348 Fate's timing with if's
When Annalise stepped inside the powder room, she noticed three young vampiresses sitting in front of the mirror, powdering their noses or adjusting their dresses so that their bosoms looked full. They were already in the middle of a discussion.
“I wonder why they even invite the humans, especially one who looks like her,” remarked one of the young women, who leaned towards the mirror, while continuing to talk, “Not that I am intimidated by that silver hair, as it looks like a witch’s hair. I am surprised that no one has executed her yet.”
“That’s because they have more money than you or me,” commented another young woman with a chuckle, who, like others, was attending the soiree to be courted and find an eligible man to marry. “You think if her family didn’t have money, she would last a day?”
The first vampiress responded, “Truthfully, having her here is nothing less to an ill omen. Why even invite when she isn’t looking to be courted. I doubt any man would even be interested in that witch.”
Though everyone knew it wasn’t the truth. Katherina being there was only a disadvantage for them in getting suitors, as she was beautiful and pleasant to talk to. Many young men were intimidated by her silver hair to approach her, as she appeared to have stepped out of a painting.
Annalise walked to one of the spare mirrors that wasn’t being used. She heard one of the vampiresses propose, “You know what? She’s come to attend a vampire’s mansion, she might as well have a drink with blood in it. At least she will know not to come to a place like here and next time stay home.”
“I like that idea. Something to look forward to,” another young woman joined it.
On the other hand, Annalise frowned and turned to look at them, “It is a pity that you call yourself vampires, but that must be the difference between a pureblooded vampire and a regular vampire. To scheme just because of your inability to capture a decent man’s attention.”
The woman who suggested the idea rolled her eyes and stated, “We know you like that human, Anna. Word has been circulating about the time you spend with her in Mrs. Tara’s mansion. Don’t tell us that you prefer the company of humans over us vampiress?”
“To think a pureblooded vampire would side with a human,” a snicker escaped from one of the women.
“I am not siding, but stating your vile idea. I take the side of grace and class,” Annalise responded.
“Nobody is asking you to join in the fun. You can take yourself out of here. Are you more arrogant today because you have already found a suitor?” Questioned the one who was nearest to Annalise.
“My mother told me that you are eyeing the Viscount of Skellington. What an ambitious dream, to swoop in before any of the other women can lay claim on him,” huffed the next woman.
A friend of the woman huffed, and asked, “Are you aiming for the Viscount too, Muriel?”
“I like to be realistic and I am hoping for Mr. Hardy to ask me for a dance. He works for the Council,” replied the woman named Muriel.
Annalise was too proud to speak another word with these average vampires and decided not to exchange more words with them. Not to mention, her parents wouldn’t like to know that she had caused problems. The three vampiresses left the powder room, leaving her alone to fix her few errant strands of hair. And while the vampiress was fixing her appearance, Katherina had made her way to the main hall where all the suitors along with their family members.
Not soon enough, one of the three vampiress from the powder room decided to send a drink with blood on Katherina’s way.
“M-milady, this is for you,” the servant offered the drink to Katherina, who was trying to find her parents in the room.
Katherina turned to meet the servant’s eyes, and she offered him a polite smile, “I didn’t ask for a drink.”
The servant was entranced by the beautiful woman, and he tried to remember what he was told, “This is by your admirer.”
Admirer? Katherina asked in her mind, and she softly laughed, “I think you have got the wrong person. I definitely don’t have one at the moment. But if you insist,” she took the glass in her hand and watched the servant leave.
“You are right. That is indeed not sent by your admirer,” came a man’s voice behind her, and Katherina turned, meeting a tall man with dark red eyes. “Shall I?” And he stretched his hand towards her drink.
Annalise, who had just entered the hall, noticed the silver hair in the room. But next to Katherina stood Viscount Eduard Moriarty. The man she had feelings for.
Katherina handed the drink and Eduard took a sip. Gulping the entire content of the glass, he politely asked, “I don’t think you fancy blood in your drink, do you?”
Katherina was surprised that the man knew the drink had blood just by looking at it. She offered him a bow of gratitude for stopping her from drinking it.
Eduard stopped one of the servants who carried a tray full of drinks and then picked up one of the glasses before offering it to her, “A drink from your actual admirer. Eduard Moriarty,” and they both smiled at each other.
Within the next few days, Annalise found out that Eduard Moriarty was going to marry Katherina. At first she stopped interacting with the silver-haired girl and avoided her. But a few days before Katherina and the Viscount married, the human confronted her.
“Annalise, we haven’t been able to talk to each other for the last few days. Are you avoiding me?” Katherina asked because she considered Annalise a friend. Out of the many vampiresses, Annalise had spared her words and they had talked.
Annalise stared at Katherina. Unable to hold back, she said, “I wished for you to find a good man. I didn’t know you would end up taking the man whom I wanted to marry.”
Katherina’s eyes widened. It was because Annalise had never mentioned the name of Eduard Moriarty. The vampiress had been secretive, making it impossible for her to realise that they were in love with the same man right now. The only difference being, Eduard Moriarty loved and had eyes only for Katherina.
“I… I didn’t know he was the man, Annalise,” Katherina shook her head. She knew that there was someone Annalise often talked about, but the name never came up. The vampiress always talked in riddles. “If I knew, I would have stepped away from your path. I never meant for things to happen this way.”
Annalise knew Katherina meant what she said because of the kind of person the human was. But the vampiress knew that Eduard had fallen in love with the human with just one look, and no matter how many times she would come in front of him, he wouldn’t look at her the way he looked at Katherina.
After what happened, Annalise kept wishing she had not let the other vampiress send a glass of blood drink towards Katherina. It was because she had later found out that it was what had sparked the conversation between the Viscount and Katherina. If she had prevented it, her heart wouldn’t have been aching the way it was now.
Being the proud vampiress she was, Annalise said in a curt tone, “There’s no point in talking about it as nothing can be done. From now onwards, we are nothing but strangers. Good day, Katherina.”
“Annalise…” Katherine felt a heaviness weigh in her chest as she watched the vampiress disappear from her sight.
With how things had continued from there, a young Annalise started to despise humans and turned to have cold feelings towards them when it concerned them. A few years later, she heard the news of Katherina’s death.
Katherina Moriarty’s death had shaken the entire town of Skellington. It was because she had performed her duty as the Viscountess, helping people when needed without looking at her status. She was considered the brightest star of Skellington.
Initially, when her parents asked her to reconsider marrying Eduard as he didn’t have a wife anymore, Annalise wasn’t ready. Not because she would be the second wife of the Viscount. But because she knew she would never be able to fulfil the role that Katherina had left behind nor fill the space in his heart.
At that time, Annalise remembered one of the conversations she had had with Katherina when they were still on talking terms, and Katherina had thanked her by saying,
“Thank you for being nice to me, Annalise. I say this because except for you, most of the people who come here don’t look me in the eye.”
“Likewise,” Annalise’s reply was short. The human women and the vampiresses didn’t speak to each other and preferred to stay with their kind in the class.
“Do you think we will still be like this, maybe close after many years? I want to live a long life. Maybe being friends wouldn’t be that bad,” Katherina said with a fond smile. “It would be nice to exchange each other’s good qualities for our children, isn’t it? You will be the one with discipline.”
“I am not strict,” Annalise glared at Katherina before clearing her throat and schooling her expressions. She said, “The future is full of uncertainties. We shall see.”
And after a few more thoughts and reconsideration, Annalise finally agreed to marry Eduard Moriarty and be the mother of his and Katherina’s two young children.
With years that had passed, and now that Lady Annalise stood in front of Katherina’s portrait, her thoughts had slightly changed. Lady Annalise wished she had intercepted the blood drink from reaching Katherina. Maybe if the glass of drink didn’t lead Eduard to Katherina, the woman would still be alive.
Living a long life as Katherina had wished.
‘I will look after them as my own,’ she promised before leaving the corridor.