Carol's Buick trembled stronger, and then the motor suddenly stopped. Vanilla spread her eyelids. Carol had just parked the car somewhere too dark to see anything outside the windows, except for yellow grass being illuminated by the front lights.
"Vanilla, we have arrived. Are you awake?" Carol looked back at her seat.
"Y-yes" Vanilla rubbed her eyes and yawned deep. How long did she sleep? It was 30 minutes by car to reach the small farm at the southern outsides of Merry Oaths where the King's resided.
She didn't bother waking up Rowie. She just held him like a heavy teddy bear in her arms. Carol got out of the car, and Vanilla did too, dragging her brown suitcase out before closing the door.
The wind howled and hit Vanilla's white face with freezing wails. Even if she was wearing a full set of wool stockings, a coat, mittens, a scarf, and a hat, the cold temps of that black night penetrated through her clothing and made her body feel oddly fresh.
