Eve shivered from the cold water that had drenched her clothes as she waited for Vincent to surface up the lake, who had dived back into the lake to look for the person she had seen.
Vincent pushed himself up to the surface of the water, water dripping down his body, and he said, "There's no one there. Just water and some bones." He climbed out of it.
Hearing Vincent's words, Eve's eyebrows knit together, and she wondered whom she saw. She asked, "Bones of mermaids?"
"Animals," Vincent replied. He picked up her coat and draped it around her body.
Eve felt chills run down her body, and it wasn't because of the cold water but because of what she saw under it or whom. She was sure she had seen someone.
Vincent asked her, "What did you see?"
"The person looked like a siren, but at the same time it wasn't one. Jagged teeth, wet hair pushed backwards, hollow eyes. Very hollow eyes," it was the most prominent thing she could remember apart from the person's teeth. "Big fins, but shorter than a bird's wing. What kind are those?"
"Spirit mermaids," Vincent answered, and Eve's already furrowed eyebrows deepened. He continued, "As you must have already assumed, they are dead. Sometimes the spirit mermaids drift, sometimes they look for their kind with a message."
"A message where I might die?" Eve asked, feeling slight dread.
Vincent held a grim expression and said, "The sea shouldn't be far from here." He took a step towards her. "Let us take a look around, shall we?" He put one of his arms around the back of her knees and the other on her back before lifting her in his arms. Eve put her arms around his neck, locking her fingers.
Vincent's wings emerged from his back, and he stepped near the clearing of the lake before a sudden wind blew when the enormous bat-like wings flapped. The nearby trees shook and the snow on it fell to the ground.
Up in the sky now, Eve continued to hold on to him, while her eyes took in the beauty of nature. What they had seen until now was nothing compared to what she saw now. The air that touched her body couldn't bring out a sliver of shiver, as her eyes and mind were focused on the vast forest covered in snow, while some areas held a foggy mist.
The further they flew, the more speechless Eve turned out to be until she saw something glimmer at the edge. The rays of sun that had been hiding from them, they finally found it. They saw the sea stretched far from where they were, and the lake connected to it.
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"Do you think that is where I come from? Somewhere beyond it?" Eve asked Vincent while her blue eyes continued to stare.
"The sea is vast, bigger than the lands," Vincent answered, watching the sea and the sun's rays that would soon dim in the next two hours, bringing night.
Having never thought about stepping into the sea, Eve wondered if she would find anything if she entered the water. She was a creature that belonged to the waters, yet she not only walked on the lands for quite some time but now she was in the air with a pureblooded vampire. She turned to look at Vincent, whose wet silver hair moved fervently because of the wind.
"Enjoying the view?" Vincent asked her, and a crooked smile appeared on his lips.
Eve gave him a nod. A mixture of feelings had entered her mind--shock, awe and curiosity that wanted to be quenched. Vincent's wings continued to flap, while they heard the soft whistling of the wind.
They flew back to where the carriage was parked and descended on the forest ground.
Mr. Briggs, who noticed his master and the governess's clothes drenched in water, looked taken aback and quickly went to Vincent, asking in concern,
"Master Vincent, what happened?! Are you alright?!"
"Yes. We had a little slip in the lake. Bring down Ms. Barlow's trunk so that she can change into a fresh pair of clothes," Vincent ordered him.
"Yes, Sire!" The coachman quickly brought down her trunk from the back of the carriage.
A few minutes later, Eve was inside the carriage as she changed from her wet clothes to the dry ones. When she pushed open the door, she stepped down on the ground and noticed Vincent nowhere in sight.
"Mr. Briggs, where did Vincent go?" She asked the coachman, who had lit a fire with the logs of woods.
"He walked that way, milady," the coachman pointed his finger in one direction of the forest.
Eve stepped closer to the fire, watching it burn. Out of curiosity, she asked him,
"When did you arrive at Berkshire?"
"It was only two nights ago, milady. Master Vincent told me to drive to Berkshire and wait for him before, just in case you were to be there," said the coachman, who paused for five seconds before he added, "I am glad that the young Master was able to find you and that you have been well and safe. He tore down the place, while he searched for you. I have never seen him like that before. It is good to see that he finally found someone he cares for."
Eve could tell that the coachman respected and was fond of Vincent.
Mr. Briggs was a lower vampire who appeared to be in his fifties with a square face. He had a warmer appearance than most vampires she had come across. But then, this very warm and friendly face was one of the accomplices of the mastermind who framed people as murderers.
The coachman said, "Since the first lady's death, master Vincent has never let anyone near him, less looked out for someone this earnestly. He holds you very dear to his heart," he offered his gratitude to her, bowing to her and Eve returned it.
"Have you known Vincent since he was small?" Eve asked the coachman, who held a smile and he nodded.
"A few years ago, it was his mother who hired me, milady. I was her personal coachman, before she got married to the Viscount. And then driving the siblings around, and now Master Vincent's personal coachman," Mr. Briggs answered Eve. The coachman then said in a low voice, "Lady Katherina always loved showering both him and Lady Marceline with affections. Though the young miss liked it, Master Vincent was very shy when he was a little boy. He didn't show his affections then either."
And now the pureblooded vampire was bold with his words and gaze, thought Eve. She placed her hands in front of the fire and took the warmth from it.
Though neither Eve nor Vincent had uttered their words of love, their actions spoke louder, and for now, it was as if they were content with it, knowing the other person was there for the other. But at the same time, it didn't stop her from smiling at the coachman's words.
When Vincent returned from wherever he had been, Eve noticed that, unlike her, he was still in his wet clothes. He had removed the coat he had been wearing until now, and his black shirt stuck to his skin.
When Vincent returned from wherever he had gone earlier, Eve noticed that, unlike her, he was still in his wet clothes. He had removed the coat he had been wearing before, and now his black shirt stuck to his skin. He stated,
"The weather has changed and it is going to snow again. Better to get to the next town and stay in the inn."
Eve's eyes shifted from his chest to meet the red eyes that stared at her. She asked him, "How far is the next town from here?"
"Probably two to three hours from here." Vincent had been searching for Eve for days, not finding the time to pack his clothes. They stayed next to the fire for some more time. Before it started snowing, they were back inside the carriage and on the road, heading to the next town.
The snow had turned harsher when the carriage arrived at the next town. Most of the people outside had already hurried into their shelter. The sky had turned dark, and the lanterns were lit outside and inside the buildings.
Mr. Briggs went to park the carriage behind the inn's shed while Vincent and Eve stepped into the inn, softly tinkling when they pushed the door.
A short and plump man stepped into their view, who was the inn's owner, questioned, "How can I help you?"
"Two rooms with the facility of bath and food," Vincent offered the inn's owner a charming smile.
"Ah, two rooms. That would be two gold coins," said the inn owner, looking at Eve and then back at Vincent.
At the same time, Eve heard voices from the stairs, and soon her eyes fell on the four men who were werewolves. They held a wild look in their eyes, making it seem like they were rogue werewolves, and one of their eyes fell on her.
Vincent placed the shiny coins on the counter, and the inn's owner thanked him, before saying, "Let me lead you to your rooms. Please follow me."
