Jacquelyn took Layla's hand, leading both of them outside the castle gate. They hadn't walked far when Jacquelyn abruptly paused.
"Why did we stop?" Little Layla, excited to meet her father, asked, staring curiously at Jacquelyn.
Jacquelyn pressed her lips, looking at the castle gate, then at the path that led to the town. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to leave without Ballister or Griselda returning home. It wasn't because she had done something wrong, but she now knew about the higher powers that existed in her world. If it wasn't a vampire, it could be a witch, a wanderer, or worse, a lost soul that might come for her.
"Um... I-I..." Jacquelyn stared at the little girl blankly. It wouldn't do any good to scare her with such stories. Children were meant to feel safe with adults beside them.
