Music Recommendation: Gerda in the rain- Alexandre Desplat
When Eve had locked the door and left earlier, she hadn't expected to return this soon, at least not like this. She was happy to see Vincent, but not happy to let him find her in the condition he did.
She pulled the key from her dress pocket, fumbling through the door's keyhole with unsteady hands.
"Give it to me," Vincent stretched his hand in front of her.
"I can do it," Eve whispered while trying to get the door to open. It took her a moment to realise the door had jammed. She turned to Vincent, but her eyes didn't meet his eyes, and she stepped away from the door for him to take her place in front of the door.
Vincent turned the key stuck to the door and used his other hand to push and pull the doorknob and heard the door click.
"Thank you," Eve said when he pushed the door open.
When they stepped inside, Eve asked Vincent, "Take a seat, Mr. Moriarty. Would you like to drink something? There's no milk in the house, maybe a flower tea? There must be some biscuits that are still in the jar, let me go take a look in the kitchen."
Vincent frowned at the way Eve now refused to meet his gaze. He said, "You are hurt. Sit down."
Now that they were alone, Eve's feelings returned for him with twice the fold. Though happy, at the same time, the ache in her chest appeared, and she wasn't ready to hear him reject her again. It was why she didn't dare to clarify what he said earlier to the townsfolk about him and her in front of everyone.
Eve nervously waved her hand and said, "It is nothing big. I will clean it in front of the mirror in Lady Aubrey's room. Let me go and get you something to eat--"
"Eve," Vincent stopped her, "I need you to sit down, so that I can help you clean the wound and the blood on your face. Please," he added, and Eve couldn't help but slowly meet his eyes.
Her eyes were filled with tears, and her lips trembled. How cruel that the only person she could cry in front of openly without having to hold back her tears was this pureblooded vampire. His cold eyes held concern and worry in them, and the walls she had built since last night crumbled.
Vincent walked to the kitchen, and Eve wondered if he had read her resignation letter. It was possibly why he was here? After two minutes, he returned with a bowl of water and a cloth in his hands. She took a seat in the living room, and he pulled a chair to sit in front of her.
When the wet cloth touched her forehead, Eve hissed, and Vincent stopped his hand, "I know it hurts, but bear with it for a few seconds." Her nails dug into the palms while he continued cleaning the corners of the wound before following the trail of blood down the side of her face. "I didn't think the people here would misinterpret the sight of a carriage in front of your house to be something else. I am sorry that my carelessness cost you today."
"You don't have to be sorry about it. It wasn't your fault, but the people of Meadow," Eve responded.
No one ever pointed their fingers at the members of high society who often had people visiting them in different carriages. But because she lived on the lower side of society, it was easy for one to point their fingers as their thoughts were narrow.
"You don't have to put a brave face in front of me, Eve. Never have to," Vincent had finished cleaning the blood trail and noticed a smear of blood on the corner of her lips. He dropped the stained cloth on the table and placed his hand on the other side of her cheek, "Let your feelings out."
Eve didn't understand why Vincent's touch was gentler than before, and his words were enough to squeeze her heart as if ready to burst. With great difficulty, she had gathered her thoughts and herself, and she doubted she could do it again.
"I don't think it would be wise... I will break.." Eve whispered, her eyes lowering from his gaze.
"I will be there to put you back," saying this, Vincent leaned forward from his seat, and his lips touched next to her lips where blood had dripped before from one corner of her lips.
Eve's eyes widened, feeling the pureblooded vampire's lips so close to her own. Her heart started to race, but she did nothing to hide it. She felt his wet tongue taking away the trace of blood on her skin. Her glistening eyes slowly closed, feeling the gentle softness when his lips touched her skin, while not realising the depth Vincent's earlier words held.
When Eve heard footsteps approaching the door, her eyes fluttered open, and she pulled away from Vincent, something he didn't like.
Soon Patton appeared in front of the house and informed, "Mr. Moriarty, I have urgent news."
Vincent's eyes narrowed, displeased with the interruption. When Eve looked at him, her doubtful mind remembered the night of his rejection, and she cleared her throat before standing up from the couch she had been sitting on.
"What is it?" Vincent asked loudly, who was annoyed, and he got up to make his way to the opened front door. His eyes turned to look at where Eve stood with her arms crossed, where she looked in the opposite direction, before turning to look at a worried Patton.
Patton looked left and right before he said in a low voice, "Two more bodies were dug out in Darthmore, and Sylvester has blamed it on you to Clayton. You are urgently needed at the Council, Sire."
Vincent gave a nod, "Go, I will be there," and Patton bowed. The man then hurried towards the waiting carriage parked in front of Dawson's residence and left in it. Patton found Meadow to be odder than the last time he had visited, as the town had turned quiet and caught sight of some people kneeling on the ground.
Hearing the receding footsteps, Eve turned back to look at Vincent, who approached her. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, embracing her closely as if not wanting to leave her in this state.
"I have to go to Darthmore for work. Come with me," Vincent said so he wouldn't have to worry about her.
"I will be fine here," Eve assured him, her heart beating against his chest. He pulled himself back and stared at her. She offered him a smile, but that didn't do it for Vincent. She then said, "You don't have to worry about me. I doubt any of the townsfolk will do anything to me now. You should go," she knew there was a pressing matter in the Council. He had saved her from trouble, and she was grateful for it.
"I will be back soon," Vincent promised her, to which she nodded and watched him step out of the house.
Now alone in the house, Eve's feelings were all over the place. What happened outside her home was still fresh in her mind, and Vincent's kindness towards her was nothing less than a knife twisting in her heart. Her hand touched the corner of her lips, the feeling of his lips still humming in her heart.
Two hours passed while she sat in the living room thinking about what had happened when she heard a knock on the door. Opening it, she noticed it was the magistrate who decided to drop by to check on her.
"Ms. Barlow, I apologise for not being able to help you earlier. Mr. Moriarty told me to check on you if you need anything," the magistrate asked her politely.
"Can you arrange a carriage for me to travel?" Eve asked him.
The magistrate frowned at her request but immediately agreed, "O--of course! I will have it arranged right away!"
