Arabella's eyes widened momentarily as though just recalling the important detail, "Besides the clothes on my back, I'd picked a match box and an oil lamp since I knew I'd be going through a tunnel. Though it turned out, I hadn't any need for it. There were enchanted torches all along the path and once I'd reached the cave, moonlight greeted me. Its deepest point isn't that far from where we now stand,"
And with that, through the stoney mouth of the cave they both went. Arabella tightened her hold around Silas' arm as even though sunlight permeated the cavern, its sheen had been weakened by the shadows lurking within.
A fine breeze blew by, confirming the presence of at least a second outlet to that hollow. The draught led them to a large boulder clogging the way forward. One that Arabella could have never been able to move by herself.
"You traversed this tunnel on your own, you said," Silas had uttered a statement, but his tone carried a hint of disbelief.
"Yes, I did, and that boulder was not in my way," she paused, throwing her eyes down right by one of the walls surrounding them, "Oh! Here is the lantern I'd left," she let go of his arm and bent down to take the lamp and lift it up, leaving a small paper match box on the ground.
The winds threading the cracks between the walls and the boulder bore several odors and dust particles that came to tickle Silas' nostrils, forcing the vampire to clasp a firm hand over his nose and mouth.
He turned away from the blocked passageway to meet Arabella's concerned eyes, "What sort of traps lay behind this rock?"
"Yuniper trees that bred rampant nets of green to cover walls, ceiling and floor, jagged and untamed shards of laced silver protruding from every side. It was how I'd sustained many cuts despite walking as slowly and carefully as I was able to," Arabella placed the lantern back down, "Even for me the air inside felt thick and barely breathable," she went quiet, but after Silas had failed to stifle a cough, more words spilled out of her, "Master, If I may, we should leave this place. If you don't believe my words, then we may come back another day once we figure out a way for you to venture inside safely,"
A little hunched, Silas said nothing and simply turned around and began to move away from the boulder, immediately followed by Arabella.
The two walked on their tracks back to the carriage where the coachman had been instructed to wait.
By then, Silas had fully regained his poise and stood straight again.
It was only once they'd sat on their cushy seats, that Arabella had begun to sense the stinging and soreness sweeping her feet.
The young woman bit on her bottom lip, doing her very best to show none of it in front of Silas who glared at her like he always did.
"I suppose you were informed that I requested you only use my blood for any injuries or illnesses you'd suffer," per his usual, he spoke with that icy tone that brought no comfort to its listener.
"Yes!" she muttered, looking at his chest.
"Once we reach the manor, I'll send some for the scrapes on your feet and legs,"
"Scrapes?" she'd uttered before thinking, eyes quizzical and mouth a little agape.
"I can smell your blood,"
Arabella could've sworn she'd caught the ghost of a smile on his lips, but it'd vanished so quickly it was impossible for her to tell whether she'd imagined it or if it was real.
His diamonds finally left her face and traveled down to the wrist he'd almost broken, noting that her left hand rested upon her right forearm protectively, perhaps subconsciously or perhaps deliberately.
The impulse to reach out and take her hand prevailed, earning a little shudder from her. Silas gently moved the sleeve covering it up to expose the already purple bruise of the handprint painted around her wrist.
His fingers hovered over the trace shortly, but right as they were about to come in contact with her skin, Silas released her and straightened up in his seat.
"My blood can heal that as well,"
For once, the vampire had been the one to avert his gaze to look through the window as the carriage rolled.
Arabella took her arm and covered it back. The throbbing emanating from the mark had been incessant and constant since the incident that she pushed it to the back of her mind where it turned to mere background hum.
The ride home was quiet after that, both mulling their own thoughts over and stealing glances at each other from time to time all the way until they split apart once in the manor.
And when the sun disappeared behind the horizon, a knock fell on Arabella's door, "Arabella!" Katherine's voice blared.
"Come in," she said.
"The Lady wants you down at the music room in about an hour," the vampire offered her a smile that vanished after an instant, "Were you injured?" her eyes traveled towards the dress and shoes laying upon one of the chairs in the room.
"Oh! I am already all healed. Only those need to be cleaned," Arabella looked at the dress as well.
"Right, silly me… I understand you went out with Master Silas today," Katherine brought a hand up to her forehead, looking apologetic.
"That's… Yes, I did," Arabella muttered.
The speed at which news traveled the hallways truly was marvelous.