Chapter 268: Accomodation
"When can I visit you again?" Remus clung to Arabella’s hand like his life depended on it.
"Since the matter of the caverns is solved, there is no further use in you visiting the manor," Silas glared down at the boy with no warmth in his eyes.
Although the vampire quickly came to regret his latest words as the dejected look on both of them stirred him to the core.
"Unless you have more to share about the writings...," his diamonds darted away to avoid those tragic frowns that caused his insides to twist.
"Oh yes! There is so much more to explore about them!" the young woman chirped.
"Remus! Come here!" Cynric’s timbre thundered through the ground beneath their feet.
"I will write to you," Arabella crouched down to his eye level and smiled, "I’ll do that very soon too," she nodded along to her own words.
"Do you promise?" he straightened his stance, eyes widening.
"Yes, of course," again, she nodded profusely.
"Lupine! Leif! Escort them through the forest," Cynric motioned at two members of his pack in particular.
"That won’t be necessary," said Silas.
"I don’t trust you all that much to keep her safe on your own," the wolfman chuckled.
Cherreka who stood by his side rolled her eyes before stepping forward and taking Arabella’s hands in hers, "You are not one of ours but know that you do have a place among us. At least you do in my heart,"
Arabella wondered what she did to earn such an honor and high regard but made no comment on it.
She offered a polite smile and nod then turned to take Silas’ arm.
The young wolf people followed the couple until the boundaries of their territory was reached and from then on, they were left on their own.
"How are you feeling?"
That was the first inquiry from the vampire, his voice just as calm as the trees that surrounded them.
"I am feeling...," she took a moment to consider her words, breathing in the fresh night air, "Quite alright," her smile was faint but steady.
The bright moon guided her steps, providing enough light for her human eyes to see her left from her right.
"I admit, our meeting went a lot better than what I’d predicted," he marched effortlessly as his elevated senses offered him the confidence he needed to do so.
"I was apprehensive as well. I thought...," she trailed off once more.
"What did you think?" he nudged her verbally.
"Well, I thought it’d be scarier to be there. To stand in those caverns, with Cynric there, present,"
"It wasn’t scary," he half asked.
"No. Not really," she paused, looking as though she was seeking for the right words, "It was as if we stood in an entirely different place and not that same cave I’d curled into a ball and cried in," at those words, a smile took over her features.
"In a way, it was a different place,"
"How so?" she asked, her gemstones glistening under the natural light.
"Tonight, you chose to step inside. No one forced you to and besides," Silas stopped in his tracks, prompting Arabella to copy his action, "Tonight you had me with you,"
The two of them resumed their walk until they exited the trees and finally got a view of Chance who stood where they’d left him.
As per usual, Silas took her by the waist and sat her between his arms.
Arabella stared up at the starry sky, giving him a long glance at the upside down look he so adored on her.
"You are very brave," his voice caught her eyes.
The curious look she had on was more than enough, but words followed, "Brave? How so?" the questions came out as whispers.
"You have none of the powers my people do and yet you find ways around hurdles that stand in your path," he stared ahead as he spoke.
"I am not sure what to say," she shook her head slowly, allowing her head to rub against his chest, "Sometimes I act when I feel as though nobody stands by me and other times, I can only do so when I feel a strong presence with me,"
"What sort of presence, if I may ask?"
A cool breeze blew past them, ruffling their hair, encouraging Silas to wrap himself around her and bring her body closer to his.
She didn’t mind, "A presence like Ada, Katherine, Edgar, the Lady and... Most importantly, a presence like you,"
The betrayal from his features was instantaneous. The faint grin that peeked from behind the calm demeanor he’d tried with all of his might to plaster pushed through.
"I prefer that look on you," she murmured, looking up at him.
His diamonds finally fell down to her, soft and bright like the kind moon that shone above the world as a whole.
"Will you spend tonight with me too?" he asked.
In response, she merely nodded, maintaining eye contact until he spoke again.
"Is that lounge chair comfortable for you?"
"It is comfortable enough," she smiled.
"But it isn’t comfortable enough for two people to lounge together on it," he remarked.
"What do you have in mind?" by then she completely leaned her back against his chest.
"I was thinking that my room can finally benefit from having a bed," his right hand let go of the reins to move a strand of hair away from her face.
"But you need no bed," she noted.
"What do you think of permanently moving to my room?"
The question did not necessarily come out of nowhere, but it still took her by surprise.
"I will, of course, rearrange the largest part of it to accommodate you,"
Seeing her silence and the serious look that had dawned on her, Silas had quickly added.
"May I have some time to think about it?"
That answer did not please him in the slightest, but he did his best to show none of it, lest she’d read it on him.
"Yes, you may,"