Allure Of The Night

Eve narrated what happened with Allie and the previous governess to Aunt Aubrey, which left the older woman speechless for a good minute. Two hours had passed since Eve had returned home. Lady Aubrey said,

“Poor girl, no wonder she doesn’t speak much. One would think that the wealthy people have no problems, but each person has his own kind of worries.”

“I don’t understand how anyone could hurt a small girl like Allie,” Eve shook her head in disappointment.

“That’s how people are, Eve. The higher you go up in the ladder of status, the more you will find wolves in sheep clothings. Fangless vampires are reduced to humans,” explained Aunt Aubrey.

Eugene appeared in the room with a tray of two teacups and a hot pot filled with tea.

“Vampires who offend the higher ups, they are often subjected to such treatment. It is why you will find people following rules and they are careful to not cross them. Especially the pureblooded vampires,” explained Aunt Aubrey, and she sipped the tea from the teacup that Eugene had offered her. “It seems like Mr. Moriarty is a commendable man, isn’t he?”

It was pure luck that Eve was his employee, which was why he had dismissed the guard from searching their house. And it made Lady Aubrey see Vincent Moriarty as a decent man.

“I guess he isn’t too bad,” Eve murmured. As arrogant and shameless as he was, one thing was evident that he cared about Miss Allie, she thought in her mind.

Eugene took his seat on the floor, and his hand reached for the shoes that Eve had bought today. He said, “These are really beautiful, Miss Eve. They would look lovely on your feet. Did it… fit?”

Eve shook her head, “They didn’t… but Mr. Moriarty adjusted the insole.”

“What a kind man. It looks like people who work under Mr. Moriarty are fortunate people,” said Aunt Aubrey and Eve only smiled, not wanting to comment about what other things Vincent was good at.

It wasn’t the first time where Eve had trouble when it came to wearing shoes.

Though Eve’s feet appeared just like the humans, still, when it came to wearing new shoes, it often left her with shoe bites and made her more uncomfortable than one often experienced it.

Far away from the town of Meadow, Vincent sat in his study room in the Moriarty mansion. The lantern that was placed on the table burned brightly. Four books were scattered on the table’s surface while he held the fifth one in his hand. He had placed his legs crossed and on the edge of the table.

His dark red eyes swept through the written lines in one of the book’s pages before he swiped the next page, where the whirring sound of paper was heard in the almost quiet room.

A sharp knock was heard from the other side of the door.

“Come in.” Vincent didn’t bother to look up to see the person who entered the door.

It was the butler who had arrived, he refilled the glass with a fine red liquid on the table that belonged to Vincent.

“Any news in the house that I need to know?” Questioned Vincent while continuing to read his book.

The butler slightly bowed and said, “The two servants whom you approved have joined to work in the mansion, Sire. I have assigned them the job to clean the South wing of the mansion. Lady Annalise has sent the invitation to Marques Hooke’s daughter in the hope that they reconsider the marriage proposal with you,” and hearing it, a smile cracked on Vincent’s lips. “Lady Marceline plucked out the new budded flowers that were yet to bloom in the garden.”

Alfie always cared for the Moriarty mansion’s plants and flowers. This wasn’t the first time that Lady Marceline had plucked the flower harshly before it had the opportunity to reach its full potential. And the butler couldn’t say anything as he was only a servant, while Lady Marceline was the daughter of Mr. Eduard Moriarty.

“Seems like Marceline has been feeling lonely and unloved again, which is why she’s back to seeking attention,” hummed Vincent, and he turned to the next page. “Whom did she name them from today?”

“Mr. Frith and Sadler,” Alfie dutifully replied to Vincent, and a chuckle escaped from Vincent’s lips.

“Not one but two. Seems like she’s deprived of attention after all. How about you send something for her tomorrow. Something she will appreciate more than the flowers in the garden better,” Vincent held a wicked glint in his eyes, and Alfie wondered what his master had in mind. “Poor Marcie,” he hummed.

Alfie went to the fireplace and swept the ash to the side before removing it from there so that there was more space for more logs of wood to burn in there.

“Alife, how good is your knowledge when it comes to the vampire body?” Vincent questioned his butler, and Alfie looked slightly bashful.

“Average, Sire. Do I need to count a body’s bones?” came the serious question from Alfie.

“Then you must be familiar with the vampire’s feet?” Vincent continued to question, and Alfie nodded. “Did you know that we creatures have very subtle differences when it comes to our feet from humans? The vampires and the werewolves’ base skeleton is the same, while we both have obvious differences when it comes to outward appearance.”

“I wasn’t aware of it. I have mostly counted the bones that were broken in people before burying them,” the butler solemnly replied. “Why do you ponder on it, Sire?”

Vincent’s eyes went back to look at the book he had been reading before closing it. The flame of the lantern reflected in his eyes, flickering in there as he said, “Just a little case that I was able to get my hands on.”

He had never paid attention to anyone’s feet until now, and today was the first time he took note of it. Though Genevieve Barlow was a human, and so were her feet; there was something that he couldn’t put his finger on.

The next day, Eve left her home in a hurry as she was late getting to the local carriages stationed in their town. But on her way, she met Noah standing in front of his carriage at the end of the street. When she reached the place, they bowed at each other.

“Good morning, Noah. It is a pleasant surprise to see you here,” said Eve, while he stared at her with his black eyes.

“Good morning, Genevieve. I was passing by after finishing my work, when I decided to meet you on your way to work,” replied Noah, his words polite and calm.

“Oh, yes,” said Eve, her eyes moving in the direction where the local carriages would be. “I am actually late in catching the carriage. Forgive me for my rudeness, but I need to go quickly, lest I want to miss it.”

The smile on Noah’s lips slightly pulled outwards, and he said, “You are indeed late. The local carriage left ten minutes ago.”

“Huh?” Eve quickly took out her pocket watch, flipping it open, and she showed him. “I still have five minutes.”

Noah took the pocket watch in his hand and said, “I believe your watch has stopped working.” At the same time, the tower bell in their town rang loud enough for Eve to realise he was right. Her watch had stopped working, and she was going to be late! He offered her, “I wouldn’t mind dropping you at Skellington as I am going that way. That is if you don’t mind.”

Eve now sat in Noah’s carriage. She was thankful for Noah’s offer as she would have had to wait another hour to catch the next carriage. Aunt Aubrey and Eugene had left home a few minutes early as the elderly woman had to travel up to the West to meet an acquaintance of Mr. Dawson.

“Thank you for the ride, Noah. I cannot tell how much I appreciate it,” Eve thanked while looking at him.

“It is no trouble at all. As your friend, it is the least I could do. Do not worry. Kieran will drop you at your work on time,” Noah assured her after seeing a deep frown on her face.

Eve nodded and smiled at Noah.