Lucas had already got everything settled. He had spoken to father Connor to complete the ceremony of the dead so that they could be sent in peace which was what people of the living thought when in truth the soul was already departed.
Belle stood in front of the open graves where the caskets were laid down one after another. She wore a black dress with black shoes and black gloves. Her hair was completely tied into a ponytail unlike the rest of the women who were her relatives who had come here looking poshly in their black silken gown and their hair made as if they were attending a party after this.
She quietly looked at the open caskets while some of them whispered amongst themselves over how the unfortunate events took place. Her aunts, uncles, cousins, and many others who knew her parents.
Father Connor stood with a book in his hand, reading from it as he prayed, "...and we hope that the souls that had departed from here will take the peace they came. With loving memories, we hope that where ever they may today, they are happy and G.o.d bestows them with what is needed according to his will and word..."
Once Father Connor had prayed for her parents, the coffin was finally put down in the respective graves one after another. Belle held her hands in front of her as she looked at the men placing her mother's coffin down after her father.
The embalmer had covered her father's face that looked normal without making anyone know how he looked with his corrupted heart. His eyes and face fixed until the very last detail that made her forget and think that what she saw last night was only a terrible dream. Her mother, unfortunately, half of her face was covered through the netted veil to cover the damage that had happened.
She felt a lump form in her throat and she tried to put it down by gulping softly, taking in a deep breath to gather herself and not crumble down. She watched them until the end of time that was allowed and the mud was put down one after another until the surface turned flat with a headstone being placed in their loving memory.
"I am so sorry for what happened, Belle," her aunt Irene came to her who was her mother's elder sister with her husband Hector, "Hector and I were speaking and wondering if you should probably move into our house. It would make things much easier."
"Thank you," Belle's words made her aunt Irene smile until the young vampiress continued to say, "But I will continue to stay in Adams' residence. My parents might not be there anymore, but I have many fond memories with them there which I don't want to forget."
Uncle Hector spoke to her, "We understand that Belle but living all alone by yourself with no elder person to look after you. It is never safe," he shook his head with a smile.
"Hector is right. Living all alone in the mansion, G.o.d forbid something happens to you. Mabel would never forgive me," said Aunt Irene. The woman then placed her hand on Belle's shoulder, "Come here, dear," and she hugged the girl, "We know you are a strong girl," she chuckled, the remark coming out to be sarcastic.
"Your aunt and the rest of us spoke about it and we came to the conclusion it would be best for you to be taken in by one of us and who better than your mother's own sister to take the responsibility?" asked her uncle Hector.
Belle didn't want to go live with her aunt or her family. She knew why her aunt was trying to get her to her house and it was never for Belle's happiness but for her aunt's own profit. Though the Adams' mansion wasn't as big as what her aunt lived in, it was still a decent one with the many other lands they had which included the one they stood on. Now that they had their mansion back, people eyed it and the woman would get all of those once she took Belle in her care.
"I am very much thankful for everyone's worry and kindness but this is my decision to stay in the Adams' mansion," Belle was firm in her words and before her aunt could speak, she said, "Harm will come when it needs to. The last it came I had elders but there wasn't anything that could be done to prevent it and the outcome would be no less if there was any other in my parent's position," she spoke loud it so that the other family members would get the memo too where she would not need herself to be repeated, "I am thankful for everyone's concern but I would like to live in the home I grew up in."
"A young vampiress living alone in the mansion with no guardian and just servants. Do you know how badly people will talk about us for not looking after you?" spoke her aunt with knotted brows and her eyes looking at her intensely.
"You can live in another mansion, Belle," spoke another uncle of hers who was her father's younger brother, "Sell the house and use it as you please."
Belle pursed her lips hearing this, she said, "It might be a house for you and the others. Built of stones and mud but it holds more value in my eyes and I refuse to sell it. Until I am alive, the house shall not be touched and the owner shall not be replaced."
