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PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFER BEST STORIES AND LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 206 Standing in the bathtub
After a few minutes, Vincent sat at the window, playing with a dandelion between his two fingers. In contrast, Eve sat at the table, slightly frustrated that she was so close to knowing where her mother was.
Noticing Eve sigh, Vincent said, “Don’t believe everything you see.”
Eve turned to him, “It cannot be true?”
“It is a possibility,” Vincent responded, his eyes still on the dandelion. “Our mind works in a million ways, and sometimes it traps us. Finding familiar things to appease the mind. Mermaids who believed in their visions in the past, sometimes died. Because the dreams were polluted,” he blew the flower’s seeds for it to disperse in the air.
Allie entered the library and caught sight of her brother, who got up from where he was sitting and instructed her, “Close the door. Ms. Barlow is going to give you a gift today.”
Hearing this, the little one’s eyes lit up.
Eve looked at Vincent, who grinned at her. She whispered to him, “I didn’t bring her anything.”
“I am sure she will appreciate even a word from you,” Vincent winked at her and patted the chair. “Little girls,” he said, and Eve grit her teeth.
Eve decided not to fight in front of Allie and keep a civil atmosphere. Sitting down on the chair, she asked him, “Is this some sort of magic trick?”
Vincent teased her, “I love it when we are on the same wavelength. Bring your hand forward. Palm facing up.”
Eve did as told to her, and not a second later, her eyes went wide. Vincent had dropped the dead vampiress’s fangs in her hand. She asked him, “You don’t believe in the tooth fairy, do you?”
“I believe in you,” Vincent remarked with one corner of his lips pulling up and Eve’s heart hitched. “Try to see if you can fix the fangs in Allie’s mouth using these.”
Allie curiously looked at her governess and then at her brother, “Fix it?”
“Yes, I thought it was time for you to get a new pair of fangs,” her brother replied and Allie suddenly turned excited before opening her mouth wide so Eve could fit it in.
“I have never done anything like this before,” Eve spoke to him hastily.
Vincent leaned next to Eve’s head, his words brushing against the shell of her ear, “There are some rare ones in your kind that have the ability to heal. Let us see if you can do the same.”
On one side stared a hopeful Allie with her mouth wide; on the other hand, Eve stared at Lady Camille’s fangs. Not knowing where to start, she placed the fangs near Allie’s mouth, where fangs usually appeared and concentrated.
Ten seconds passed–a minute, and then five minutes.
But nothing happened.
Vincent said to his sister, “Place your hands on her hands.”
Still excited about receiving new fangs, Allie quickly did as she was told.
Ten more minutes passed, but the fangs didn’t attach themselves to the little girl’s mouth, nor did Eve feel a hint of ability in her. She dropped her hands.
“How do you feel?” Vincent questioned her.
“Terrible,” Eve muttered. Allie, who had been excited, now looked as if someone had stolen her happiness and the brightness in her eyes reduced.
Vincent rolled his eyes, “I meant physically. Do you feel anything?”
Eve turned to him, meeting his curious eyes that had slightly narrowed as if figuring out something in his head. She shook her head and said,
“This isn’t working.”
All these years, Eve had never felt any changes in her body, nor had she ever healed anyone. She had been bruised in the past, but never could she feel herself.
“Let us make use of the farthest guest room,” Vincent suddenly decided, “We promised to give Allie her fangs back, it would be rude to not make it happen, isn’t it?”
The three of them went to a guest room, locking the door, Vincent sauntered towards the bathing room to turn on the bathtub’s faucet. Once the water was half-filled, he turned off the faucet, but not too tight as drops of water fell into the bathtub like the ticking of the clock.
“Get in the bathtub,” he said, this had Eve and Allie blink at him.
“I don’t have spare clothes,” Eve pointed at him.
“Bath with clothes brings back fangs?” Allie innocently murmured, looking up at Vincent.
“Water works as a great medium with abilities,” explained Vincent, and he turned to Eve, “And something your governess very much likes.”
Allie stepped inside the bathtub without another question while Eve stared at the water in the bathtub. She then turned to Vincent and raised her hand with her palm open.
“If I have an ability, I should be able to do it without this.”
“Confidence looks good on you, Ms. Barlow,” Vincent took the fangs from Eve’s hand, his fingers brushing against her palm.
Turning to the bathtub, Eve stepped inside it. She took hold of the little vampiress’s hands and closed her eyes.
Eve heard the water drop on the surface of the water, and she concentrated on the still feeling. As seconds passed, her thumbs moved across the back of Allie’s hands. A gentle current passed through her hands, while her heartbeat increased.
As she had her eyes closed, she didn’t notice what happened next.
Allie felt the little zap, making her look at their joined hands, while Vincent picked on Eve’s heartbeat, speeding up and getting louder. The water in the bathtub didn’t stay still and started to waver. He stepped closer to the bathtub, noticing small water bubbles starting to move upwards and leaving the water’s surface.
Having never seen anything like this before, Allie looked at her brother with awe, and Vincent brought his hand up to place his finger on his lips. His eyes held intrigue.
The water bubbles were of different sizes that looked nothing less than precious stones under the light as they sparkled, causing rainbow colours to splatter on the ground and on some parts of the wall. The water droplets started to join each other, and Vincent took a step backwards as the water created a shield around the bathtub.
Light started to emit from the water. Sensing the brightness increase in the room, and lack of water in the bathtub, Eve opened her eyes. She was stunned by the glass-like dome around them. Looking at Allie’s parted lips, she noticed the small, sharp fangs.
It worked.
Excitement started to course through her mind. But with her concentration broken, the dome of water began to shake and broke into many glass-like shards, moving outward to graze and pierce through Vincent’s skin on his face and arms. Some hit the mirror to crack it, and some knocked down the objects in the room.
“Careful,” Vincent walked to where Allie stood, lifting his sister’s chin. “Sometimes even the things that are meant for good can cause harm. Looks like you have all your teeth now, hamster. Don’t forget that it is a secret and you cannot let anyone know about it.”
Allie touched the sharp fang with her thumb, and it cut her skin. She nodded and hugged Eve again. Thanking her, “Thank you, Ms. Barlow!”
Eve was happy to have brought a smile to the small girl’s face, no matter how small it was. Her eyes then moved to look at Vincent, noticing blood sliding from his cheek and forehead. She apologised,
“I am sorry, I didn’t know that was going to happen.”
At the same time, Eve noticed the cuts on Vincent’s body started to heal as if it was never there. He swiped his finger across his cheek where the drop of his blood had slid before putting it in his mouth.
Vincent wore a crooked smile and assured her, “No harm done. Most of the abilities take time to control. You have the ability to mend.”
Allie let go of Eve and stepped out of the bathtub to look at her new fangs in the mirror.
“You do too…” stated Eve.
“I can only heal myself, and you can only heal others but not yourself,” the smile on Vincent’s lips broadened. He hummed, “For an endangered kind, your luck isn’t that great with abilities. But nonetheless, interesting.”
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 207 Invitation by the smitten
Music Recommendation: Heavens, what an afternoon- John Lunn
—
Seeing the little girl’s excitement and happiness that could be seen in her red eyes, Eve smiled. Knowing the lack of fangs had brought shame to the young vampiress, she hoped things would finally get better for Allie.
Eve watched Allie standing in front of the cracked mirror in the bathroom, whose mouth was opened wide to look at her new fangs. The little one couldn’t stop looking at it in awe.
“Planning to stay in the bathtub for the rest of the day?” Vincent questioned Eve, and her eyes shifted to look at him. He watched her with great interest in his eyes.
Eve stepped out of the bathtub, where the hem of her dress was wet four inches from the hem of her dress. She didn’t know how she did the magic and that she could do it, to see something so fascinating today.
“You returned her something no one could,” Vincent stated, his eyes shifting to look at his youngest sister.
Eve asked him, “How did you know I could do something like this?”
From a very young age, Vincent had been fascinated with the existence of the mermaids and sirens. Over the years, he had tried to learn about the kind as much as he could. His interest was so strong that he had spent his time in the Council’s libraries and laboratory when he was young.
Vincent’s lips twisted into a smile, and he responded, “It was an inkling.” He picked up her hand that was resting next to her side.
Eve had never met a person as forward as Vincent. She had to remind her chest not to brew things and send thoughts to her mind. She watched him run his lean, long fingers on her palms and then press her fingers. But her traitor heart gave her away.
Vincent looked up at her and asked, “Feeling something?”
Though he asked about her using her ability, Eve’s mind was running in a different direction, and she shook her head. She breathed, “No.”
He said, “Go home and start with something small. Not a glass of water but a drop of water.”
A few rare mermaids had potential, but it was never explored as they were killed. It left the vampires and werewolves to end up as a higher race. It wasn’t about who had abilities but creatures who could use those abilities.
“There is something I wanted to ask you,” Eve said to him.
“What is it about?”
Eve looked at Allie, who was still in front of the broken mirror. She whispered to Vincent, “It is about a folklore I came across in the books here. The page is torn… Do you know the rest of the story?”
A sour taste entered Vincent’s mouth, remembering the incident of the missing page. He said, “The page was there when I was reading it, but then it wasn’t.”
Hearing his words, Eve frowned and asked, “What happened?”
“Marceline happened. When we were small and I was growing and she wasn’t, to get my attention, she decided to tear the next page where I paused reading the book,” Vincent smiled sarcastically. “The page was thrown into the fire and I haven’t been able to lay my hand on the rest of the story.”
It seemed like Vincent and Marceline were like any other siblings when it came to jabbing or annoying others. Only that, these two had carried their childhood to adulthood, Eve thought in her mind. Or was it just one of them? She couldn’t tell.
Vincent said, “You both should go back to the piano room, it’ll give time for your dress to dry up.”
As Eve stepped out of the guest room, she took Allie with her, leaving Vincent behind. He turned and looked around the bathroom, where things had been knocked off and at the cracked mirror. The water that had turned into glass pieces had returned to water splashes.
“How interesting,” Vincent hummed with a faint smile.
For the rest of the working hours, Eve tried to wrap her head around what she had done in the bathtub. What she did blew her mind, and she had goosebumps remembering it.
She noticed Allie subtly moving her hand towards her mouth and touching her fangs as if making sure it was still there, and she wasn’t dreaming. She said to the young vampiress,
“Miss Allie, you will be caught if you keep doing that.”
Allie brought her hand down and apologised, “I am sorry.”
“You don’t have to be,” Eve assured the girl, placing her hand on Allie’s head, and instantly the girl closed her eyes for a moment.
Allie opened her eyes, staring at Eve for a second before speaking in her small voice, “No Miss. Only Allie.”
“I don’t think your mother would appreciate it. But maybe when we are alone?” Eve asked the vampiress, who quickly nodded.
In Allie’s eyes, Eve was her fairy godmother, who had given the most precious gift to her. She was no more the vampiress that brought shame to her family. Her mother would love her equally as her elder sister. Her governess had magic, but her brother had told her not to ask or speak about it to anyone.
When the clock struck four, Eve picked up her things and made her way through the corridors and down the mansion’s stairs. And all the while, Allie followed her like a little cat to see her off until the mansion’s entrance.
Before reaching near the hallways, Eve heard Lady Annalise’s voice from the next corridor,
“It was only yesterday Eduard and I were talking about how generous your father is. He even funded money for the well being of the middle class when he could have just let it be,” her words ended with a small laugh.
“The towns that hold middle class status are the ones involved in the higher labour, and it is always good to have some good connections there to keep a hold on things,” Eve heard a male’s voice that sounded familiar, but not enough to place a name or face on it.
Soon Lady Annalise and Lady Marceline walked next to each other. Next to them walked Mr. Henry Quintin, the man with whom Eve had once eaten breakfast in this mansion’s dining room.
Mr. Quintin’s eyes lit up like Christmas was early on seeing Eve. He offered her a bow, while she offered everyone a bow. When her eyes fell to her side, she noticed Allie had disappeared.
“Good evening, Ms. Barlow. How are you doing?” Mr. Quintin asked Eve.
“I am doing well. How about you, Mr. Quintin?” Eve politely returned the question.
Mr. Quintin smiled, relieved that the beautiful woman remembered him and his name. Though he had sent out most of the invitations through the hands of his servants, he had found an excuse to visit the Moriarty mansion to see the governess. He answered,
“Very well myself. Did you just finish your work?” Eve gave him a nod.
Lady Annalise ignored the governess, while Marceline didn’t like that Eve was being showered with more attention by someone when she stood there.
Marceline remarked, “I completely forgot that Mr. Quintin is trying to woo our governess,” she softly laughed. Mr. Quintin’s ears turned slightly pink as he smiled. “You will have to try harder than that as Ms. Barlow has no intentions to marry anyone right now.”
Mr. Quintin replied, “I shall accept it as a challenge. I hope that the lady can give me an opportunity so that I can change her mind.”
Eve politely replied, “Thank you for your interest, Mr. Quintin, but like Lady Marceline said, I am not looking for marriage. I hope you don’t take my words badly.”
But the more Eve refused, the more desirable she became in Mr. Quintin’s eyes.
Without looking at Eve, Lady Annalise said to Henry, “The last time I heard, you were courting Marceline, Mr. Quintin. Did my daughter make it hard to court her?”
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Eve noticed Mr. Quintin turned slightly red than he already was. It seemed like Mr. Quintin shifted his attention from the vampiress to her.
Mr. Quintin replied, “I gave it some thought and came to believe that it would be better for me to court and marry a human. Lady Marceline understood it too.” Marceline wanted to roll her eyes. It was good that she never paid any attention to him in the past, she thought in her mind.
“That is true, mother,” Marceline agreed and looked at Lady Annalise and then at Eve with a smile. “I think Ms. Barlow and Mr. Quintin would make a wonderful couple.”
Mr. Quintin took out an envelope from the inside pocket of his coat and offered it to Eve. When she looked at him questioningly, he explained, “Day after tomorrow, there’s a soiree being held in my mansion. I would very much appreciate it if you could attend it.”
Eve bowed, “Pardon me, but I will be working,” she refused.
Lady Annalise and Marceline were internally repelled by the thought that this mere human was being invited to the same soiree they were going to attend. Henry Quintin’s parents were one of the wealthy humans, which was why the two vampiress didn’t look down upon him.
Mr. Quintin smiled at Eve, wanting her to attend the soiree, he turned to Lady Annalise and requested, “One day of missing work shouldn’t matter, should it, Viscountess?”
Lady Annalise had a tight smile and turned to look at the human. The older vampiress couldn’t refuse Mr. Quintin’s request. She replied,
“Allie will be attending the soiree with us. So the governess can too.”
“Wonderful!” Mr. Quintin exclaimed, and Marceline turned further upset with how things were proceeding. “I will be eagerly waiting for you the day after tomorrow, Ms. Barlow.”
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 208 Irritated members of the Inner Circle
Clean, black shoes clicked against the white marbled floor of one of the long corridors in the Council’s building. The person’s shoes stopped in front of one of the double doors. Vincent pushed the door.
When he entered the chamber that belonged to the Head of the Inner Circle and the head of the Council, he noticed four men sitting in front of Clayton’s desk.
The four men belonged to the Inner Circle, where one of them was Mr. Hart. One of the men, with a moustache, said to Vincent,
“We are in the middle of the meeting. You can come back later.”
Vincent smiled at the man’s words, while Clayton informed others, “I am the one who told him to join us, Sylvester.”
“You seem to like to bend the rules when it comes to Vincent, Head Clayton,” stated another man, who wore glasses and the eyes behind it were downturned. “Allowing a non Inner Circle member to join the meeting that is supposed to be confidential.”
Vincent’s lips curled, and he asked, “It seems like you gentlemen haven’t heard about the latest news. Also, there’s no reason to feel jealous of who is being given more value, Mr. Stoker. Clayton loves all of you as much as he loves me, but secretly me more,” he whispered, taking a seat on the right side.
Mr. Stoker stared at Vincent from the corner of his eyes. No one in the room was unaware of Clayton’s partiality when it came to the pureblooded vampire. Everyone knew Clayton had taken a keen interest in Vincent since the pureblooded vampire was a young boy. He had grown around the Head of the Council, but as calm and sane Clayton was, they didn’t know how Vincent had turned the way he was.
Clayton rolled his eyes at the instigator and said, “I have told Vincent to accompany me during the meetings and he knows not to discuss things that take place in here. He’s shown remarkable growth in what he does.”
The man with the moustache held a calm expression and stated, “Without a doubt. But it seems like you have overlooked the number of deaths that he has caused. The most recent one being the massacre that took place in Raven’s Dungeon.”
“While I kill unworthy people in the eyes of the public, there are some who brush things under the carpet and not speak about it,” said Vincent with a faint smile.
“It would be good to know who you are talking about, surely we would like to know whom to hold accountable to such actions,” Sylvester waited for Vincent to reply. “Unless those are just words to aggravate and cause doubt among us.”
“The ones who are accountable already know,” Vincent stared at Sylvester, who stared back at him. “It was only recently that one of the women went missing and no one knows until now where she is. Did she run away? Did someone hurt her? Kill her? And the town comes right under your administration.”
“Who is it?” Mr. Hart questioned.
“Lady Camille Wright from Skellington. Marquee Hooke’s sister,” Vincent revealed.
Clayton frowned and then said, “We shall discuss this later. Speaking about the candidates to fill the vacant spot at the Inner Circle. I need the names by tomorrow so that I can go through them. Also, there isn’t just an increase in the number of rogue werewolves but also vampires. Why hasn’t it come under control yet?”
Mr. Stoker explained, “My men have killed the rogue vampires, but someone is turning the humans very quickly. It’s as if there’s a competition on who turns which kind more.”
“Maybe if you caught the rogues first and killed them later, it would help,” said Vincent, picking up a glass ball from the table and bringing it close to his eyes to look at it.
Mr. Stoker stared at Vincent and said, “It looks like Mr. Moriarty is unaware of what the rogue means. Vampires or werewolves, who have lost the ability to think and only walk on the path of destruction. They are nothing but living corpses.” He then turned to Clayton and said, “We have many men with better experience than him to accompany you.”
“Would you rather have a man of your own to fill my current position, Mr. Stoker? So that it can bring in benefits,” Vincent smiled at the man with amusement.
Hearing his words, Mr. Stoker glared at Vincent, “If I were you, I would watch my words for the false allegation you are putting against me. I don’t know what Clayton sees in you, apart from your bloodline.”
“Frankly, I wonder about it myself and would like an answer to it,” Vincent turned to look at Clayton, who quietly glared at him. He then turned to Mr. Stoker and said, “I must be his secret child.”
The Head of the council questioned Vincent, “Is there a way to get the rogue vampires to speak?”
Everyone looked at Vincent, who looked at them for a moment before saying, “It is a pity that the people who work at the higher position are unaware about the rogue’s structure. Given the rogues don’t see reason, you, actually your men have failed to catch on something important.”
He continued, “Though it’s harder to achieve it with the vampires as the corruption of their minds is quick, for the werewolves, one will need to kill them very very slowly. There’s a window where the colour of their eyes changes before turning completely dead. It gives you a minute’s time.”
“That’s impossible!” Mr. Hart shook his head. “All these years, we have—”
Vincent interrupted him, “We have shot them dead. Every kind mutates and improves or declines. It doesn’t have to be true for everyone, but there are cases that no one ever realised it.”
“You are asking us to capture the rogue and kill slowly? Where it could be a hit or miss?” Sylvester questioned, his eyes not looking away from the younger vampire in the room.
“Yes.”
“Then maybe you can help Mr. Stroke’s men with it,” stated Sylvester.
“If I do all the work and take credit, it would be unfair for the others. It is necessary that everyone gets an opportunity to shine, and I am not going to take it away from them,” Vincent smiled at the man before adding, “Not to mention, my hands are full.”
“How far are we with Mr. Fowler’s case?” Asked another man named Malcolm in the room.
“Consider it that I have caught the lazy person, and will bring the person to you in three days,” Vincent smiled, and the men in the room stared at him with curiosity.
“Lazy?” questioned one of them.
“What’s with the surprise?” Questioned Malcolm, which made Vincent smile.
“Is that anxiousness or eagerness that I hear, Malcolm?” Vincent teased the man, who glared at him.
“I don’t see a point of hiding the murderer, unless Mr. Moriarty hasn’t found out the answer and is only buying time because he had found nothing,” Sylvester’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It would be better to assign the case to another team.”
Vincent turned to Clayton and remarked, “You seem to be working with impatient men.”
Clayton, who was used to Vincent’s remarks, ignored the lot and ordered, “Pass the information to your men and see what comes up.”
“How do we know that Vincent isn’t yanking our chain? Such a thing has never happened before,” spoke Mr. Stoker.
Vincent clicked his tongue and said, “Mr. Stoker, you aren’t my pet for me to yank your chain.”
Mr. Stoker stood up from his seat, glaring at Vincent, “Now as you are working for the Head, it also means I am your senior at this Council.”
“Funny that you bring it up yourself and get offended by it when I am just speaking in your favour,” Vincent’s eyes shone in mirth.
Mr. Stoker wanted to say something but decided not to fuel this childish conversation. He turned to Clayton and said, “If that is all you wanted to say, I would like to take my leave.”
Clayton nodded, “I will discuss the rest later.” All the members of the Inner Circle stepped out of his chamber. He then turned to Vincent, who was sitting in the same seat.
“Do you always have to aggravate people?” And after a second, he said, “Don’t even bother answering it. What’s with the missing woman?”
“She’s missing, why?” Vincent asked nonchalantly.
“You don’t take interest in cases for no reason. Is there something you know?” Clayton’s eyes narrowed at Vincent.
Vincent tilted his head, “She was planning to marry off her niece to me. I was just concerned.” Seeing the small-looking vampire’s eyes not leave him, he asked, “What? I didn’t do anything.”
Clayton commented, “I hope you didn’t vanish the woman for that reason.”
Vincent chuckled, “I am not so petty as to kill a person for such simple reasons.”
“Let us hope it is true,” Clayton grimly looked at Vincent.
When Vincent stepped out of Clayton’s chamber and headed toward his office, on his way he noticed Mr. Hart standing, doing nothing.
“Mr. Moriarty, I am so glad that you are able to join the meetings with us from now,” said Mr. Hart, and Vincent subtly narrowed his eyes. “I would like a favour from you if you don’t mind.”
“If you are asking me this politely it seems like I will mind. But do ask,” Vincent asked the man.
Mr. Hart looked left and right in the corridor before asking in a low voice, “I was wondering if I could borrow that yellow-eyed beauty from you.”
“I know we spoke about yanking chains and pet, but if you want to talk to Mr. Stoker, you don’t need my permission,” Vincent commented, which had Mr. Hart cough.
“What? No!” Mr. Hart quickly denied it and corrected, “I was talking about the lady who came with you. You came with a lady to Marshal’s mansion, right?”
Vincent stared at the human and replied lowly, “You might be asking the wrong person, Dave. My woman was blue-eyed.”
So Eve’s eyes had changed to yellow while talking to this one, Vincent thought.
“Oh! My apologies then!” Mr. Hart sounded disappointed.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 209 Mr. Quintin’s courtship
Music Recommendation: Heavens, what an afternoon- John Lunn
—
At night, after supper, Eve sat in her bed holding a glass of water while staring at it. She wanted to explore her mermaid abilities, so she decided to practice it just like Vincent had told her.
She concentrated for one whole minute, but nothing happened. It was only when she dipped her finger in the glass that she could waver the surface of the water. She had to learn to do it without using a medium, Eve thought to herself.
It took her nearly an hour when she was finally able to pull a drop out of the glass, without using water as a medium. The drop of water looked like a silver pearl rose above the glass and met her eye to eye. Seeing it made her happy to think that she could do things beyond what she knew.
She moved the water drop in the air, moving it towards the candle stand and balancing it above the fire. After some time, the water evaporated into thin air. She looked at her hands and smiled.
Finding the ability replaced the thoughts about Lady Camille’s death, but it didn’t erase from her mind. It had been one day since Lady Camille’s death, and the authorities were still trying to figure out about the missing lady’s whereabouts.
Hours in the day and night were quick to pass, bringing Mr. Quintin’s soiree for the highly esteemed guests from different towns to attend it. All dressed and ready, Eve descended the stairs of her house.
Lady Aubrey asked Eve, “Oh, good! One of you is ready. Eugene just went in to dress.”
Eve tried to button the sleeve and said, “That’s fine. Even if we go late it should be alright.”
“Give that to me,” said Lady Aubrey, buttoning Eve’s sleeve. She looked up at Eve, who looked tense. She assured her, “You look more tense than usual. What happened to me is not going to happen to you. And wasn’t it this man hosting who invited you?”
Eve nodded, smiling at the older woman, “Thank you. Yes, he was the one.
Lady Aubrey stared at Eve, wishing the young woman didn’t have to keep watching her back and foot with every step.
The sound of the carriage wheels and horses neighing in front of their house gate stopped. When someone knocked on the door, Eve walked to the door and opened it. She found a man standing at the door with a basket and two boxes in his hands.
The servant bowed, and Eve did the same out of politeness. He greeted her,
“Good afternoon, Ms. Barlow. I am Sir Henry Quintin’s personal coachman and am here to drive you to Quintin’s mansion. He also sent your family gifts and would like to accept it.”
Lady Aubrey, who stood behind Eve, murmured, “Seems like someone is too eager to see you.” She said to the coachman, “You can keep them inside.”
The coachman stepped inside and placed the gifts in the living room. Eve said, “Mr. Quintin didn’t have to send his carriage. I have one of my own which I can ride in.”
The coachman bowed again, “Mr. Quintin said he wanted to make sure that you arrived at the right mansion as you have never visited before.”
Eve stared at the man and said, “I will be there near the carriage in two minutes.” She didn’t want the carriage standing in front of her house idly and gaining attention. The coachman bowed and walked back to stand next to the carriage.
Lady Aubrey asked Eve, “Looks like Mr. Quintin has taken quite an interest in you. Is he an amiable man? Considering how he knows you aren’t of his status and wants you to attend the soiree in his mansion.”
“He seems like a decent man, and his words were polite. I wouldn’t call him to be exactly amiable. Not that I have exchanged many words with him, except for some pleasantries,” Eve replied and added, “In the past, he tried to court Marceline.”
“Mm,” Lady Aubrey responded and then turned back and said loudly, “Eugene, there’s no need to get ready.”
Looking back at Eve, who was buckling her shoes, Lady Aubrey said, “The man seems too smitten by you. Bringing you flowers, gifts, sending a carriage to attend the soiree. He doesn’t sound so bad?”
Eve straightened her back and looked at Aunt Aubrey, knowing exactly what her aunt was thinking. She said, “Not so bad.” She leaned in to kiss her aunt’s cheek and said, “I will see you in the evening.”
Eve rode in Mr. Quintin’s carriage from Meadow to Skellington. Though she didn’t wear a striking gown like the one she wore for the last soiree, it didn’t stop her from looking beautiful. It was the first time a man who belonged to high society was courting this assertively.
She stared at her reflection in the carriage’s window, looking at her blue eyes.
Upon reaching the mansion, the coachman opened the door for Eve. As she got down, her eyes fell on the huge mansion surrounded by gardens and decorated by a few statues, similar to the many other mansions in Skellington.
She noticed three carriages parked outside. It seemed like guests had already arrived. An older man appeared at the front, who was Quintin’s butler and greeted her,
“Welcome, Ms. Barlow. Mr. Quintin has been waiting for you,” the old man, noticing Eve not wearing any coat, said, “Let me lead you to the back garden where you are being expected.”
But before they could walk further, Henry Quintin appeared at the front as if he had been waiting for her to arrive. A smile appeared on his lips, and he complimented her,
“You look lovely as always, Ms. Barlow. Welcome to my mansion. I hope your journey here was smooth?”
Eve smiled and replied, “Yes, it was.”
“I apologise for sending the carriage early. I was hoping to spend some time with you before my parents would ambush me with guests,” Mr. Quintin stated, and waved his hand at his butler to leave them alone while leading Eve. As they walked, he said, “I was worried that you would turn down my invitation at the last minute,” he looked slightly embarrassed by it. Eve finally realised the reason for the man sending his carriage.
She politely said, “It would be rude to do that when you told it yourself.”
Henry nodded and smiled, “Thank you, Ms. Barlow. I know Lady Marceline said you weren’t looking for marriage, and don’t take my words that I am forcing you for an answer. But I was hoping that if you haven’t considered any men yet, then I would like you to consider me to be one of your prospects to marry.”
Suddenly a few glasses fell on the ground, and ahead of them stood Patrick Humphrey. She was taken aback by his presence here.
Henry turned grim and said, “Patrick, I told you to manage the guests in the back garden, once they arrive.”
Eve and Mr. Humphrey stared at each other. The man wore clothes similar to the butler. He stood frozen in his place. She then heard Mr. Quintin order, “Now that you are here, go fetch the lady a glass of water.”
Mr. Humphrey’s face turned red. He quickly bowed and hurried away from where he stood. Eve asked,
“He…”
Henry answered, “He’s one of the men who works for me. A week ago, I found him stealing some of the profits that were being made and kicked him. After he cried that he had no money, I pitied him and decided to hire him as a servant. My butler has his eyes on him.”
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 210 Right husband
Music Recommendation: A postcard to Henry Purcell- Dario Marianelli
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Similar to any other male who had the opportunity to get to know her a little beyond her lowly status and where she came from, Henry Quintin couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful woman. Knowing no one was courting her at the moment, encouraged his thoughts to court and marry the fair maiden even more.
And though the wealthy human looked at her irrespective of her status, he failed to look beyond her beauty to understand her.
After fifteen minutes, more guests started arriving at Quintin’s mansion, and Henry finally had to leave Eve’s side to join his parents and talk to the guests. She walked to one side, where wine, fruit juice and blood were placed at the table. Seeing everyone holding the coloured liquid, her hand reached for the wine.
“When did you turn into a vampire to drink blood?”
Eve let go of the glass, turning around to face Vincent. She said, “I didn’t know you were attending the soiree.”
“Would you have not come if I did?” Vincent took a step closer to her. He leaned towards her, his face just an inch away from hers. Eve softly gulped the nervousness she felt in her chest and throat. “Or were you hoping that I did attend?”
Though there weren’t many people near where they stood, it didn’t mean they weren’t watching them. Just because Vincent Moriarty didn’t care about others’ opinions, that didn’t mean she didn’t as well.
“Mr. Moriarty, do you know what space means?”
“Unfortunately, that concept is lost,” Eve watched him look into her eyes before they lowered from her eyes, and he whispered, “So formal, Eve. Always breaking my heart.”
This man was dangerous… Eve warned herself.
His hand reached for the glass of blood on the table, and he stepped backwards. He took a sip from the glass, while holding amusement in his eyes, as he watched her.
Before Vincent’s actions were able to pull out emotions from her, she calmed herself and stared at the pureblooded vampire, who liked to turn everyone into a clown.
Around the time where they stood close to each other, Patrick Humphrey entered the place with an empty tray to pick up refreshments. Seeing Eve with something, he glared at the man with silver hair, wondering which older man was trying to woo his woman. He couldn’t believe Eve had caught him in such a shameful position! He had to fix it right now!
Mr. Humphrey decided to save his damsel in distress from the old man.
He made his way to where Eve stood. Eve, who caught Humphrey walking towards them, shifted her gaze from Vincent to him. The vampire caught this little action and he turned to look in the same direction.
And when Vincent turned to look at Mr. Humphrey, seeing the vampire, the human wished he hadn’t walked this side at all. He wanted to stop walking, but turning around abruptly would not be just odd, but it would lower his charm in Eve’s eyes.
A glimmer of viciousness seeped into Vincent’s copper-red eyes. He demanded, “And since when did ‘you’ start working here?”
Mr. Humphrey had completely forgotten that this vampire had a head full of silver hair. Same as how he hadn’t expected Eve to be here, he had not expected this vampire to be here either.
“It was just recently… Sire,” Mr. Humphrey forced the last word out of his mouth.
Vincent glared at Mr. Humphrey, who started to sweat bullets, “Is that so? I thought you decided to work as a servant after kicking another servant from here.”
Mr. Humphrey nervously laughed, “No, that didn’t happen. Mr. Quintin hired me.”
“Why?”
What did this vampire mean why?! Was he planning to humiliate him??
“Why… because I am good at it?” Mr. Humphrey asked in doubt, hoping the vampire would let him off the hook.
Vincent clicked his tongue and stated, “That day when you visited my mansion, it appeared that you wore good clothes. Clothes that cannot be afforded by servants. Did you steal it?” His eyes narrowed, and Mr. Humphrey quickly said,
“I would never steal clothes! They were brought from my hard earned money,” Mr. Humphrey wanted to puff his chest in front of Eve. But doing that in front of this vampire would only plummet his remaining reputation further under the ground.
He turned to Eve, “Ms. Barlow, I wo–“
“Eve,” Vincent called her, and Mr. Humphrey’s eyes almost fell out of his eye sockets. Did the vampire, her employer, just call her not just by her name? Not just by name, but by a short name?! “I am disappointed with you for having missed telling me about such a wonderful servant. Considering how we were short on a few staff, I would have hired him.”
Eve didn’t even know how to respond to this. She herself wanted to leave the place and stay away from both the men. On the other hand, Mr. Humphrey’s face turned red in embarrassment. He looked at Eve and then back at the vampire before bowing,
“Excuse me, Sire… and milady. I remembered I have work inside,” and he bolted from there.
Eve stared at Vincent and asked, “Was it necessary to humiliate him when I was next to you?”
Vincent’s head cocked to the side, “You wouldn’t mind me humiliating him?”
“I meant you didn’t have to do it,” Eve picked up a glass of water and took a sip.
“He appears to be a fly that likes to fly around you and I hate flies,” Vincent took a sip of blood from his glass while Eve stared at him, wondering if he even knew how he just said it. “Swatting them gently doesn’t work, does it?”
The last time Vincent had met Mr. Humphrey, he had already noticed that the man was trying to court his mermaid. Not to mention, his ears had already picked up one of the Meadow town’s rumours of how Mr. Humphrey would marry Eve.
“People hold grudges, Vincent, and as you know, I don’t have the status to deflect everything,” Eve stated, staring right into Vincent’s eyes.
So fierce, thought Vincent, and he chuckled, that broke Eve’s gaze from him. He said, “Right now, you hold a status that is above him. Not to mention, you have me right around the corner,” the smile on his lips turned into a teasing trickster’s smile. Seeing Eve part her pretty lips and close it, he asked. “Something you wanted to say?”
Eve pursed her lips and then said only for him to hear, “Did you not bring any companion with you? Or find some wealthy man’s daughter to talk to keep up with your amusement.”
“Silly girl, why would I look for someone, when I have you?” Vincent finished the rest of his drink, while Eve gulped another two sips of water before leaving the glasses at the table. They started to walk away from there, “Why daughter? I don’t mind a woman’s company until she’s single.”
Some of the guests looked at them, who bowed at Vincent. She whispered, “I am not here for your amusement.”
“Ah,” Vincent softly sang before saying, “Finally opening up to the possibility of marriage. I told you not to settle with a human and you are doing just the opposite.”
Eve slightly gritted her teeth, before she retorted, “Whom I speak to shouldn’t matter to you.”
“Don’t tell me you have fallen for Henry. Your taste sure is poor,” Vincent remarked, and Eve stopped walking.
“You are insulting the person who invited you here. Mr. Quintin has been polite to me and I don’t see a reason why I shouldn’t return the same gesture of politeness,” replied Eve.
“I heard he’s a clingy man, and I don’t think it fits your qualifications to be your husband,” Vincent spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
“If I didn’t know you better I would have thought you were jealous, Mr. Moriarty,” said Eve, and again started walking.
Vincent’s eyes subtly narrowed before a cheeky smile appeared on his sinful lips. Catching up to her, he questioned, “Do you want me to be jealous?”
“No, I want you to stop using me for your entertainment,” Eve looked at Vincent and said, “It isn’t like you even know what I want in a husband.”
“Considering your previous taste, I would say it isn’t that far from it. Only difference being, it is a human. You know what it means?” Vincent asked her, and Eve wished she could wipe the smile off his face.
“Keep your nose out of my business?”
“Oh, little girl, you ask for the impossible. I am not a stranger anymore, neither are you. And what you are doing is a downgrade,” commented Vincent.
They heard the clinking sound of the glass against a fork. The old butler informed them, “Everyone is requested to join for lunch in the dining room.”
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