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PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFER BEST STORIES AND LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 251 Following rules
Chapter 251 Following rules
Music Recommendation: Anne and George- Paul Cantelon
—
Many years ago…
In Woodlock, the Duke’s young boy walked in the corridors of the Sullivan mansion. Though he had a few more years before becoming an adult, his attire was no less than the adults of the high society members. A white liner shirt with a navy blue vest and diamond-shaped bow pin to hold the navy tie around his collar.
Noah Sullivan’s black hair was combed to the side, and the beauty mark under his eye was something that a person’s gaze fell upon.
On meeting his father, who stood in one of the corridors with his mother, he heard his father say, “How are your lessons going, Noah?”
The young boy offered his bow to his parents before politely replying, “Very well, father. Mr. Wheeler has started explaining the subjects that concern the Council and the other regular subjects.”
His father nodded in satisfaction and said, “One day you will be the Duke of Woodlock Noah, but you have to earn it. Work hard for the position and make our kind proud. You have been doing well with your studies, but what about other things? It has come to my attention that you have been stepping out of the mansion in the middle of the night. Is it true?”
Noah’s mother, Hilda Sullivan, looked taken aback by her husband’s words, and she looked at her son with disbelief. Not because her son had left the mansion alone but because he had defied the rules her husband had set.
The young boy answered, “I wasn’t able to sleep, and took a walk,” his voice holding the same politeness as before, even though what was going to happen was already known to him.
“You seem to have trouble following the rules that I set for you and the others, don’t you?” The boy could tell his father was displeased with him. He turned to look at one of the servants and ordered, “Bring me bludgeon.”
Lady Hilda got worried and quickly requested her husband by saying, “He’s young, Jeffry. All he did was take a walk. He will take time to follow it.”
Noah’s father shook his head, “If he doesn’t learn it now, it will be harder to control him later. If as a Duke’s son he cannot follow what I say, how can I expect others to follow and listen to me? He will one day learn to appreciate that all these things were done for his own good.”
The servant, who the Duke of Woodlock had ordered, returned with a wooden stick where one end of it was bulged. He handed the stick to the Duke before stepping away from there and moving towards the wall with his head bowed.
“Hands forward, palms facing down,” the Duke ordered, ready to discipline his son.
The young boy raised his hands, and when his father raised the wooden stick, his mother pursed her lips, and her eyebrows furrowed.
WHACK!
The boy barely flinched as if used to the punishments given for the slightest disobedience.
WHACK! WHACK!
The wooden stick was hard and continuously hit the back of his fingers and knuckles. His skin started to peel, turning red and traces of blood appeared with the continued smacks. And all that time, his mother felt his pain while the boy stood with his hands raised and not once moving it away. Even the servant flinched at the sound, who stood near the wall.
Because they were a family of werewolves from high society, the punishments were severe and there was no room for mistakes. When the Duke was done handing down the punishment to his son, he said,
“Let us hope you don’t do it again, because the next time it won’t be just your hands.”
Noah bowed and said, “Forgive me for disappointing you, father. I won’t repeat it again.”
Footsteps was heard from the corridor, and the Duke’s brother, James, appeared. Noticing his nephew’s hands dripping with blood, he said,
“It seems like Noah has tested you again. What did he do to receive such severe punishment?” The man walked to step next to the boy and placed a comforting hand on the young boy’s shoulder.
“Disobedience seems to be something he likes to associate himself with,” Jeffrey stared at his son.
James softly chuckled and said, “Children are bound to make mistakes, brother. If not now, when else will they learn? You are too harsh on him.”
“If he didn’t break the rules of the house, and not keep in mind about our family name and reputation, he could avoid it,” Jeffry replied and said, “We should get the reports submitted today before leaving for the South.”
James nodded, and the men left the corridor. Lady Hilda turned to Noah and picked up her son’s hands,
“Look at what you did. Why do you refuse to listen to your father?”
She pulled out her handkerchief and went to wrap it around the young boy’s hand, but he refused,
“You will stain it, mother and one isn’t enough,” said the boy eerily calm as if his father hadn’t inflicted any wounds on him. He said, “I will go wash my hands.”
Lady Hilda sighed and caught hold of her son’s hand, “Let me help with it. Come with me.” She pulled him to a room, ordering the servant to get her the first aid box. Once the box was brought, she made the young boy sitting in front of her, and started to clean and dress the wounds on his fingers.
“You know your father does things for your own good, don’t you?” The woman asked her son.
“I know,” replied the young boy.
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His mother said, “Your father and your Uncle James worked very hard to maintain the Sullivan’s name in and outside the mansion. Your father wants everyone to look up to you, be proud of you—”
“Will he be proud if I listened?” The boy sounded calm like a still river. His father was always dissatisfied, and the only person that met his expectations was his uncle.
Lady Hilda smiled at her son, “Of course, he will. Do not doubt that. Maybe he has a higher expectation from you, and it is just because you are his son and wants the best for you.”
“Hm,” the boy responded, while watching his mother finish dressing his fingers. He asked, “Why does Uncle James stay with us?”
“Because he and your father are brothers. I guess you could say that since a few years, they grew closer to each other. Not too long ago, your uncle saved your father’s life and we owe it to him. If it wasn’t for him, I would be a widow and you wouldn’t have a father, Noah,” explained his mother with a grim expression. “It was a hard day, when James brought your father back to the mansion, there was so much blood, I thought it was the last day I would see your father looking at me.”
“He saved father,” the young boy murmured, and his mother nodded.
“That’s right. We owe it to him, that the happiness in this mansion has been kept safe,” the lady placed her hand on the side of his face and smiled. She placed her hand on Noah’s shoulder and said, “Family has the strongest bond, the first thing that comes is the blood that we share and are connected by. And then comes the packs, whom you have to live for, be the role model for them so that everyone can follow you.”
His mother got up from her seat and made her way towards the door before she turned and asked him, “Please be careful and don’t break your father’s words. I don’t think I can bear to look at more wounds on you.”
The young boy offered her a polite smile before replying, “Yes, mother.”
Once his mother left him alone in the room, he stared at his bandaged fingers. His eyebrows subtly furrowed when he bent them and turned them into a fist.
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 252 Secret of the family
Music Recommendation: Mary’s Nightmare- Amelia Warner
—
A few days later, young Noah walked the corridors of his mansion after he was done with Mr. Wheeler’s classes in his study room. The servants and maids he passed by were quick to stop walking and bow at him until he left their sight before continuing their work.
He met the butler, who informed him with a poise stance and expression, “Master Noah, snacks have been prepared for you in the dining room.”
Noah stared at the butler and said, “I am not hungry.”
“Mr. Sullivan insisted that you eat and don’t miss your meals,” the butler informed him, his eyes sharply looking at the young boy.
“You can give it to him then,” Noah replied before walking towards the mansion’s entrance.
“Master Noah, you have been forbidden from stepping out of the mansion’s property,” the butler reminded him.
“I know,” said the young boy before stepping into the garden. But he didn’t stand there to enjoy the greenery. Instead, he walked around the mansion before coming to the stable, which was located behind the mansion.
Letting out his pet wolf from its kennel, he played with it before feeding and spending time with it. Minutes passed when he heard a carriage being pulled and prepared. It was a carriage that didn’t belong to his parents or uncle when he noticed a woman’s dress and feet below the carriage that moved above the ground.
As the young boy sat on the other side, he couldn’t see the person but soon the carriage door closed, and the coachman drove the carriage away from the mansion.
Putting his pet back into its kennel, a young boy returned to the mansion and made his way through the corridors. Seeing the butler, he questioned, “Who visited the mansion?”
The butler only stared at him, not replying to him.
“Noah,” Uncle James called him from behind, and the young boy turned to look at the man. “Did you finish your time with Mr. Wheeler?” The boy nodded before repeating his question,
“Who was the person who left in the carriage?”
“It was an acquaintance of mine. Unfortunately, time was short and she couldn’t stay back. But she will be visiting us tomorrow,” Uncle James smiled at him while the boy stared at him. Once the boy left, the man said to the butler, “Make sure that Wheeler gives him enough to study so that he’s occupied for the next days. I will need you to time and keep an eye on him. Wouldn’t want brother to be disappointed in him more than he already is.”
The butler bowed, “Consider it to be done, Sire.”
The next day, as ordered, a young Noah was given subjects and courses to finish. The boy did as he was told, but at the same time, he didn’t miss the way the butler kept an eye on him. As if guarding him against a threat, but that didn’t feel right to the young boy either.
The following afternoon, when the young boy decided to take a break, he went to his uncle to ask for his permission to leave the mansion grounds for ten minutes. But when he reached the front of the room, he heard grunts and moans.
The young boy frowned, and after staring for a second more, he turned around and made his way to the stables again. But while walking past the servant’s quarters, Noah noticed something gold-like inside one of the rooms. He stepped backwards before his eyes fell on a little girl.
Having never seen the girl before, he wondered if it was a servant’s child, not that he could remember. He watched her play with a cloth-like doll, moving it on the ground while talking to it. He noticed how the little girl looked happy with something so simple.
Noah stood by the window with a blank expression, watching the unknown girl play while wondering if there would be a day if he would be able to feel the same satisfaction as she did even though he had everything. Sometimes even the best wasn’t enough in his family, as there were too many expectations of him.
When night arrived, Noah was walking on the quieter side of the mansion when he heard a slight commotion in one of the guest rooms. He walked into the corners and entered another room attached to where Uncle James was fighting with a woman.
He heard the butler say to his uncle, “Sire! I saw it with my own eyes. The little girl’s skin shimmered like a diamond!”
“Where is your daughter, Becca?” His uncle questioned the woman. The woman had fear in her eyes and denied whatever the man asked. “If you don’t know, I have no further use of you. It is unfortunate that we have to part ways like this,” he said, running his hands into the woman’s stomach.
Young Noah’s eyes widened, confused as to what was going on. He noticed blood dripping from the woman’s stomach, but suddenly he heard his uncle cry in pain before the woman ran out of the room with her daughter, who had been hiding a minute ago.
His uncle bled from one of his eyes, and he appeared furious when the butler returned.
During that time, the young boy followed the mother and the daughter with his eyes by moving closer to the railings. He noticed them climbing down the stairs, and the little girl turned around to look in his direction, but the place he stood was dark.
Soon his uncle and the butler ran after them.
Grasping what was going on, after the initial shock of what his uncle did to the woman and what was going to happen, he ran down the stairs. But it was late when he stepped outside the mansion, and his uncle had his hands through the woman’s chest.
Most of the men went after the little girl.
“What did you do…” The young boy whispered in shock, watching someone die before him. “You killed someone!” he shouted.
His uncle turned to look at him, with one of his eyes bleeding, and said, “She damaged my eye. She knew she had to settle with me about it.”
The young boy’s eyes were wide in horror, and he shook his head, “Father and mother will know about it. What you did today.”
The man walked towards him, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “Don’t be in such a haste, Noah. Do you think they will support a family member who saved your father? Or a nameless woman?” He smiled before saying, “It would be better to be smart and keep this within the family.”
“You killed her,” the boy whispered, watching the woman’s body on the ground. Noticing a tremor running down the dead body, his eyebrows furrowed. Did the dead body just move?
Uncle James obstructed his gaze and tightened the grip on his shoulders, and he said,
“This is what happens when you try to go against the Sullivans. She would have sullied our names. Your father’s name,” the man lied, “In the future you will know, there are important and difficult situations that you need to decide. Family comes first and we keep each other’s secrets.”
And a young Noah at that time believed his family member.
But as years came to pass, Noah’s thoughts changed, and he realised the wrong that had been committed. Though he had killed people, the murder of the woman he had witnessed at the back of his mansion years ago was the one that weighed heavily with guilt.
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 253 Other side of the bridge
Seasons went by, and the seeds sowed in the soil sprouted to form plants and trees. The young Noah grew into an adult, who worked for the Duke of Woodlock, his father.
Noah had turned into a handsome man with strong facial features and build, while the look in his eyes was gentle. Just as his family wanted him to turn out to be, he had an extreme hold on his emotions and his surroundings. His demeanour appeared as soft as the snow. While most the people only saw what they wanted without realising that when the same snow melted under heat, it hardened into ice, where one had to proceed with caution.
One of the bright sunny mornings, like any other day, Noah accompanied his father to Meadow to speak to one of the officials. They were walking in the marketplace when Noah caught sight of a young woman. The incident that had been buried had returned. Someone whom he had believed he would never come across again.
His breath turned short as he stared at the young woman whose mother’s murder he had witnessed.
The young woman walked from the opposite side, talking to a man. They carried a bag each in their arms. Noah heard her speak,
“It seems like the magistrate has decided not to hold a fair in our town again.”
“I heard the officials decided to cut down expenses to handle and manage the town, milady,” the servant beside her replied.
The woman’s lips set themselves in a thin line, and she sighed, “We shouldn’t miss the oncoming fair that will be held in Atharath downtown. What do you say Eugene?” She asked him with a smile.
“Of course, Miss Eve,” he agreed. “Maybe Lady Aubrey would like to join us this time. But make sure you have used those salts.”
Eve nodded, “I have been careful about it after what happened last time.”
Noah stared at the blue-eyed woman, who was addressed as Eve. Somewhere he stopped walking when she walked past him, and he turned to stare at her. She was the mermaid who had escaped from his uncle’s clutches. He wasn’t too young not to see the resemblance between her and the girl who played with the cloth-like doll in his mansion many years ago.
The night the woman had been murdered, Uncle James’s men had returned without the girl, saying she had somehow escaped. But Noah hadn’t expected her to live this long, especially when she wasn’t a human but an outcast.
“Noah?” His father called him, who had walked a few steps ahead of him. The Duke looked displeased as if wanting to leave this place. He questioned, “What are you doing by standing there? Keep distance from the lowly creatures. Come now.”
Noah’s father continued to walk away from the marketplace with the other man he was with. When Noah turned around, the girl had disappeared from his sight.
Without staying there for another second, Noah walked out of there with his father and the Council’s official.
Many days passed, such that Noah couldn’t get the thought about the young woman out of his mind. From afar, he had quietly observed her, getting the reports about her and her family. It seemed that a woman named Aubrey Dawsons had taken her in, while being aware of the person being an outcast.
When the day of the fair arrived, Noah was working in his room when his uncle decided to knock on his door.
“Noah,” Uncle James called him with a smile. With time, the man had grown older, and his rugged appearance had smoothened because of his cunningness. Even though the woman whom he had murdered had stabbed his eye, the wound had healed, except that the man had turned blind in one of his eyes. The older man said, “Did you meet the magistrate in Thresk Hills? I need you to make him understand that he needs to follow our word than give the vampires leverage over things.”
Noah smiled and calmly said, “It has already been done and taken care of.”
James Sullivan looked pleased, and he said, “Excellent! I knew if there was anyone who could accomplish it, it is you.” He patted the younger man’s back. He said, “Some of the past deeds have resurfaced.”
“Deeds?” Noah calmly inquired.
The older man nodded and picked up the quill that Noah had used earlier. He said, “Fowler has reopened some of the missing reports that were closed. I need you to keep an eye on the man.”
“I will see into it,” Noah offered a polite bow.
“Isn’t it good to have each other’s backs? This is why we say how important family is because we know we can rely on each other,” James smiled, placing the quill in the same place. The look in his eyes turned serious, and he said, “If you find anything about Fowler tracing things to us, you let me know about it. About anything.”
In the afternoon, skipping lunch Noah stepped out of Sullivan’s mansion and reached Atharath downtown, where the fair was going on. His black eyes looked around the place, filled with the crowd, who mostly belonged to the middle class and a few members of the high society.
“Only two crowns for one hat! Pick your choice of hat!” Shouted one of the merchants, and on noticing one of the women looked his way, the man said, “Milady, come take a look at it! It will look lovely on you!”
Another merchant on the way said loudly, “Caramel sweet sticks prepared fresh this morning! Something to eat as you walk!”
Noah didn’t pay any attention to the merchants, and his eyes continued to look for the young lady who had mentioned visiting the fair. He knew the right thing in terms aligned with his family would be to inform his uncle about this girl’s existence. After all, who knew if one day she would point fingers that James Sullivan had killed her mother.
But the guilt didn’t allow him to bring it up; instead, he decided to keep an eye on her. Not finding her here, he turned around. When he started to walk back, at the same time, someone crashed into him.
Genevieve Barlow held two caramelised sticks in her hands, and right now most of the sweet syrup was on his shirt. Her eyes widened in shock, and she bowed,
“Forgive me for that. I didn’t mean to spoil your shirt!” When she looked up to meet his eyes, Noah noticed the liveliness in those blue eyes carried in them.
[Music Recommendation: This is love- Sondia]
Unlike other outcasts, she was sheltered and appeared like any other person who was part of society. A small smile appeared on his lips and he said, “That’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Eve looked a little worried, as it was apparent that this man she had run into was from high society. She watched him pull out his handkerchief from his trouser pocket. Using it, he cleaned the sticky sweet off his shirt, but the stain was too hard to ignore.
“Water will help,” Eve said to him, “Give me a moment, please.”
She went to one of the shops, asking for water, and Noah followed her. On getting a glass of water, she turned and offered it to him, “This will remove the stickiness.”
Noah stared at her, who stared back at him with a slight frown, wondering if he was angry at her. He asked her, “How much is the stick for?” Even though he had heard the merchant utter the price.
Eve was taken aback by his question, and she replied, “Two shilling,” and then offered, “Let me get it for you as an apology.”
“Thank you,” Noah smiled at Eve and noticed her smile before turning to the merchant.
“Miss Eve! I was looking for y–oh!” Eugene paused, who had been looking for Eve, as she hadn’t returned after she told him that she would get something to eat. Noticing the tall man wearing expensive clothes, he offered a bow before looking at Eve in question of who this person was.
“I am Noah Sullivan,” Noah introduced himself with a bow.
Eve bowed again and said, “I am Genevieve Barlow and this here is Eugene.” She looked at him with surprise for holding such gentleman-like behaviour, not knowing it was only the beginning of their friendship.
At first, Noah had only wanted to know the person the small girl had turned into. She looked happy and content, with a family who cared for her, and he didn’t want to ruin it by disturbing something that was in peace.
The more Noah got to know about Eve, the more he liked her, and it wasn’t hard to fall in love with her. It was because of her kind heart and sweet nature that made it easy for a person to like her. As weeks and months passed by, he fell more for her.
But he could never confess to her. He had hidden the secret for so long that it felt like the time to let her know had passed and revealing the truth would only strain things. This was something he was selfish about.
Noah loved Eve enough to look after her from afar until now, making sure to keep his feelings to himself without letting her know. But now that they stood on the patio, under the starless sky, where they stared at each other, he whispered in his mind,
‘I love you.’
Eve stared at Noah, wondering what he wanted to say, and after two seconds, he finally said, “I would like to see you off in the carriage tomorrow. You should go and get some sleep.”
She nodded, smiling at him and said, “Goodnight, Noah.”
“Goodnight, Genevieve,” Noah wished her, watching Eve walk away from him with the distance between them growing.
Noah stepped back into the corridor, taking a left and walking a few steps before he stopped and said, “You should get some sleep too.”
Lady Anaya moved away from the pillar, “I thought I did a decent job hiding behind here.” Noah didn’t appear to see her. The she-wolf noticed how Noah’s guard had returned, which had dropped only in front of the human. Seeing him start to walk, she asked him, “You like her more than a friend. Why didn’t you confess to her?”
Noah smiled at the lady’s question, who looked at him curiously, “Somethings are better left unsaid.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it. Building something took a lot of time and effort, and it took only a matter of seconds to break it. He prefered to keep Eve as his friend than drive her away from him forever.
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 254 Arriving at Berkshire
When Eve’s head touched the pillow, she immediately fell asleep. And while she slept, Vincent searched for her through the lands restlessly.
The following day, Noah arranged one of his carriages so that Eve could travel to Berkshire in it. Noah and Lady Anaya accompanied Eve as they led her to where the waiting carriage was. But on their way, they met Noah’s parents.
“I wasn’t aware that we had a guest in the mansion,” Lady Hilda commented on seeing the beautiful young woman.
Eve offered a bow to Noah’s parents and greeted them, “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. I am Gene–“
Noah interrupted by giving her name, “This is Genevieve. A friend of Lady Anaya.”
Lady Anaya nodded, going with Noah’s words, “Yes, she’s a friend of mine. We met at one of the soirees.”
The elderly couple, who until now had a look of judgement in their eyes towards the young woman, who wore clothes lower than their status, gave a nod. Lady Hilda said, “It looks like Anaya has been able to settle much better than we thought she would.” The woman placed her hand on Lady Anaya’s back and smiled, “It is one of the important qualities when it comes to being a Duke’s wife.”
Lady Anaya smiled, “Your praise makes me happy, Lady Hilda.”
The former Duke stared at Eve, as if trying to figure out where he had seen her as she appeared to be familiar. Lady Hilda questioned, “Are you all going somewhere?”
At the same time, Noah’s father called him to the side, “Did you hear about Sylvester being accused of murdering Fowler?”
Noah nodded, while keeping an ear to listen in on the women’s conversation. He replied, “Yes, the evidence that was presented was proof that he was involved in it.”
His father shook his head and sighed, “I cannot believe it. James must be furious, as Sylvester has been working with him for so long. Do you know where your uncle went? I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning.”
“He said he wanted to reach out to the higher person, so that they could relook into the case and the charges placed on Sylvester. He said he would travel up to the North,” Noah let his father know, who gave him a nod.
After a moment of silence, Noah’s father asked him, “Did you know anything about it?” The former Duke of Woodlock was aware of some things about his brother. Though he had always been strict with his son, he was also a proud person and liked to follow the rules without breaking them. But the rules were bent when it came to concerning family matters.
Noah shook his head, which was the truth. He said, “I went to speak to Sylvester about it, but he isn’t speaking.” The older man pursed his lips.
A few steps away from them, where the three women stood, Lady Anaya replied to Lady Hilda, “Genevieve is travelling to Berkshire and Noah was kind enough to arrange the carriage for her.”
Lady Hilda looked pleased. Not because her son had arranged a carriage for Eve, but because she knew her son had excellent manners. She said to Eve,
“I hope you have a good journey to Berkshire. A pity that you cannot stay longer with Anaya.”
“Thank you, milady. I will try to visit her again,” Eve offered the older woman another bow.
With the way Noah had introduced her as Lady Anaya’s friend to his parents, Eve could only grasp that his parents wouldn’t be happy if they found out that she was his friend. After all, he was set to marry Lady Anaya, she thought in her mind, while not knowing Noah’s actual intentions.
Lady Anaya said to Lady Hilda, “It is indeed a pity, milady. I was hoping to spend more time with Genevieve as she’s good company.”
Noting how her future daughter-in-law was fond of this human, who didn’t appear to be part of the wealthy family, Lady Hilda said to Eve, “Maybe next time you visit Woodlock, we can all sit down and have tea.” A meal was too much time to be spent, which the older woman didn’t find worth investing her time in.
Eve smiled at the woman’s polite words and replied, “That would be lovely, Lady Hilda. I look forward to it.”
Lady Hilda gave a slight nod and walked to where her husband and son were, and soon the elderly couple walked away.
“I hope you didn’t mind me directly addressing you by your name, Ms. Barlow,” Lady Anaya’s yellow eyes met Eve’s blue ones.
Eve shook her head, “I would never, Lady Anaya.”
“Then please feel free to call me Anaya from here on. If you don’t find it too troublesome,” Lady Anaya smiled at Eve with assurance.
Eve had sensed the young woman to be polite and kind to her, but she hadn’t expected her to drop the honorifics between them this soon.
Walking near the waiting carriage, Eve noticed her trunk and bag were tied to the back of the vehicle. Noah’s coachman bowed at them and opened the carriage door for her.
Noah said to Eve, “This is Kieran and he will drop you to Berkshire. If you need anything, let him know.”
Eve bowed at Noah and Lady Anaya, “Thank you for letting me stay here and use the carriage.”
“I hope to see you soon, Genevieve. Hopefully next time we meet, we will be able to spend more time together?” Lady Anaya asked her.
Unsure of when she would visit again, Eve replied, “Hopefully.”
Thanking them once again, Eve finally got inside the carriage. The coachman closed the door, before climbing in the driver’s seat and driving the vehicle out of Sullivan’s mansion, heading to Berkshire.
The three days journey to Berkshire was smooth. Eve rode in one of Sullivan’s carriages while making a few stops.
During the journey, thoughts about Vincent didn’t leave Eve’s mind; instead, all she could think about him. His words, actions and the way he looked at her and others. She told herself that it was better to let go of her feelings than hold them tightly and be hurt by it.
When the carriage reached Berkshire, Eve noticed the vibrant buildings and the people who strolled up and down the streets. It being the capital of Thorneborough, the number of buildings and people were many. Though the town had turned white as it had snowed earlier than the other lands, people’s clothes and coats kept the place vibrant.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowe house was farther away from the centre of the town, as the lands near the edge of the town were priced cheaper than the ones at the centre. The coachman pulled the carriage in front of the humble home of the Lowes.
“We have arrived at the Lowe’s house, Ms. Barlow,” the coachman informed her, right after opening the carriage door.
Eve stepped out of the carriage and thanked him, “Thank you for accompanying and bringing me here, Kieran.”
“It was a pleasure to be of your help,” the coachman bowed, and he said, “Let me bring the luggage down.”
“That would be very kind of you.”
Soon one of the servants of the Lowe family stepped out of the house, followed by a tall young man, who was Mr. and Mrs. Lowe’s son, Theophilus Lowe. He was in his early twenties. The man smiled at her, and Eve returned the smile.
“It is a pleasant surprise to see you here, Eve. Lady Aubrey mentioned that you were in Meadow,” Theophilus greeted her, and turned to his servant and ordered, “Bring Ms. Barlow’s things inside and keep it in the third guest room.”
When they came near, the man stepped forward and hugged her. Eve was glad she had made the right choice by coming to Berkshire. Theophilus was like her younger brother without the need to be connected by blood. At least, that is what it was for Eve, but the same could not be said when it came to the person who hugged her.
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 255 Curing the sick
Music Recommendation: Piano Sonata in C Major- Ludwig van Beethoven
—
When the Lowe’s servant took Eve’s trunk and bag from Noah’s coachman, she said to him,
“Why don’t you rest a bit and eat something before you ride back?”
“Thank you, milady, but it would be best to return to Woodlock. The Duke would be worried if I didn’t return as expected,” the coachman politely replied, and he bowed, “If you give me your permission to leave, milady.”
Eve gave him a nod, “Thank you again, Kieran. Please convey my thanks to the Duke and Lady Anaya.”
“I will, milady,” the coachman turned and climbed back on the driver’s seat.
Theophilus stared at the fancy carriage leaving the front of his house and commented, “I didn’t know you had such high connections, Eve. You must be close with the Duke for him to lend you his carriage.”
“He’s a good and considerate man,” Eve responded.
At Eve’s words, Theophilus looked at her with a slight frown and asked, “Is he courting you?”
Eve chuckled at Theophilus’s words as they stepped inside the house. . She replied, “Noah and I are good friends for quite some time now. He is just a caring person, and wanted to make sure that I reached Berkshire safely.”
The young man nodded, hoping Eve’s words were true. As he was already aware, many men were trying to win her affections, and he didn’t want to ruin his chance with her. This time, he had decided to ask for her hand in marriage. He said,
“It’s so good to see you, Eve. I hope you are going to stay here longer than the last time?”
“Many more than the last time,” Eve responded, and the young man beamed in delight. “How are you doing? How is work?”
“Oh, you know. Just the usual. Being a soldier isn’t as easy as I thought it to be,” Theophilus pushed his brown hair backwards, staring at the beautiful and kind Eve. “You should see me in my uniform.”
Eve smiled at the young man’s words and asked him, “How is Mr. Lowe doing now?”
Theophilus’s smile fell, and he said in a low voice, “Truth to be told, not that good. The physician’s gave the medicines they thought may work, but there has been no improvement.”
“I am sorry to hear it, Theo,” Eve offered her sympathies.
They headed to the room where Mr. Lowe was now resting on the bed, and in the room sat Mrs. Lowe and Aunt Aubrey. Aunt Aubrey looked surprised.
“Father, look who is here. It is Eve,” Theophilus said to his father, who looked tired and covered in sweat. The older man turned to look at Eve, and a feeble smile appeared.
Eve quickly walked near the bed and sat on the edge of the bed. She picked up his hand and heard the older man say,
“Feels like you haven’t changed since the last time we met. Still the same little girl who Lady Aubrey had got home,” there was warmth in his words. “I am happy to see that you are well.”
“It is time for you to get well soon, Mr. Lowe,” Eve gently squeezed his hand.
“Of course, how can I not feel better now when both you and Lady Aubrey are here,” Mr. Lowe replied. “What did you do to your forehead? Fell somewhere again?”
This was something the other people in the room wanted to question too. Eve smiled and gave a nod, “Something like that. I will let you rest.”
Lady Paloma had stood up from her chair, and Eve walked around to greet her. The woman hugged her and said, “Why don’t you go to your room and change? You must be tired from the journey.” She then turned to look at her son and said to her son, “Theo, tell Ann to prepare something for Eve to eat, will you?”
“Right away, mother,” Theophilus nodded and left the room.
Aunt Aubrey walked Eve outside Mr. Lowe’s room and went to the guest room where Eve’s things had been kept. On reaching the room, Aunt Aubrey turned to look at Eve’s forehead with concern.
Eve stepped closer to Lady Aubrey and hugged her while placing her chin on the woman’s shoulder. She closed her eyes, and silent tears fell from her eyes. Lady Aubrey’s dress absorbed some of her tears and some turned into pearls.
Lady Aubrey knew Eve long enough to sense if something was wrong and could hear the young woman’s heartbreak.
She quickly placed one of her hands on the back of Eve’s head, stroking it gently, “What happened, Eve? Who hurt you?!”
Eve wiped some of her tears with the back of her hand. She could only rely on Aunt Aubrey and Eugene because they were her only family.
“I cannot go back to Meadow. I cannot live there,” Eve replied to her aunt’s question, who’s eyes widened.
“Did they–Did they find out?” Lady Aubrey questioned, and Eve shook her head before pulling away from the woman’s embrace.
“No,” Eve whispered, and Lady Aubrey wondered what worse could happen. “Rumours spread in the entire town. They thought I was sleeping with men to make money.” This was something Aunt Aubrey would eventually find out once she returned to Meadow. Eve wanted to let her know, before she found out about it from another source.
Lady Aubrey’s eyebrows deeply furrowed, not liking what she heard and she asked, “Was it Mrs. Edwards?”
Eve gave a nod and said, “She and Mrs. Humphrey and a few others.”
Lady Aubrey pursed her lips before placing her hand on the side of Eve’s face. “I am sorry that I wasn’t there beside you when it happened. Those townsfolk are idiots for not being able to see the truth. We should go to Meadow right away so that I can deal with each of them! How dare they harm you!” the older woman’s usual calm face turned disappointed.
“No,” Eve shook her head, “They have already been dealt.”
Surprised, Lady Aubrey asked, “So fast?” It was the first time a rumour was dismissed this quickly.
“Mm. Mr. Moriarty stopped them before things could go further out of control. He dealt with all of them,” Eve assured her aunt, not wanting to go back to Meadow when Aunt Aubrey’s friend’s husband was ill.
“Oh, bless his soul!” Lady Aubrey remarked, “I am so glad that he’s your employer and he’s been helping you.”
Lady Aubrey felt unsettled at the thought that the townsfolk did something like that to Eve. Eve said to her aunt, “I feel better now that I have seen you.”
The older woman smiled, “Me too.” Noticing Eve wanting to say something, she asked, “What is it?”
“Because of me you will–“
“Oh, hush now. There’s nothing to worry about. What happened wasn’t your fault, and you aren’t responsible for the thoughts of the townsfolk. People who can’t think, it is on them,” Lady Aubrey continued to smile at Eve and leaned forward, kissing her forehead.
Eve asked the older woman, “If I say that I want to work in Berkshire, will that be okay?”
She had thought long and hard about it during her three days in the carriage. There were too many benefits when it came to moving away from Meadow. Not only would she be able to start afresh with her life, but she would also be able to keep Lady Aubrey and Eugene out of trouble if she were ever exposed one day.
The townsfolk had been quieted by Vincent, but once they would find out about her secret, they would tear her down with revenge, Eve thought to herself.
Lady Aubrey stared at Eve, before she gave her a nod, “If that is what makes you happy.”
Four days passed since Eve had arrived at Berkshire, and her mood started to get better outwardly, but internally, she couldn’t let go of some things. Like her feelings for the pureblooded vampire, whom she had run from and it felt like she continued to drown in his abyss.
Eve had been spending time with Mr. Lowe, trying little by little to make him better. One noon, Mr. Lowe’s sickness turned to the worst where he started to cough blood. Eve turned to her aunt, who nodded.
Lady Aubrey went to her friend, and placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. She said, “Paloma, why don’t we step out of the room a little and pray for his health. Eve can look after him.”
“I worry that his time is near,” Lady Paloma sounded distressed and softly blew her nose against her white handkerchief. After two minutes, the two older women stepped out of the room, closing the door behind them, leaving Eve alone with the sick man.
Eve quickly pulled the curtains and poured water into two glasses of water. She placed it on the ground so that if someone burst through the room, they wouldn’t notice it. She placed her hand on Mr. Lowe’s arm and patiently waited for the water droplets to rise in the air where the man lay. The water wasn’t as much as the water in the bathtub, but she hoped it would be enough.
The water droplets continued to rise one after another until all of them hung above the man in the air. Soon the drops of water descended inside the man’s chest. Eve used her other hand to pull out the illness such that when the clear droplets came out, it was black in colour.
Pulling the droplets one after another, while also paying attention to the footsteps that moved on the other side of the door. The black drops fell into the glasses, one after another until it was filled with black water.
Eve took the glasses out of the room, and poured the black water into one of the flower pots and noticed the plant wilted and dried in seconds.
As expected, when night fell on Berkshire, Mr. Lowe woke up feeling far better than he felt hours ago. The dark circles beneath his eyes had disappeared, and the colour on his face had returned.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
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