Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 603: The province castle

The days did not exactly run by. The pit in Arabella’s stomach only deepened as the fabric of time seemed to stretch thinner and thinner the closer their meeting with the council drew.

Arthur sat in front of the window the same way he did every morning after dressing up and taking his breakfast.

On that day, the young woman went specifically for her go to colors, green and gold thus matching her eye and hair color.

She did not know what to expect from the event, although an official missive asked her not to don anything on her head.

"Here comes another beautiful day!" her inhale was deep and long, as though forcing her tightened airways further open.

As per his usual, the man said nothing and reacted in no way.

Arabella had held out hope ever since Remus told them he was happy. Was it even true? Or perhaps the boy’s sense was playing tricks on him?

That was a possibility to consider... 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Today is quite special," she nodded, "I don’t really know what will happen, but I am hopeful that something good will come out of this," her smile dimmed a tad, "I just hope... You’re still there even if buried deep within where my hand can someday reach,"

After one last sigh, her feet led her outside the room where Ada had come to find her.

"Lord Silas is already outside and is waiting for only you," her beam brightened upon paying more attention to Arabella’s gown and hair, "You look absolutely stunning!"

"Thank you, Ada," she chuckled, "I just wish this meeting took place on a different day since I am not at my most comfortable,"

"I know, I know, but ’tis our nature, but look at the brighter side, the fact that you’ve started bleeding means that everything is alright with you,"

Silas did indeed wait for her outside, but aside from bidding each other good morning, they sat facing each other without much more to say.

Well, that was until he decided to break the otherwise comfortable silence between them.

"Your heart is racing quite a bit,"

"Yes, I know it is... I just wish I knew what to expect from today’s meeting," she twiddled her fingers together then proceeded to play with her wedding brooch for comfort, "Are you sure you do not know what they want?"

"No, I was told to come with you to the old castle standing at the very center of Umbraria, the same one I have told you was being renovated. I was not given more details than that unfortunately,"

"Do you think I will be punished for... Crossing the border and doing what I did instead of turning to the council?"

A chuckle escaped him, "Somehow, I highly doubt that,"

To call that place a castle was an understatement. Arabella had only read about that ancient building on dry pages...

The province castle or so it was called since it did not exactly belong to one single province but all of them.

The structure once upon a time stood as a rally place for the leaders of the kingdom, where the heads of multiple packs and factions came to solve their disagreement whenever issues arose.

That was before the war of course.

They said the kings of Lustris through time were all always jealous of how much higher its tower rose compared to their castle.

Its sheer size meant that one person would need days upon days if not weeks in order to explore all it had to give.

For millennia, its walls not only witnessed, contained but also tamed the many grievances and conflicts that could have ignited a thousand wars when one was enough to nearly burn the country to the ground.

A golden hue bathed the interior as its walls, floors and ceilings all had a hint of a yellowish tint to them.

The hallways were traversed by fairies, wolf people, ghouls, witches but the species that outnumbered the rest was that of goblins who walked in long lines, one behind the other, carrying thick stacks of papers from one place to the next.

Aside from nods and quick salutations, Arabella’s and Silas’ presence were not exactly acknowledged until Liriel fluttered their way, closely followed behind by Floriel and Ariel as per usual.

The younger fairies did their customary routine of squishing themselves against Arabella only to then swirl around Silas’ head. To his credit, the sight only highlighted how patient he was as a person overall.

"Right on time, as per your nature!" Liriel settled upon Arabella’s shoulder.

"I’ve missed you guys so much!" Floriel could not decide on one spot to float in.

"And I have missed you as well," Arabella smiled.

"Shall we begin with the tour of the castle, or would you like to rest after such long hours of travel?" the older fairy tilted her head.

"A tour?" the young woman’s eyebrows furrowed.

"Well, yes, dear!" Liriel patted her shoulder, "We need all members of the syndicate to be present for the meeting and since the sun has not sunken yet, it is hard to do that. Not to mention, we expect a few more people to come who also happen to be vampires,"

Indeed, after the long hours of sitting down, Arabella needn’t more... Sitting down and accepted the tour offer without another question.

That place carried so much weight, echoed so many voices from the past... So much history and secrets that Arabella leaped to uncover.

Every tile on that floor seemed to project its own tone. Every stone brick whispered a different story, each being more exciting than the other. Every room held its own scent. It was all too captivating. So much so that the squeaking of the fairies drifted right to the background.

Time flew by without a hitch until the candles around the castle began to ignite one by one.

"Alright then," Liriel fluttered off Arabella’s shoulder, "I will see you in the great hall," she nodded towards Silas, "I must go see that everything is ready,"