Allure Of The Night

Lady Aubrey took a sip from her teacup, letting the warm liquid slide down her throat while looking at Eve, who stood in front of the stove, watching the milk heat up. 

“Before the siren was beheaded, she—”

“I saw,” replied the elderly woman. Having protected Eve all these years, the woman had turned sharper when noticing where people were looking. 

“Until today, she never realised it. Do you think something happened that let her know?” Eve picked up the warm vessel of milk, and poured it into a glass. 

Lady Aubrey asked her, “We don’t have much information about mermaids or sirens. The local library in the town doesn’t have anything about it, does it?” 

Eve shook her head, “Not a word about any creatures.”

The higher society held back all the information to themselves, while keeping the lower class in the dark. 

“There’s a personal library in the Moriarty mansion, but I have never stepped foot in there,” stated Eve because those places were off-limits for a commoner like her. 

The following day, the people in Meadow didn’t stop talking about the siren whom they had seen last night. It was all the people could talk about, and some even added untrue things to the story.

Eve made her way to the Moriarty mansion. When she reached the mansion, she noticed Lady Annalise standing in the hallways with her husband, talking to each other in a low voice. 

She bowed her head, but before she could quickly walk away from there, the vampiress stopped her. 

“Ms. Barlow.” 

Eve wondered if the woman was going to pick on her again. She politely asked, “Yes, milady?” 

“No greeting? I wonder what manners are being taught to my daughter, when you show none of them yourself,” commented Lady Annalise with a soft mph. 

“Miss Allie already has excellent manners, Lady Annalise,” Eve replied before she bit her tongue. 

Senior Mr. Moriarty placed a hand on his wife’s back, and Lady Annalise sent a small glare at the lowly human standing in their grand hallways. The man said, “Your teachings are appreciated, Ms. Barlow. My daughter Allie seems to be doing well under your guidance. She seems to be able to write better.”

Eve bowed her head, “Thank you, Mr. Moriarty. I only wish to help Miss Allie as much as I can.”

“Eduard, dear. I hope you haven’t forgotten your promise to me,” Lady Annalise stopped her husband and reminded him about something, who smiled at her. 

“I never do, but you shouldn’t forget yours either,” at the man’s words, Eve wondered what promise they were talking about. 

“I have kept my word,” replied Lady Annalise, putting up a polite smile when her eyes moved from her husband to look at Eve. The woman’s lips twisted in a smile, and she stated, “Ms. Barlow, there is a ball in three days. You will be required to attend it, if Allie needs assistance or company. Consider this to be a gracious invitation from us which not many are fortunate to receive.”

Eve turned pale on this unexpected invite from the woman. For a moment, she had believed that the woman would tell her not to attend the ball after hearing Lady Marceline’s invite. 

She quickly bowed and apologised, “Forgive me, milady, but I have already mentioned to Lady Marceline that I won’t be able to attend the ball that day.” 

Lady Annalise had not invited the human because she wanted to. In fact, she preferred this woman stay out of this mansion and would never step foot in here again. The only reason she had extended the invitation was because her husband had promised to speak to Vincent and convince him to replace the governess in less than six months. 

And now, this ungrateful human was refusing her invitation. The vampiress glared at Eve. 

“That wasn’t a question but an order,” Lady Annalise’s words were firm, and she said, “A governess’s job is not just in the piano room. I believe you already know that, as you seemed to speak something along those lines a few days ago. Unless you are accepting it yourself that you are unfit for the job. What do you say, Eduard?” 

Senior Mr. Moriarty was taken aback by his wife’s invitation to the human, as their guests were from higher society. 

“There seems no harm as she is Allie’s governess. I should get going now,” said Mr. Moriarty before kissing his wife’s cheek and he said, “I will see you later.”

Seeing Senior Mr. Moriarty turn and leave in the direction where Eve had come, Lady Annalise turned to walk. 

“Lady Annalise! I have a sick person in my home,” Eve rushed to the woman’s side. 

“What an ungrateful human, and irresponsible,” Lady Annalise’s words almost came in a sing-song voice. “What are you doing here then, instead of looking after the sick?”

“I apologise but—”

The vampiress turned and took a step towards Eve, who subtly took one step backwards. The older woman’s eyes narrowed, and she said, 

“I have been kind enough to invite you, and if you have other priorities, then it is best that you quit your job right now and do what you find to be more important. Vincent might have hired you, but don’t think you can turn down and behave rudely with the Moriarty’s. We don’t take it too kindly,” the woman offered her a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes and walked away from there. 

She heard voices from the end of the hall, and then she saw Vincent walking with the butler next to him as they spoke about something. Even if Lady Annalise had threatened her, Vincent would save her!

“Good morning, Master Vincent. There is something I would like to talk to you about,” said Eve, going up to him quickly. When his eyes met hers, she said, “I have been invited to attend the ball by Lady Annalise.”

“What a lucky woman, you must be ecstatic,” remarked Vincent with a bright smile, and Eve shook her head. 

“No, I won’t be able to make it that day. Please,” Eve pleaded in hope. 

“Don’t worry, Ms. Barlow, your blood is not going to be suck dry that day. We have other people for that,” replied Vincent with a crooked smile, “It is very rare that the vampires drink blood from the guests. Relax.”