Chapter 281: Childishness
It took less than an hour since the invitation was sent out for little Remus to stand by the Eleazars’ gates.
As per the agreement between Silas and Cynric, the boy came alone.
Upon spotting Arabella, he did the same dance as before. Darting like an arrow in her direction only to grind into a halt right before impact in order to very carefully wrap his arms around her middle.
"You came!" she chirped.
"Of course I did!" he retorted, the biggest and brightest of grins on him.
"Come," she took him by the hand, "There is someone that wishes to meet you,"
Arabella guided him a few feet behind herself where Ada stood waiting.
Remus looked at her curiously, tilting his head to the side.
"This is Ada," Arabella introduced her, "She is my dear friend,"
"Hello, Remus," Ada giggled, "I’ve heard a lot about you",
The boy approached the young woman with caution, then leaned forward and took a few sniffs of her.
Ada seemed taken by surprise a bit, but her smile never faltered.
Remus clung to Arabella, scooting behind her figure and only peering at Ada from there, "She seems nice,"
"Yes, she is very kind,"
Both women laughed at how adorable and curious he was. They took him to the gardens where every color, every scent caught his attention, causing his neck to turn and twist towards each of them.
Edgar was nowhere to be seen and so, Arabella assumed it was his day off.
After a short while, Ada retreated back to the manor and allowed them a moment. Arabella sat by the peaceful pond, behind the trees and watched as Remus played with the water, his azure eyes completely absorbed by the ripples his hand caused on that cool, translucent sheet.
"Can we eat this fish?" he so innocently pointed at a round, red fish swimming in the pond.
"No," she shook her head, "Those aren’t for eating,"
"Hungry already?"
The cold cutting edge of Silas’ voice made both of them jump in their spot. It was interesting that even Remus with his elevated senses hadn’t picked up on his presence.
Then again, the boy was consumed by the artistry of nature around him.
"If you are then I’ll go fetch some meat for you," without further ado, Arabella stood to her feet and with a smile turned to leave.
"Can it be cooked?" Remus yelped before she got too far.
"Of course," she nodded, "Please watch over him until I get back,"
"I...,"
But before Silas had had the time to utter another word, Arabella practically trotted away.
The boy simpered ’til the moment he realized he had to spend time alone in Silas’ company.
He quickly simmered down and sat still, shrinking himself to take as little space as possible.
Silas neared him and sat at a short distance away from him by the pond.
For a good while, nothing was said between them. They simply breathed in and out.
Although Remus’ little heart drummed its cage as his upper body unconsciously leaned away from Silas’ frame.
"Do you now agree that she is better off living here?" the vampire shattered the awkward silence.
"She’d still look better near my father," the boy grumbled under his breath.
Silas said nothing else. Instead, and very discreetly, his arm went behind Remus before giving him a quick and strong enough push that landed him in the pond.
He freaked out, flailing his arms and legs which disrupted the peace of the water that lay in that earthly bed.
He coughed and sputtered, squealing for help until his feet touched the bottom. That was when he realized he was in no danger of drowning.
Face beet red and in one leap, Remus lunged at Silas kicking and punching with all of his might, but to no avail.
The vampire kept him at bay with great ease, with only one hand over his head.
And so, Remus thrashed the air until a feminine voice made everything stop.
"What is this?" Arabella stood bewildered, a silver plate in hand, "I leave you two for a minute and this is what I come back to?"
"He threw me in the pond!" his features twisted, Remus pointed at Silas.
"He fell," Silas sat nonchalantly about the ordeal.
"Did he, now?" she narrowed her eyes at him.
He did not hold her gaze and looked away.
"In any case," she shook away the harsh outlook, "I’ve brought you some cooked meat," she smiled at Remus.
As the boy devoured the meat without an ounce of mercy, Arabella walked around him and sat beside Silas.
"Why did you throw him in the pond?" she murmured, eyes glued on Remus.
"He deserved it," he said simply.
"You’re being childish," she chuckled and leaned her back against him.
It took him less than a second to bring his arm around her middle.
The breeze was gentle, threading through grass and trees around them with equal force.
"He is such a beautiful little angel," she sighed, further mellowing in his arms as she looked at Remus.
Silas’ eyebrow rose while studying the boy that ravished that poor piece of meat between his hands.
In that moment, he wondered; were they truly looking at the same image?
But deep down it stung to watch her long for the presence of a child, knowing full well, he’d never be able to give her just that.
"He does look quite happy indeed," was all that he said, "Do you wish you could keep him?"
At that, her eyes rose up to him, earning him that upside down glance that always drove him crazy, "Why do you say that?"
"You do want children, don’t you?" he brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"But I can’t keep one that isn’t mine," she practically whispered.
Arabella had avoided the question altogether which did not help quell the fire in him.
"He wouldn’t stay if you asked him, would he?"
"Not a chance of that happening," she shook her head slowly, smiled and turned back onto Remus.