Chapter 257: A token of love
As though a radiant glow outlined the young woman’s figure, the sight of her made Ada leap off of the chair beneath her the instant Arabella walked into the room.
"Where have you been? I-" she swallowed her own words, her expression shifting from worry to perplexion, "What happened to you?"
"What do you mean, Ada?" all smiles and joy, Arabella practically twirled past her and made her way towards the already dressed breakfast table.
"Were you floating on clouds? You seem happy... Way too happy for the reason for it to be mild," Ada’s eyebrow rose up her forehead.
"Not much happened really," Arabella poured herself a glass of orange juice, the grin never leaving her lips, "I simply went by Master Silas’ chambers,"
"Simply?!" the maid’s eyes threatened to leap out of their sockets.
She hastened and dragged a chair only to sit at the very edge of it, right by Arabella’s side, "Well, do tell! Why did you visit him? Did he summon you?"
"No, he did not," Arabella shook her head in a playful manner.
"Well, then please tell me why? The fire beneath my bum won’t die if I don’t hear it right this second!" Ada hurled all of those words at once.
"I held my end of the deal,"
By all means, Arabella seemed to enjoy the thirst and curiosity consuming her friend. The glint in her eyes deepened, stuck on Ada, it only flared brighter.
"What end? What deal?" Ada pressed her weight against the edge of that chair pushing her upper body closer towards Arabella.
"I was honest about my feelings for him," the young woman said calmly before taking a sip of the juice.
Mouth agape, the maid gawked at Arabella, completely out of words to utter.
Although eventually, she found her voice, "You did what?"
"I told him I carried feelings for him," Arabella reiterated.
"And judging by the way you carry yourself, the conversation went well," Ada half asked, a smirk beginning to dawn on her.
In response, the young woman merely hummed melodiously.
"I must admit," Ada seemed to simmer down, "Not in a million years did I ever believe you’d be capable of confessing your feelings like that,"
"In any case," Arabella swallowed the bite of cake she’d taken, "I held my end of the bargain, now it is your turn to do so,"
Ada did not like the glint in her eyes one bit.
"What end do you speak of?" she asked very reluctantly.
"You said you’d sing before Lady Persephone," the young woman raised her chin and took a triumphant pose.
"Oh Lord...," the maid shrunk in her seat, "What was I thinking?"
"I don’t suppose you were thinking when you struck that deal with me, but it doesn’t matter. What is done is done," Arabella nodded, her grin growing wider.
"Oh! You’re scaring me now," a shiver ran through Ada’s body from the bottom of her feet up to her head.
Arabella’s features mellowed through the seconds that followed, her smile dimming gradually, "I met Edna on my way back here," she said.
"Did she say something to you?" Ada’s serious tone returned as soon as Edna’s name had been uttered.
"No, I tried to speak with her, but she ignored me," she shook her head, "I believe she was on her way to Silas’ room,"
Ada did not flinch, but she noticed, "Calling him by his name now, are we?"
Arabella cleared her throat, "Well, he’s asked for it,"
Ada chuckled and waved her worries away, "Worry not, Miss. You don’t have to justify yourself to me, especially not after today,"
"A few things might change here and there," Arabella said sheepishly.
"A few things? I doubt it’ll be just a few things," Ada squeezed her hand.
But Arabella’s smile wavered again, "I’ve been thinking of asking him to cure Edna’s Mirari. Perhaps it would set her free and she’d be able to pursue a life of her own,"
"Yes, perhaps some other time," Ada seemed a little too eager to dismiss that suggestion, "For now," she smiled, "It’d be best for you to enjoy your first day as his woman, wouldn’t it?"
The shade on Arabella’s face deepened at once.
Somehow carrying that title seemed unreal, harder than moving mountains.
Her lungs chose that moment specifically to start filtering air at a much slower rate, rendering her a tad hazy.
Ada did most of the work in order to dress Arabella for the outing since the young woman seemed to have found yet another cloud to float on.
A gentle knock landed on the door by the time they’d started loading the dishes back onto the trolley.
"Master," Ada greeted him first upon opening.
"Ada," he greeted her back, which stunned the maid for a good instant.
Silas walked past her and stood before Arabella’s figure.
"There is something I want you to carry on yourself at all times from today onwards," he moved closer, his hands nearing her chest, "Let it be visible to all,"
His fingers pinned a majestic brooch on her vest, its silver patterns cupping the beautiful amber gem at the very center.
It was the gasp from Ada that snapped Arabella out of her daze only to come to the realization of what was happening.
"As I am sure you are aware of some aspects of our culture," he looked down at her, "My father pinned this same brooch to my mother’s chest on the day they made their union official. If you ever choose to remove it, then I’ll understand the message,"
Not rings did they use to propose, for vampires’ custom wanted that they seal their unions with a brooch.
Persephone removed hers and kept it hidden on the day her husband left their world as tradition wanted it that way.
"Do you accept this token of love I offer?" he solemnly asked.
"Yes, I do," she nodded, her eyes flickering between his face and the brooch she fondled between her fingers.