Allure Of The Night

When Vincent heard no more shuffling of clothes, he turned only to hear Eve shriek, “Don’t turn yet!” 

“For Heaven’s sake, woman, stop shouting. And you are already wearing your clothes,” said Vincent before turning around. “Not like I am interested in it.”

Eve stuffed her previously used clothes into her little bag along with the wet towel and the little container. She sent him a small glare while her cheeks were set aflame in embarrassment, 

“You should go first,” said Eve, her voice shaky as she was shivering due to the wind that blew across where they stood. But then she asked, “How much of Lady Annalise’s words holds to be of value and true?”

“Lesser than a grain of salt. My butler mentioned catching you and my step mother in the inner parts of the mansion. Little red riding hood lost her way in the mansion?” Vincent’s hazel eyes stared at her in curiosity as if he was already on her. “Did she invite you for tea?” He asked her sarcastically. 

“She threatened that she would hurt my aunt and my servant man if I didn’t quit my job as governess to Miss Allie,” replied Eve with a deep frown. 

Vincent found Eve’s words amusing, and he laughed, “You don’t have to worry about her. She’s harmless, and won’t do anything until I am involved.”

But Eve wasn’t convinced by his words. 

“So is this a daily thing,” questioned Vincent with a straight face, his eyes taking in her appearance. Eve tried not to get angry. 

Sensibly, it was true that neither of them knew this was going to happen. Remembering he was a vampire, she turned even more cautious than before. “Please, if you can go, Master Vincent,” she requested. 

Vincent didn’t bother to spare another word. At the same moment, they both heard faint voices starting to get louder and louder. 

Her employer turned to look at her, clicking his tongue as if pitying her, “You screamed so loud that it not only nearly turned me deaf but it also brought the people from your town to look for a witch. Have a goodnight, Miss Barlow,” he chimed. 

This was not good for her because it would raise suspicion in the people’s minds if they saw her with—wet hair at this hour of night where she had screamed. Sometimes a spark of doubt was enough to bring doom to a person. 

“Wait!” Eve rushed to his side, stopping him. “Don’t leave me here.”

“Such a little girl thing to say. Don’t worry, the townsmen will be here in a minute and you can have their company. I better leave before you slander me with the title of pervert,” stated Vincent, and he started to walk in the other direction. 

Eve looked back and forth.

“They are going to think I am crying wolf or am the witch,” Eve muttered under her breath. She quickly ran from there, walking in the same direction as Vincent because the other side of the forest was brightening up because of the torches of fire that the men were waving in their hands. 

Eve tried to make sure to see that the few townsmen couldn’t see her, and she walked farther away from their line of sight. The people scouting sent her back to the past where she was running, her feet bare, while men shouted as they looked for her. 

“You shouldn’t have come out here if you are scared of being caught or don’t like the darkness,” commented Vincent, looking at her over his shoulder. 

“I am not scared of anything,” came the brave words from Eve, and Vincent’s lips twisted. 

“Is that why your heart is beating that loud?” His words were smooth like honey, yet there was something very wicked about it. 

Eve took a deep breath, trying to get her breathing back to normal, including her heartbeat. 

They walked in silence while Eve’s eyes roamed. She was used to walking back and forth on a specific path, and this wasn’t the one. She noticed Vincent’s proud and wide shoulders. His clothes looked more relaxed than what she was used to, as his shirt was loose.

In curiosity, Eve asked him, “Don’t you have thicker and deeper forests near Skellington? What are you doing here?”

“I thought the governess would have a bathing room. What were you doing here, taking a dip in the river?” Vincent questioned her back, and Eve bit her lip. 

When they reached the edge of the forest, Vincent didn’t bother to wish her goodnight, and he disappeared without a word. Eve quietly tiptoed through the streets and reached her home.

“How was your swim, Miss Eve?” Asked Eugene, who was cleaning the already clean utensils in the kitchen. 

“It was okay,” replied Eve, and she quickly rushed up the stairs. 

Lady Aubrey, who was sitting on the couch, turned to look in the direction of the stairs, and so did Eugene, where they heard the light thud of Eve’s door being shut. 

“Looks like Miss Eve wasn’t able to clear her mind,” commented Eugene, his eyebrows slightly raised in wonderment. 

“Seems so,” Lady Aubrey murmured and pursed her lips when she heard Eve sneeze in her room. Eugene’s eyes turned wide in instant worry.

When morning arrived, the people of Meadow were busy in their daily gossip and chatter. Eugene, who had gone to pick up the newsletter, heard one of the women say,

“The witch has returned, and this time she has started to kill the cows!”

“Is she using it for sacrifice?” asked another woman, who paid keen attention to the one who had spoken. “I thought she was gone for good. How did she return?”

“Because she’s a witch and they say unless you don’t pull their heart out and burn them, they continue to live,” replied the woman, shaking her head and clicking her tongue. 

“We should protect our children and family. Why aren’t the authorities not taking any action?” questioned the second woman in worry and fear. 

What witch? Eugene had a confused expression. It had been a while since he had spread the rumour about a witch, and he walked away from there,