Another two hours passed before Lady Aubrey woke up and Eve sat with her. The older woman refused to accept that she needed rest and told everyone she was doing fine, and had decided to sit on the front stairs of the house. Eugene and Rosetta were in the kitchen, preparing supper along with Vincent, who for once and maybe the first time decided to help in the kitchen.
"I will be just fine, Eve," Lady Aubrey assured Eve, who held a serious look on her face.
Eve smiled at Lady Aubrey and said, "You will be fine, auntie. We won't let anything happen to you." She then asked her, "Does your stomach hurt?" It was because she noticed the older woman's hand move to her stomach.
"I barely felt it," Lady Aubrey replied, and she caught hold of Eve's hand with both hands by encapsulating it. She said, "My dear daughter Eve. When did you grow up this much?" It wasn't a question to Eve as the older woman held wonderment in her voice as if proud.
"Time passed too fast, didn't it," Eve looked around the garden before her eyes fell on the pot that Rosetta had planted along with Eugene. "Thank you, Aunt Aubrey. For all you have done, when others couldn't."
"You don't have to mention that. You and Eugene have been my joy, my companions after Rikkard," Lady Aubrey replied, and she then said, "Eugene mentioned something this morning… James Sullivan, was he…"
Eve only nodded, and Lady Aubrey took a deep breath as if trying to piece the things that had happened until now.
"To think the person was so near and none knew until the very end. I feel relieved that it was solved and you are safe now," Lady Aubrey murmured and asked, "How are you doing, Eve? You seem quieter than usual. Is there something else bothering you?"
"I think it is the mind after the storm has come and left," Eve responded, and she placed her other hand on Lady Aubrey's hand. She then asked, "The dried petals of my wedding bouquet…"
"I have saved them all with me," Lady Aubrey responded, "I knew you wanted to give them to Anaya, but I am not sure how you plan to give it as its broken, and just a heap of mess."
Eve nodded and then said, "I might not be able to keep you alive forever. But," Lady Aubrey gave a questioning look and said, "I can take away the pain that you feel."
Soon shimmering white particles started to gather around their hand and Lady Aubrey looked at it with a stunned expression. The stunned expression was quick to turn to awe as she continued to stare at the little droplets that formed in the air.
"These look so beautiful, Eve…" Lady Aubrey murmured, forgetting the pain that had formed in her stomach.
Eve concentrated on removing the illness that Lady Aubrey was going through. She pulled them one by one, and when she released Lady Aubrey's hand, she also pulled a murky mud-like substance before waving her hand on the ground.
"Ah, Eve. At the front," Lady Aubrey's eyes were directed on the road in front of the house.
Eve turned away from Lady Aubrey, and her eyes fell on Mrs. Humphrey and her son Patrick. Mrs. Humphrey's hand was pointed at Eve, while it trembled. The woman asked her son,
"Did you see that, Patrick?! She's a witch!"
Patrick stared at Eve with horror and disbelief in his eyes. He couldn't believe what he just saw, all those shimmery and shiny diamonds in the air.
Mrs. Humphrey and her son were on their way to the Edwards's house when they caught sight of the witchcraft. The woman said, "You are indeed a witch just like we assumed! You should have been burned that day. I am going to tell everyone about it. You tricked all of us and need to be captured! Hiding behind that wretched vampire of—"
When the woman turned around, something sharp came flying right in front of her nose and hit the wall on the other side of the road. Mrs. Humphrey felt her heart leap in her throat and she stopped her footsteps.
On hearing the swishing sound, Patrick turned in that direction, and his eyes widened on noticing a sharp glass piece sticking into the wall. How did it get there?! He couldn't believe his eyes and wondered if he was seeing things. Both the mother and son turned to look back at Eve.
Eve started to walk towards them, and said, "I thought we ended all the feuds, Mrs. Humphrey. But it seems like you forgot what happened the last time you called me a witch. Calling me that again will lead to your loss, not mine." She moved the gate away and stepped outside before saying, "Don't think I missed my aim."
Mrs. Humphrey stared at Eve and stuttered, "W—what are you?"
"I am a woman who wants peace and if you speak ill of my husband or family members, I won't stand quiet," Eve's words were calm and she turned to look at Patrick, who couldn't take his eyes off of her. There was something sweet yet dangerous in the way she looked. "I am hoping you will be able to make your mother understand."
Patrick, who once tried to intimidate Eve for her hand in marriage and had tried to come strong on her, was now left speechless, and though big, for the first time he felt small.
"I would listen if I were you."
It was Vincent who had stepped out of the house. He approached Eve, while Eugene and Rosetta stood next to Lady Aubrey. He said, "The Moriartys are very protective about their family." He cracked his knuckles, "I don't just snap fingers, but also snap necks. The sound is quite lovely."
Patrick nervously laughed and said, "We didn't see or hear anything. Nothing at all! Isn't that right, mother?" He sharply nudged his mother.
"A—ah, y—yes," Mrs. Humphrey stuttered in fear, and the mother-son duo left without looking behind even once.
Eve watched them disappear at the end of the road and heard Vincent remark while he glanced at the ice and wall, "That was a good throw. Even a sharper ice like glass. Your ability seems more refined than before. My strong wife," he put his hand around her waist.
"My amazing husband," Eve turned to look at him and kissed his lips.
"Lady Genevieve, how wonderful to see you here! We were so worried about you!" Mrs. Edwards remarked, who had watched the disappearing figures of Mrs. Humphrey and Patrick.
Rosetta's eyes rolled to look at the human and asked Eugene, "Is it okay to drink from your neighbours?"
Eugene smiled and rubbed his wife's back. He kissed her nose and said, "Come let us go back to the kitchen." The kiss was enough to change Rosetta's mood, and she quickly followed him inside the house.
Mrs. Edwards then asked in curiosity, "Was it the Humphreys?"
Vincent offered a charming smile and replied, "It was. They were here to tell us that they are leaving the town tomorrow."
Mrs. Edwards's mouth went into 'O' shape, and she nodded. Eve cleared her throat and asked him, "They are?"
"Early in the morning right before the sun rises. I hear there's a storm, and wouldn't want them caught up in it. Safety first," Vincent replied cheekily, bringing a smile to her lips.
