190 Catching Fever
Even though Eve and Vincent were surrounded by silence inside the closed room, they were in their own space. One was high from the euphoric blood he had drank. The other was left slightly hot because of the vampire’s biting and sucking on her skin.
Eve’s hand let go of her dress, and the fabric rolled and slid to crookedly fall. She was about to take her foot back, but Vincent stopped her. Her heart hitched, and he pointed out,
“Why is your little heart singing loudly today? Hm?”
“You bit me… What did you expect,” responded Eve.
“So it had nothing to do with me sucking on your skin?” Vincent taunted her, and he picked up her shoe from the ground. It seemed like he wanted to kill her today with embarrassment and not by drawing her blood, Eve said in her mind.
“No,” though Vincent was pulling the strings, Eve didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. But the vampire knew what her answer would be. Curious, she asked him, “In a week, how many people do you drink from?”
“Jealous already?” A grin cracked upon his lips, and Eve ground her teeth. “There’s no need to be worried, just three or four of them. Though thanks to you the other blood tastes like garbage.”
Eve watched Vincent pick her foot and help her wear her shoe. This action not only shocked her but it stirred something in her chest. She felt like a child, not expecting him to help her with something so minuscule. She protested,
“I can wear it.”
“Shh,” Vincent pulled the strap tight enough for Eve to jerk and smiled. He then said, “My mother would be very disappointed with me if I threw her teachings out of the window.”
Eve looked at him suspiciously and asked, “Do you follow all the words she taught you?” She pulled her foot away from him and gently placed it on the ground.
Vincent fixed the folded hem of her dress to the way it was before with a serious look on his face. Eve, who was not used to this side of him, continued to stare at him with a stunned look. He then stood up, towering in front of her, and he deadpanned,
“What a gullible woman. I have a selective way of using those teachings,” one corner of Vincent’s lips pulled. He questioned her, “Is this gentleman enough for you? Told you I would end up shocking people.”
This was about what they had spoken before they had stepped inside this mansion… And though it was about it, Eve was still startled. She realised, unlike other people, whose eyes were quick to fall on her bosom in the soiree, he had not made her uncomfortable by staring at it.
Vincent started to walk towards the room’s door, and when he reached, he unlocked it with the key for it to click. But instead of opening it, he turned and looked at her.
“I continue looking forward to working with you.”
Eve stared at him, watching him step out of the room, while she took a moment to clear her head. She then quickly followed him, not wanting to get lost in this huge mansion she wasn’t familiar with.
On returning to where the soiree was still taking place, some of the guests weren’t in the room as they had moved away from here like her and Vincent, while some to discuss things in private.
Eve accompanied Vincent while he spoke to some of the council members. Some who had witnessed him bite her neck earlier, didn’t let their eyes wander on her, knowing the pureblooded vampire wouldn’t stop from embarrassing them.
When the men stepped away to speak from the circle of people Eve and Vincent had joined, one elderly woman named Paige Porter leaned towards Eve and said, “It seems like Vincent has taken quite a liking towards you.”
Eve nervously laughed, “I wouldn’t say that. I am just accompanying him here.”
“Is that so? What a pity, and here I thought he found someone for himself,” said Lady Paige, and she looked at where her husband and Vincent stood talking to two other men. She said to Eve, “I knew his mother. Katherina.”
“Oh, you knew his mother,” Eve acknowledged the information, and the woman nodded.
“Well, yes, I did. She was a wonderful woman, but I knew the moment Eduard married her that it would be a hard marriage,” Lady Paige shook her head in disappointment because of how Katherina Moriarty had died. “She was a good woman. I have met her daughter Marceline and she seems to have turned fine,” Eve wondered how well the vampiress must have carried herself to have such a spotless image. The woman continued, “But the boy… he seems so closed off. What do you think?”
Eve’s eyes shifted from the older woman to look at Vincent. She said,
“Vincent has his perks,” and she smiled, leaving the elderly woman even more confused. While Eve was talking to the older woman, Lady Anaya appeared where they stood.
Lady Anaya interrupted, offering a polite bow to the women. She then turned to Eve and said, “I was worried thinking you left and we didn’t get to spend time together.”
“I went for a stroll around the mansion,” replied Eve, and Lady Anaya only smiled without being intrusive about Eve’s reply.
“Talking about stroll, my knees are hurting. I should go sit. Excuse me,” Lady Paige offered a slight bow and walked away from the two young women.
Lady Anaya said, “Noah has been busy talking to the council members, and I thought a company is always better, right?”
Eve nodded, “Yes, especially if it is a pleasant one.”
Lady Anaya smiled and they spoke about the soiree’s food and music. After a while, she looked around the place, and her eyes fell on Vincent. She said, “I must say, your employer is quite a handsome man. Especially with his silver hair.”
Eve looked at where Vincent stood, and replied, “It is a rare colour…”
“Right,” replied Lady Anaya, “I have never seen…” her voice faded for Eve.
As if sensing Eve’s gaze, Vincent turned to look at her and a faint smile appeared on his face. She remembered his lips on her thigh, sucking it. She unconsciously straightened her dress while her cheeks turned bright red. She quickly looked away.
Lady Anaya turned and noticed Eve’s face. In slight worry, she asked, “Do you have a fever, Ms. Barlow?”