Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 98: Ariel and Floriel

Butterflies continued to flap their wings inside Arabella’s stomach by the time the Fata fairy nests finally came into view.

Embedded in the deepest crook down the valley, they resembled rings of roses intertwined with each other, only big enough to house the whole of the fairy community.

The peeps and squeaks of the curious squirrels still trailed them as they marched along the watercourse.

"I don’t think they will let us go until we leave the valley altogether," among the soft tones of nature, Silas’ deep voice stood out of the harmonious blend, grabbing her attention with great ease.

"No, they seem quite determined to follow us," a little chuckle escaped the young woman while admiring their little faces from a distance.

Very soon, the whooshing of the breeze that flossed through grass blades stepped back for the sweetest of hums to come forth.

Light and rhythmic, the symphony of faint flutters grew bolder the closer to the nests they walked.

Contrary to the experience Arabella lived in KasselMoon, the atmosphere around Fata held and conserved a bouquet of splendid perfumes that much like the sound of fairy wings, was amplified around the circumference of the village, as though each fought to be the centre of her attention.

"Oh...," was all she had the breath to utter.

"I am afraid you still need to blink,"

Stinging, almost dry, her eyes did, indeed, require blinking in order to survive which had apparently been eclipsed from her mind at that moment.

"Well, well, well... If it isn’t the one and only heir of the Eleazar line!" a tiny tweet of a voice traveled from behind one of the large roses.

"And good day to you as well, Floriel," although courteous, Silas’ tone was also flat.

When the so-called Floriel peeked from her hiding spot, Arabella took a sharp breath she wanted discrete, but her action did not go unnoticed.

The little fairy’s head snapped in her direction; Arabella could’ve sworn she heard a click when it happened.

"Is something the matter?"

Floriel looked every bit like the fairies Arabella had encountered in KasselMoon, only then, the balmy sunlight underlined more details to behold.

The creature’s wings were quite bigger than the rest of her body which was extremely reminiscent of a human woman’s figure. Except for its size, of course. She could very well fit in Arabella’s palm with space to spare.

"No! Nothing’s the matter!" Arabella held her hands up and waved them in front of herself.

Floriel’s proportions made it somewhat hard to fathom the shade of her hair. It was so thin, almost translucent.

"Are you sure about that?" she flew even closer to Arabella’s face and pouted, both fists on her little hips.

"Yes, very!" Arabella nodded furiously.

"Is Liriel in the village?" Silas interrupted their... One sided staring contest.

"Yes, in fact, she has just returned from the caverns," the expression on the fairy softened significantly when addressing him.

"From the caverns? Then she must be exhausted," Silas’ hand rose to grasp his chin, "My apologies, I did not plan for this visit beforehand. Perhaps we should come back at a later, more appropriate time," he suggested.

"No! No! No! No! You know you’re always welcome here!" Floriel rushed towards Silas, zooming up and down frantically as if it’d help communicate her thoughts better.

In a way, it seemed to Arabella that the fairy fancied Silas by the manner in which she was not too keen on letting him go so easily.

Another thing that had stuck out in the young woman’s mind was the echo of his words, playing on repeat the phrase "I did not plan for this visit"

She wondered whether he had urgent business there or if he’d decided to go to the valley without prior preparation with the goal of distracting her from the recent news.

"Please, stay!" she pleaded, her irises growing strangely bigger and rounder, "Even your friend is welcome!" she quickly added without a single glance at Arabella.

"Now, that is a surprise?" Silas tilted his head to the side, "Who are you and what have you done with the Floriel I know?"

"Come now...," she waved her little hand, "Won’t you introduce us?" her attention flickered onto the young woman all of the sudden.

The fairy spoke to Silas like no one Arabella had witnessed ever dared to. While not overly familiar, there was a certain friendliness between them. The happy thing seemed at total ease, hovering very close and even chastising him at times.

"But of course, where are my manners?" he retained his composed demeanor, though his tone was somewhat warmer, "Floriel, please meet Arabella, the newest in my mother’s collection,"

Collection? Such an odd choice of term, Arabella thought. Up until then, nobody had ever referred to her using that terminology.

"A human?!" Floriel sucked a deep yet sharp breath.

A feeble pat on the cheek from the fairy’s hand made Arabella leap a little in her spot. She drew so near, eyes wide open, seemingly scrutinizing every trait as minute and discrete as it may have been.

The young woman felt compelled to keep still and hold her own breath as if the slightest motion would cause something brittle to crumble.

"She is very pretty," Floriel turned to him before flying his way anew.

In reply, Silas said nothing and merely stared between Arabella and Floriel.

"Thank you," Arabella finally found her voice after recovering the right to breathe again.

"She came educated," the vampire commented.

"Oh my!" Floriel clasped both hands against her mouth, eyes wider than ever, "A human noblewoman!"

"Did someone say a human noblewoman?" an entirely new voice rose from behind one of the fairy dwellings.

"Ariel! Sister! Come quickly! Arabella here is a human noblewoman!" Floriel flashed back and forth in the air, in many directions, looking maddened.

"Is that true?" a tad sweeter, Ariel’s voice too was tiny, "Are you a noblewoman then?" she approached Arabella and lay a soft hand on her cheek exactly like Floriel did before her.