Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 89: The face of dejection

Silas had ordered Ada out of the room to have a moment with Arabella, and she’d already complied.

Sharp and clear her eyes were. Like true gemstones they glowed. No haziness murking the life in them, no veil nor Mirrari in sight.

As intrigued as he remained about the phenomenon, the vampire shoved the question to the back of his mind where it belonged for that time being.

By then, the young woman was already on her feet, facing him, irises flickering around, landing on everything that wasn’t him.

She kept her tongue still in her mouth, but her heart spoke much louder than any other sound surrounding them.

"A messenger brought this letter a moment ago,"

Arabella hadn’t yet explored its contents, but there really wasn’t any need for her to in order to recognize the sender.

The family crest on the broken seal froze the blood in her veins that instant. The sense of dread that befell her seemed to work hand in hand with gravity, dragging each and every organ in her downward.

Although he said nothing, Silas had witnessed the color drain from her face with every second that passed.

After a good while of blank staring, one of Arabella’s hands finally reached out and took the envelope while the other gravitated up and clutched her locket for comfort.

Another round of quiet gawking ensued until Silas broke it, "You do not have to read it right this second," he paused, "In fact, you do not have to read it at all since I’ve already examined it myself," the ice in his voice had long since melted, but he maintained a certain distance still when addressing her.

In a clear response, the arm holding the letter extended, falling down, showing no interest in untucking the letter out of its case.

"I am sure your mind has traveled down the right lane. Your father has, indeed, received word of your presence in our home and has requested a meeting with my mother,"

Once again, it was Silas that shattered the suffocating silence that had conquered the music room.

"When...," her voice broke off before she was able to articulate, "When will he be visiting?" eyes soldered on the envelope as though her glare could make it vanish out of existence.

"My mother will decide about that," he uttered flatly.

The arm holding the letter protracted towards him in a brisk manner, suggesting a complete lack of intention to ever read it, and without a second thought, he reached out and took it back.

"Does he say if he is coming for me?" in the most fragile of tones, she’d muttered, "In the letter, I mean," Arabella added.

"He did not make any direct mention of you, but made it clear his visit mainly has to do with a certain business proposition," freewёbnoνel.com

A faint snort accompanied the cold smile that had claimed her features. He deemed it cold because Silas had never seen such disconnect in her expression and the emotion it tried to communicate.

It was out of sorts for her. A reaction resembling no other she ever had to anything. Disdain was never a good look on anyone, but on her, it was simply tragic.

"But of course, he has a business proposal...," she trailed off.

For once, the uptightness Arabella always displayed in his presence lost the upper hand. She turned around and walked towards one of the open windows giving on the gardens.

Eyes shut, deep breaths in and out, her figure silently faced the scenery, welcoming the fresh air that may or may not carry her worries away with it, but she knew better than to believe that for nothing had the power to achieve it.

Silence returned stronger than ever, snuffing the life out of all remaining sparks. For a while neither of them moved or spoke until Arabella turned around, "May I leave now? I’d like to go back to my room if that’s alright with you," she gripped her own arm tightly, eyes on the floor.

At first, Silas merely gave a clear nod, but then added, "However, I must insist that Ada accompany you,"

"Of course," she too nodded, then moved towards the door, making sure not to graze Silas when passing him by.

Though right when she’d been about to cross the threshold, he stopped her, "You won’t have to see him if you do not wish to,"

"I will meet him,"

It was a bare statement, void of any defiance, gorged with dejection. The pure defeat in her feeble smile compelled Silas’ diamonds to travel away.

He was a very perceptive man but couldn’t possibly know what Reubon was like, as a Lord, A businessman or as a father even less. Arabella did. She’d had a first-row seat to his deception and devilments that knew no bounds since her childhood.

Only she truly knew what he was capable of and for that reason, Arabella gave that answer.

The clattering of her shoes against the marble flooring somehow echoed louder, just like in her most recent dream or... Nightmare, blaring so deafeningly they’d rattled every thought coursing her mind.

It birthed the impression the walls were distancing themselves from her, traveling further apart and widening the hallways with every step she took.

Ada’s voice hung in the background, but it came so meek, the young woman never stopped in her tracks.

"Please, Miss. Wait for me!"

The words of the maid only became intelligible once she’d reached her side, huffing for a breath.

"Is everything alright, Miss?" Ada was not being particularly loud, but her voice still caused Arabella’s brain to writhe in its cage.

"Yes, Ada. Everything is alright," in a very low and subdued tone she’d replied, "Everything is always alright,"

Those were her last words before her legs continued to amble the corridors.

Completely stunned, Ada’s puzzled demeanor persisted, eyebrows twitching a tad while watching her go. At that moment, comparing her to a ghost didn’t do as even spirits had more life in them.