CHAPTER 424: THE SHOE

The air in the room wasn’t heavy by any means.

It was simply that neither of them had a thing to say that didn’t involve any recent ordeal.

Given Arabella’s condition, Silas saw cruelty in broaching any with her.

They’d left many things untold between them but... Just the way her body curled around itself birthed a burning urge to wrap his arms around her frail figure and hold her close.

He debated that for not very long and quit on fighting that urge. Silas allowed every one of her short breaths to brush his chest. Although their impact was feeble since they landed upon his clothes and not bare skin.

Arabella’s eyes fluttered open and shut barely for seconds on end, earning her the foggiest of expressions.

It was as though she was melting, right there in his arms. Utterly still and unable to make even the smallest of movements.

Only her chest rose and fell as a proof of life.

"I am sorry," he whispered without thinking.

Arabella was right; it did cut deep to know she still could not trust him to behave rationally or react with clemency.

For how long was she going to circle back to the difference in power between them?

What was he apologizing for in the first place?

"What for?"

The little murmur that had escaped her lips along with the hazy glance she gave him syphoned all of that reasoning away. All of it out the window.

So, why was he apologizing? Wasn’t that what a good husband would do? To... Keep the peace or something along those lines.

"I didn’t mean to scare you," that was all he managed to say.

"You didn’t," she tried to shake her head but failed miserably.

What did those doctors drain out of her exactly? Was it her whole life?! Was her state even natural?

Perhaps a few drops of blood would do her more good than harm?

No... he thought. The best route would be to wait for the doctors’ findings before acting upon instinct.

As he tossed the topic around, a soft touch connected with his face. Somehow Arabella had pulled enough strength together to raise her arm in order to caress his cheek.

"We have yet to finish our last conversation," she murmured, "I was too stunned to speak back in the sisters’ room and now...," her chuckle came with a lot of strain, "I am falling apart at the seams but... We will speak on this further once I get a good night’s rest, I promise,"

"It really can wait," his diamonds looked at nothing but her gemstones.

"Yes, it can... Until tomorrow," she smiled, "I have a lot to say too, and you have to hear it,"

Sensing that her arm struggled to remain suspended in the air, Silas’ hand went under hers to provide support and keep her palm connected to his cheek.

The warmth it offered was much needed and even more so desired.

The direct contact and gentle rubbing made every hair on his body stand and all for the best of reasons.

"All I can do now is repeat that I didn’t mean to hurt you," her voice gravitated towards a lower edge as her sentence went on.

"Whatever it is you believe you did, it didn’t hurt as much as you think,"

Another lie he uttered!

It not only stung but stuck like a thorn under his heel for good measure. No amount of effort on his part managed to pluck it out.

"Oh...," her eyebrows furrowed, "I am just realizing...," she trailed off.

"What did you just realize?" his features mirrored hers.

"You are actually... The lousiest of liars," the tamest of chuckles escaped her.

Was it his heart that betrayed him? Her ears lay right against his chest after all.

"Oh Lord!" she laughed, "Look at you! You are so adorable!"

With that feeble declaration, Arabella’s eyes fluttered shut one last time as her breathing rhythm slowly evened out.

Adorable!? What in the-

Silas never got to finish that thought for a hasty knock landed upon their door. Thankfully, despite the confidence with which the knocker hit the door, Arabella’s slumber was not perturbed.

They insisted, repeating their action as Silas did his best to lay Arabella on the bed without disturbing her.

"This is quite unacceptable," was the first thing he’d said when greeting Katherine.

Seeing her glistening eyes, he pushed forward in order to shut the door behind himself because something told him the vampiress was about to be loud and unconcerned with her surroundings.

"It is Allegra, my Lord!" Katherine was on the verge of sobbing, "Allegra has vanished,"

A freezing stripe of chills ran up his spine, straight to his brain where its translation remained impossible.

"Explain yourself," he did his very best to keep calm.

"She said she was tired and wanted to go back home so we split up in town. Apparently, she turned down the carriage ride and went on foot through the forests. She’s been acting odd as of late and I chalked it up to nerves and guilt for what happened, but I don’t know anymore! I...,"

She went on and on citing and describing unrelated things. The vampiriess that stood before him was nothing like the Katherine Silas always knew. There was none of the composure or confidence that once lived in her.

Where was it all gone? But the better question for that time being was, where was Allegra gone?"

"Did you see her speak to someone you didn’t know, a complete stranger?" he asked.

If Dragomir was going to accost her, he was never going to risk exposure. He wasn’t dumb enough to send one of his direct and known servants.

"No. Not that I’ve witnessed," she shook her head furiously.

"How do you know she vanished? How do you know she isn’t late from a night walk?"

"When I returned to find her nowhere in the manor I... I went back out to search for her and I found this,"

Before his eyes and from the bag Katherine held, she presented a feminine shoe.

"She wore this tonight!"