Pearl stood there in a stunned and shocked silence. She was trapped in a dilemma, struck on a two way path and a choice was incredibly hard to make.
On one hand was her own freedom. She could take that option and run away from Mystic Falls and never look back. If she could trust Alan, and she had a feeling that he was telling the truth, he would actually let her go if she chose freedom.
But on the other hand was the town in which she had wanted to settle. Probably, she also had an inner desire to reclaim her town.
And more importantly, there was her daughter. If she refused Alan's terms, she would be barred from the city and most probably would be unable to see her.
She also had no idea if Anna would even survive the attempt to open the tomb. If she believed Alan, who claimed to be a seer, then the attempt was destined to fail, leading to both their deaths. Now that she was already out, she did not know if Anna's fate had already been sealed.
Then there was also the third option which she had considered briefly. An option which would have been the first instinct of the most vampire.
Try to kill Alan. Not now, but leave Mystic Falls for a time and then return at full strength. Yet, standing in front of him, she had an instinctive gut feeling that even at her full power, she would have no chance against him. She could feel the raw power radiating from him. And she also had no idea how much time she had to spare before Anna fell into danger.
He had shown strength even greater than a vampire, and yet he was still human.
The ease with which he handled the seal on the tomb made it obvious that he was also a powerful warlock. From what she could imagine, the third option in all scenarios was bound to end in failure.
"What do you choose, Pearl?" Alan questioned, his voice was carrying an edge. He was finally growing impatient and irritated.
"There is one last question that I want to ask," Pearl remarked, pulling herself out of her contemplative thoughts.
"Ask," Alan said, his eyes narrowing.
"What will my life be like if I choose to follow you?" she asked.
"You will have a life of dignity and respect," he answered. "More than what you and your daughter could have attained even if the two of you had survived on your own."
"Very well," Pearl sighed. "I accept your terms."
Pearl was uncertain about the choice she was making, but she had an instinctive feeling that this was the best option available to her.
At the back of her mind, she also thought that it would only be a matter of a few decades before Alan would grow old and die. To her, that was less time than she had already spent in the tomb. What she did not know was that Alan was not someone who would die so easily.
"You have made a great choice, Pearl," Alan remarked with a smile. "A choice for which you will be thankful for the rest of your life."
Pearl nodded, though the uncertainty on her face was not hidden. It was a very big claim and she did not believe it even for a moment.
Alan picked up a long wooden stick lying on the ground and started drawing symbols in the dirt. It took him a couple of minutes to complete the design. A complex pentagram inscribed inside a circle.
"Stand at the center," he said, gesturing with a tilt of his head.
Pearl nodded and followed the instruction. She stepped into the center of the symbol and stood there calmly, waiting for what was to come.
Alan pulled a knife from his jacket pocket and slit his wrist. Blood began to flow, dripping steadily onto the ground. The blood followed the grooves of the symbols he had drawn, quickly covering the lines of the entire design.
Alan closed his eyes and began mumbling an incantation. Unlike the chanting he had used to unseal the tomb, this spell was far more complex and lengthy.
As he continued, the atmosphere surrounding them began to shift. The air grew oppressive, loud winds started howling, and it felt as though a localized storm was about to break.
A hesitant expression appeared on Pearl's face as she observed the changing surroundings. She felt as if the forces of nature were trying to prevent Alan but he remained steadfast and unyielding.
Alan suddenly snapped his eyes open. He raised his bleeding hand and offered it to her.
"Drink," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Pearl took his hand and began to drink. The moment the first drop touched her tongue, a wave of ecstasy washed over her. The taste was otherworldly.
The first time she had tasted it, her desiccation had prevented her from truly experiencing its effects, but now, everything was vivid and obvious.
Not only was the flavor extraordinary, but the strength she gained from the blood was immense. It was unlike any human blood she had ever tasted. With each drop that passed through her throat, she craved more.
Then, it happened. She felt something settle deep within her, a bond, a pull.
As Alan had promised, it did not suppress her thoughts or dictate her actions. It simply ensured that she could never harm him and planted a seed of loyalty in her soul. She felt a wave of relief. At least she had not been turned into a mindless puppet.
She continued drinking despite the bond settling, but the hand was suddenly snatched away.
Alan pulled back, his breathing turning heavy and ragged. His face started to turn pale, and it looked as if he had begun to age prematurely. His physical frame seemed to shrink as his muscle mass withered.
Alan gasped for breath, suddenly collapsing toward the ground. He had weakened to a state where he could no longer stand.
"Alan!" Pearl cried out in pure shock. "What happened? Why have you become like this?"
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