CHAPTER 419: AWAY FROM THE NOISE

When Silas and Arabella crossed paths for the second time on that day, she kept her peace. Both did, in fact.

But that was mostly because it was neither the time nor place to handle their personal affairs.

"I see," Liriel looked at Erik intently by the end of Arabella’s tale, "And they have his family, you say," out of all parts in that story, she chose to repeat that one more specifically.

For a good reason since it was the only thread binding their hands. Thin yet so nearly unbreakable.

Although at first, Arabella had opted not to give Liriel all of the truth... She eventually went back on that decision. After her recent conversation with Silas, the woman believed it was better to burden the fairy rather than make her feel untrusted for that seemed to hurt ten folds.

"Yes!" the boy almost leaped out of his chair, his eyes glistening with tears that were ready to fall should the conversation veer onto unfavorable tracks, "My sister and mother, my Lady!"

"Settle down," Silas said calmly, but firmly.

Arabella made no comment and even failed to look Silas in the eyes.

"I am afraid I won’t be able to trust this information with the rest of the syndicate by only hoping that no official report will be filed," Liriel shook her head, "As you know Grishnak is very much a stickler for the rules and insufferably so,"

With those words, Liriel seemed to address Silas more than anyone else in the room. Considering Arabella had no clue who the so-called Grishnak was, all she could assume was that they were a member of the syndicate, but that was as far as it went.

"What are we to do then?" Erik’s shaky voice braved the short moment of silence that had settled in, "What am I to do?"

"You are to do nothing," Liriel turned her piercing eyes back onto him, "You are to eat, drink, sleep and enjoy the fresh air. You did your part for the sake of your family. Now, let us do ours,"

In the end, the fairy smiled sweetly which seemed to work its magic enough as Erik’s shoulders relaxed the very next instant.

After Erik’s exit, Silas kept his diamonds on Liriel all the time, "Morgana came by yesterday, but she promised to return tonight in order to work on the symptoms of the flu,"

"Yes, well, they will have to be very convincing," she chuckled.

"I am really sorry," Arabella hung her head low, "I was the one that insisted on helping him. It is because of me you are being dragged into this," she murmured.

"No, please, I am glad you went this route instead of the formal channels. I very much rather avoid unnecessary conflict. The current peace is quite to my liking and I must admit, I am also flattered that you trusted me enough to clue me in on your plan before going ahead with it,"

Trust... The sound of that word alone made Silas draw a deeper breath while Arabella looked to bury her head further among the floor tiles.

"My Lord, my Lady," Ada appeared through the door, "Mr Kallum sent us girls a word to go by his shop tonight for try outs,"

"Has he stated the reason he cannot come himself?" Silas took the letter out of her hand.

"Yes. He said there were too many to carry around and that some weren’t fully finished yet,"

"Right," the vampire’s eyes went over the ink, "You will wait for Katherine to accompany you," he then turned towards Arabella and declared, "That doesn’t include you,"

Her eyes hadn’t yet fully recovered from the crying they did earlier and there they were threatening to release more tears.

The way Silas had glared at her alone had that effect. It was like he wasn’t even looking at her but through her.

With that, the vampire left the room.

Ada’s eyes went between the door, Liriel and the crumpled face of Arabella.

"Oh, don’t worry!" she opened her arms and wrapped her friend in the warmest of hugs, "He will come around when all of this... With your father and the prince blows over,"

"I know, I know," she murmured in a meek voice.

"Let us go, ladies," Liriel’s voice rose, "That ballroom needs supervision. My girls must have wreaked havoc by now," she chuckled.

And pure havoc they wreaked... The maids were barely keeping up with the zooming of fairies. The butlers had already given up and decided to wait until the little creatures finished with whatever task they were busy handling.

"Did you two speak?" Ada asked as soon as Liriel lunched forward to give the fairies an earful.

"We did," Arabella kept staring at the ground, "But I ruined everything," she squeaked.

"No, please don’t think that way! It wasn’t your fault at all! It’s just his first time taking something such as this on and none of us are good at acting much either," she tugged at the pretty loose curls dangling near her ear.

"What?" Arabella’s eyes furrowed, "What do you mean taking on?"

"What?" Ada’s eyes widened as her cheeks flushed pink, "Uhm... I may have gotten a bit confused. What did you mean by ruining everything?" she narrowed her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her chest expectantly.

"I...," Arabella had many questions, but not an ounce of energy left to ask them, "He found out about my suspicion of Allegra and got very upset that I didn’t trust him enough to speak with him,"

"Oh... What a relief then!" Ada sighed and mumbled under her breath.

Only, Arabella heard it, "What? Why would it be a relief? That is quite cruel of you to say,"

"No! No! No! Oh Lord! I didn’t mean it that way! Of course, not! Please," Ada tried to reach for Arabella’s hand, but the latter pulled away.

"I need to think. I need a moment away from the noise," she shook her head, "I trust you and madame Arumina with the ballroom,"

She waited for no response and practically took off. Her destination was no other than the library which Arabella had missed a bit.

Her last visit there went back to her conversation with Evina.

Her feet ambled the aisles in search for a new world to dive into headfirst. Something to keep her own inner voices quiet.