"How are you feeling?" Ada’s voice wrenched Arabella out of her bubble.
"A lot better than I did when I woke up this morning," her eyes remained on the cut-up tributes’ wrists.
So of the blood that trickled along their hands and arms had dried up while the rest had just hit the air out of their veins.
Due to the rough nature of the ropes around them, and their continuous friction, their wounds were not allowed to coagulate.
One behind the other, they marched past her, still forming a straight line that had Arumina at its head.
"You did really well with your words earlier. I think you eased up so of their concerns," Ada patted her on the shoulder.
"Hearing that woman speak up for the other girl despite her own fear sohow gave the courage to do the sa," she smiled before her head tilted to the side, "Will you be heading to the music room?"
"No, Abigail is probably waiting for at the ballroom. We must practice our entrance," a little grimace appeared on Ada then vanished as quickly as it ca.
"Right! It had completely escaped my mind," Arabella’s hand flew to clasp her own forehead, "Since this is your first ceremony, you will be introduced at the sa ti as the Lady just like I was,"
"Will you co with ?" Ada bit down on her bottom lip and looked at her expectantly.
"I will be joining you in a few. First, I need to see Silas. I now know the won, but I haven’t yet reviewed the full list of tributes," she pushed a chuckle, "Tomorrow promises to be heavier on my shoulders than today,"
The scent of wet dirt as well as fresh grass from mory still lingered under her nose. The night she’d co knocking on the Eleazar doors wouldn’t cease resurfacing in her mind every other second.
That and the image of that girl at the far end of the line... According to the list, her na was Evina.
The two of them had nothing in common in terms of appearance but sohow looked so similar at so point.
Arabella recognized that look on her for it was one she once shared. It was the sa her features had donned the night of her arrival there.
Evina had pure platinum, silky blonde hair on and winter gray eyes. She was an inch or so shorter than Arabella and held a tad slenderer shape around the hips.
By all ans, and even under those shabby rags and filth, that girl was a treat to the eyes. Clairvoyance was not required to know with utmost certainty that the bidders were going to wage a war at the auction just to add her to their prized collections.
"Well, alright then. et us there when you can," Ada smiled, "Hopefully, by then our dresses would have arrived,"
With that, Ada left her alone to find her next destination. Arabella marched speedily through the hallways until Silas ca into view.
Well, it was his office so if anyone was going to co into view there, it was him and no one else.
The man imdiately stood off his chair to greet her, an odd air on him, "How are you feeling?"
"It is quite funny, actually," she chuckled, "Ada just asked the sa question,"
"And what was your answer then?" he smiled.
"Well, I told her I was feeling a lot better than I did this morning," she walked over to his desk until only the surface of the table separated them.
"Was it sincere or...?" Silas slowly made his way around the wood to reach and take her in his arms.
"Yes. Lord knows I carried my heart in my throat the entire morning, but now, I feel as though a heavy weight has been lifted off my chest. I am by no ans happy, but... It is still miles better than it was a few hours before,"
"I understand," he spread the long bangs of hair that fell on her cheeks like curtains in order to place a soft kiss on her forehead again, "To be frank, I expected you to look a lot worse than this so I have no complaints here," his hands slowly caressed the velvet that coated her back, "So, what is your verdict?"
her head tilted a little to the side as she prepared to ask, "I am curious about this last-minute change that Aron ntioned,"
"Right," Silas let out a long sigh and broke eye contact, "We were supposed to receive two more tributes but unfortunately... They," the vampire made a long pause, looking very reluctant, "They expired on their way here,"
That put a damper on her already feeble smile, "Do we know what happened to them?" she too seed hesitant to ask.
"One of them was consud by sickness while the other succumbed to injuries he’d sustained before getting caught by the authorities,"
Arabella pursed her lips in a manner that showcased how little she believed those words, "I suppose they were treated with vampire blood, weren’t they?"
"They were, but it didn’t do them that much good,"
"Right!" she looked quite unimpressed, "In any case, I have yet to take a look at the male tributes, but I acquainted myself with the won and so of them look very interesting to say the least,"
"I don’t know whether I should be happy or fearful of those little stars that glisten in your eyes,"
Indeed, her eyes sparkled at the ntion of the won. In fact, her entire face lit up, "I see a lot of potential in them. I think they can be a lot more than just maids or blood providers. Their lives can be so much bet-"
"I love you,"
That simple declaration shut her up at once. Silas looked into her eyes with no intention of allowing them out of his sight.
His deanor reflected nothing but calm and peace that let nothing else on beyond the surface.
"I... Love you too," she murmured.
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