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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 476 Vengeance Of The Siren
Vincent turned curious, and he asked, "What did I do?"
"You and your father killed my mother... You are the reason my sister is dead. You will pay for the sins you have committed."
Vincent could only guess that this was the siren talking from the past, the past that connected to his original bloodline. He used his one hand to hold down both her hands that pressed above her head, while he tried to snap her out of her trance state.
"Eve! Wake up!" Vincent called her. When he placed his other hand on the side of her cheek, he gently said to her, "I know you are in there, my sweet girl. I need you to snap out of it."
But Eve turned her face and bit into Vincent's hand with her jagged teeth, her eyes glowing more. He hissed at the pain caused by her jagged teeth sinking into his skin, but he didn't stop himself from waking her up. He shook her shoulder, "Snap out of it! Come back to me, Eve!"
The growls coming from Eve lowered before they disappeared, and the room turned quiet again. Her eyes slowly turned from gold to a clear blue colour, and she finally looked like herself. Feeling the iron taste of the blood in her mouth and Vincent on top of her, while he had restrained her, she asked,
"W--what happened?"
Vincent released her hand and took the dagger from her hand. He said, "You turned into your siren side and wanted to kill me. Are you okay?" He helped her sit upright on the bed.
"I don't remember what happened... I fell asleep and the next moment, I woke up to this..." Eve's mind felt jumpy and she could feel her heart racing.
"Deep breaths," Vincent instructed when he noticed Eve struggling to bring her heart back to its normal pace.
When Eve's eyes fell on Vincent's hand, her eyes widened, "You are bleeding!"
"Just a little bite," Vincent didn't look fazed by it. "Usually I am the one who does the biting, but this definitely brings back memories," he said, looking at the wound in his hand.
She had bitten him... Eve thought, as she stared at his bloody hand. She felt terrible, noticing it wasn't like a vampire bite because his hand now sported a deep gash, and blood continued to drip down his hand.
"We need to clean it!" Eve replied in worry, and she was about to put her feet down from the bed when Vincent stopped her.
"I am fine, Eve. Perfectly fine," Vincent showed his hand, where the wound began to heal and he licked the blood off the back and front of his hand until it was clean. "Give me a moment." And he went to pick a towel, turning it wet before returning to her. "You are the one who needs to be cleaned," and he wiped his blood smeared around her mouth.
"I bit you... I was about to kill you. The siren side wants to kill you..." Eve whispered in shock, the thought sinking further in her mind. "Why?" Everything had been fine until now, so why was it happening now? She asked herself.
Vincent's eyebrows held a slight furrow, and his eyes shifted to look at the dagger he had placed on the surface of the bed, "The culprit is there. It's a weapon to kill me or any other descendant of King Gauntlet... and some part of your siren side seems to be influenced by it. It must have awakened something in you. Something that has been waiting to complete the revenge."
Eve stared at Vincent before her throat went dry, and she said, "Explain to me..."
"You have read half the story and we know bits and pieces of information about the curse. The book said that Nerhys was going to get her daughter married to one of King Gauntlet's sons. But when stories are passed from one person to another, it alters the original story. Either things are added, to dramatise it, or some details go missing. Like how Nerhys had another daughter, who wanted revenge. It just so happens, that we were all destined for a cause."
Eve felt her head spinning and pressed her hand to her forehead. She shook her head, "No... this can't be happening. You, the Sullivans, you come from King Gauntlet's bloodline, but ..."
"We know nothing about your mother or your father's origin, Eve. Your attraction towards the dagger speaks about the possibility of you having Nerhys as your ancestor," Vincent explained to her. He knew Eve was special because of her hybrid blood from her parents, but he hadn't expected her to be related to the Sea Goddess.
"What if the dagger responds to any other sea creature? Just to complete the job?" Eve asked as she didn't like the idea of stabbing Vincent or even Noah. The story she had read and had been curious about, in the end, she ended up being part of it.
"The siren wants revenge, for killing her mother and sister," Vincent said what he had heard, and Eve's face paled.
Suddenly someone knocked on the room door, interrupting them, and they turned to look at the door. Vincent climbed out of bed, walked towards the door, and opened it. Out there stood his grandparents with a frown on their faces.
"Everything alright, Vincent? Your grandmother said she heard someone's voice, and wanted me to make sure you are both okay," Strix said, who held a lantern in his hand.
Vincent offered a bright smile, "Yes, everything is perfect. We were just having a little fun."
"See, Ravette? I told you that the children were probably trying to give us great grandchildren as quickly as possible," Strix chuckled, and Lady Ravette relaxed. "You both have a very very goodnight, while your grandmother and I will take a quick peek at the chambers to make sure the lady is still in her coffin. Goodnight Vincent." 𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎ｌ.𝚘ｒｇ
"Goodnight," Vincent wished them back, watching them turn and walk away from there.
He closed the door and then turned to Eve, who stared right back at him where her face had lost colour. He said,
"Let us head to Skellington tomorrow."
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 477 Unchanging Heart Through The Tide
Music Recommendation: Come Home- The Newton Brothers
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Dawn was yet to break when two men stood in a quiet alley of a lowly town that many didn't come to walk or pass by. The sky was dark and starless, cold with the wind that tried to sneak into the narrow alley path.
"Why do you want one of them dead? And letting the rest go?" The man questioned, who wore a long brown coat and a hat. "What I don't get is, why even let them go, when they are of such use."
"You speak too much," Noah responded, his face holding no kindness or delicate appearance. Rather he looked like a ghost passing through the towns in search of something lost. "Don't forget what you are supposed to do. I don't want any mistakes in it."
The man was a person, who was used to doing odd jobs depending on the money that was given to him. It started with small jobs like finding information and went to the bigger ones that involved killing someone. He nodded, and replied, "My men and I will let all of them go back to the sea, except one, who will die in torture and blood spilt. The siren is it?"
"Yes," Noah answered. Then he said, "Here is the money for the job," and offered two small bags that jingled inside.
"Always such a pleasure to work for you, Duke Noah," the man grinned, excited to have the gold coins, and he bowed. "Is there anything else that I can be of your use? Don't hesitate to contact me."
Noah gave a nod and walked away from the man, leaving the alley and getting back on his carriage, who was quick to leave the quiet town asleep.
As the Duke of Woodlock travelled back to his town now, his handsome face held a grim expression.
If it was possible, Noah would have set the one siren free too. But he had to make it look like there was a struggle. As if the mermaids and the sirens were taken by someone more powerful than the magistrate Mr. Shaw, who was guarding the hidden pond that belonged to his uncle. One sacrifice for a bigger picture so that his uncle would not come to doubt or guess who was behind it, he thought to himself.
By the time he reached Woodlock, the dawn had broken with sun rays reaching the lands and warming the people.
Once the carriage reached the front of Sullivan's mansion, the vehicle stopped, and Kieran quickly opened the door for Noah with a bow.
"Park it at the front. I will be going out after lunch," Noah ordered his coachman, who offered him a deeper bow.
"Yes, Sire," Kieran answered. Since Eve and Vincent's wedding, Noah occupied himself with work and getting his Duke duties quickly before he could spare time for his errands that concerned what his uncle was up to.
Noah walked inside the mansion, his coat taken by the newly assigned butler, and he continued to walk. On his way to his room, he met his mother in the deserted corridor.
Lady Hilda said, "It seems like the Council Head has been handing you too much work, or is it that you decided to take more work upon yourself?" When Noah came near her, they kissed each other before greeting, "Good morning."
"Good morning, mother," Noah politely greeted his mother. "You seem to have woken up quite early today."
"I have," Lady Hilda nodded, and he noticed her wearing a slight frown on her dainty face. She said, "The Chambers are leaving today. I will be missing them, especially Anaya. She's a good and young lady."
"She is," Noah agreed to his mother's words. "I am sure you can always invite them to visit and stay with us again. Or visit them."
Lady Hilda looked straight into her son's eyes, "She is good, but not good enough for you? Anaya is a lovely woman, with excellent manners and comes from a good family. She's pretty and speaks very fondly about you."
Noah smiled at his mother, "I never said she isn't good enough. I think she's more than good in her own way."
"Then what is it, Noah?" Lady Hilda asked her son. She pulled his hand and took him to a side, where there was a window. She said, "I don't understand why you are letting such a treasure go, when she is perfect for you."
Lady Hilda Sullivan had hoped for her son to be married to the Chambers' daughter, Anaya. It was a good match, and she had noticed how they looked good together. She had been keen about it for a long time and invited the Chambers, knowing the young woman's slight inclination on her son. But her son's mind seemed to have been occupied with work.
She said, "If I knew this was going to happen, where your head is wrapped around work, I would have asked your father to reign as the Duke for a little longer until you are married."
"That isn't the reason, mother. I have my own thoughts and reasons," Noah's tone was polite and barely raised. He said, "You, father, and everyone else here believe that Anaya and I would make a good couple. But no one ever sees what I want. You cannot force things to work because you want to. Everyone is busy pushing their feelings on what they want, without looking at what I want, for me to follow. I do not deny that Anaya is a good woman. But it is because she is a good woman that I believe that it would be better for us to not have the union you were looking forward to."
Lady Hilda was taken aback by her son's words and softly said, "We have never forced you for anything, Noah. You grew up in a family that many can only wish and pray. And what does your heart want? Do you have someone else in your heart, Noah?" She asked with a frown.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 478 I Have Been Humbled
Noah didn't want to share it with his mother. He had once shared with her something and it had gone to his father, before he was punished. And though Eve was now married, he didn't see a point to tell about this. He said,
"No. I think it is time everyone stopped expecting and telling me what to do. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am the Duke now and I have responsibilities to complete and at the moment, marriage is not on my mind."
He was mentally exhausted after all these years of having to push and meet everyone's expectations, to walk in the lines drawn for him, that he couldn't do it anymore.
Lady Hilda's expression told everything she wanted to tell her son. But she implicitly let Noah know, "I am disappointed by your action, son. It isn't too late yet, and if you think again, Anaya might change her mind and stay."
"We have forced people enough, mother. Let us not do it anymore before more people get hurt," Noah offered a bow to his mother, and walked away from there.
After three hours passed, the three carriages that belonged to the Chambers family was being readied to leave. It was pulled to the front of the mansion. The servants of the Sullivans carried boxes, loading them at the back of the vehicle so that the Chambers could take it back with them from Woodlock.
Mr. and Mrs. Chambers was talking to Noah's parents and uncle, while Anaya and Noah stood at the front of the four horses of the first carriage, a little away from their parents. Anaya, who stepped out of the mansion, smiled at the elders, before her eyes fell on Noah, who was near the carriage.
Anaya made her way to where Noah was with a smile and she said,
"Duke Noah, I am glad that you are here before I depart. For a moment I thought we wouldn't see each other." She came to stand in front of him and said, "I wanted to let you know that It has been a pleasure spending time at the Sullivans mansion. At Woodlock and knowing people here. I have made memories that I will cherish every one of them until my memory and heart will let me keep it."
"It has been a great pleasure to have you and your family at the mansion. The atmosphere in the mansion has been less gloomier than it usually is, during your stay," Noah let Anaya know, that brought a smile on her lips. He bowed, "Forgive me, if there were some things that didn't meet your expectations."
The smile on Anaya's lips faltered, and she said, "Everything was great. I had a good time here and I mean it. I got the chance to meet new people, and though with unexpected scenarios, it was still good. I also realised that sometimes, what we hope and wish for, it doesn't often come to be met." She then softly chuckled and said,
"Might I say, you have humbled my thinking, Duke Noah."
Noah's head slightly tilted in question and he asked, "I don't think I understand what you mean."
Anaya then said, "Though not boastful from the outside, I have always prided myself by thinking that I have excellent manners than most of the women from our high society. And that I am pretty, and there would be barely a handful or less men, who would reject me. But I have come to realise that is never enough. One can have everything, from wealth, to beauty to manners, and yet you can be rejected because you didn't have the spark the person was looking for."
The she-wolf took a deep breath to calm her emotions. She was a strong woman, and she knew feelings couldn't be forced. They were supposed to come from within the other, and maybe sometimes feelings could be nurtured, but Anaya was aware that Noah was past that point. She saw it in his eyes.
"You are a lovely woman, Anaya," Noah said to her, and she shook her head with a smile.
"I don't need consolation words, Duke Noah," Anaya said, pursing her lips to control her emotions. "I know feelings cannot be forced."
"I wasn't going for consolation words," Noah corrected her, and she stared at him. "Maybe if I wasn't born here, and if we had met in a different time. In different places of our lives, I would have been able to reciprocate your feelings."
Anaya nodded with a bitter smile and said, "I seemed to have missed timing. Maybe not this life, but in the next one?"
Noah smiled at the she-wolf's words, "I agree," and that was enough to bring a smile to Anaya's face. "Take care of yourself."
"You too. I hope whatever you are doing, that you see the fruit of it," Anaya wished him luck, while she concealed the worry in her mind. Because even though many days had passed since the death of the former family butler of the Sullivan family, the search for the deceased continued.
"Shall we leave?" Mr. Chambers asked his wife and then turned to his daughter, who was talking to the Duke. "The soothsayer said there is going to be a blizzard and we don't want to get caught in it."
"Yes, father," Anaya responded with a smile and then turned back to Noah, "Thank you for everything again."
"Thank you," Noah bowed and watched the young she-wolf walk to where her mother stood, smiling and sharing a few words with his parents. After a minute, the two women from the Chambers' family climbed inside the carriage.
"We look forward to you visiting us, Duke Noah," Mr. Chambers said to Noah, offering a bow, and Noah did the same.
"I look forward to it," Noah smiled and watched the man climb inside the carriage. Soon the carriage door was shut.
Noah walked to where his family stood, watching the Chambers family, and his eyes met the young woman inside it, who offered him a polite smile. Soon the coachmen pulled the reins of the horses, and the three carriages left Sullivan's mansion one after another on the snowy road before disappearing.
In the travelling carriage, Lady Madge Chambers noticed her daughter looking outside the window and asked her, "Are you sure you don't want to stay here a little longer, Anaya?"
Anaya turned and smiled at her mother's question. She replied, "I have been missing our home. I think we have spent enough time in Woodlock and papa must have work to attend to."
"Well that is true. There are some things that need attention," Mr. Chambers said with a nod.
Lady Mardy said, "How strange," with a frown, "I thought Lady Hilda would persuade her son, after all she did invite us. But it seems like Noah is busy with other things. We will find a better man than him for you, Anaya," she said to her daughter, and Anaya offered a smile to her mother, who went on to talk with her father.
Anaya turned back to look at the snow, her heart growing heavier as the carriage moved farther away from Woodlock and Sullivan's mansion.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 479 Leaving Holy Oak
Eve covered her mouth with her hand, when another yawn escaped. She couldn't get a wink of sleep until early this morning, which was barely for two hours. After almost stabbing Vincent with the dagger, she couldn't go back to sleep, fearing it would repeat, even though her pureblooded vampire husband had assured her that she didn't have to worry about it.
Right now, she stood in front of the mansion, watching Mr. Briggs and Adam loading their trunks in the back of the carriages.
When another yawn escaped from Eve's lips, she heard sharp clicks of shoes from the hallways and turned to notice it was Lady Ravette. The woman remarked, "Looks like my grandson has taken after his grandfather in the art of keeping his wife awake."
Eve offered a quick bow to the old vampiress. Not knowing how to respond to the vampiress's words, and an awkward smile made its way to her lips.
Lady Ravette's eyes briefly moved to look at the two servants next to the carriage, and she said, "A pity that you both aren't staying here longer." She then turned to Eve and asked, "Don't take too long to return here, Genevieve. We look forward to both yours and Vincent's visit."
Eve nodded, "We'll try our best to return sooner, grandmother."
Eve's words were music to the old vampiress's ears, and though she didn't smile, she nodded with her dull eyes staring into space. The vampiress said, "It is good to see that Vincent chose you to be his wife. Even as a boy, he was always picky with his company, not letting anyone close to him except for his mother. My husband and I often wondered... on what kind of woman he would end up marrying, if he decided to marry that is. Always stay by his side, and I can assure you that he will love and protect you."
"I know," Eve replied with a smile, "Vincent has proved it time after time, that I can always count on him."
Before Vincent and his grandfather Strix showed up, Lady Ravette took out something from her dress pocket and offered it to Eve, "Stretch your hand, Genevieve."
Eve brought her hand forward and felt something cold drop into her hand. It was a small, transparent vial with a colourless liquid. She asked, "What is this?"
"This is a wedding present from me to you. This is a concoction that I was able to get my hands on. It is a once in a lifetime potion, and it could be anything, depending on what the user wants it to be. But it can be used only once," Lady Ravette curled Eve's fingers so the younger woman could secure the vial.
Staring at the glass vial, Eve asked, "What did you mean, when you said it could be anything?"
A slow smile made its way to the old vampiress's lips. Eve's eyes met the woman's eyes, who said, "It could be a potion of love, or it could be a potion of luck. If a person intends, it could be used as an elixir for you to live forever. If you think it's water, then it will be water. It is called the liquid that takes the shape of the person who uses it."
Eve was surprised that something like this existed. She said, "This seems to be something very valuable... why aren't you keeping it for yourself?"
"Why do you think I am not?" Lady Ravette questioned her back, which brought a slight frown to Eve's face. "What is precious to me, you have it next to your side."
Vincent, Eve thought to herself.
"Let us hope that you use it for something worthwhile, and if you don't, you can always pass it down to someone you care about," Lady Ravette said in a lowered voice.
When it was time to leave, all the trunks were tied to the carriage, and the elderly Moriarty couple stood before the newlywed couple.
Strix cautioned them, "Be careful on your way back." Suddenly, Timotei ran out of the mansion and jumped inside the carriage. "Oh, you are taking the cat with you? We were hoping to have it in our company. Something to hold hostage so that you two would come to visit us quickly."
"It's sad that we don't have a pet of our own," Lady Ravette murmured, and Timotei glared at one of the carriage walls from inside the carriage. The black cat felt shivers run down his body, as he didn't want to be the pet of this crazy old vampire couple.
"Mm, I would have loved to leave him here, but Eve is attached to her cat," Vincent replied to his grandfather. "We should get going now."
Strix nodded and then said, "Have a good journey." The old couple watched the young couple enter the carriage before the two carriages rode away.
Eve watched the Moriarty mansion grow smaller with every turn of the wheel that moved forward. Once it disappeared behind the trees, she turned away from the window and relaxed on the carriage's seat. She asked Vincent,
"Where is the dagger?"
"In my coat pocket where you can reach," Vincent joked before he said, "I spoke to grandfather about it, and he told that they had tried to destroy the dagger many times before, but it was of no use. Nothing ever works, and it is too strong. I will keep a better eye on it, now that we know that your siren side is attached to it."
Eve nodded. She would have suggested locking it and throwing it somewhere where she couldn't reach it, but she doubted that it would work.
"The dagger will find you," Timotei said to Eve, who sat right in front of her in the opposite seat.
"How do you know?" Eve asked the black cat, whose tail cautiously moved in the air.
"The dagger has been thrown into scorching liquid iron, into the sea and everywhere else possible. But somehow, the dagger makes its way back to the family. One of them at least," the black cat purred. "By the looks of it, it will fall into one of the King's kin."
"How very convenient," Vincent remarked. "It is good that we had it saved and locked in the drawer of the Moriarty mansion until now. Eve's siren side wants to kill me, for she thinks I am the one who killed her mother and sister."
"What if it was the other brother who killed them and the blame just happened to fall on you?" Eve asked him.
"That could be a possibility, but your siren side sounded very sure about it," Vincent let his jaw rest on the edge of his palm. "As if she saw me kill."
The uneasiness in Eve's mind increased. Noticing her turn anxious, Vincent held her hand and squeezed it to reassure her.
Timotei said to Eve, "Maybe you should talk to her. Bring her out so that you can clear all the misunderstandings. I mean that would save us having to travel up to the Royal family."
Eve shook her head, "I didn't even know the siren was someone from the past. I don't know how to channel her."
Vincent was curious, and he pulled the dagger out and offered it to Eve, whose eyes widened. But even though a minute passed, with nothing happening, he put it back in his coat and said, "It was worth a try."
Eve sighed and murmured, "I hope we can get the answers when we reach the royal palace."
Hours passed when Timotei quickly stood on his hind legs and his front paws on the windowpane. He said in an excited voice, "Look! Look! It is the House of Purgatory. Do you think we'll be dropping by there anytime soon?"
"Not now," Vincent didn't care about Marceline, not right now, as he had other pressing matters to attend to. "I am sure she's having her own good time and working on herself," he said in a nonchalant tone.
Eve, who was now familiar with what Vincent's 'good time' meant, she wondered if Marceline felt a speck of regret and remorse for her actions.
But as expected by Vincent, back in the House of Purgatory, Lady Katherina's letter that Vincent had given to Marceline was left in the corner of the room, untouched.
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ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 480 Alarmed About The Awake
After nearly three days, the carriages finally arrived at Skellington. Eve and Vincent were quickly greeted by Alfie, who offered them a deep bow and helped them out of their coats.
"How was your journey, Sire? Hopefully everything went well..." the butler asked in slight doubt, as he wasn't sure how well Lady Marceline had taken the news about her staying in the House of Purgatory. Somewhere, he wished he could have been there, considering the amount of trouble the young vampiress had put him through over the last years.
"Better than what we expected it to be. Eve was able to meet our grandparents," Vincent replied in a nonchalant tone, and this got Alfie's eyes wide.
They were awake?! Wait, even Lady Ravette? Alfie blinked in shock.
"Timotei was kind enough to wake them up and had decided to be their cat one day," Vincent remarked. Lady Annalise and Lady Aubrey appeared from the other side of the hall, approaching them.
"You are both home!" Lady Annalise exclaimed, feeling a slight relief and anxiousness in her chest. "I thought you were returning sooner."
"We took a little trip to Holy Oak before returning," Vincent responded.
One of the maids stepped inside the mansion with a letter in her hand. She offered a deep bow and informed, "Sire, there is a letter from Holy Oak."
Eve wondered if Vincent's grandparents had forgotten to tell them something. But when Vincent took hold of it, he murmured, "Looks like we reached before their letter arrived." He wondered where his grandparents had sent the letter that had taken its own time to reach.
"Whose letter?" Lady Annalise asked him with a frown.
In the meantime, Lady Aubrey came to Eve's side and hugged her. The elderly woman said, "Welcome back home, Eve."
"It is good to be back, Aunt Aubrey. I hope everything has been well here," Eve asked in a low voice, and she saw the woman nod.
"Everything has been more than well here. I have been bonding with little Allie and teaching her what I know. It has been a wonderful time," Lady Aubrey seemed content, being back to teaching as a governess until Eve returned.
"What...?!" Eve heard Lady Annalise exclaim, startling them, while the vampiress stared at Vincent. "They were put to sleep... How did this happen? Is Genevieve alright?" She turned to look at Eve with a deeper frown. "Did Lady Ravette do something?"
Even though Lady Annalise was a vampiress, she wasn't too keen about her mother-in-law.
"It was fine," Eve assured her mother-in-law with a smile. She said, "They were hospitable once we turned familiar with each other."
Lady Aubrey asked, "What's going on?"
"Vincent's grandparents are awake from their slumber. His grandmother, Lady Ravette has never been keen on having humans in the family, and has always resorted to killing them. To turn them to vampire or vampiress," Lady Annalise explained to Lady Aubrey in a quick tone.
Vincent said, "Don't worry, dear mother. Everything is under control. In fact, grandfather and grandmother were so pleased about Eve, that they decided to leave the mansion in our name as a wedding present." He waved the letter that was sent by his grandparents, which was written for his parents and said, "This is about them waking up."
Lady Annalise felt a slight headache, and nodded, "Okay... But it doesn't cost to be careful."
"Of course," Vincent offered a bright smile and said, "I wouldn't let any harm befall on my wife. They sent you souvenirs," and he handed the letter to Lady Annalise, who took hold of it.
Alfie took a look at Lady Annalise, who didn't seem happy with the news of the in-laws waking up. He quickly went to get the things down from the carriage to take it inside, while Vincent leaned towards Eve and kissed her cheek. He said,
"I have to go to the Council. Rest until then."
Eve nodded, "Take care," feeling a smile threatening to break in front of everyone. She noticed Lady Aubrey smile as if Eve had found the right man for her, who cherished her. She saw Vincent leave, and Lady Annalise excused herself from there.
"Are the grandparents as scary as Lady Annalise makes it to be?" Lady Aubrey asked Eve, as they started to walk through the hallways.
"Vincent's grandfather Strix is fine. Just like any regular grandparent, but Lady Ravette is a little extreme. I had to duel with her," Eve whispered the last words, and Lady Aubrey's eyebrows rose high. "But I got her to approve of me."
Lady Aubrey nodded, "I don't think there's anyone's heart you can't melt, Eve. If the person's heart doesn't melt, then something is truly wrong and I don't say it because I raised you as my daughter. Talking about daughter, Rosetta has been waiting for your return."
And as expected, when Eve and Lady Aubrey finished walking up the stairs, they heard Rosetta's excited voice, "EVE!"
It took less than three seconds for Rosetta to engulf Eve in a hug that had the mermaid slightly stagger before she got her footing.
"I am so happy to see you! How was your trip? Did you have fun? Did you drop that woman in Purgatory?" Rosetta continued her questions as her eyes lit up.
Lady Aubrey softly chuckled at Rosetta's questions and said, "Eve only arrived, dear. Why don't we let her rest a little? She had a long journey."
As if coming to a realisation, Rosetta quickly nodded, "Yes, the journey must have been long. You will be here with me."
Eve shook her head, "That's fine. I did fall asleep in the carriage."
Rosetta put her arm around Eve's hand and said, "I have been wanting to ask you something, Eve."
"Ask away," Eve said, and Rosetta cleared her throat.
Lady Aubrey walked with them and said to Eve, "Rosetta has been worrying about her parents. Is there a way to get her to meet them for a little while?"
Eve's eyes turned to Rosetta, who pursed her lips. She said, "I think you can. I will speak to Vincent about it."
As if remembering she had work to do, Rosetta said, "I will come look for you later and tell Eugene you are here," and she hurried from there.
Lady Aubrey and Eve watched Rosetta waltz out of their sight, and the elderly woman said, "Poor girl. She has been having a hard time. With her parents' actions, and being reduced to a servant now," she shook her head, "Two days ago, she went out to the market and people couldn't keep their ill thoughts to themselves. Thankfully, Eugene was able to console her."
Eve was aware that Rosetta would be placed in a difficult position because of her parents.
"Society has always been harsh. Harsher to the ones who fall from their high position," Eve replied softly. "She has turned into a better leaf in a short duration. With the right time and care, she would be able to stand her ground."
Lady Aubrey agreed, "True. She is a good woman and has a kind heart. Poor thing was sad when the plant she planted wilted the next day and I got to see Eugene teaching her," she smiled in the end. "How are you, Eve? You seem a little worried, as if you can't rest," the woman's wise eyes stared into Eve's blue eyes. "Did something happen on your journey?"
Eve gave a slight nod, "Vincent and I will be leaving to the North. To visit the royal family."
Lady Aubrey asked, "Did they invite you two there?"
"No, it has something to do with our lineage. Vincent and mine," Eve said in a low voice, even though there was no one to eavesdrop on them. This caught the older woman's attention, who looked curious. "I think I will find my answers there, and Vincent's bloodline starts from there."
"That is something that raises questions. But if it brings you closer to who you are and about your family, then you must go," Lady Aubrey supported Eve. She then hugged the young woman and said, "Just stay safe. Knowing who you are and what people are capable of, it will always worry me even though you are all grown."
"I will be, auntie," Eve hugged Lady Aubrey back.
"Everything will one day settle down and you will find the answers that you have been looking for," Lady Aubrey assured her.
When Lady Aubrey left Eve, Eve returned to Vincent and her room. On entering the room, Eve's eyes fell upon her wedding bouquet, now covered in a glass case. She wanted to gift it to Anaya and would need to visit Woodlock for that.
Eve took a long bath in the bathtub along with the salts, letting her mermaid body soak in the slightly cold water.
Eve took a look at her wrist, which was submerged in the water, and her skin was back to showing only one wing. She raised it above the water level, and the disappeared wing returned.
A sigh escaped her lips, while there was still a hint of worry in her eyes and thoughts.
And while Eve continued to soak herself in the bathtub, far away from Skellington and in Woodlock, James Sullivan looked considerably upset, while he held a letter in his hand.
The man gritted his teeth, his hands clenching enough to crumple the letter. He couldn't believe this could happen.
"Are you alright, James?" Lady Hilda asked him, when she was strolling around the mansion.
James offered a tight smile, "I don't think so. The things that I have been collecting for quite some time, were sent away. Away from my reach."
Lady Hilda's eyes narrowed slightly, and asked, "What do you mean?"
At the same time, one of Sullivan's carriages passed through the mansion's gates and stopped in front of the mansion's entrance.
The previous Duke Jeffry Sullivan of Woodlock and his son, Noah Sullivan, stepped out of the carriage. Lady Hilda smiled at her husband, who stepped near her and kissed one of her cheeks.
"Any news about our dear butler?" Lady Hilda asked her husband.
"Unfortunately, none. The magistrate has checked every nook and corner, tried to question people if they saw him, but it has come to a dead end. No one knows about his whereabouts," her husband replied to her.
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"Do you think someone killed him? We have known him for so long, I doubt he would ever leave without saying a word," Lady Hilda said with a frown.
"That's what I would believe. That someone probably captured him and is looking for answers," James remarked.
Jeffry responded, "What answers are they even looking for with the family butler? Noah put a report in the Council, but so far we have found nothing."
Noah nodded with a straight face, "Maybe Uncle James is right. Maybe someone thought the butler was important and took him away. But so far, we have no answers of where he disappeared."
"It is a true pity that a loyal butler like him went missing in broad daylight," James murmured before a sigh escaped from his lips.
"Noah, I have a few documents that are supposed to reach Mr. Burton. They need to go by this evening," Noah's father asked him.
"I will be going out sometime and will have it delivered. Or have Kieran deliver it," Noah said, but his father shook his head.
"No, not Kieran. Just you," Jeffry said. "I can only trust you to complete it better than the servants."
"Of course, father," Noah nodded, offering a slight now.
Jeffry put his arm around his wife's waist, he said, "Let us have some warm tea," and then they walked inside the mansion. On the way, Lady Hilda's eyes met James's eyes, wondering what the man was earlier annoyed about, but not asking about it, she left with her husband next to her.
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