Chapter 246: That time
"This hairstyle truly does suit you, Miss!!" Ada had those puppy eyes about her. Full of stars as they followed each of Arabella’s motions, "Have I said that before?" she tilted her head to the side, her smile not faltering for a second.
"Yes, you definitely have said that before," Arabella could not contain the laughter after making sure to set the tablespoon between her fingers down.
The maid’s legs wouldn’t stop bouncing up and down from the tip of her toes down to the heel of her shoes while she sat, the childish grin not leaving her for a second.
"You’re shining bright this morning," Arabella beamed too, "What might the reason be? I am curious," she poured a glass of water and gobbled it down.
"I don’t know... Just the sight of you healthy and smiling makes me happy, I suppose," her irises stuck to the glass in Arabella’s hand.
The young woman’s expression dimmed a tad, "Oh, I don’t know what I would have become without you here," she spoke with care before pouring yet another glass and downing it in the matter of seconds again.
At that action, Ada’s brows furrowed slightly, "I am sure you’d have done just fine, but... Miss, you’ve been drinking quite the amount of water since you’ve sat down at that table. Are you really feeling alright?"
Arabella took no time to ponder the question and immediately sprung to answer, "Yes, of course! It’s just my throat drying up the moment I gulp down the last drop in my cup, but drinking water is good for one’s health, isn’t it?" she chirped.
"Yes... Yes, it sure is," Ada’s initial smile did not return, only the ghost of it lingered, "I don’t think I’ve seen you drink that much water in a single setting, that is all," she let out a nervous chuckle.
"Well...," the young woman pushed a sigh, "I guess I do feel a bit woozy, but I am not totally sure why," she shook her head.
"I don’t understand," Ada leaped to her feet from her sitting place, "You’ve just had some of Master Silas’ blood. Your wounds have healed, and your colors have returned. You shouldn’t be feeling off at all! You’ve done that for over a month and every time it works just fine. I don’t understand why today would be the day it stopped,"
"It’s already been a month, has it?" there was that distant stare in Arabella’s eyes. The one she got when something that escaped her before dawned on her out of the blue, "Right, I’d completely forgotten that part," her lips curled lightly.
"What part?" Ada moved closer and stood by her figure.
"I speak of that part of nature that strikes almost every woman," she half asked, looking up at Ada apprehensively while biting her bottom lip.
"Oh! That thing...," the maid’s eyes darted to the side, "I’d completely forgotten about that. I had mine last week. Will today be the first day for you? Did you check for any bleeding when you were in the bathroom?"
"No, the bleeding has yet to start, but better be safe than sorry. I believe I have what I need in the room somewhere in these drawers. I am just not sure which one," Arabella stood up and then knelt down before the drawers at the foot of the closet.
"Yes! Of course! I made sure to supply the room with absorbent cloths and menstrual belts on the day you arrived," Ada rushed towards one drawer in particular, in the vanity desk.
Arabella put them on, hoping they’d go unnoticed throughout the coming days, but she wasn’t delusional either.
Another downside to living among vampires was their advanced sense of scent that distinguished blood best.
"Did the cramping start?" Ada handed her another glass of water when all was done.
"Not full-on cramps, but I can sense something like an incessant scratch beginning to emerge," she let out another, deeper sigh, "And today I am supposed to meet with Remus as well...,"
"Right, I’d completely forgotten about that too," Ada clicked her tongue against her palate in frustration, "Perhaps it’d be more reasonable to reschedule," the maid half asked.
"No!" Arabella hurled the answer before considering her words. When she simmered, more was added, "That won’t be necessary. I can handle it,"
Not much on the matter was shared after that. Both women made their way to the library where Arabella sat attempting to achieve more progress with the ancient writing while Ada focused on human literature, namely older poems she tried to decipher the meaning behind.
Their quiet dynamic went on until the doors cracked open for the silhouette of Silas to appear through.
"That rascal has made his appearance," he addressed Arabella.
Without further ado, she followed him with a big smile on her face, leaving Ada in the library who sat back down as the two of them drew away.
"You can still change your mind if you don’t want to see him," Silas spared her not a glance as if one peek would unravel his deepest, darkest secrets before her.
The ice in his voice was sharp but... Inconsistent. Arabella patted herself on the back for even noticing that fact.
"I do want to see him," she said simply, her eyes venturing his way then snapping in the opposite direction.
The rest of their way until the little figure of Remus turned visible was agony. So much so that Arabella couldn’t wait to launch running forward towards the boy.
He did the same and they met in the middle of the initial distance separating them.
Their embrace lasted a little too long for Silas’ taste, but he said nothing to break it and merely watched the interaction.
Remus’ arms were tighter around Arabella’s middle which did not go unnoticed by her. Indeed, the young woman winced and chuckled, "Careful Rem. My bones aren’t as sturdy as yours,"
The boy gasped, releasing his hold and leaping back a few steps, "I didn’t mean to hurt you," his smile tainted, he still looked at her with big glistening eyes.