Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 78: At the worst time

Time seemed to budge ever so slowly that evening. Perhaps it was the fact that Arabella had to stand on her feet the whole time that made seconds stretch into thin hours in her mind.

Nevertheless, the end of the ball finally drew nigh as many of the guests proceeded to leave the manor, but there wasn’t much consolation in that to Arabella since she knew her job wasn’t over for the night just yet.

Indeed, while most of the assembly dissolved, multiple families stayed behind for the gathering that came right after.

"I must say, I’ve never seen this many guests look forward to the gathering," Katherine sped through the entertainers’ room, stopping in front of a mirror to revamp her makeup.

"How many of them are usually conveyed to these gatherings?" Arabella too faced a mirror, although she focused on her sore feet more so than her face.

"Out of the two hundred that usually attend the ball, at least eighty of them are conveyed to the smaller after parties, but only thirty of those answer present on average," said Katherine.

With the slimmest of brushes, the vampire quickly repainted her lips red as Arabella’s eyes trailed every stroke.

"I am not sure, but I think all of them are attending this evening," once done, she turned towards the young woman, a bright smile on her.

"That’s... Oh dear...,"

That information did very little to sooth Arabella’s bustling mind. Taking a deep breath in, her muscles stiffened further, a detail that was apparent to the human eyes as well since she noticed her stony stance in her own reflection.

"Everything will be alright. We’ve rehearsed this, did we not? You’ll do just great," Katherine gently rubbed both hands up and down Arabella’s arms.

However, her attention had already fluttered towards the door, where one by one, the entertainers exited the room.

At the end of the line she stood, just like they’d practiced it the night before. Heart menacing to drop as it was, the voices that escaped the gathering room didn’t help her condition one bit.

Allegra, Grace and Katherine’s turn to enter came and since the three of them were introduced together, that only meant Arabella stood alone behind that door, trying with all of her might to grasp at the words that slipped through. Anything that would help distract her busy mind.

A distraction did come eventually, in the form of... Edna who despite being fitted with a maid’s uniform, it was clearly an unregular one.

All in all, quite the unwelcome distraction.

"Look at you!" she chirped, an odd glint in her eyes, "Dressed to impress...," she slithered around Arabella tauntingly, "Don’t bother. You can’t really hide ugly,"

Arabella’s eyes refused to meet hers and instead traveled all across searchingly for... Anyone that would come to the rescue perhaps. Or was it the fact she knew Edna was not supposed to approach her? That riddle will surely have to wait.

"Nobody is coming this way. Everyone is busy tonight. Nobody cares enough to even listen this way. Hell, even the Master is at the other side of the manor as well," Edna chuckled.

"So, what will you do to me this time around?" Arabella finally made eye contact.

"Believe me, if I wanted to hurt you, you’d already be hurt," she smirked.

"What will it be then?"

"I see you found your confidence," Edna crossed her arms over her chest, "But it won’t last for very long, I assure you that,"

With that, no more words were exchanged. Edna walked away, bumping Arabella’s shoulder on her way for good measure.

Immediately, and as soon as Edna had turned the corner, Arabella launched into a frenzied series of rough pattings all over herself in an attempt to shake off whatever curse Edna had flung onto her.

Her previous issue had started shortly after a close and lone encounter with her, after which she’d been successfully pushed and kept away from her, but there she caught her alone again, at the worst time ever.

A bitter taste built up in the back of her throat and Arabella felt the urge to throw up the lunch her stomach had yet to digest.

She fought it with every fiber of her being. Her first dress had been shredded into pieces, the last thing on her wish list was to ruin yet another one with her own spew. Especially considering the sentimental value it held for the Eleazars.

Arabella clutched at her burning stomach, begging it to settle down if only for a few hours. The weight of it all caused her to bend a little forward and she hoped that would help her fight the agony a bit.

But as if that wasn’t enough, the universe decided to throw more curves in her way. The doors to the gathering hall cracked open in a deafening blare, allowing light as well as a cacophony of sounds to glide by, thrashing Arabella on the way.

"And now! Please welcome the young Arabella," the masculine voice blasted through to the hallway, announcing her name.

Releasing the hold around her pendant and very reluctantly, she took her first steps inside only for her gaze to fall on the guests, sitting in a half circle while the entertainers stood by their sides.

"Lovely, isn’t she?" the man, dressed as a butler continued, "Need I even say what race she is? As I am sure her delightful scent speaks for her," the little leer drawn across his features cemented his words.

Hungry eyes of all colors stalked her every move. Their toothy grins did very little to appease her drumming heart.

Amongst them all, she sought familiar faces for comfort until the three sisters came into view, beaming along at her.

Katherine even sent a little nod her way.

"Arabella, my dear," Lady Persephone’s voice came from the side, "Why don’t you play your favorite piece for us?" gesturing towards the piano in the room, Lady Persephone gave one of her signature smiles as well.