Eve sighed internally, confirming that she had come to the right man, unlike the last time when she had chased Mr. Morris, who had nothing to do with her mother.
Sensing the young woman's silence, Mr. Hart said, "Don't be upset about it. I still think you are more beautiful than her and you are here."
His words brought a question to her mind, and she asked, "If you don't mind my question, Mr. Hart, what happened to her," she continued to smile at him even though her jaws and cheeks had started to hurt.
"She turned her back on me. I got everything, and instead, she went to the next wealthy man," spat Mr. Hart. As if Eve had opened a can of memories, the man continued, "She was in debt and was stuck in some dark corner of the alley."
"Debt?"
"She owed some people money. The more she offered her service to me, the better it was and easier to keep women like that close their mouths from talking about it," Mr. Hart huffed. He leaned back, placing both his hands on the bench as if he was tired, while his eyes turned slightly droopy, yet he drank the rest of the wine from his glass. "I loved her, you know. I treated her right and wanted to marry her."
Eve's eyes widened on hearing this. She let the man continue to speak while staying quiet.
Mr. Hart stared at the bush in front of them while his eyes turned glassy because of the intoxication. Eve subtly turned to ensure they didn't have anyone eavesdropping on their conversation. He said,
"She was the first woman I loved. I thought as she was still in debt, she would agree to marry me, but then I found out that she has a child," Mr. Hart huffed in anger before shaking his head. He continued, "I came to see her every day, hoping she would change her mind. But she refused. She wanted more men's manhood, than settling down. All of them just cannot get enough once they step into this line of work."
Eve's hands turned into fists, hearing the memories of her mother that was sullied. She wondered if her mother had refused because she was worried that someone would find her identity of being a mermaid. Not to mention, Mr. Hart would probably not think twice before selling her away as she wouldn't be his blood if her mother did marry him.
"Who knows what happened to her. She must have moved towns," said Mr. Hart, "I am feeling much better now," and he stood up.
Eve stood with him and asked, "Do you know whom she last worked for?"
Mr. Hart almost lost his footing before he stood straight. The man's eyebrows furrowed, and he said,
"I think it was William Parsons. The last I heard someone else asked Parsons to send her to them. Let me not bother you with such unnecessary details," Mr. Hart rubbed his forehead as if his head was hurting from all the alcohol he had drank. He leaned towards Eve and was about to say something.
Someone tapped Mr. Hart's shoulder, and the man turned his head. A fist flew at him, and the man fell to the ground.
"What was that for?" Eve asked Vincent in alarm, who checked his knuckles. "You hit a member of the Inner Circle."
"Position and status means little to nothing to me and it looked like you wanted to hit him. I thought I would give you a little demonstration of how it should be done," Vincent turned to look at Mr. Hart, unconscious now. "Relax, he won't remember anything except for a throbbing headache when he wakes up."
Eve nodded, "Do you know who William Parsons is?"
Vincent turned to Eve, "Yes. The man didn't have many people visit him for his funeral."
"He's dead?" Eve asked in disbelief.
"You are a year late in trying to get to him," Vincent looked around and said, "Let us get back inside and leave this man be. I am sure someone will be kind enough to send him back to his home."
Eve looked at Mr. Hart's unconscious body before she followed Vincent back inside the mansion. She tried to wrap her mind around the information, and she asked in a whisper,
"Did the man have a scar on his face?"
"Not that I remember of," on hearing Vincent's answer, Eve's heart sank. "His wife is still alive, and one can always get answers from one means or another."
Eve pursed her lips before she said, "But she won't talk about her husband's mistresses. Will she?"
"Nothing is ever easy, but I have my ways of getting answers," Vincent then praised her, "You did far better than I thought you would. I could use you in my cases," a grin appeared on his lips.
Mr. Hart's words circulated in Eve's head, and she wondered why her mother rejected the man when he claimed to be in love with her. Was she supposed to stay cautious like her too? To never be next to one who wasn't of her kind… live a life of loneliness.
Before they reached the place, Eve's eyes fell on Mr. Morris, who was with a young looking woman. The man glanced at her before going on his way with the woman.
[Music Recommendation- Don't mess with my mind- EMO]
Music drifted in the air, played by the pianist and violinist in the room. Some of the guests danced on the floor, and seeing this, Vincent brought his hand in front of her. Eve stared into the vampire's coppery-red eyes, who tilted his head with a crooked smile. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his before being led to the dance floor.
Eve asked him, "Why doesn't status or position not bother you?" Vincent used his other hand to guide her free hand to place it on his shoulder.
"Probably because I have nothing to fear about," and Vincent's hand circled her waist before bringing her to him.
A gasp escaped from Eve's lips because he hadn't pulled her gently towards him. He took a deep breath before confessing next to her ear,
"Biting you once has broken the damn of my resistance that cannot contain its instincts anymore."
Though the lighting was low where they danced, Eve felt Vincent's breath on her neck when he uttered those words. When Eve turned, she noticed his eyes had turned dark.
"Don't," Eve breathed, feeling her heart skip a beat. He had already bitten her once in front of everyone.
Vincent and Eve took a step each backwards, while still holding their hands, before stepping in front of each other. He said, "Give me a reason why I shouldn't bite you now." Instead of placing his palm flat on hers, his hand curled around hers.
"I don't think you should tease me… Vincent."
"Who is teasing who, little one?" Vincent looked at her intimidatingly with his darkened gaze.
When Eve noticed Vincent's fangs peek behind his lips, she wondered why she couldn't smile at him and slip out of his hold from being bitten. But then, at the same time, she owed her life to him; this was the least she could do. She said,
"Not here…"
The crooked smile on the pureblooded vampire's lips appeared, and he remarked, "Let us not waste anymore time then."
