Chapter 329: A quiet goodbye
The only event that seemed to slow down time was Edna’s funeral.
It took place on a quiet day where even the wind turned tame, refusing to utter its condolences.
Nobody said a thing about the blonde for no one truly knew what to share on her behalf.
In hindsight, it was for the better. They all did her a favor by keeping their peace that day. Despite her last actions, the living did not want the last words she’d take with her to the grave to be of damnation and blame.
The fact that the burial took place in the daytime was proof enough of their true sentiment about her.
Usually, all burials were held after nightfall in order to gather as many souls as possible, but considering the special circumstances, it would have been a bigger insult to expect any vampires in the attendance after what she did to Katherine, to one of their own.
Even Silas refrained from standing present and Arabella understood without the need for any explanation.
The odd thing was that right after that event was put behind them, time seemed to run and slip by like a child who recovered their long since lost energy or mobility.
"Are you sure that this is how it is made?" Arabella grimaced, looking at the clay jar between her friend’s hands.
"Yes! Of course! It’s an oil that is traditionally only used by vampire brides on their hair for extraordinary brilliance,"
The brilliance in Ada’s eyes at that moment was blinding enough, Arabella doubted more of it was needed.
"Yes, I know of this tradition. I’ve read about it before. What I am asking is are you sure this is how it’s made? Shouldn’t we perhaps call for help?" the young woman sort of leaned away from the jar while still craning her neck to eye its content.
"Oh! So, you do not trust me! That’s the real problem!" Ada half asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
"No! No! That isn’t what I am saying! But... It’s just...," the words failed, but she hoped the apologetic expression on her features would do.
"Come now! Who is the expert in botany and chemistry?" Ada proudly raised her chin.
Arabella thought of Ada as no expert in the fields stated but..., "It’s you, of course, but...," Arabella’s eyes remained on the liquidy, viscous substance swirling inside the jar.
"No buts or ifs! I know what I am doing. You just need to trust me,"
Ada stepped closer to Arabella which prompted her to lean even further in her chair.
She glanced to the side at Abigail and Astrid for some support but quickly understood that none will be provided.
Abigail’s lips were stuck in that perpetual people pleasing smile she always had on when things turned awkward, whereas Estrid had shut her eyes with already one hand pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"Do we really have to do it today?" Arabella squeaked that quiz in a last-ditch effort to stall things a bit.
"It needs to be applied at least three days before the wedding ceremony to reap the maximal effect out of it," Ada moved even closer, "Come on! Do I need to strap you to that chair?"
"Why are we talking about strapping people to chairs?"
To Arabella’s greatest relief, Katherine had chosen that moment to walk through the door. The vampiress seemed a tad more sheepish than her natural but looked more alive since their last conversation.
She did not come alone. Grace and Allegra trailed behind her, but while the former was lively and joyful, the latter looked like she had swallowed her tongue.
"Oh! Miss Katherine! Please tell her, I need to apply the oil on her hair since the wedding ceremony will be in three nights from now!" Ada sounded... Desperate.
Arabella cleared her throat, a hopeful look on her, "Do I really need to apply it? Since I am human and this is traditionally for vampire brides, you know...," she trailed off while still coiling away from the pot.
"Well, you are marrying into a vampire family, and the ceremony will take place on Umbrarian soil so, ... I see no issue in you following our traditions,"
It was not the answer that Arabella hoped for. Indeed, as soon as Katherine had finished her sentence Ada’s eyes twinkled with more light than anyone could handle looking directly at.
"Well, then... Could you check the oil and see if... You know," Arabella grimaced between the vampiress and Ada.
"Oh! So, you truly do not trust me then!" Ada huffed and puffed without ever letting go of the jar.
"That’s alright," Katherine chuckled, "Let me see it,"
Despite the pouting, Ada did not hesitate and put the jar between Katherine’s extended hands.
The first thing the vampiress did was smell the substance before closing her eyes and nodding approvingly. The second thing was dipping her index in it then lifting it out to twiddle and transfer it to the rest of her fingers which she rubbed together.
"It looks quite legitimate to me," Katherine smiled, extending the jar back towards Ada, "You have nothing to fear,"
Ada said nothing, but the glow that radiated from her as she stared straight at Arabella with that "I told you so" type of look, spoke volumes on her behalf.
Katherine turned to Abigail who had been quiet since her entrance. Her beam never dimmed upon addressing her, "Tonight is really my first night interacting with humans again, so I haven’t had the occasion to say it, but congratulations and welcome among us entertainers. I hear your voice is a jewel to be relished,"
"Oh! Thank you, Miss Katherine," red in the face, Abigail pinched at the skirt of her silver gown and curtsied.
"You are just the cutest, most adorable little bean," Grace beamed.
When things calmed down, Arabella’s attention fell on Allegra who hadn’t uttered a single word since her entrance.
Her lips fought their very hardest to mimic their smiles but more often than not, failed miserably at it.
Nobody made note of it and so she believed they were giving her space to recover from what happened.
The poor thing probably still beat herself up for falling asleep on the job...