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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 421 I Know
Two days had passed, since the commotion related to Marceline that had taken place in the Moriartys mansion, and though things had quietened, the vampiress who had lost her leg had not stepped out of her room. Maids were not allowed to step in, and only the butler brought her meals to her room.
It was morning after having breakfast, Eve was back in the piano room with Allie, helping the little one study. She watched the small vampiress eagerly learn, while she was now writing in her book.
"Miss Eve, is this right?" Allie looked up at Eve.
Eve looked at what the small vampiress had written and gave a nod of approval, "That is correct, Allie. Very good," and the little girl beamed in happiness.
"If I get everything done by tomorrow, we'll be going to Lily's inn?" The little vampiress asked as she peered through her lashes.
"Just as we discussed," Eve stated. Allie once again dipped the quill in the ink, and when she brought it to her book, she paused.
"Miss Eve…"
"Yes, Allie?" Eve asked the little one, noticing Allie bite her lip.
"Did sister Marceline really lose her leg?" Allie asked in worry, and Eve didn't know what to say and she nodded. "Will she be alright?"
Eve placed her hand on Allie's shoulder and smiled, "I hope so. Let us both pray for her to get better," mentally, she added in her mind.
Allie nodded at Eve's words, quickly praying with her fingers linked, before she continued with her studies.
Last night, Viscount Eduard and his wife had gone to visit Marceline to let the young vampiress know that her wish to go to the South side mansion had been agreed upon. But they hadn't stayed in the room for more than five minutes.
Eve hoped that Marceline would turn to a new leaf in the House of Purgatory, but she doubted and wondered if her heart would ever come to like the vampiress the same as she had done when they first met.
Someone knocked on the door, and Alfie stepped inside the room, "Milady, your aunt has arrived. I have had her sit in the drawing room."
Hearing Lady Aubrey was finally here since she had last seen her, a smile appeared on her lips, and her eyes lit up. She turned to Allie and said, "I will be back in a few minutes, and in the meantime, keep studying, okay?"
Allie nodded and watched Eve leave with the butler before she returned her eyes to the book in front of her.
Eve's feet were quick as she walked through the corridors, with the back hem of her dress brushing the stairs as she climbed down. When she reached the drawing room, she pushed the door and found Lady Aubrey sitting on one of the chairs.
"Eve," Lady Aubrey smiled wide, and she stood up. Walking halfway, the two women hugged each other. "How are you? Even though you wrote letters to me, it feels like it has been years since I last saw you."
Eve felt the warmth coming from Lady Aubrey, and the smile on her lips continued to stay, happy to see the woman in front of her. When they pulled away, she replied,
"I am doing better, Aunt Aubrey. How was your journey? I hope everything was smooth?" Eve inquired as they walked to the long couch and took a seat while holding hands.
"It was smooth, just like any other day," Lady Aubrey responded and brought her hand to place it on Eve's cheek before dropping it on her lap. "It is good to know that you are doing better. Where is Eugene? Is he working?"
Eve turned to look at the closed drawing-room door and returned to receive Lady Aubrey's raised eyebrows. The older woman asked, "Is he alright?"
Eve told everything that had transpired until now since the time they had last met and things that she couldn't write in the letter. Lady Aubrey's lips were set in a thin line, feeling anger.
"Eugene is now resting in the servant's quarters," Eve let her know.
"I see… I knew it from the moment I met her. She isn't like us or like Vincent," Lady Aubrey shook her head. "Take me to Eugene, Eve. I would like to see him."
They stood up from the couch and were about to walk towards the door when Lady Aurora stepped in as if she had only arrived at the Moriartys mansion, inviting herself in.
"Well well well, look who we have here," Lady Aurora remarked in a taunting tone, watching Lady Aubrey from the head to the hem of her dress. "What are you doing here?" the vampiress asked, narrowing her eyes at the two humans.
Lady Aubrey offered a slight bow and said, "Good afternoon, Marchioness. I am here to visit Eve and Eugene."
"Is that so? I thought you were going to occupy another servant's room in this mansion," Lady Aurora stated with a prideful smile.
"Aunt Aubrey is staying in one of the guest rooms, Marchioness," Eve stated, which had both Lady Aubrey and the Marchioness turn to look at her. "As you know, our house is under some repairs and we will be going back once it's done."
Lady Aurora turned, annoyed by this information. Here she was, living in her deceased sister-in-law's mansion, while this lowly woman was going to live in the Moriarty mansion? She commented,
"Let us hope that the reconstruction doesn't take a year."
Eve politely replied, "We hope so too, Marchioness. Aunt Aubrey taught us not to depend and leech on others, and we would never want to use the Moriarty family's kindness."
Eve's words stung Lady Aurora, and she quietly glared at the lowly governess. She said, "Have your aunt dressed too, if she's attending the wedding. We are people from high society, so don't tarnish our image with cheap clothes that you would wear in your town."
Eve only offered a bow, and Lady Aurora stared at her. The Marchioness then turned around and left, looking for Lady Annalise, who had probably sensed the incoming headache approaching her as she was nowhere to be seen.
Not paying heed to the Marchioness, they started to walk from the drawing room, and Lady Aubrey whispered to Eve, "You don't have to worry about my dress for the wedding, Eve. I have just the right one that I have been saving," and she faintly smiled.
When they reached the servant's quarters, Eve knocked on the door, and Eugene opened it. Apart from him, in his room was Timotei, and an unaware Rosetta about her mother's presence in the mansion. Lady Aubrey didn't wait for Eugene to talk, and she pulled him for a hug, wrapping her arms around him.
"Don't you ever dare try to leave us!" Lady Aubrey scolded him while hugging him tighter. "I was so worried when Eve told me what happened."
"Forgive me for not taking care of myself, Lady Aubrey," Eugene apologised and felt the woman release her arms around him.
"I only have you and Eve with me. I would be very sad if something were to happen to either of you," Lady Aubrey blinked back the tears that had appeared in her eyes. "It is good to see that you both are fine."
"It is good to see you too, Lady Aubrey," Eugene smiled.
Lady Aubrey's eyes then fell on Rosetta, who stood there awkwardly. The older woman said with a serious face, "And you." The vampiress's back straightened, and her face turned worried. Eugene moved, letting Lady Aubrey walk towards Rosetta.
Rosetta fidgeted.
Lady Aubrey surprised the vampiress by hugging her, "Thank you, Rosetta. If it weren't for your help, we wouldn't have Eugene with us today. I will forever be indebted for what you did for us."
Eve smiled, noticing Rosetta blush at Lady Aubrey's words, as she had never been thanked like this before. The vampiress stuttered, "I—I didn't do anything. I didn't want him to d—die either."
"You have a big heart, dear," Lady Aubrey patted Rosetta's back, and Eve could tell that Rosetta would cry any second if Aunt Aubrey continued to praise the young woman.
Lady Aubrey stepped away from the vampiress, giving the vampiress some air to breathe as she seemed like she was in need of it. The older woman's eyes then fell on the black cat. The two of them stared at each other, and Eve decided to introduce the black cat,
"Aunt Aubrey, this is—"
Lady Aubrey said, "Timotei?"
Eve hadn't written about the cat in her letters, which surprised her, and she asked, "You know him?"
Lady Aubrey nodded, "There used to be this black cat that would often lurk around the house. A rat was once chasing him and he kept muttering something when I caught his name. Had to pull him down the branch because he seemed scared, but he ran away." She then said in a thoughtful voice, "I thought it was strange for a cat to be speaking, but he seemed harmless. I didn't see him after that."
Timotei cleared his throat, "It was a poisonous rat," trying to salvage his fierce reputation.
Remembering, Eve quickly informed Rosetta, "Your mother has arrived at the mansion and might soon look for you."
"So soon?" The vampiress's eyes widened. She looked back and forth, as if her heart wanted to spend more time with Eugene, but her mind knew she had to go to her mother. She bowed and exited the room so that her mother wouldn't catch her with Eugene!
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 422 Before The Grand Wedding
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During the time of supper, the Moriarty family minus Marceline, the Dawson's minus Eugene and the Hooke's sat at the dining table. At the moment, Viscount Eduard, Marquee Hooke and Vincent were discussing the wedding arrangements, while the others were mostly done with their meals.
Marquee Hooke said to them, "If we were in the North, I would have hosted the entire thing in our mansion. I believe you have already seen how big it is. But now as we are here, we were hoping you will be able to accommodate some of our guests, if you don't mind it."
"Moriarty mansion is big enough to accommodate the guests, you don't have to worry about it, Marquee Hooke," Viscount Eduard calmly assured the man and then called the butler, "Alfie."
"Sire?" Alfie stepped near Viscount Eduard, who inquired,
"Are the rooms arranged for the guests who are coming here in the next two or three days?"
"Everything has been prepared, Sire. The plumbing has been checked, along with the logs of wood stocked next to the fireplace cabinet and fresh sheets have been spread on the bed for the guest's use," the butler promptly replied.
Vincent then remarked, "I got Alfie to prepare everything beforehand as we'll be busy later, father. We don't want to disappoint the guests who are attending the wedding."
"Excellent! Thank you, Vincent," Marquee Hooke exclaimed, happy to hear and see that the Moriarty family were finally on board with this wedding. Everything was going according to his and his wife's plan. Just a few more days and their troubles would come to an end, the Marquee thought in his mind.
Vincent smiled like a saint, turning his gaze to look at Eve, who was sitting across the table from him. She was talking to his little sister, where the little girl was turning more expressive with the days that had been passing by.
As if sensing his gaze, Eve turned to look at him with their eyes locking in the room. A smile threatened on her lips, and she hid it behind the glass before Lady Aurora or Marquee Hooke would catch it.
But Lady Aurora's eyes were busy on Lady Aubrey, who was sitting on the other side of Eve.
Lady Aurora couldn't believe that she was sharing a table with a lowly human. And it wasn't that Lady Annalise was comfortable about it either. But she had started to make an exception when the matters were related to the governess, whom her son was so in love with.
Lady Aurora tore her gaze away from the worthless humans, and looked at Lady Annalise and said, "Pardon me, Anna, but we will be taking Rosetta home today. Have her stay with us until the day of the wedding."
Rosetta's eyes widened by doing so, it would cut down all the quality time she could spend with Eve and also her beloved Eugene. She protested, "Is that necessary, mother?"
"Aw, look at you. Already so attached to all the members of the Moriarty family," Lady Aurora fondly smiled at her daughter. "Don't worry, it is just till the day of the wedding, and after that you will be next to Vincent for the rest of your life."
Lady Annalise offered a stiff smile. She had spent enough time with Lady Aurora to last a lifetime without this woman's company. She responded, "I cannot wait to have Rosetta live here with us."
A proud smile graced Lady Aurora's, and she turned to look at her daughter. She said, "Thank you for the supper. We will take our leave now."
Everyone at the dining table stood up, and Vincent offered, "Let me see you three to the carriage. Alfie, get Rosetta's things from her room."
Lady Aurora raised her eyebrows, noting how Vincent had dropped the title with her daughter.
His actions showed the Hooke couple that he was finally submitting to their pressure. But the others in the dining room saw it differently, knowing he was cooking something that the marquee and the marchioness wouldn't like.
After seeing the Hooke family leave in the carriage along with the marchioness's maid, Blythe, he turned around and saw his parents in the hallways. His father said,
"I met Mr. Waltham today, who said something strange. That he received an invitation for the wedding from you."
"I thought that the Hooke's already sent the wedding invitations. Were the invitations sent late?" Lady Annalise frowned.
Vincent shook and nodded, turning Lady Annalise confused, and she sent a slight glare towards him. He said,
"It was a personal invitation to the people who are close to our family. I wanted to make sure they knew about the wedding that is going to take place," the crooked smile was quick to appear on Vincent's lips. "We don't want them being confused after Rosetta threw up during the soiree," his eyes glowed at the end.
"I don't know if I want to look forward to the wedding or not," Lady Annalise sighed, and Viscount Eduard placed his hand on his wife's back to comfort her.
"Do look forward to it ,dear mother. I don't get married every day," Vincent grinned.
"I will talk to you later, Vincent. Goodnight," Viscount Eduard said, and taking his wife, he turned and walked in the other direction.
On the way, Eve walked past the couple, offering them a slight bow before she reached where Vincent stood with his hands in his trouser pockets. With no one to monitor or question, he pulled his hand away from the pockets and let it circle her waist before pulling her to him with ease.
He kissed the tip of her nose and asked, "Did you miss me?"
"I did," Eve smiled. She asked him, "Are your wedding clothes ready?"
"Ready and in my room. How about yours?" Vincent stared into Eve's blue eyes.
"I need to go and collect mine tomorrow," Eve breathed, feeling a little nervous, and Vincent caught it.
"Worried?" He asked her and saw her shake her head.
"Not with you next to me." They smiled at each other. She then said, "You know what you did is risky. The late invitations."
"Even if the Hooke's find out, it's going to be fine," Vincent said, and one of his hands let go of her waist. He raised his hand to her face and picked up a strand of hair stuck to her temple, and she closed her eyes for a second before fluttering them open.
"But you want to see the bridge on fire," Eve's eyes slightly narrowed while she smiled, and a broad smile appeared on Vincent's lips.
"I was offended that they threw me in the Council's dungeon. I thought it is only fair that we see the drama. We all thrive on drama, my love," Vincent looked at her in mischief.
Eve shook her head at the trouble Vincent had planned for Rosetta's parents. The pureblooded vampire easily stepped out of the dungeon when he was locked, and when she visited him, he seemed like he was having fun.
She stepped back when she heard the clock ding and said, "Aunt Aubrey must be waiting for me."
Vincent nodded, "Let me walk you there." They left the hallways and walked further inside the mansion.
On the other side, not too far from the Moriarty mansion, the Hooke's carriage stopped in front of the Wright's mansion. Rosetta said, "There are still three days before the wedding, why did you bring me here so soon? I was bonding with him!" She spoke in frustration that she had been holding in since they had left the Moriarty mansion.
The Marchioness rolled her eyes, "You can bond with him after you are married to him. Now is the time to protect you."
"From what?" Rosetta asked in confusion.
"From Vincent and his family. Sometimes you can be so naive, Rose," Lady Aurora said as they climbed out of the carriage. She said, "Do you really think a pureblooded vampire like Vincent, who holds a reputation of being notorious, would have easily agreed without making some plans to avoid the marriage?"
Rosetta's face paled, and she was lucky they were standing in a little darkness for her mother not noticing her expression. She asked, "What do you think he has in mind?"
"He might have tried to hide you until the wedding day is over. It is better to take precaution," Lady Aurora said, who didn't know that no matter how many precautions she and her husband would take, as it was of no use and what was meant to happen, Vincent had already decided it.
Marquee Hooke said, "The servants have started to ask why their wages are not being paid, Aurora."
Lady Aurora frowned and said, "There's only little money left and we have to be frugal about it and I need to buy a gown for myself."
"If not full, we should pay them a little before they go talking about it to someone else," Marquee Hooke said in a low voice.
"Fine," Lady Aurora replied disinterestedly before stepping inside the mansion with others.
In another town's mansion where the Head Council Clayton lived, he was sitting in front of the fireplace with his eyes closed. With the tiring day that had passed and listening to the councilmembers talk and bicker in his chambers, he now sighed at the quietness in his mansion, which was older than his grandfather, who was dead. His family and siblings lived elsewhere, giving him peace of mind in this quiet place.
But then one of his servants appeared next to where he was sitting and informed him, "Master Clayton, Mr. Vincent Moriarty has sent out an invitation for you."
"An invitation?" Clayton repeated and muttered, "How many invitations are being sent for one wedding? And we saw each other today in the Council, he could have just reminded me. Does he think I won't attend it?" And he then raised his hand.
The servant quickly placed the envelope on Clayton's hand and folded his hands behind his back. The old vampire, who looked like a small vampire, tore the side of the envelope before pulling out the invitation card and reading it,
'To Clayton,
I hope this letter finds you well. This is the official invitation to my wedding held this Thursday in the main chapel of the town Brigade. Kindly disregard the earlier invitation. I hope you will be able to make your presence, and I am sure my little sister Allie--"
"Cannot wait to spend more time with you," Clayton narrowed his eyes, glaring at the letter. "Does he think I am a babysitter or her playmate?" He then continued to read the rest of the invitation,
'Genevieve Barlow and I would be thrilled to have your presence at our wedding.'
Below the invitation was signed by Vincent Moriarty.
Clayton blinked at the letter, reading the last line once again. He doubted he was the only one to receive this invitation. He quickly got up from his chair and dropped the envelope on the seat. He ordered,
"Tell the coachman to prepare the carriage now."
"Yes, sire!" The servant ran out of the room.
Soon Clayton climbed the carriage that rode towards Darthmore below the dark sky. Once he reached the Council's building, he walked through the corridors, with his long black cloak flying just above the ground behind him. He continued to make his way towards one of the offices, and on reaching in front of the room, he stepped inside.
On seeing the Head Council in the room, the councilman who stood behind the desk quickly stood and bowed, "Good evening, Head Cou--"
Clayton interrupted him, "Give me the last and this month's registry that holds the deals and treaties."
"Y--yes, right away, Sire!" The councilman quickly looked for it before pulling out two large books. But he didn't hand it to Clayton, as the Head Council appeared like a frail, small boy.
"What are you doing standing still? Give it to me," Clayton glared, and the councilman quickly handed the registry books to him.
Clayton carried the books with him and stepped outside. When he stepped into a deserted corridor, he stopped in front of a burning torch on the wall. Opening one of the books, he flipped through the pages, before he came to the date when Vincent had been locked in the Council's dungeon for a few hours.
His eyebrows furrowed when he didn't find Vincent's name there. Instead, there was someone else's name.
"This brat," Clayton muttered, not expecting Vincent to pull something like this. How did he even do it? For a pureblooded vampire, Vincent Moriarty's abilities were in a different league. But more importantly, "Does this person even exist?" he questioned to himself, as he stared at the name--
Eugene Weaver.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 423 Between The Two
Music Recommendation: Prelude- Olivia Belli
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One of the carriages belonging to the Moriarty family rode on the streets of Woodlock town with the hooves of the four horses clip-clopping on the road. The vehicle took a turn and entered Sullivan's mansion.
Eve stepped out of the carriage, along with her was Allie, who had accompanied her so that she could eat the cake in Lily's inn. When they reached the entrance of the mansion, the butler of the mansion appeared and asked Eve,
"How can I help you, milady?" Not allowing them to step inside as he stood, blocking the way.
The butler was loyal towards the Sullivan family and had been working for them for a long time now. It took the man only a glance to know that this woman was an outsider to the high society his master and mistress belonged to. His hollow eyes stared at the young lady in front of him.
Allie clutched onto Eve's hand, while looking around the place.
Though Eve picked upon the butler's behaviour, she offered a slight bow and replied, "I am here to see Lady Anaya Chambers. It is regarding the dress she is working on for me."
"Follow me," the butler informed, turning around and leading them to one of the rooms at the front. He pushed the door open and said, "You can sit here, while I go and inform Lady Anaya about your presence." ｂｅ𝚍ｎｏ𝚟𝚎ｌ.𝚌𝚘ｍ
But before Eve and Allie could step inside, Anaya came rushing through from the opposite side of the corridor and exclaimed, "I thought I saw the Moriarty carriage! It is so good to see you again, Eve." She turned to the butler and said, "Godfrey, I have got Ms. Barlow. Why don't you send a maid with something to drink to my room."
The butler bowed and walked away from there like a corpse.
"I should have informed you about visiting before coming here," Eve apologised, but Anaya shook her head.
"Please, don't worry about it. I did have an inclination that you would be visiting me today or tomorrow," Anaya smiled, coming closer to her and said in a low voice, "Especially after the letter that was sent here by Mr. Moriarty."
"The recent one," Eve murmured, and Anaya nodded.
Vincent Moriarty had sent her as well as the Sullivans the wedding invitation. After reading the content in her letter, she had hidden the letter that was sent to Sullivans as she knew her future family would only talk badly about Eve. Though she didn't pick other people's letters, this time she didn't see a harm in doing it, after all as only she and Noah would be attending the wedding.
"I am glad to hear that everything has been straightened," Anaya replied. The woman felt a little guilty as, after reading the invitation letter, she had felt a sense of relief. When her eye fell on the little girl next to Eve, she asked, "And who is this?"
Eve placed a gentle hand on Allie's head and said, "This is Allie, Vincent's second sister."
"Of course, I remember her," Anaya nodded and bent down to level herself to the little vampiress, stretching her hand forward and said, "Hello, Allie. I am Anaya Chambers. A friend of Eve's."
Allie immediately stepped behind Eve as if someone would steal her if she wandered one step away from her favourite sister. Eve said,
"She's shy. Don't mind her, she takes time to warm up."
"That's understandable. I can see why you don't mind teaching, especially if it's an adorable girl like her," Anaya continued to smile before standing straight. She said to Eve, "You must be eager to take a look at the dress. Let me take you there," with a hint of excitement in her voice.
When they reached Anaya's room, the she-wolf opened the door and invited them, "Please come in."
"Thank you," Eve murmured and stepped inside with Allie right behind her, who looked like a rabbit that looked left and right. But when her eyes fell on the wedding gown, her mouth was left hanging open.
Allie quickly left Eve's side to run towards the gown so that she could take a closer look at it, while Eve stood there staring at it. Her wedding gown.
The white in the silk gown was a little mellow compared to the usual bright white that women often wore. Like the colour of milk. It had threadwork from the top to the waist and slightly below it. The sleeves were long and transparent to look at, with the wrist holding more threadwork.
There was a silver-like sheen at the gown's hem in many inverted V's, which were embroidered with more threadwork. But that wasn't all. Eve noticed the small white pearls that Anaya had sewed into the threadwork, making the gown even more beautiful than it could be.
"Forgive me for taking liberties in adding things into the gown when you said you wanted a simple one," Anaya said, who stood next to Eve. "Wedding is such an important day for us women, and you are a beautiful person, Eve. It would be such a waste to have you wear something so simple."
"It is gorgeous, Anaya," Eve praised the she-wolf's hands and mind for creating something so enthralling as she had never seen this beautiful wedding gown before.
Little Allie was busy hovering her small hand above the pearls as if not believing something so pretty could exist.
"I think this might be my favourite gown until now. I am just happy for being able to make it for you," Anaya said before adding, "To marry someone you love, and who loves you back... not everyone is fortunate. And I think that you deserve to celebrate it with Mr. Moriarty."
Eve tore her gaze away from the wedding gown and met Anaya's eyes. When their eyes met, she noticed the hint of sadness in the she-wolf's eyes, which quickly disappeared. She wondered if Anaya was talking about Noah, as he was the one to whom she was going to get married.
"How about you try the gown so that we can see if there's any more adjustments that need to be made to the dress," Anaya said, walking to the dress and picking it up.
Eve nodded and changed into the gown, while Anaya helped her button up the back of the gown, which was slightly transparent until Eve's lower back.
"Sister Eve," Allie whispered in awe, "You look like an angel," her eyes holding stars and wanting to grow up like her favourite sister.
"She does look like an angel, doesn't she," Anaya remarked, while smoothening the silk skirt of the gown.
"That's thanks to your hard work and effort, Anaya. I don't think any seamstress would ever pay attention to such detail," Eve lowered her hands that she had raised while wearing the gown. "I think everyone in Woodlock and Skellington knows about your highly skilled hands that turn simple cloth into beautiful clothes."
"Thank you, Eve. I wanted to do my best and didn't want to disappoint you, my friend," Anaya responded and said, "The man you are marrying is a lucky person."
"I am lucky to have him beside me," Eve warmly replied. With Allie busy staring at the wedding gown without paying attention to what the two elders in the room were talking about, Eve said to Anaya, "Aunt Aubrey used to tell me that when the time is right, everything falls into the right places. Sometimes it's only a matter of time... between two people."
Anaya nodded, "True indeed." Her eyes stared into Eve's blue eyes, that was kind and gentle.
When Eve went back to admiring the wedding gown, Anaya pursed her lips before asking her, "May I ask you a question, if you don't mind?" Eve gave a nod, and the she-wolf asked, "Have you ever loved anyone else before Mr. Moriarty?"
Eve looked slightly startled and shook her head, "I don't think I have loved anyone like I love Vincent." She then frowned before asking, "Is there someone you are in love with whom your parents disapprove of?" So it wasn't Noah whom Anaya had earlier remarked about?
Not able to tell the truth, Anaya smiled and said, "I do. But it isn't that my parents disapproved of him. It's just that he...was in love with someone else."
"I am sorry to hear that, Anaya. You are a wonderful woman, and maybe it wasn't the right time," Eve pursed her lips with a frown and then said, "Sometimes things don't work to make way for something better. Like the Duke, who will keep you happy. He is a good man and you will be able to fall in love with him one day. But... if you think you have a chance with that man you are in love with, a chance to be happy with him, you shouldn't give up on him. Let him know that you love him."
Anaya smiled and replied, "Thank you, Eve. I needed to hear it from someone." She needed to hear it from someone, to know if she was doing it right.
When someone knocked on the closed room's door, Anaya who held pins in her hands murmured, "It must be the maid with the tea." She said, "Come in."
When the door opened, it wasn't the maid who entered the room, but Noah, "Anaya, moth--" he stopped mid-sentence when his eyes fell on the stunning future bride in the wedding gown. "Genevieve," he breathed her name.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 424 Protecting In My Own Way
Music Recommendation: Next time (gold digger)- Stuart Earl
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Noah couldn't take his eyes off Eve. As beautiful as she looked in the wedding gown, he felt his chest sting. But he put on a smile and he greeted her with a bow, "Good afternoon, Genevieve. My apologies for interrupting."
"That's fine," Eve shook her head, and she said, "I was just trying on the gown so that Anaya could check if everything is okay."
Anaya realised that Noah had drawn a line between him and the human by calling the woman Genevieve, and not Eve. She said, "Mr. Moriarty sent out a formal invitation yesterday for his and Eve's wedding. Isn't that great?"
Noah's calm expression didn't change, but something in his chest hardened, while he smiled and, "It is." He stared at Eve, who smiled at him and said, "I think it's great news. Congratulations."
"Thank you, Noah," Eve thanked him.
Noah then turned to Anaya and said, "Mother is asking for you and I said I would let you know." He then turned back to look at Eve and said with a polite bow, "Pardon me, I have something to attend to and will talk to you later," and he excused himself from the room.
Noah, who had stepped out of Anaya's room, continued to walk away with his heart beating, and when he reached the end of the corridor, he stopped. He pressed the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed as he tried calming his emotions.
The day was near. He came to realise that knowing and being in the moment of it happening were two different things. It was time for him to let go of his feelings for Eve. She was Vincent Moriarty's woman and not his. The Duke was sensible and mature enough to know how far one could stay in love with a person and he knew Eve would always be special to him. His first love.
Noah had sworn to protect Eve long ago, and he would fulfil the promise he had made to himself.
Dropping his hand to his side, he opened his eyes and walked away from the corridor. Walking past many corridors, he came to stand in front of a carved double door and pushed it open without knocking it.
"Welcome back home, Noah. How was your trip?" Uncle James asked him, who was sitting comfortably on the couch and reading a parchment.
"We need to talk." Noah stood with a serious expression on his face.
"Sit," James instructed Noah, stretching his hand towards one of the empty couches. "Whatever you want to discuss, we can discuss it with ease. Is it about Sylvester? Or did Ramsey refuse to agree to the deal that was offered to him?"
Noah stared at his uncle. He walked near the empty couch and took a seat. He then asked, "Why are you collecting sirens and mermaids in the East land?"
The older werewolf chuckled at Noah's question, "That was all? And here I thought it was something so grave that had upset you."
"Why?" Noah repeated the question calmly. "Are you planning to sell them in bulk to the lords or is it the King?"
James's lips twisted and he linked the fingers of both his hands to each other, "Mm, you are like my son, where I sometimes forget that I am the one who watered and grew you up. I am looking for a specific kind, though I am not sure if the kind comes from a mermaid or a siren." He took a pause and then said, "I am looking for that particular girl, whose mother blinded one of my eyes."
As the older man said this, one of his eyes turned yellow, while the other eye continued to stay black.
So he was right, Noah confirmed it. His uncle was searching for Eve, and he asked, "Are you still holding a grudge against that woman? Maybe the small girl was murdered or eaten."
James shook his head and got up from where he had been sitting. He walked to where the trolley of liquor bottles were placed. He picked up one of the bottles and said, "She is alive. Or, more rightly to be said, she can't be dead."
"How can you be so sure? You told me that no one was able to find her even though she couldn't have gone too far," Noah stated and heard his uncle click his teeth.
"I couldn't find her that day and the next few weeks," James murmured in annoyance.
James poured the liquor into two glasses, and he turned around. He said, "Noah, our family, the blood that runs in my veins, in your veins, it isn't something simple." He walked to where Noah sat and offered him the glass, "Our bloodline originally comes from one of the sons of King Gauntlet. Our ancestors have always tried to keep it pure without mixing it with another kind."
"I am already aware about our bloodline, but what does that have to do with that outcast of the woman who died?" Noah asked, taking the glass in his hand.
"It has so much to do, Noah," his uncle answered with a low voice as if it was a secret not many were aware of. "Our family has the ability to reach a greatness that not many cannot even imagine. Our present is tied with the past that many have forgotten, but we Sullivans have continued to wait for the right time and opportunity to come. We don't know about the other families that exist from the other King Gauntlet's son, probably dead, but we haven't forgotten our roots."
James took his previous seat and said, "You know the story about the sea goddess, who promised her daughter to be married to one of the sons? That creature was meant for one of the sons of King Gauntlet. To our ancestor, but she was stolen away and killed. That creature has been reborn again with the eyes of the siren, and body of a mermaid. And I saw that girl that night."
James Sullivan remembered the night he had been stabbed in one of his eyes. It was a night he couldn't forget. With one of his eyes bleeding, he had followed the woman and her little daughter out of the mansion. But he had caught the woman before she could escape.
"Run!" The woman screamed before he believed he had killed her.
Dropping the woman on the ground, his eyes fell on the little girl, who had turned to look at her mother with tearful eyes. But the colour of her eyes had changed to gold, with slits in them.
Coming back to the present, James said to Noah, "Before I knew it, that girl had escaped. But it isn't too late, as she will fall into the trap that I have laid for her," a cunning smile appeared on his lips.
The more Noah heard about the story that people considered to be a myth and forgotten, the more worried he became for Eve's safety. He said, "I would like to be useful to you in this matter. Tell me how I can help you."
"Of course, I will let you know. But don't tell your parents anything about it, I don't want them worrying as they don't believe in such things," the older werewolf said, and Noah agreed with a nod. James then said, "I hear from a servant, that the Moriartys governess is back in our mansion. Tell Anaya not to mingle with people like that."
"I think it would be best to let Anaya decide on such matters, Uncle James. She's not a Sullivan, but a Chambers," Noah said, finishing the drink. He placed the empty glass on the side and he stood up. "I need to go to the Council to submit the reports I received. Excuse me."
Noah stepped out of the room and walked through the corridors with a heaviness in his mind that only increased with every passing day. The weight had grown heavy such that neither could he drop it nor could he carry it any longer.
When he reached the mansion's hallways, he heard Anaya and Eve talking to each other. But what he noticed was his family butler, standing at a distance, muttering something under his breath.
"What are you talking to yourself?" Noah asked in a nonchalant voice.
The butler turned, not noticing the Duke come behind him. He offered a bow before answering, "The lady and the little girl who came to visit Lady Anaya. They reminded me of the time when someone similar had visited Mr. James in the mansion. Mother and daughter."
Noah turned to look in the direction of the two women and the little vampiress in front of the carriage. He ordered, "Fetch the blue coat from my room. I will be heading out."
"Yes, Sire," the butler bowed and walked past him to head in the direction of his room.
Noah stared at Eve, who smiled at something Anaya said. He turned around, and his footsteps moved fast yet firm. He unbuttoned his right hand's cuff and rolled the sleeve to the elbow.
When he reached his room, the butler had already picked up his coat and was about to leave the room. The butler asked, "Did you forget something, Master Noah?"
"Yes," Noah replied, and he ran his fingers through the butler's chest.
"M--master Noa--ah?" The butler struggled, but Noah quickly pulled the man's heart out and watched the person drop dead on the floor with blood starting to pool.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 425 Body In The Closet
Before someone would notice it, Noah closed the door of his room and dragged the deceased butler to one of his closests. He closed the cupboard. He washed the blood off his hand with water in the bathtub. He then stepped out of the room with his coat in his hand, locking the door of his room so that no one would enter and find the butler's body.
As he walked, he unrolled his sleeves back to the way it was earlier and made his way through the corridors and the stairs.
Once he reached the ground floor, he noticed his father had just arrived from outside. His father stood with his mother, who was talking to Anaya.
Jeffrey Sullivan turned his head. Noticing his son, he asked, "Going to the Council already?"
Noah offered a slight bow to his parents and replied, "Yes, I need to submit some of the documents to Clayton. He is expecting them by this evening."
"If you are going there, I need you to hand a document to the inner councilman, Mr. Hart," his father said, "Hold on, let me bring it," saying he left the place.
"Who had come to the mansion earlier?" Lady Hilda asked Anaya with a curious look.
"It was the lady from the Moriarty family, Lady Hilda. She came here to take the dress that I had promised to make this week for her," Anaya replied without revealing that it was Eve, who had earlier visited.
"Oh!" Lady Hilda raised her eyebrows and remarked, "It must have been the elder daughter of the Viscount. She did come here to talk to you last time, didn't she?"
Anaya only nodded. It was because Marceline Moriarty had come to meet her in Sullivan's mansion.
Lady Hilda said, "You know, yesterday I met the Hookes at Hollow Valley. The marchioness looked very excited about the coming wedding and it seemed like she wasn't done shopping even after that many bags in her servant's hands."
Noah turned and looked at Anaya, who continued nodding at what his mother was saying. It seemed to him that the Hookes were still under the impression that their daughter was going to get married to Vincent, while the pureblooded vampire sent invitations about his and Eve's wedding without their knowledge.
"Well anyways. I need to find where our butler went, he was supposed to send a package to the Bishop's family. Anaya dear, come to my room later, I have something to give you. I will leave you two alone," Lady Hilda smiled, and walked away from there, back to her room.
When Lady Hilda was out of sight, Anaya whispered to Noah, "I took away the letter that was written for your family by Mr. Moriarty." She pulled out the envelope and handed it directly into Noah's hand. "This one is for you."
Noah took it, staring at the envelope before a small smile appeared on his lips and he said, "Thank you, Lady Anaya."
"You are welcome," Anaya responded, and she saw him stare into her eyes.
Soon afterwards, Noah's father returned with an envelope and said, "Don't forget to give this to Mr. Hart, Noah."
Anaya who quietly stood there, her eyes fell on the Duke's sleeve, which had a bright red spot. It looked like blood…
"Yes, father," Noah bowed again and offered a polite smile, saying, "I shall go now," and walked away from there.
Anaya wondered where Noah received that stain from. Because when he had earlier entered the room, she hadn't noticed it.
Hours passed and night arrived, where the streets turned deserted as everyone had quickly taken shelter in their houses. Lanterns burned outside and inside the houses, the fireplaces glowing brightly in the wealthy families houses, while in the houses of the poor, the logs of wood had already exhausted, and they took shelter and warmth in their ragged blankets.
In Sullivan's mansion, Lady Hilda sat at the dining table and questioned, "Is it just me or have you all not seen the butler since noon?"
James, who sat across from her at the table, responded, "Now that you brought it up, I don't think I have seen him. How strange." He then turned to look at one of the maids, raising his hand and questioned, "Where is he?"
The maid bowed and answered in a meek voice, "I don't know, Sire…"
"You don't know where he is? Who has been giving you work?" Lady Hilda didn't look impressed by the maid's answer and turned to her husband, "Did you send him somewhere or did he tell you where he was going?"
Noah decided to answer, "He said he was going to the market," while Anaya sat next to him.
"Oh, so he did inform, before he went out. But how long is the trip to the market?" Lady Hilda questioned with a frown. "He should have been back by now."
Noah's features barely ruffled and replied, "He said he was going on the mansion's errand and I thought it was the usual work. Though I did find it strange that he didn't take any carriage or servant along with him."
"That's very unlike him," Lady Hilda pursed her lips before turning to look at her husband and saying in a worried tone, "We should search for him."
"It has been only a few hours, Hilda. Let us wait till later and then look for him. I will put in a word to the town's magistrate so that he can let us know if he's truly gone missing," Noah's father assured his mother, who nodded.
Anaya's mother, Mrs. Madge Chambers, who had joined the Sullivans at the table, said, "Let us hope and pray the butler is fine. It is hard to find a decent servant, who can manage so many servants and know how to operate the insides of the mansion smoothly."
"That is true. He has been an asset to the Sullivans family," James replied before everyone continued to have their supper.
And while everyone was busy having their meals, Anaya silently chewed her food carefully, while her eyes moved to the corner to stare at Noah. When everyone finished eating and left the dining room to return to their rooms, while some moved to the drawing room, Anaya followed Noah to his room with a distance between them.
Noah stopped midway and turned to meet her eyes. He asked her, "Did you want to say something, Lady Anaya?"
Anaya's footsteps had slowed down, cautiously looking at the Duke whom she had admired. She made her way towards where he stood, while the candles in the corridors continued to burn and emit enough light to keep the place bright.
She asked, "Did something happen to the butler?"
Noah cooly watched Anaya's curious expression and asked, "Why do you ask that?"
"Nobody has seen him since you arrived this afternoon…"
A small smile appeared on his lips, and Anaya noticed how cold it appeared. A rare glimmer of an expression that she had never seen before.
Before Noah could deny it, her eyes looked at his shirt sleeve, where the drop of blood had darkened. She said, "That's his blood, isn't it?"
The slight smile on Noah's lips didn't fade. He stated, "You should get back to your room and get some sleep. You don't want to be caught in something you cannot get out. Goodnight, Anaya."
Five hours passed, and everyone in Sullivan's mansion was fast asleep, including the servants. Noah had carried the deceased butler's body from his room and, with his coachman, Kieran's help put the body in the carriage before driving it away from the mansion.
They disposed of it in a way where no one would ever come to find the deceased butler's body.
Noah watched Kieran return after burying the body, his eyes cold and expressionless.
"Sire, it is done," informed the coachman, but when the Duke didn't respond, he called, "Sire?"
Noah's eyes shifted to the coachman. He said, "Let us get back to the mansion." Turning around, he climbed inside the carriage.
It was getting hard to balance his love for his family, the blood in his veins, and the love he had for the woman to protect her. As the carriage started to move, Noah stared out the window.
When the carriage reached the mansion, his coachman went to park the vehicle, while he entered the mansion. His mother was awake, walking in the hallways with a shawl wrapped around her body. He asked her,
"Haven't you slept yet, mother?"
"I don't know why, but I couldn't. I thought I would take a walk in the mansion to tire myself. Where were you?" Lady Hilda asked. "Did you find anything about the butler?"
Noah softly sighed, "I went to see if I could find him. But I couldn't."
Lady Hilda exhaled in exasperation and muttered, "Where could he have gone? I will get back to bed, you rest too, Noah," she placed her hand on the side of his face before kissing his forehead and leaving for her room.
As Noah started to head towards his room, one of the servants walked quickly towards him and said, "Duke Noah, this came for you three hours ago. It was told to hand it to you."
Noah took the envelope and walked to his room. Once he stepped inside his room, he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it in the water. The envelope had no name, and he opened it. As he read the letter, the werewolf's eyes hardened. He crumpled the paper, throwing it in the burning fireplace.
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