Chapter 358: The best gift
Arabella rubbed her feet together as they dangled over the edge of the bed. The red around her entire face refused to subside even after half an hour had slipped by since the girls had left her.
Her eyes found refuge in the brooch that lay on the nightstand right next to her and from time to time, they’d flicker onto the beautiful bouquet of flowers she’d carried during the ceremony.
Grace had made sure to free the roses and settle them in a vase before leaving the room.
It was done. Not only was a new name attached to her old one but... A new title served as a gift with it.
More than done... It was surreal to think she’d gotten married just like that.
Arabella’s mind drifted to the memory of the last look Reubon had given her before leaving with Dragomir.
The contrast between him and her mother had always stunned her, but on that night specifically, the question blared in her head, its words transcribed with shining light behind her eyelids for good measure; how did her parents end up together in the first place?
Knowing the traditions in Lustris, their union had to have been arranged by their parents.
The click of the door opening made her spine straighten as tingles ran up and down its line. Her eyes sharpened and clung on the curtains that spread apart to reveal Silas’ figure.
His smile wasn’t the brightest but, by all means, the warmest he’d ever given her.
The vampire stood there for a moment, admiring mostly her exposed back.
"Do you feel cold?" he whispered.
"No," she shook her head.
Silas made no sudden moves as he approached her, walking around the bed frame with care, savoring every instant and counting the steps that separated him from his other half until there were no more.
The lacy nightgown on her left very little to the imagination, but as he towered over her seated figure, something else kept his mind busy.
Seeing as she did not lift her gaze, Silas knelt down before her.
"Your heart is pounding your chest like I’ve never heard it do before," much like his motions, he kept his voice tame.
Arabella stopped biting down on her bottom lip just long enough to speak, "I wish I could hear yours right now,"
That was when his smile grew brighter, "You will, in due time, my love,"
Those words made her back straighten further and her eyes widen. Never before did he use terms of endearment or pet names to address her.
"I know your feet must be sore," his hands reached over and took one of her feet in them, which seemed so small in comparison, "But would you stand and come with me for a second? There is something I want you to see. I promise, it won’t take long,"
That action stole a little shudder out of her. His touch was so ticklish on her delicate foot, but Silas didn’t stop massaging and caressing them, moving from one limb to the other.
"I... I don’t mind," her skin tingling, her voice had turned unsteady, trembling and cracking between syllables.
The vampire finally let go of her feet then extended his hands for the taking and gently pulled her up with himself.
Once they stood facing each other, Silas kept his eyes connected to hers then turned around, picked up the peignoir that hung near before wrapping it around her shoulders.
"This way, please," their fingers intertwined, he guided her through the curtains and towards his carving desk.
Once by the table, Silas moved the canvas to the side in order to focus on the piece that rested upon the table.
The veiled one that Arabella had asked about a few days prior.
"I thought a lot about what the best wedding gift from me to you would be, and then it hit me... The answer had been staring me right in the face the whole time,"
"You’ve already given me so much," she whispered, "There is no need for more,"
"Then believe me when I tell you that this one will be your favorite,"
With that, Silas unveiled the piece at once, swiping Arabella’s next words in the process.
She stood completely frozen before the sculpture for a good moment, studying every inch of it with unblinking eyes.
Her eyelids only flickered shut for a fraction of a second, just to keep her eyeballs from drying up.
"This... I...," her voice trembled.
Arabella finally took her first steps towards it, her figure shaking just as much as her words did.
"What is it? Is it not to your liking?" he leaned forward to meet her gaze, but she was completely absorbed by the gift.
"You... How did you do it?" her teary eyes finally snapped in his direction, "How did you know what she looked like?" she looked back at the sculpture before turning to him again, "And down to the grittiest details at that!"
From the way she sounded it was clear that strain wrapped her vocal cords, announcing that tears were coming.
"How do you know what my mother looked like?" she finally asked in a more cohesive manner.
Silas’ diamonds drifted towards the piece of wood that depicted Eleanor Burchard. The face of the woman he’d seen in his most recent and... Only dream.
"I did say that I saw you the other night. On the spring equinox when that ordeal went down,"
Her chin trembled, her lungs took a breath as if getting ready to project a voice, but nothing came out.
"You practically inherited nothing from her," he said, "Physically, I mean," he quickly added.
"No," she stifled a cry, "I didn’t,"
"I do not know how this will sound. Hopefully, it will come out as well as I mean it to, but for what it is worth, I am glad all you got from your father are his physical features. I am so grateful that nature’s wish was that you take after your mother in a more meaningful way than a vain one,"