15 years ago.....
"Dear think about it. It's a great opportunity. You should have said yes" says Isabella's mother. Isabella's mother looks rather young and beautiful. Her father looking young and handsome yells at his wife... "You have gone mad haven't you. Jasbella's just a child".
"Oh for heaven's sake, she is fifteen. She is a grown women now. And grown women need to get married. I was married at thirteen" said the mother.
"Oh Veronica, our parents were just people who had no modern mindset. We weren't given a choice" said the father.
"What is so wrong about this marriage? Isn't Mr. Michael .. Oh sorry Mayor Michael a, good man" said the mother.
"He is the same age as me for blinking hell. He has been married once and his wife mysteriously died. Poor Helen, she was just Jasabell's age when she died. She was your cousin don't you remember?" said the father.
"She died during childbirth. It was due to natural cause. The poor baby died with her. It's not his fault" said the mother.
"Stop it. I don't want to hear another word" said the father angrily.
"You always say this. You didn't even let me see my parents after our marriage. They don't even know Jasbella's existence. You know that your parents are all dead and Jasbella's only living grandparent is my mother Hilda" said the crying mother.
"I am sorry my dear" said the father in a calm voice.
"I regret that I couldn't stand up to my Father and let you meet your parents. But you know my father. He was a very proud man and was very disappointed when he got to know the dowry he was supposed to get from your father was not paid" said the father ashamed of himself.
"Look we shouldn't be like our parents. We should be loving and nurturing our child. She should have a good education and become the first Lady doctor of Tavern" said the father.
The mother storms off to the bedroom closing the door shut behind her.
At the Mundane mansion, Mayor Michael sitting at his dinner table drinking fine wine and smoking cigarettes looking rather anxious.
Mayor Michael calls out..."Tom, Thomas, where are you?... insolent fool".
An old butler runs and comes to the dining hall.
"You called for me sire?" Asked Mr. Thomas.
"Am I paying you to sleep all day or to work, old man" asks the Mayor.
"I'm sorry sire, I was giving instructions to the maid to clean the curtains on the corridors as it looked rather dusty" said Mr. Thomas.
"Off you go then" says the Mayor with an annoying gesture.
Mr. Thomas departs. Mayor Michael gets up and goes out and calls out the carriage driver.
"Hey you!!! take me to the barn next to the Tooders" said the mayor.
"Will do sire" said the carriage man.
Once he reached the barn he tells the carriage driver to park the carriage few feet away from the barn.
Mayor enters the barn. He sees a young girl standing near the feeding bowl.
"Sophia" the Mayor calls out.
"Oh my love" says the young girl and running towards the Mayor. She hugs him and kisses him.
"Oh my Sophia… I missed you so much" said the Mayor carrying her in his arms.
"Where is your father Mr. Tooder and your twin sister Maria" asked the Mayor.
"Oh they have gone to the market to buy cattle feed for the animals at the farm" said Sophia.
"I am very happy to see you my love. You are my true love and I will never leave you" said the Mayor.
"She jumps off from the Mayor's arm and in an anxious voice says to the Mayor "can I ask you something my love".
"Yes my love what is it?" enquired the Mayor.
"Did you propose Jasabell at your birthday party?" Asked Sophia.
"No my love I didnot. Who told you about such a thing? I only love you my dear. I would only marry you and you alone" said the Mayor.
"You will marry me?, my love?? When???" Asked Sophia with a shy voice.
"Now. I will marry you now. We will have many children and will be happy forever " said the Mayor.
Sophia chuckles and says... "You won't need to wait for the children. I am 2 months pregnant".
Surprised, devastated, putting on a fake smile the mayor said to Sophia…" that's wonderful news dear" and then hugs her.
He then says to Sophia... "Come to the old factory tomorrow at 12pm we will get married. Since you are pregnant, our parents won't agree unless we get married first. Until then don't say anything to anyone and keep the pregnancy a secret until the next morning".
A happy Sophia chuckles and hugs the Mayor.
The Mayor comes back to his mansion, he goes to his room and looks at the painting of a woman hanging on the wall and scoffs at her.
"You should have given up on the baby like I said Helen. You and your sister Annie were supposed to be the sacrifice to Lord Tavernodus. But you had to take your own life leaving the poor Annie to be the sacrifice alone. Now that I got a new sacrifice.. Sophia….one of the Tooder twins…. she is carrying a child? Atrocious!!
Only Jasabell is my true love and she alone will be the mistress of this mansion and the mother of my children. I have to call the village elders town meeting quickly" said the Mayor looking out of the window.
"If only you would have obeyed and be the sacrifice, dear Helen... Your cause of death wouldn't have been me.... Said the Mayor in a whispering voice smiling to himself.
End of Chapter 4