Graven reappeared inside his father''s study room, the old man was currently reading the newspaper.


    "Father!" he said.


    ??


    Sir Nichs looked at his son. "What''s wrong, son?" he asked. In the early days when Graven pulled this kind of stunt appearing and disappearing in front of him in the blink of an eye, he always had a fright but through the years he already got used to it. But under normal days, his son always uses the door... unless there''s an emergency going on.


    "Father you have to watch this!" he said. He waved his hand at the wall, and secondster, the massacre in the vige caused by the vampire bats yed like a movie in front of them.


    Sir Nichs watched the bloody scene in shock and horror. "I got it! How much time do we have?" he asked calmly.


    "Father, the bats may attack the town anytime. They might be already heading this way, better be safe than sorry," he said.


    Sir Nichs nodded his head. "Okay. I''ll gather everyone including the servants, we will hide in the basement," he said. The basement below the mansion was equipped with a food supply that canst up to one month and it also had bunk-style rooms that can amodate up to 50 people.


    "Okay, please do that, Father!" Graven said.


    Then Sir Nichs remembered Sarah and his grandchildren. "Son, how about Sarah and the kids?" he asked worriedly.


    "Don''t worry about them, Father. I will go there right now and bring them here!" he said.


    "Okay, son! Hurry up!" Sir Nichs said feeling worried about his grandchildren.


    A few secondster, Graven disappeared from the study room.


    He reappeared outside Reba''s room and knocked on the door. No one answered, she might be in Laura''s room.


    He went to Laura''s room and knocked on the door.


    Reba opened the door. "Graven..."


    "Girls, we have an emergency!" Graven said and entered the room. He looked at Laura briefly. He waved his hand to the wall, and the carnage in the vige yed like a movie.


    Laura gasped after seeing arge number of red-eye bats attacking people everywhere and there are so many of them. A few minutester, bodies drained of blood scattered inside the houses, on the ground, and everywhere. "What''s going on?" she asked Graven in a horrified voice.


    "Calm down... there is nothing to worry about. This mansion is equipped with a basement that has bunk amodation with a food supply that canst up to one month. Ladies... just go and find my father and hide with them in the basement, understand?"


    Thedies nodded their heads.


    Graven looked at Reba. "Guard them with your life!" hemanded.


    "Sure!" Reba replied calmly.


    Graven watched Laura''s face for a few seconds, his gaze spoke volumes. Then he disappeared from their sightpletely.


    Laura nced at Reba. "The bats can enter the house if they saw a hole, right?"


    "Yeah...which means all the holes in this mansion should be covered immediately!" Reba said. She looked at Laura. "Calm yourself and find Sir Nichs and hide with them in the basement! I will try to find all the holes in this mansion and see what can I do!" she ordered.


    "Okay!" Laura went to the closet, grabbed her backpack, dumped her book,b, toothbrush, toothpaste, pillow, some clothes, and underwear on it, she''s ready to go! She exited the room followed by Reba.


    ~


    Meanwhile...


    Graven can be seen exiting the carriage that he rented outside the gate of Sarah''s property. The guard opened the door quickly.


    "Where are Sarah and the kids?" he asked.


    "They''re inside the house, Sir!" the guard answered.


    Graven marched towards the entrance of the house and entered. He found Sarah in the living room with the children. The boy, Nichs was ying on the floor while baby Nikka was in her crib.


    "Sarah... I need to tell you something important," he said.


    "Sir Graven...what is it?" Sarah asked and went to his side.


    They walked away from the children.


    "A vige outside the town was attacked by vampire bats. These ferocious animals suck humans blood dry. The entire vige was annihted in just a few hours. I am afraid that anytime from now, the bats will find their way here in our town. My father''s mansion has a basement that is safe for hiding, it is equipped with a food supply that canst up to one month. Bring only the important things with you. A carriage was already waiting outside for you and the kids. Please...hurry up!" he said.


    "Oh, m...my God! Okay, I w...will gather the children!" Sarah said in a trembling voice.


    "Go now, I will inform the servants so that they can go with us, no one must be left behind including the guard," Graven said and turned around going to the kitchen and the backyard.


    One hourter.


    Sarah and her children, the servants, and the guard were already boarding the two carriages waiting outside.


    The horse-drawn carriages were now moving towards the main road heading to Sir Nichs''s mansion, as the four big bells strategically ced in the different part of the town continue ringing, echoing its important message, alerting the people of the iing disaster.


    ~


    Meanwhile, inside Sir Nichs''s mansion.


    The servants were busy finding holes in and out of the house to make sure that no bats can enter the mansion.


    Two hourster.


    Everyone gathered in the living room.


    Sir Nichs addressed them. "Let''s go now inside the basement!" he said. He looked at Cooper.


    "Don''t worry, Father, I''ll wait for them. The moment they arrived, I will bring them to the basement immediately," Cooper said.


    "Okay, son, I''ll leave them in your hands!" Sir Nichs replied. He moved towards the entrance of the basement situated near the living room.


    Laura, Reba, and the servants were following him from behind carrying their bags.


    A few minutester, Sir Nichs and the others entered the hidden door located behind the cab.


    Fifteen minutester.


    Two carriages entered the gate of the mansion. Sarah and the kids finally arrived.


    They exited the carriages and Graven escorted them inside the house while the servants brought their bags inside.


    Cooper scooped his son in his arms and looked at Sarah holding baby Nikka in her arms. "Follow me!" he said.


    Cooper moved towards the cab and pushed open the door of the basement. They stepped into the stairs and went down.


    They finallynded on the floor of the basement.


    Laura stared at the boy that Cooper was holding in his arms, her eyesnded at the face of the pretty woman that is holding a baby girl in her arms. Something tells her that Cooper and the woman had a rtionship and they were carrying their children in their arms.


    Laura and Cooper locked eyes. He tore his gaze apologetically away from her.


    The boy looked at Sir Nichs. "Grandpa!" the boy shouted.


    The smiling Sir Nichs went to the boy and took him in his arms. "How are you, grandson?"


    "I''m fine, I miss you!" the boy said.


    Sir Nichsughed happily. "I miss you too!"


    The happy scene confirmed Laura''s suspicion.


    Cooper immediately brought the woman and her baby inside the room that can amodate four people.


    Laura went back to the room that she and Reba shared. It only has two beds, a small cab and nothing else. She sat on the bed and arranged her nket, her book, herb as well her clothes and other stuff inside the cab mounted on the wall.


    Reba entered the room and sat beside Laura on the bed. "That was surprising!" shemented of what she saw outside. She looked at the silent woman beside her. "Are you okay?" she asked her.


    Laura sighed. "I know what you mean. Cooper has a hidden family..." she said.


    "I think... based on the children''s age... they were conceived before you came into Cooper''s life. They were his hidden family and now that the town is in danger they were brought here to hide in the basement with us," Reba dered her theory.


    Laura nodded her head. "Yeah, that what alsoes up in my mind the moment Iid my eyes on them," she agreed.


    "How is your heart?" Reba asked about her true feelings regarding the whole situation.


    Laura shrugged. "I''m happy for them!"


    "Really-?" Reba raised an eyebrow.


    "Yeah... anyways... I don''t love Cooper and I''m going home soon. No need to feel sad for the happy couple. I''m d that after leaving Cooper he has his family to turn to andfort him," Laura said.


    "Good! I like your attitude. This case is closed!" Reba said with a grin and lie on the bed.


    A few minutester there was a knock on the door.


    Reba got up from the bed and opened the door. "Cooper..."


    "Can I talk with Laura for a moment?" he asked.


    "Sure!" Reba replied with a smile and left the room.


    Cooper closed the door and sat on the bed facing Laura. "I''m sorry that I didn''t tell you about Sarah and my kids. I feared that you won''t marry me after you learn of their existence," he said apologetically.


    Laura sighed. "Honestly, I have no problem with your hidden family. You already have them in your life before I meet you. Their existence is no big deal to me," she responded calmly.


    "Are you sure?" Cooper asked in surprise. He was expecting Laura to get angry at him but he found no trace of anger and sadness in her eyes which astounded and at the same time bothered him.


    "Anything else? Can you please go out now, I''m going to take a nap," she requested politely.


    "Sure! Thank you for being understanding, my dear. I''ll take my leave now," Cooper stood up and left the room.


    Outside the door, Sir Nichs was waiting for his son toe out. "How is it, son?" he asked, wanting to know if Cooper and Laura''s conversation went well.


    "She''s not angry, Father. She understood my situationpletely," Cooper answered with a smile.


    "Good! I''m happy to know that," Sir Nichs beamed.


    They retired into their respective room to rest.