Chapter 290: Surprises
Like a moth attracted to fire, Arabella practically floated behind the fairies as they huddled then split around harmoniously.
"They are going to set a protective barrier around the manor," Ada’s voice barely reached her.
"A barrier?" Arabella inquired without even looking back at Ada, her eyes full of stars.
"They do it every year when all vampires have to leave the premises. Nobody can exit or enter the property until an hour before dawn. That is when all vampires return to the land," she elaborated, while trailing in Arabella’s steps.
"Oh! That is marvelous!" again, not a glimpse at her friend, her features returning a jovial yet absent minded look.
"Arabella," Silas’ voice stopped both of them in their tracks.
"Yes?"
"Come with me," he held out his hand, "You may come as well, Ada,"
Through the busy hallways, he led them past a long line of vampires on their way out of the manor.
Straight to the entertainer’s waiting room the vampire took the women before stopping by the door.
"When I said my mother has already started preparing for our union, I was not lying,"
And with that, he pushed the double doors open for the two pairs of human eyes to widen that instant.
Greeted by such brilliance, such a pure color, Arabella’s socket couldn’t hold the tears from forming.
At least twenty of them, those beautiful white dresses aligned inside took her breath and refused to return it. Each of them even more sublime than the next. Worthy only of a princess or otherwise a queen, but nothing less.
"From humans, vampires have borrowed this tradition for official unions," Silas stood beside her, watching her every motion or... Lack there of in that moment, "White wedding dresses for a bride now seem universally agreed upon," he so wished to smile at her, but had to hold it back considering they weren’t alone.
"My dear Arabella!" a raspy and tired masculine voice had exclaimed. A quite familiar one at that.
"Mr Kallum!" she gasped, her vocal cords seemingly recovering their function.
Ada curtsied before returning to admire the dresses as Arabella walked towards Mr Kallum.
"I was quite surprised to hear about your union, but I must say; you too picked each other well," the man looked between Arabella and Silas, "My congratulations to you!"
"Oh, thank you so much, sir!" she chirped.
"Have you brought all of the designs you own?" after a polite nod, Silas cut through talk he believed unnecessary.
"The Lady has been clear on the matter," Kallum gave a slight bow, "I brought every wedding dress design I still had a copy of in my shop. Once again I wasn’t given much of a warning. It seems to be a running theme with you, my dear," he peered at Arabella.
"My apologies, sir," she said sheepishly.
"Tonight, you will be trying them on to determine what type you wish to have. Whichever it is you want, then it will be yours," Silas placed a gentle hand on her back.
But her twinkling eyes were already scouting the gowns, one by one.
"I wanted to make things official as quickly as possible and mother agreed," he added, gauging her reaction, "Unless you believe we are going too fast, in which case, we may take more time,"
Her lips finally closed, and her gemstones snapped onto Silas, the sweetest of beams on her, "That is just wonderful! I love the idea!"
"Master," one of the butlers called for his attention, "Lady Persephone has already come out and is awaiting you. The fairies wish to know if anyone else will move through so that they can post the barrier," he bowed.
"Not yet," Silas turned to one of the windows then towards Arabella, "I still have one more surprise up my sleeve for tonight," he offered his hand again.
Ada remained with Mr Kallum in the room in order to help prepare the fabric samples he’d brought along.
Silas guided Arabella back outside through the gardens and then a little further towards the edge of the property before standing still.
"It is time so, he should be here in a minute or two," he said.
"Who is coming?" she had those big, curious eyes that he could never resist.
"Since only Allegra and Grace will stay with Katherine, I figured they’d be busy tending to her and you would be left vulnerable should anything arise and so I thought inviting that little brat to stay over until my return would bring you joy,"
"You’ve invited Remus!" she half asked, leaping in her spot.
"I have and his father agreed. Wolf folk are about the only species who do not come celebrate the spring equinox, but his pack will be there as it is their home. They still do not have to stay however,"
Silas had barely had the time to utter those words that his attention was drawn towards the trees ahead.
"Here he comes!"
The small figure of Remus burst through the forest only... He was not in his human form. The little cub ran at full speed before stopping a few feet away from Arabella and Silas.
The cracking of bones that followed sent a chill down the young woman’s spine, rooting her in place.
She clasped her hands over her mouth as the boy’s howls turned to cries while shifting under her bare eyes.
When things seemed to simmer, she ran and wrapped her arms around him while he still tried to even his breathing.
"Oh dear! You’ve done it! You’ve shifted!"
"It hurts so much!" he sobbed.
"Well, why did you do it then?" she quizzed, tears still in her eyes.
"I wanted to surprise you!" the water works did not stop.
"There, there," she rubbed circles on his back, "You are safe. You can rest now," she chuckled through her own tears.
"And here I thought I could count on you to keep her safe,"
Silas’ glare seemed to shake the boy out of that pitiable state. The salty waters in his big, round eyes still glistened as he tried to choke down his cries.