Chapter 248: Many voices, many knots
Silas marched towards his office, mind bustling with the many things that lay on his plate.
Checking in on the state of things regarding the next auction ceremony, Persephone promised to take care of the preparations but there were still parts of the process he had to handle himself.
The most aggravating thing in all of it was that the vampire had had his fill just the night before and yet... There was no helping it.
He couldn’t keep to himself for more than a minute without intruding on Arabella’s conversation with Remus.
As the voices kept on screaming in his head, some chastised him for leaving her alone with the wolf boy while others assured him it was alright and that Remus wouldn’t hurt her.
Whispers chipped at him to listen in on their words for the subject matter concerned almost everyone around, but he simply brushed that as an excuse to eavesdrop and forced his attention away, concluding she’d tell him all about it when time comes.
His efforts didn’t yield any fruits until someone stepped into frame. A person he wasn’t necessarily thrilled to meet.
From the other end of the hallway, Edna walked towards Silas, a basket full of cleaning supplies in hand.
Upon noting him, the blonde’s pace clearly slowed although not to a complete halt. Her ocean blue eyes flickered between him and the windows on the opposing side.
What did get and keep his attention on her however, was the fabric wrapped around her neck. Null doubt to conceal the strangulation marks left by Katherine.
Right as the maid had been about to walk past him, his voice blared across the hallway, "Did you go to the infirmary as I instructed?"
In response, Edna looked at him as though he’d asked the stupidest of questions, but that was only momentarily.
Her eyebrows released the pressure they’d put on her forehead before she spoke, "Yes, of course,"
"What did the doctor say?"
"That I could get back to work," her irises traveled all around him itching to land on his figure but never doing so.
"I see that," he said, "Will there be any future consequences for you with this injury?"
"No,"
What was clear was that Edna struggled to shake her head from left to right. Probably because of the lingering pain.
Her features were crumpled and twisted but not in the way she wanted it. Indeed, Edna looked more like a child that was upset for not getting what they wanted.
In many ways, her frown reminded him of the one Remus had on when dealing with him instead of Arabella.
"You are free to go,"
The blonde wasted not a second and walked away, her eyes constantly betraying her intentions.
As her figure finally disappeared behind a wall, Silas was left with no other activity but to extend his hearing towards the lounge room.
Just to check in, he told himself.
"Are you sure?" Remus spoke in a brittle voice as if concerned.
"Yes! Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?" she chirped, her tone a little too high pitched.
"You still smell sad," the boy said innocently.
"No! I am not sad. I promise! Let us focus on what we should," she tried to avert his attention.
To no avail as Remus insisted, "Usually when I smell this scent it means bad things happened or are going to happen,"
"Nothing bad is going to happen, Rem. please don’t worry yourself," Silas could hear the forced smile on her features.
Sad? What would have made her sad? Was the boy wrong like she kept on suggesting?
Those were questions that were going to be answered in due time as more news came to their doorstep.
Mr. Carlton did not run but moved fast throughout the hallways to find his Master.
"Master," he bowed, "We’ve received a letter request from the syndicate,"
Silas took it from him and sent the man on his way, back to whatever task lay in his hands.
According to the words aligned in that paper, the syndicate requested the Eleazars to provide shelter for the Lustrisian prince as well as accommodate his party with him as the old Umbrarian castle was nowhere near in shape to greet any guests.
The vampire bit down on his tongue, not to suppress any sort of expression, but simply to feel the physical pain of it.
Him and Persephone had thought of the possibility, however, holding the confirmation that it was becoming reality felt completely different.
The language was formal but strict. No orders were given, but Silas knew better not to take their suggestive tone as that.
It wasn’t a mere request as they offered no other alternative in case of declination.
His fingers pressed the thin letter, his mind seeking comfort and landing on none other than Arabella’s voice for that purpose.
"You will take this to your father and relate what I’ve told, will you?" her voice soft as silk, she’d asked.
"Woah!" Remus’ exclamation was short, "Are there really that many of them?"
"Well, some might have been buried. You’ll just need to find their entrances and dig them up,"
"What are all these weird squares? Are they drawings?" the sound of rustling paper accompanied his voice.
A chuckle from her came first, "Technically, all writing is drawing too, but no, these are lines written by your own people," that time around, Silas was ready to wager the smile on her was warm and genuine, "Messages left for the next generations down the line that somehow never got delivered,"
"And can you read these?What do they say? Can you tell me what my ancestors tried to tell us?" Remus grew more energetic by the second.
"I’ve only got bits and pieces, but overall, for example, this line over here speaks of hunting. I can’t translate it into our spoken language with exactitude, but it tells something about hunting a specific animal whose meat is very nutritious for your kind," she said.