Alannah awoke the next morning with a smile, hearing the declaration of love from Dominic last night on their way back to the Chateau, She felt as though she had slept the entire night within the safe and comforting embrace of Dominic's arms. The dawn however told a much different tale; the sky was grey and overcast, and her room bare but for herself, and her bed void of any evidence that anyone but her had been there. For the time being the sensation of his warm hands on hers seemed to linger, and she lay in bed, and closed her eyes for a short while trying to recapture the sensation of being so close to him.
When suddenly a cold chill of fear pushed any thoughts of comfort from her mind, she was reminded that her father was on his way to the island. Even as the dawn breaks he would one day arrive at the doorstep to this, her last refuge and try to claim her. The thought of running once more entered her ming, but the very notion seemed tired and meaningless. No matter where she ran her father would find her. She directed her thoughts to the future, a future that held a life for her as the wife of a man she loathed, one that seemed intent on making her life miserable. But try as she might, all that came to her mind was an image of hollow, empty blackness. And in that moment, she made fateful decision, she decided that should she be faced with losing her freedom to her father, if she was forced to leave here with him, she would take her own life. She would either dive off the ship with a chain around her waist to help her sink towards the bottom and oblivion. Her next choice would be to throwing herself off the high balcony of their home in Ireland. There was always the option of injesting poision before they leave the island and dying a slow death. Either method was sure to succeed, and the escape from her fate was the important thing. She knew that ending her life was not ideal but she felt she, would be left with no otheroption.
She took out a piece of paper and pen and began writing a letter of farewell to Dominic. Not a fatalist by nature, she started crying as she wrote. She thought of the road to Port Lira, could she even find it? If she asked Anya for help would she help her?
My Dearest Dominic,
It is with the greatest of sadness that I write this letter to you now. By the time you read this, my father will have taken me back aboard his ship. I refuse to set sail with him, I wish that you and your mother would have seen my plight and would have helped me, but since you did not, for whatever reasons you had I pray that you will see it in your heart to forgive me. From the moment I laid eyes on you Dominic I knew you were the one God meant for me, he told me so. Dominic I cannot marry someone I do not love, I will not let this man violate me, nor will I have his children. I want you to know that I love you, but I cannot leave here. The moment my father takes me on board his ship I will take my own life. I can only pray that God forgives me.