Chapter 326: Family
There were many things on their minds after exiting Katherine’s room, but neither voiced a lick of it.
Well, that was until Arabella had had enough of the quiet surrounding them.
"It is amazing how well she seems to be doing after ingesting your blood," she remarked.
"I do not like to use the word miracle but, I have to face reality head on," he wouldn’t meet her gaze.
"Perhaps it is the fact that her ailment was man-made instead of natural," she suggested, "Or perhaps your blood simply works on most creatures if not all. Has it never been tested for that purpose?"
"I suppose the doctors never even thought of it as a possibility. They focused their efforts on what they already knew it could do and stuck to that. Most of the tests after that revolved around my physiology as per my parents’ request,"
"That makes sense," she nodded, "After all, your wellbeing was their primary concern. Why would they focus on what your blood could do for others? They were not building a business off of your back, but trying to protect you,"
Put like that, her utterances triggered a sort of fuzzy and warm blanket of feelings in Silas.
He’d always regarded the time period of his life on the island as a... Dark one to be sealed and forgotten.
The many days spent alone. The many nights strapped to a chair to be prodded and studied.
Silas had always told himself it was pain felt for the greater good, but that was the end of it.
Thinking about it from his parents’ perspective seemed so foreign and strange, but also... So, comforting.
Noting his silence, Arabella believed she’d said something wrong, "I am sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that sort of memory out. I just meant...,"
Seeing how she struggled to find the right words, Silas stopped in his tracks and took her hands in his, "You said nothing wrong. On the contrary, I really appreciate it," there was a faint shift in his expression, barely noticeable, but Arabella’s eyes caught it, "To be honest, I was thinking of carrying on the tests on my blood where the doctors stopped a few centuries ago,"
an interrogative hum escaped her first, "I am not against it, but... We will need to be careful with it. Knowing that your blood can cure even death in humans... I can only imagine the ripple effect it would have,"
Truth be told, Silas only cared about what his blood could do for her and nothing else. He hadn’t even thought of the possible ramification it’d have.
"Well, Doctor Damiana and Zarveth have always been faithful to the family and not once divulged a thing from what they discovered, even though it could have catapulted their careers,"
"These are the same doctors that conducted the initial tests on you," Arabella half asked, eyes wide open.
"They very much are," a smile slipped through the cracks and took over his features, but he quickly reeled it in, especially upon noting the footsteps coming their way.
His eyes flickered to the side first and that was the tell Arabella needed to know that someone was coming.
Not long after that, a tall maid walked over from behind the nearest corner only to stop right in front of them and curtsy.
"Master, my Lady," she started, "Lady Persephone has requested a meeting,"
"Alright then, I will return to the room and wait for you there,"
Arabella had barely had the time to finish her sentence that the maid spoke up again, "The Lady had made it clear that you are to join them as well," she addressed Arabella.
Neither had an answer. They simply headed for the lounge room where Persephone sat awaiting them.
Many paper sheets and files were sprawled across the table in front of her, but she looked more taken by the teacup in her hand.
"You look alive," the Lady looked between the two of them, before ushering at the nearest chairs to her, "First of all, I’d like to apologize for sending you away yesterday, I thought you should have one more night away from all of this, but now I believe you are ready," her eyes were strictly on Arabella.
"For what?" the question came from Silas.
"For everything that has ties to this family, of course," she sighed.
"She doesn’t need to get involved in everything," he protested.
"Oh, but she does," Persephone nodded slowly, "That is simply our best bet against any potential attack. One of us remaining in the dark is less than ideal,"
"I second that thought," Arabella interjected before Silas uttered whatever objection he had, effectively putting that debate to sleep.
"I like that," a gentle smirk painted the Lady’s features, "I only assume Silas already told you about the plan I had in mind concerning the upcoming funeral,"
Silas and Arabella exchanged a glance before his eyes flickered away to the nearest inanimate object.
The Lady’s eyebrows remained raised as testament that she... Knew he would spill everything to Arabella.
He only looked back at them once his mother’s piercing glare softened.
"He did," Arabella cleared her throat, "Although I must admit, I more than disagree with it," she mumbled, looking down at her lap.
"Oh! So, you’d be ready to stand against me for it," Persephone half asked, looking somewhat amused.
"I mean no disrespect, my Lady," Arabella hastened to apologize, "I merely wanted to-"
"Calm yourself, girl," Persephone stifled a chuckle, "I’d love to hear what you have to say on the matter,"
Once the red around her cheeks subsided, the young woman finally managed to align her thoughts, "Funerals aren’t to be made a spectacle of. No matter who it is we come to bury,"
She spoke with a constant voice, soft but also firm, giving the impression the topic sat closer to her heart than she cared to admit.
"Elaborate,"
Arabella took a deep breath, "It’d be more than odd to invite a Lord such as Dragomir and my father to a human servant’s funeral even if we suspect them. To outsiders who may not understand, it can even qualify as an insult which will not only give Dragomir and father ammunition but a shield as well. I know it will be the case for my father, and he won’t hesitate to weaponize it against the family,"
"Duly noted," Persephone put her teacup down.