Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 184: One prayer

Katherine was helped out of Arabella’s room by none other than Grace and Allegra, her sisters who ran in the moment they’d learned she was hurt.

Arabella stood at the threshold, daring not to cross it while watching as the three vampires drew further down the hallway before disappearing behind the wall.

"What happened?" Silas’ voice wrenched a jolt out of her.

Their last interaction played on repeat in her mind, advising her to pay extra attention to what comes out of her mouth in his presence.

"I am not sure," the words came out in a mutter until she cleared her throat, "Everything was fine. One moment she was standing and talking and then the next, her body folded on itself as she screamed in pain," the whole time, Arabella never once raised her gaze.

"I see," he started, "There are still a few hours before dawn. You need your resting,"

Resting, he said. How? It was hard enough to shut her eyes without those dreadful images striking her right in the face, but with what happened to Katherine, it became a million times more impossible to even hope for a lick of peaceful sleep.

Arabella stood in place, eyes still on that same wall behind which the three sisters had vanished.

"Katherine’s state should not concern you. She is in competent hands and will be well taken care of,"

Those words were what gave her the strength to look at him in a manner she never had the courage to before.

The many emotions reflecting in her eyes alone were intertwined with each other, holding on tight to one another, refusing to be peeled and separated.

Fear, anger, exasperation, disappointment... There were more, but Silas lost count after the fifth one he’d discerned on her.

Much like his conversation with Ada, the vampire couldn’t grasp the gratuitous concern and care between them all.

They’d only met weeks prior so why were they all that attached to each other? Or did that instance tie to Arabella’s good nature?

The young woman did not forget to curtsey, her expression never softening, before shutting the door behind herself, leaving Silas in the middle of the hallway, diamonds fixated on the beautifully carved wood that kept them apart.

He’d come with the hopes of smoothing things after their last conversation, but it seemed his work was cut out for him... By his own doing.

had he truly said something that offensive to earn such a glare from her? All he wanted was to relieve her of all concern.

Arabella, on the other side of the barrier separating them wondered just how angry he was at her for him to be so callous.

Was it because he had to go through all of that trouble to get her back? If so, then she couldn’t fault him.

After all, even she was aware of all the bother befalling everyone that tried to help her since her arrival.

The bed was not as inviting as its usual, no longer holding the coziness it always promised her before.

but the chair in front of the window beckoned her, the pull of the moon stronger than that of the canopy her eyes would admire should she lie down instead.

Only the pendant around her neck continued to offer comfort unconditionally. Grasping it with both hands, Arabella put her feet on the edge of the chair, bringing her knees closer to her chest where the relentless drumming of a heart persisted.

Nothing around seemed to agree on granting her a moment to breathe as there was always something that would come up out of nowhere.

Day by day, Katherine’s state seemed to worsen. At first, she’d only get confused but then new physical symptoms started to manifest. That left no room or prospects for relief in Arabella’s world.

What would come next? Would that manor crumble on her head? With the rate at which things were going, it wouldn’t be long before that happened...

Silas hadn’t moved a muscle from the moment Arabella had shut that door, the gears in his head spinning endlessly, returning near to no results.

His blank staring ended when Allegra’s voice whisked him out of his own train of thought.

"Master," she curtsied, "Our doctor says he’s going to need help even to diagnose Katherine," her furrowed eyebrows pushing ripples of wrinkles up her forehead.

"Why is that?" he tilted his head ever so slightly to the side.

"He says he can’t figure out what’s wrong with her," her eyes traveled downwards, "And the pain is not diminishing. Sister is still clutching at her side,"

"Then perhaps we should call in a witch and a fairy as well," he suggested.

"Yes, that is a wonderful idea," she nodded.

"Where was she taken?"

"She was put in her bed, Master," freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Let us go then, I’d like to see her,"

By the time the two of them had walked away, Arabella was back by the door, listening in on their conversation.

It was by no means in her nature to do so, but in that moment, the urge to obtain news on Katherine’s health couldn’t be helped.

Right then, Arabella made herself a promise. She swore that when the sun rose, her and Ada would attempt to visit Katherine.

It was no use in doing it then since they’d have simply sent her away, but once the vampires slumbered, there was a chance for her to see her friend... Or was Katherine a friend?

Arabella considered her one, but was it a reciprocated feeling or was Katherine simply fulfilling her duty?

Perhaps that question would be answered soon... But first, Katherine needed to recover.

And so, Arabella prayed for that was all that lived in her power. Praying and hoping, but nothing else.

It had been that way since her childhood and it seemed, nothing had changed from those years.

Why would there be change? She still was as helpless as always.

The moon would surely allow a few prayers to go through, wouldn’t it? It gave life and purpose to so many. Could it spare some for her? Just that once?

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