little nothing from me."

Bank statement of Ava's account was enough to shut Allen's mouth. His mockery instantly converted into flattery after seeing six digit figure.

'I was asking Ava to invite you, after all you are her best friend. It's so sad that you came just in time and we lost a golden opportunity to know each other well."

Charlotte's lips curled up in a smirk. She had seen this change in the previous years quite frequently that now she was used to it. Ava's face was visibly red with embarrassment, so she talked to Aunt,

'Aunt, Is breakfast ready?

The food in plane was horrible, I am starving!"

…

Charlotte had attended weddings in the past but today was special. Her sister was embarking on a new journey. She couldn't care about the strong gazes and hurtful comments of her neighbors.

'Isn't that hideous fat pig? She has really dolled up in a blink."

'Now, visual bombs can become beauty Queens. Air outside the Kingdom is indeed magical."

Sitting among the guests, Charlotte was sweating, accusing herself of stealing Ava's spotlight. It was her day, she should be the center of attraction but 'No!" people found her more eligible for gossip.

News of her being filthy rich was out too. Charlotte was glaring at Allen as his fellows were hovering around her.

'I should have brought some cash to ward off these greedy dogs."

Charlotte was so furious that she hardly stopped herself from kicking Julian's ass who was not taking 'No" as an answer.

'I have heard that you are not mated yet."

'Yes!"

Charlotte replied with just one word, suppressing her flaring discomfort.

'I have heard that tonight is your birthday. See you after midnight!"

He winked and gestured a flying kiss, leaving her flabbergasted.

'I swear I will commit suicide if I will be fated to this douche bag."

Charlotte promise to her dear Goddess Sanguis, whose worship was the start of Ceremony.

After prayer, Ava came on stage with Uncle Tadd, who placed her hand in Allen's hand. It was a demonstration that Ava was his responsibility from now on. Her parents were looking forward for their happy union.

Ava was looking like a fairy in her simple white gown. The glow on her face was overpowering the shinning stars. She presented a bouquet of white roses as a sign that she stayed loyal to him before.

After that, they exchanged gem-stone necklaces and repeated the vows of life-long companion ship. Then the last ritual was the most intimate one: Ava and Allen shared their blood.

It's a well known saying that your beloved's blood is of the most pleasurable taste in the whole world. It's one drop is fulfilling as well as addictive too as it leaves you inebriate, craving for more.

In the end, everyone congratulated them as they seek blessings from the elders of the family. When Charlotte was having dinner, it was already 9:00 pm. As newly wedded couple excused themselves, she availed this chance and left to rest.

Her emotions were in mess, she spent next three hours pacing restlessly. She never imagined that her most desired day would come like this. Memory of her 60th birthday flashed across her mind.

'I am an adult dad, why don't I look like one?"

Amused by the huffing, Mr. Williams (Charlotte's dad) smiled while braiding her long hair.

'We age slower than the others, cutie pie. Trust me, adulthood sucks."

He tied ribbons at the end of her braid, tapping her shoulder that it's done.

'I want to live freely like girls in movies. They are way younger than me but I looked like a child in front of them. When will I be a beautiful lady like them?"

.

Now, she was standing before a large mirror, staring at her own reflection, a person who was a stranger for her.

'The day has come, Charlotte. Watch out!"

To avoid those douche bags, she jumped from the window and went to the graveyard. Thanks to Uncle Tadd, her father's grave was well attended as seasoned flowers were blooming beside it.

Charlotte placed a white rose that she saved from Ava's bouquet and sat down.

'Today is my birthday, Dad! I have everything money, business, looks but I am alone. I miss you, I never wanted to spend this day without you."

Clock struck 12:00 am during her profuse cries. She scented some boys from the Ceremony who followed her even there. It was assuring that none of those scents was calling her, which was a temporary relief.

She had to leave soon, otherwise these un-mated vampires will make her life difficult. Charlotte bid farewell to her Dad with a promise that she'll visit him in December.

She went straight to the registration office and updated her status as 'Adult", giving them a strand of her hair. This rule was just a century old but no one knew the reason behind this seemingly harmless order.

She came back to Ava's house and packed her bags to leave.

'You came this morning and now you are leaving. We have planned a birthday party for you."

Uncle Tadd was heartbroken of her sudden exit as she informed them about her two days stay before.

'That's lovely, Uncle. But I got a call from work. It's an emergency.".

Half-heartedly, Uncle see offed her with lots of blessings and a gift box that he specially prepared for her.

'This is my diary that I wrote for you, Charlotte. William wanted to tell you many things but life didn't give him a chance for it. It's important that you know about yourself. Stay safe!"

Charlotte decided to read this diary during flight but the mistake of checking her emails before, left her speechless. Her inbox was jammed with Daniel's emails, who was threatening her to board a plane to England in case she don't reply him in the next fifteen minutes.

It was their first fight just because of traitor Angie. She told him about her wedding trip as Charlotte lied to him about her cousin's vacations.

An hour long video call ended with Ava's wedding pictures as he was not settling on anything less than this.

'Men! Ughh!"

Tired by this labor, Charlotte slept through out her flight, skipping meals too.

Back in the dorm, she was quite refreshed as Enzo sent the first batch with in two days.

It was the lunch time when she decided to treat herself with an expensive meal. After all, you don't turn 100 years old every day!

Charlotte took her bag and ordered a cab online to her favorite restaurant. While walking towards the main gate of the hostel, she was quite happy, humming a song too but a familiar face forced her to stop…