Alan, followed by Pearl, arrived at the entrance of the tomb. While Alan stepped out into the opening of the tomb without any problem, Pearl struck an invisible wall. She was unable to cross the transparent barrier. It was the seal.
"What is happening?" Pearl questioned with a frown on her face, a hint of anxiety mixed into it, as she continued trying pushing against the barrier. "Why can't I get out? What is this?"
"Oh," Alan replied, turning back to face her. "I unsealed the entrance to only allow humans to come and go as they please."
"While vampires may only enter inside the tomb, but they cannot exit," he added.
An expression of realization formed on Pearl's face which was quickly replaced by a cold calmness.
"And I assume," she said, "that this is where you will tell me the terms of my freedom. You will tell me what you want in return. And if I do not agree, you will threaten me to leave me here to desiccate once again."
"Not really," Alan shrugged. "While I do not deny that I have some motives of my own and need something from you, what you stated was not my intention at all."
He slightly tilted his head and looked toward the stone as he mumbled a short spell.
"Come out," he said.
With hesitant steps, Pearl moved her leg. The moment she crossed where the barrier should have been, she almost jumped out of the tomb, a happy and excited expression plastered on her face.
"I am finally free," she whispered to herself.
"Yes, you are," Alan interjected from the sidelines.
"Thanks to you," she responded.
"Now," Pearl continued, regaining her composure, "I would like to know what you expect in return for the freedom you have granted me."
"While I do not claim to be a lady of high principles or great morality, I am a lady who is grateful. If what you ask is within my capabilities, I will agree to it."
Alan merely smiled at this.
"Pearl," he said, the smirk plastered on his face. "While I am new to this world of vampirism, I know you do not truly mean that."
Pearl's expression flashed with brief surprise.
"If not for your weakened state and your uncertainty about whether you could outrun me, you would have already attempted to escape."
Pearl opened her mouth to protest, but Alan cut her off with a raised hand.
"Relax," he said. "I do not take any offence. Whatever you thought, you thought for your survival. I do not blame you for it. It is nothing but natural instinct."
"But do not worry," he continued. "I am not going to force you to do anything that you do not want."
"Just give me a moment. I will reseal this entrance and then I will come back to you."
Pearl, gobsmacked by his bluntness, could only nod silently. There was no refuting or denying his words. He was speaking the truth.
Alan turned back to the entrance and started mumbling his spell. After a few moments, the sound of grinding stone echoed through the woods, and the entrance was once again closed shut.
"It is done," he said, looking toward Pearl. "Now, we can talk."
"Pearl," he said. "Tell me, now that you have been freed, what do you want from your life? What do you want to do in your future life?"
"How does that matter?" she questioned with raised eyebrows.
"Answer the question first," he insisted.
Pearl took a deep breath and remained silent for a few moments, as if framing her answer.
"I am not really sure," she said. "When I was sealed in the tomb, I spent days craving blood, in pain and suffering, as I slowly desiccated into that rotten corpse I had become."
"At that time, I made a promise to myself that a day would come when I would get out of that tomb and have my revenge. I would slaughter all the descendants of the founding families."
"But now…" she sighed deeply. I do not know. Revenge? I do not feel so vengeful."
"I had a daughter," she said. "I do not even know if she is alive. If she is, maybe I could find her. Maybe build a home for myself. Rebuild my apothecary. Lead a peaceful life. A normal life."
"A normal and peaceful life?" Alan chuckled. "Those are big dreams for a vampire."
Pearl, too, chuckled in response. "Indeed."
"But I could provide you with something resembling a normal and peaceful life," he said. "I have inherited a large mansion, a myriad of businesses, and a vast number of estates."
"And to be honest, it is practically impossible for me to manage everything alone," he added. "I need a very capable assistant or a steward to manage all these things. And given all the things I am going to get involved in, a human would not bode well for me."
Pearl raised her eyebrow in response.
"This is bizarre," she said. "Completely bizarre."
"You unseal an ancient tomb to awaken a desiccated vampire, a specific vampire, me, just so you can ask her to become your business manager?"
"This indeed sounds very bizarre," she repeated. "How did you even know about me? And even if I accept all this oddity, why would you choose me?"
"Does all this really matter?" Alan asked. "You should celebrate the fact that you are free, and then you should consider my options."
"Knowing the answer would give me peace of mind," she replied. "But before I consider your offer, do you mind telling me what would happen if I reject it?"
Alan simply shrugged. "I will answer your questions if you agree to my offer."
"And if you do not agree," he said, "I will not do anything. I will let you go."
"But," he added, his voice turning chilly and extremely cold, "this would be the last time you ever set foot in Mystic Falls."
"Because if you ever even enter this town, I will kill you," he finished, his voice still icy almost making Pearl flinch.
"And oh!" he added before she could say anything. "Your daughter, Anna, she is still alive."
Pearl's breath hitched, and Alan continued.
"And if I am correct," he said. "She will be coming to Mystic Falls in a few days, or she is perhaps already in town trying to find a way to unseal her mother from the tomb."
"But," he continued. "She will only fail. Because if you reject my offer, you cannot remain in Mystic Falls."
Pearl's eyes had widened in surprise. She was in a trance, not knowing what to think or how to respond.
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