Author: Wanted to give you all 3 chapters, and it got delayed with the length and edits x.x
When Eve took a look inside the velvet bag, she caught sight of gold coins in there. She heard Vincent say,
"It isn't eighty but fifteen gold coins. To treat your wounds."
Even if Vincent had given her one gold coin, she would have been happy, and she gave him a nod, "Thank you for talking to the people in the council and these coins."
They continued to stand in one of the busy streets of the Hollow Valley. Noticing the mermaid looking disappointed which she tried to hide, Vincent questioned her,
"How did you turn like this?"
"What?" Eve asked him.
"Always wanting and trying to help people. When you yourself are an endangered one. Is it because you wished things were different for your mother and you?" Questioned Vincent, his copper-red eyes almost drilling a hole into her eyes. "Did you get into trouble in the past too?"
A slight sheepish smile appeared on Eve's lips and she shook her head, "A little. Eugene and Aunt Aubrey often found me entangled in the bushes or tree, hanging upside down when I was young."
"Well, what do you know, it's not just the bats who do that," remarked Vincent with humour. They started to walk on the streets next to each other. Eve caught sight of women whose eyes were quick to look at the pureblooded vampire who walked next to her before looking at her in distaste.
With the wealthy people who knew who Vincent was, they were quick to offer their bow to him when they walked from the opposite direction and passed them.
Holding the velvet close to her front, Eve replied to Vincent's earlier question, "It is because of my father. My mother used to tell me how she was alive because of him, because he had shown her kindness when no one else did. She said she was meant to live an unfortunate life, but my father changed it and gave her a life."
"You said your father was killed?" Questioned Vincent, and Eve nodded. "Just because you are good doesn't mean the world will treat you the same, Ms. Barlow," he tried to educate her.
"I am aware of it," Eve's words were low, and she looked at the people around them. "I know that being good doesn't bring good. But that doesn't mean, I will stand by watching people being hurt. Even though I know the world is not fair, it doesn't have to mean I have to turn a blind eye when I can try. Just because the world is bad doesn't mean you turn bad."
The corner of Vincent's lips curled. He remarked, "As much as I admire the trouble that you look for, there are some things you cannot control."
"I know you think I am naive for thinking I can help people," Eve muttered.
"Of course, I do. You don't know to keep your nose to yourself and want to go snooping around," Vincent's eyes moved to the corner to look at her. "But you cannot help it, because you believe everyone can be saved. Or is it that you feel guilty for being unable to help your mother when she died?"
Vincent's words struck a chord in Eve's chest, and she went quiet.
"Is that what this is all about?" Vincent questioned her, and Eve paused her footsteps. He turned to her and said, "That the memories of the gory night comes back to you every night your head touches the pillow. Where the murderer is next to your mother and she's oozing with blood and all you can do is watch as she screams and wriths in pain."
Eve's eyes glistened and she gulped down the emotions that were being stirred and bubbling up her throat. She glared at him, "Do you enjoy hurting people, Master Vincent?"
"Yes," came the blunt answer, and he smiled, "I enjoy people's misery. It's what lights up my days."
Eve calmed her breathing, her eyes holding a fire that Vincent enjoyed stoking and looking at. She said,
"I hope one day you will be able to see beyond a person's misery."
"I rather not," came the quick response from Vincent. He said, "There's no need to be noble, because this world is not worth saving. No one is." He sighed and muttered, "It feels like I have picked up a stray that barely listens to me." He turned around to look at the other side of the street.
Even Eve looked the other way, trying to calm her mind. She took a deep breath and said, "There's a place I need to visit."
"Is it the land of problems and is Mr. Trouble escorting you there?" Joked Vincent and when Eve didn't respond, he said, "It was a funny one, and you didn't laugh. Where are you going?"
Eve didn't tell him where, but Vincent did walk along with her as if he wasn't done making jabs at her. Vincent's eyebrows rose when they reached near the 'Little Teeth's Inn'.
"Look at you visiting such famous places. Your employer must be paying you a high wage," commented Vincent, and he put his hands in his coat's pockets. "Let us go in then."
Eve caught hold of Vincent's sleeve, which had him raise one of his eyebrows. She said,
"Not inside. It is the guard at the door." She made her way to where the inn's guard guarded the door and raised her hand. The giant-looking man stared down at her. She said, "I promised to pay you when I received the money." She placed two gold coins on his callous palm before offering a bow to him.
Vincent watched Eve speak to the buff man guarding the inn's door.
A small boy, selling a pack of cigars, waved it in the air and said, "A crown for two of them. Crown for two of them, would you like to buy it?" He asked when he came near Vincent.
"Is it made of gold?" Vincent questioned the boy, who blinked at the wealthy-looking man.
"No, Sire," the boy replied in confusion. "But it does have dried blood in it. Will you buy it?"
"And whose blood is that?" Vincent keenly looked at the boy, where the boy turned slightly worried.
"We found a few volunteers," replied the boy, and Vincent chuckled.
"One's that were alive?" When Vincent's eyes pierced through the boy's gaze, the little boy quickly nodded and Vincent pulled out a crown coin between his two fingers before offering it to the vampire boy.
"Thank you!" the boy bowed his head deeply.
Vincent placed one of the cigars between his lips, lighting one end to burn before he blew out smoke between his lips. The younger vampire looked back and forth between Vincent and the direction the older vampire was looking, which was the inn.
The boy asked, "Do you need information about the inn?"
Vincent's gaze moved away from Eve, who was now making her way to where he stood, looking at the boy. He said, "Seems like you know quite a bit about this town." It was because he had heard about the mermaid's location from this little one.
The younger vampire nodded, "Did you find what you were looking for before? I heard her blood isn't that good. If you are looking for better blood, you will find it through the same merchant, Sire. She will be put in a circus soon for everyone to see and it will be expensive. I hear she is very beautiful and sings well," revealed the boy.
Vincent took another drag from the cigar, where it left an aftertaste of blood in his mouth when he blew the smoke out.
Eve appeared next to Vincent, who heard the boy say, "Some of us plan to go to the circus, and listen to her sing."
"That does sound like something to look forward to," said Vincent before pulling out another coin, which was silver and he dropped the coin into the boy's hand. "And do these mermaids see each other?"
The boy nodded with a thoughtful expression, "Sometimes."
Vincent offered a smile and said, "You can go." The younger vampire bowed again and disappeared into the crowd.
"What were you talking to the boy?" Inquired Eve.
"Just some silly things on how the mermaid we met might rat you to the mermaid who speaks like us," came the sarcastic words from Vincent.
