Watching how Vincent appeared relaxed as if barely bothered about standing in one of the cells in the Council's dungeon, Eve hoped that things would not turn to the worse. The inside of the cells were dark, which would make it hard to see the person if they didn't come to the front.
Viscount Eduard said, "I will be back soon. Let me go and see how things are going at the Head Council's chamber." On Vincent's nod, the older vampire left the corridor with Eve standing in front of the cell.
"What if Marceline speaks against you?" Eve asked Vincent in worry.
"That would be interesting now, wouldn't it?" Vincent softly chuckled.
Eve didn't understand how Vincent could not be worried about this. And she stepped closer towards the rust rods. "The murderer could be anyone, why you? Marceline was in there too."
"Because the Hooke's find it to be convenient, and sister dear will be interrogated. Not to mention by record, it has pressured Clayton to take a step, though if you ask me, not a bad one. Vincent then continued to speak in a nonchalant voice, "They don't have concrete evidence yet, which is why I am all shiny and clean. This is more of a precautionary measure, don't sweat it. I will be out soon depending on how things go from here. Come here," he raised his hand, that passed through the rusty rods.
Eve took a step closer to the cell and caught hold of his hand. She said, "The Hookes want me out of Skellington."
Hearing this, Vincent's hand suddenly disappeared and he turned into a bat. The creature flew between the rods before he turned back himself. Free. Eve's eyes widened and she quickly looked back and forth to only be embraced by him.
"You are going nowhere. Not without me," Vincent whispered to her. Eve hugged him closer. "Things might turn a little bumpy, but bear with it."
Eve nodded, "I am so relieved to see you are more than fine."
"Silly girl, nothing can happen to me," Vincent said as he continued to hug her. Pulling away from her, he remarked cheekily, "Why don't you give me your hand so that I can snack on something. Sadly, they don't offer snacks here."
Back in the Head Council's chamber, Marceline now sat in front of the Head Council, Marquee and Marchioness Hooke, the councilman Mr. Bryon, who had accompanied her to the Council from her mansion. She held a kind and innocent expression on her face, hiding the vile nature that had curled around every cell and bone of her body.
Someone knocked on the door. In entered the inner circle's councilman Mr. Stoker. Mr. Stoker turned surprised and remarked, "I didn't know Marquee Hooke and Lady Aurora were here. Seems like something important is going on with the investigation?"
Clayton didn't react to Mr. Stoker's words and said, "You can come see me after an hour, Stoker. As you can see, I am busy right now."
"Of course, we can discuss later," Mr. Stoker responded, but when he didn't move from the room, Lady Aurora said, "This is a family matter and I would like it to be something just between a few and not be spread. If you don't mind, we would like to have that small space before you enter the room, Mr. Stoker."
Clayton looked surprised because he believed the Hookes would want to keep another person in the room as evidence when or if the final decision occurred in Vincent's case for the day. Mr. Stoker offered a tight smile before he left the room. Claytn then looked at Byron and said,
"Now if we can begin with our questions."
Byron bowed and then spoke to Marceline, "Lady Marceline, as I mentioned earlier in the mansion, this is regarding Lady Camille Wright's death. Your brother, Vincent Moriarty has been found guilty under suspicion and has been placed in the dungeon."
"Yes, I remember you told that to me," Marceline responded, but her thoughts went back to many minutes ago when she and this councilman were still riding in the carriage and on their way to Darthmore.
'Lady Marceline, I am here for your benefit,' Byron had told her earnestly, and his words had Marceline intrigued.
'And what is that?' She questioned him, her eyes narrowing.
'I have come to hear that you aren't keen about human's existence, especially one who is going to join your family, milady. I personally came here to get you so that I can relay a message from Lady Aurora Hooke. The Marchioness.'
'I am listening,' Marceline wondered what a Marchioness wanted from her.
'The Marchioness said that she would like to join her hands with you. In offering you help that you need, if you help her to make things easy,' the councilman said to her as the carriage moved. He continued, 'If you agree, your brother's life will be spared and he will be married to a proper vampiress and not a lowly human. To save your family's status in the society.'
Marceline was angry with the humiliation Eve and her brother had caused her. But mostly at the human, who had caused this change in balance in her life now. All she wanted was to see Eve in pain, and if it was being offered, why not take it? Marceline asked in her mind.
Even though she wanted to ruin things between her brother and Eve, she knew her direct hand would only cause her damage, and she could let the Hookes take the blame. But that wasn't enough for Marceline. She said, 'I want a better position than I am. Favours that I shall ask later. Do the Marquee and Marchioness agree to it?'
'They will, milady,' Byron assured her, and the young vampiress smiled.
Marceline's thoughts returned to the present. Byron started to question Marceline now in the chamber, "Lady Marceline, the day Lady Camille Wright went missing, did you see her in your mansion?"
