"The Lady was gracious enough to grant me permission to visit the library," Edgar nodded along to his own words.
"Gracious indeed," Arabella smiled, her hands still clutching at the fabric of her gown.
While Edgar faced Arabella, therefore leaving no way for Silas to study his expression, his heart however, sang loud enough for the vampire to get an idea on his emotional state.
"What is it you're reading then?" Edgar sounded less sure somehow.
"Oh… Some poetry," Arabella's hands moved over the open book before her.
"Well, that is lovely," he paused, "As for me, Lady Persephone has requested a special plant I've never handled before to be… Planted and I've come seeking some pointers," he explained, even though she hadn't enquired.
Both of their heart rates were unsteady, constantly fluctuating which suggested neither of them was at ease.
Arabella more so than Edgar, he too seemed uncomfortable just not in the same way she was. If it were up to Silas, he'd have said that Edgar had noticed Arabella's discomfort and was in turn mirroring it.
"Right," Arabella broke eye contact with Edgar and looked through one of the windows nearby, "Oh dear! I hadn't even noticed how much time has gone by since I came down here! I should probably head back to my room," she stood up and shut the book she held.
"Yes, perhaps you can still salvage some sleep for an hour or two before sunrise," he smiled and nodded again.
Edgar offered her a slight bow before turning to leave but then stopped to add, "You may come by the garden today if you feel like it,"
"Thank you!" she responded almost immediately, "I certainly will,"
Even during moments where Arabella had been uneasy, Silas noticed that her smiles to Edgar were always so bright… Still nothing to do with the grimaces she displayed around Silas and that was when she'd even manage to look him in the eyes.
Before Silas could go further into his ponderings, the clicking and clacking of heels resonated as Edgar and Arabella went their separate ways.
The vampire waited for them to move out of sight before heading for the table where Arabella had been seated seconds prior.
The books she'd summoned still hadn't returned to their spots and so Silas removed the one on top out of the way and opened the history of Sterling tome.
From what he'd been able to see, Arabella had it split around the middle.
Page 537 harbored details on Abel Sterling's invention, the ultimate weapon to bring down Vampires and wolf folks alike.
Page 538 held a recounting of the plan that Abel had hatched in order to ambush his enemies.
Page 539 narrated the events of the battle according to the chronological order in which they'd unfolded and finally… Page 540 described the aftermath of said battle between the human troops led by Abel Chester Sterling and the vampire soldiers commanded by none other than general Emeric Eleazar.
After staring at the path which Arabella had taken to exit the library for a few seconds, Silas too shut the book and left it there to regain its rightful place whenever it did.
He ambled the corridors with a destination already in mind, but Silas took his time to mull things over on the way.
Had Arabella been worried for her safety under their roof all that time? When, since her arrival, had she uncovered the truth?
The young woman had always been rigid and quiet in his, as well as his mother's, presence. Although he did find her more timid than usual the night before when she seemed less so during their last encounter at the library.
Silas settled for the idea that it had happened on that day, remembering that he'd guided her towards the human literature section himself.
Silas had delved so deep into his own contemplations that he'd completely failed to notice the presence on his way.
As right by the door of his room, stood a young maid who'd gotten ready to knock on the wood.
"Edna?"
Edna leapt in her spot, hastily flipping around to meet his gaze. Very much unlike Arabella, Edna always looked him in the eyes first before bringing her own ocean blue ones down when she bowed.
"Master," she greeted him.
Furthermore, Edna's face was always adorned with a brilliant smile in his presence. She didn't hesitate a second and walked over, only stopping a foot away from him, give or take an inch or two.
Silas never felt the need to demand to see her eyes since there was none. Edna maintained eye contact with him for the most part, never satiated, seemingly never growing bored of his diamonds.
Sure enough, there it was. That thin, shimmery veil dimming the spark of her beautiful blue, almost entirely engulfed by the pitch black of her dilated pupils. The same one he sought to find in Arabella's eyes but couldn't.
"What is it?" he asked.
Her heart never skipped a beat before him either. It sure battered her chest, but for a very different reason than fear.
"I awoke quite early this morning and thought I'd see if you required anything at all," Edna simpered, her hands clasped together.
"Have you got nothing better to do?" his icy voice blared a little louder through the corridor.
The smile on her fell a little, but returned almost immediately as she spoke, "No, the head maid hasn't drafted our assignments for the day yet,"
"I do not need anything," Silas walked right past her before adding, "Return to your room. Your day might be long, and you'll need all the rest you can get,"
He'd uttered in the driest of tones and yet Edna seemed to get even more enamored with his sight, "It is so kind of you to think of my wellbeing," eyes glued to his figure, she slowly turned around to follow every move he made.
It appeared Edna was far from giving up. Right as Silas took the knob in his hands, she chirped again, "You wouldn't happen to feel thirsty, would you?" head tilted slightly to the side, further exposing her neck to him, Edna looked at him expectantly.
"I've had my fill only recently and as you already know it," he turned to glare at her, "I prefer feeding from one single person for as long as it is possible. Now do as you were told and go,"
With that, Silas left her standing alone in the hallway, eyes on the then shut door. If looks could kill, Edna would have certainly become a murderer in no time.
In fact, she remained rooted in her spot long after he'd disappeared inside his room, etched there, grinding her teeth, with a face that would have scared children, knowing full well, but not caring one bit that Silas could tell she hadn't yet moved.
Silas did not care for it either. As long as Edna performed her tasks assiduously, she was free to stand in whatever hallway she desired.
Although that sheen tainting her eyes did bother him quite a bit, that was the price to pay in order to spare his blood providers any unnecessary pain. Even though in the grand scheme of things, it didn't appear to be that troublesome.
In a way, what had troubled him perhaps even more, was the fact that Arabella hadn't shown any symptoms of it despite being bitten twice and drinking from his blood on top of it.
The green of her gemstones had conserved all of its luster.
Not that he'd ever wish for it to happen! For her to… Fall in love with him. Why would he ever strive for the affection of a human? And from a Sterling at that!
The canvas he still worked on greeted him from the corner as always. Many details were added to it since Arabella had laid eyes on it for the first time. The look on her face as she'd voiced her opinions about it was nothing less than priceless.
Silas had carved much more to symbolise pieces of their history in that world from before the great war.
A time when things weren't that simple or peaceful for that matter.
He sat down and picked one of the tools before him in hand in order to carry on with his work. All the while pondering the ways in which to broach the subject of the past between his family and Arabella's with her, since the mental and emotional state of a blood provider greatly influenced the taste of the blood coursing their veins.
Having her in a constant state of terror and anxiety would amount to no good.
Perhaps his mother could handle that task? She'd know how to go about it. Words always were her forté, after all. In all his years, he'd never known anyone that could rival her statesmanship. The breed she had in front of her never mattered.