“Do you wish to wait until we are away from this place, or would you rather I turned you now?” he asked. He was open to either. If she wished to have the chance to say goodbye to her family, he could turn her now, and there was little they could do to stop her. She could also compel them to be okay with it.
--
Zoe thought about her siblings and her relationship with them. She wasn’t particularly close with either one, her father having favored them both, including her sister over her despite not wanting any girls for anything other than to continue the family’s bloodline. Her brother would be the one to maintain the family name.
“Whichever is faster to leave. I have nothing of great importance here that I am leaving behind. I am sure I can return one day to check up on things but right now…” she shook her head, unable to find the words. “If I’m a hindrance as a human to our escape, then now is acceptable. If you think we can wait, I’ll wait until you feel you are ready.”
--
“I do not feel as though you could ever be a hindrance,” he said, smiling warmly at her. He offered her his arm. “But there is a way that I can speed up our departure. Do you trust me?” he asked. He knew it was a lot to ask, considering he was a stranger to her, but she trusted him enough to leave with him, so that had to count for something in his estimations.
--
“Strangely enough, I do Mr. Salvatore,” Zoe replied demurely as she wrapped her hand around his offered arm. She eyed him speculatively, wondering what he was speaking of but was more excited for the new adventure that was before her. Nodding to him, she gestured for him to continue, “Lead the way kind sir.”
--
Gently he pulled her in closer to him and then started to move in a blur of speed. Soon they were out the outskirts of the town and he stopped. "Say one last goodbye to this place, for I believe it will be a long time before you lay eyes on it again," he said.