Chapter 313: Dawn talk
Lauden’s eyes remained soldered on the piece of parchment linking him to Edna.
The last scribbles that were sent his way were drawn in red ink which meant it was written by a hand that did not belong to Edna.
That was the fail-safe they did not tell her about, just in case someone had taken a hold of the paper.
As calm as he attempted to be, the vampire’s muscles tensed up, locking him in place. The only movements escaping him were involuntary ones as his limbs shook while holding the piece.
"What is the verdict?" Lord Dragomir’s voice reached him from behind.
"This line of communication has been compromised. I lost contact with Edna," he stated simply, his tone flat.
"Well, that didn’t take very long to happen," the Lord took a seat, "I knew she wasn’t the brightest candle among the lot, which is partially why I wanted her on our side, but that dimness also meant she presented double the risk," he sighed profoundly, "Never the matter... Let us hope she does not bring my name under any light,"
For someone that claimed to worry, Dragomir sure seemed relaxed about all of it. After all, Edna did present a risk. Should she divulge their involvement, they’d be in great trouble, but he looked so calm even Lauden became skeptical.
"What about our second contact?" the servant spoke without turning back.
"Complete and utter silence from them as well,"
"And how did our guest take the news?" moving on from that topic, Lauden meant none other than Reubon by "guest".
"As well as he possibly can considering...," Dragomir played with the ornament at the top of his cane as though it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Indeed, aside from the news of Arabella’s death, they were in utter darkness as to what happened next.
Knowing Darrick, Lauden was sure that there was more to it. He’d never be so calm and collected with the threat of exposure such as the one Edna represented.
He had to have something else up his sleeve.
Lauden left the room and marched towards the gardens for some fresh air before dawn came knocking, however, passing by one of the lounge rooms lining his path, he was compelled to stop in his tracks.
The sight of Reubon Sterling with a shut demeanor was one to behold. He almost looked vulnerable... Almost.
It wasn’t the reaction he expected a father to have upon hearing about the death of one of their children, but then again, what would he know of such things?
The man’s features allowed nothing to transpire. Nothing on him indicated any sort of emotion.
He looked down at something in his hand which Lauden could not distinguish, but he seemed absorbed by the object.
It sure was a change from the perpetual side smirk he always displayed, but still, one could never be sure with someone like Reubon.
For all Lauden knew, he was only sorry to disappoint the prince with the recent developments.
Still, the thought that maintained its place in his mind was; with a father like Reubon... One did not need any enemies.
The vampire marched ahead, exiting the manor and out into the fresh air he so much needed.
For all he tried, he could not get Edna’s face out of his mind. Her smile haunted him every time he shut his eyes.
The blonde always had that smug and confident air about her, never apologizing for existing no matter who stood in front of her.
She was never afraid of telling him off despite the insane difference in strength and status between them. No other human servant ever dared.
Not to mention the manner in which she folded Reubon with her words alone always amused him.
He caught himself wishing she’d taken his offer to come and work for the Dragomirs’. She would have been safe. She would have been... Close and within his reach.
There was no helping it. The many ways she could be tortured for information back at the Eleazars’ if she’d truly been caught wouldn’t leave him be.
What killed him even more was the fact that their other informant picked that night to go dead silent on them.
What the hell was happening back there?
"Shouldn’t you be hiding?" Reubon’s voice hurt his ears, "Sunrise is near,"
"We do not hide," Lauden kept his calm but barely, "Nature wanted things this way,"
"It sure did," Reubon stared the vampire down with that side glance he couldn’t stand.
"What is it you need?"
"Just some fresh air," the man looked away.
"Are you the least bit sad?" The vampire dared.
"Of course, I am!" Reubon finally fully turned to face him, "What sort of monster do you think I am?"
"Well, I can’t say I have much faith in you," the vampire spared him not a glance.
"You are quite impertinent for a servant," Reubon sort of gritted his teeth.
"I assume things are different back in Lustris," Lauden chuckled, "You’d have me thrown in a dungeon if it were up to you, wouldn’t you?"
"Respect must be taught somehow," the man took a deep breath.
"As opposed to earned," Lauden half asked.
"Please, don’t make me laugh," one of his own hands settled against Reubon’s chest, "You do not work for Darrick because he’s earned your respect. You do so because he stands many steps above you. In other words, he is your better and you know it,"
"The difference is, I can always leave if I dislike his treatment,"
"And go where?" the man pushed a bitter chuckle, "All he has to do is whisper in the right people’s ears and you’d be done for. Your reputation would be in the mud for... Ever since you people just don’t die,"
"No, we stick around for longer than you’ll ever dream to. We have all the time in the world, and you have but a glimpse of it no matter how hard you try to prolong it,"
It seemed both men knew exactly which buttons to push in order to irritate the other.