Chapter 264: No good news
Arabella truly didn’t wish to speak of that topic, but she didn’t have to clamp up completely, did she?
Not a word was exchanged between them as they walked the hallways towards the underground levels.
There was that crushing weight that sat upon Silas’ lungs the whole way, pinging the notion that every time he’d made any sort of progress with the young woman, his feet would take two steps backwards.
Her right hand clung around her mother’s pendant like there was no tomorrow and her heart refused to simmer.
Arabella stared ahead, fearing that any sort of eye contact, as short as it might be, would ignite the need for a lot more.
However, upon landing on the figure that appeared around the corner, her gemstones reverted towards Silas.
Edna marched straight in their direction, seemingly picking up in speed the instant she noticed the couple.
The maid scooched to the side, practically gliding against the wall by her arm.
For the sliver of a second, Arabella’s irises fell on her and noted the manner in which the ocean blue eyes glimpsed her, taking notice of the brooch pinned to Arabella’s chest.
She watched as Edna’s face fell and not in a subtle way.
It was an expression Arabella had never before seen on the maid.
"What is it?" Silas’ voice jostled her mind, bringing the attention onto himself.
By then, the blonde had passed them, still tugging at the shawl around her neck.
"No, nothing," the young woman shook her head and kept her gaze on the floor.
"Please," his tone was calm and clear, but kind.
It was the second time he’d uttered that word in front of her.
Arabella did not make him beg again, "It is about Edna. I’ve been thinking and...," she sighed before inhaling determinately, "Perhaps curing her from the effects of the Mirari would finally set her free," she paused then added, "I am assuming that it is your will to have her freed and going after her own life," she half asked.
"I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About a lot of things, but that... I admit, I omitted," his diamonds wouldn’t leave her figure, "I concede that it is a good idea. I will take care of that,"
Relief appeased her heart when his response reached her ears. She’d worried he’d take it the wrong way or react strongly to the suggestion.
But none of that happened in the end.
A new wave of silence came with the cold that struck her upon stepping through the underground level’s door.
The torches along the spiral staircase provided no warmth, only light and a hue Silas so loved to see in Arabella’s eyes.
Katherine was huddled and curled in one of the corners of the cell. Still as a stone, she’d buried her head behind her knees and under her folded arms.
"Katherine!" the young woman ran and clutched the metal bars that stopped her from going any closer.
"Oh! No! No! you need to leave! Please, you can’t stay near me!"
The vampiress shriveled further against the wall behind her. Features twisted, she cried and waved a hand as if it’d convince the young woman to leave at once.
"What? What happened?" Arabella sank onto her knees, "Why the tears?"
"Speak," Silas’ order came short and dry.
After many sniffles and a deep inhale, Katherine finally managed to push some words out, "It happened again," she covered her face, "I tried to kill my own sister! I am a monster," her sobs traveled muffled through her hands.
"You’ve attacked Allegra?" Arabella chose to soften and lower her voice into a murmur as she tilted her head slightly to the side.
The vampiress only stole a glimpse of the sympathetic look Arabella gave her and burst into a new torrent of wailings.
"When did it happen?" Silas kept calm.
Katherine only simmered for long enough to respond, "Yesterday when she came to check on me,"
"I’ve met Allegra since then. She is alright," he said.
"Yes, but she could have not been alright," the vampiress hid her features again, "I am too dangerous...," she trailed off.
Still kneeling, Arabella looked up at Silas, a mix of emotions transpiring on her face.
From the glint in her eyes, the vampire knew she expected him to say something, probably reassuring but... He simply had nothing.
The three of them wallowed in the agonizing silence that had swooped in to conquer the space.
Quietude only broken by her tragic sobs.
Arabella kept her position until Silas lay a hand on her shoulder as a mute signal to stand up and follow him.
He was thankful that the young woman made no protests.
Neither of them said a thing until their feet touched the ground floor. The first words came after Silas shut the underground levels’ door.
"Her state keeps on deteriorating with every day that goes by," Arabella remarked while staring at nothing in particular, looking utterly lost.
"And I am afraid I have no good news to give," he did not look her in the eyes.
"What about Madame Morgana? Did she receive your summoning letter?" she asked.
"I have received a response from her business," he shook his head, "Morgana has traveled up north for a job and won’t return for a while,"
That information did not improve the expression on Arabella which did not please him. The sight of Katherine in that state was hard enough, but the ripple effect around her condition pushed down the lid on him.
"Her condition truly astounds me," she gripped her own arms, "What sort of illness is this? It can’t even be diagnosed,"
The walk back to her room was as quiet as the walk from it. Although Silas did not just watch her go inside and instead got her attention.
"Would you bring the poem anthology and stay with me tonight? I’d like some company as I carve,"
"Yes, of course," the faintest of smiles appeared at the corners of her mouth.