Vera
"You.... You mean like that thing you showed me in the dream? " I ask and he nods. "Yes M'lady I could make an attempt with hypnosis on your father trying to make him remember what the person looks like" That sounds promising so why was he hesitant suggesting such thing?
"However M'lady, the thing is..... " He looks hesitant yet again. "It's okay just say it" I say and after a few moments of reconsideration he starts talking. "Your Father he... " he stops yet again and I encourage him to go on. "He ought to be reliving the same memory if I were to attempt a hypnosis on him which can be traumatizing for him afterall that he has been through which is why I was hesitant to suggest this in the first place" He says and the realisation dawns upon me.
Making my father relive that same horrifying memory? No I will not be doing that. That sounds horrifying and selfish. I know we need to catch the person and make them pay but not at my father's expense. I look down in disagreement and he notices that I am no longer open to the idea and immediately starts to comfort me.
He holds both of my arms gently "M'lady we don't have to do this, it was merely a suggestion and this is why I was hesitant to make it. It's a preposterous idea M'lady forgive me for even suggesting it" He says and I shake my head. "No, No it's fine I like the idea and it could certainly work but it's just the thought of my making Father go through all that yet again is agonizing" I say while noticing that this is the first time he's touching my arm in reality other than dancing or helping me get on and off the carriage. Sure he did touched my arms as a way of comforting in my dreams a few times but it feels certainly weird in reality. Not bad weird but good weird.
He seems to have noticed it too and we stare at each other for a good amount of time. His brown eyes have always been pretty so enchanting that one can't look away from them but right now it's just the way sunshine hits his eyes gently making them look prettier and silly me got so lost I didn't realize when we had gotten a little closer to each other.
"Vera I heard you arrived shortly almost half an hour-" Celeste says arriving in the room and immediately stopping whatever she was saying. He abruptly moves his hands away but it seems like he doesn't want to.
For some reason it feels like we got caught doing something we shouldn't be doing yet again. Although it wasn't anything bad. He just touched my arm in an attempt to comfort me which is normal. Amelia and others do it to me all the time but for some reason it felt different with him.
"Did I interrupt ssomething?" She says and we both deny it. "No you did not" I say although I do wish she came a few moments later because what we were discussing was important ofcourse.
"Ofcourse I did, I aapologize for entering so abruptly, I didn't know you two were having a serious discussion" I can hear a hint of teasing in her tone but I do not point it out. I just say it's fine and Lord Vulcan just nods at his sister. All three of us sit down on the couch of the living room.
"So how is your father now Vera?" She asks and I tell her he's recovering just fine. She is still looking at both of us suspiciously but doesn't say anything. "So brother what do you think of Miss Olivia? Isn't she lovely?" She says changing the topic all of a sudden. Miss Olivia? Who that might be? "Why would you bring her up now?" He says as if he isn't liking what the conversation is heading towards.
"Why not? I felt like you had a great dance with her at the ball last week" She says and I feel a pinge in my heart all of a sudden. It seems like she's saying it all playfully just to tease her brother yet I can not help but feel a little blue. It must be the wind. "I was purely there to chat with Lord Nathaniel and others about business. Miss Olivia's mother insisted that we dance so I couldn't say no out of the respect for her mother. The dance itself was average and I didn't talk much with her" He says sternly as if hinting his sister to drop the topic but Celeste smiles mischievously instead.
"Brother, don't you think it's time I got a sister in law to be around the house and help me with things?" She says in a teasing way and Lord Vulcan dismisses her immediately. "Celeste, You are perfectly capable of handling things around the house on your own. Not to mention we have servants for most things so you certainly don't need a sister in law" He says in an unyielding manner and I feel relieved somehow.
"Ofcourse you would say that brother. Vera don't you think I am correct?" Celeste looks at me and I awkwardly put down the cup I was drinking the tea from. "Well I'm not sure, if he doesn't wish to marry it's his own choice and we should respect it. I don't think you should be forcing him" I say and Celeste rolls her eyes. "Of course you of all people would say that" She says as a joke but I sort of feel offended. "Hey whatever do you mean?" I say making my feelings known through my tone. "You are just like him when it comes to marriage so of course you would take his side" Celeste says and I do not know how to feel about that.
"You know what?" Celeste says with a suspicious level of enthusiasm. "You two should marry each other" Lord Vulcan coughs up the tea he was drinking and puts the cup down. "Celeste how preposterous things you say" He says with the same stern tone. "Oh come on now brother you both are totally alike and I would love to have Vera as my sister in law" She says playfully and I can not help but laugh at her joke. "You can be really funny if you try Celeste" I say in between my laughs.
"Must you hurt my feelings this way Vera? I feel like my heart has been torn into pieces. How cruel of you Vera" She says dramatically putting her hand on her heart which doesn't help me suppress my laughter. I turn around to see if Lord Vulcan is laughing too but I don't see him laughing, instead he has this strange alluring look on his face like he is stunned as he's looking at me. My laughs subside as I notice him and before I know I find myself staring at him.
There's just something about his eyes that I can not look away. If only I had the talent to paint, I would give my all to recreate this look in his eyes and have it captured forever. I'm not sure if it's even possible to capture such beauty in a painting but one could try. "Did you know my brother paints as well?" I'm suddenly broken out of my trance and brought back to reality.
It's as if Celeste read my mind and started talking about paintings. "Is it true? Do you paint Lord Vulcan?" I ask and he turns away. "When I have time which is very rarely" He responds and I can not help but wonder what kind of art would he be creating. "Do you mind if I see?" I ask and he looks skeptical.
"Surely why not? Come with me I'll show you some of his work" Celeste says and starts running towards the hall and I get up enthusiastically running behind her whereas Lord Vulcan gets up abruptly. "Celeste you don't need to-" He begins talking but Celeste cuts him off. "Too late brother we're already halfway there" She says playfully and I'd like to admit I certainly enjoy their lovely banter a lot. Lord Vulcan is still trying to catch up by walking faster but since we're running he's still far behind or so I thought because in the next few moments his long legs immediately catch up to us.
"Still too late brother" She says as she opens the door to a room full of paintings. There are at least 10-15 of them but they're all covered. "M'lady I highly request that you do not encourage such behavior of Celeste else she'll be doing this more often in the future" He says and I laugh "As much as I respect your request I'd have to decline it because I am certainly having a lot of fun with her" I say and he shakes head.
"This one's enchanting" I turn around to look at Celeste and the piece she's standing next to.
It's a man touching the reflection of moon on the lake with an endearing look in his eyes. As if he's looking at something he can not have but could only dream of acquiring it hence he gently touches the reflection. "This is marvelous" I say as I notice the painting and small details about it. The man looks exhausted yet he came to visit the lake just so he can touch the reflection of moon even if it means only for a moment. They way his feelings are conveyed is impeccable.
"Lord Vulcan I surely didn't know you had such talent for painting" I say and he looks a little embarrassed. "I'm glad you enjoy it M'lady" He says and I turn to look at his other works which Celeste just uncovered. All of them have such depth in them I can not understand how long it must have took to create all of these. "Enjoy? I'm a fan now" I say and he chuckles. "You flatter me M'lady"
As Celeste is about to uncover the painting at the end of the room Lord Vulcan suddenly hurries towards her "Celeste No not that one-" He says almost shouting and I follow him. Unfortunately he reached too late as Celeste already uncovered the last painting. The moment that painting got uncovered something in me stirred. I take in the painting for a few moments and I find myself too stunned to say anything about it.
"M'lady I-" He starts talking but I interrupt. "It's ethereal" I say and he doesn't say anything in response to that. "When did you make it?" I ask still not looking away from the painting. He sounded unsure of how to respond but he did. "I finished it last week"
"Why?" I ask and he looks confused. "I mean why would you paint me?" He seems to be contemplating his words carefully. "Why not?" I'm the confused one now. "Whatever do you mean?" I say and he smiles a little before continuing. "You're everything a painter can look for in a muse" He says and before I can respond he continues. "It's not just beauty that you carry with yourself M'lady it's your mind, your soul, your kindness that make you a perfect muse" He says and I get that warm feeling in my heart again.
Is this how it feels to be honored? I think so? I'm speechless for a few moments and forget to respond to him. "I feel...very honored Lord Vulcan" I say and he looks at me with that strange look again.
"I feel like I shouldn't be here" Lord heavens I completely forgot Celeste is also in the room with us. "Now why would you say that?" I say turning to look at her. "Whenever it comes to you two I always feel like I'm interrupting something" She says and I find that ridiculous. "That's absurd, You're never interrupting anything" I say and her response is a very sarcastic 'sure I'm not'
I go to her and tangle my hands with her "you do know you're my favorite person here right?" I say and she smiles. "Ouch I'm quite hurt M'lady" Lord Vulcan says dramatically putting a hand on his heart. These two really are siblings. "Tell me Lord Vulcan how do you find time for all this. I'm sure you're occupied with multiple things" I ask and Celeste responds instead of him. "I tell him to take a break all the time but he doesn't seem to listen. You wouldn't believe he made that painting of yours in one night without any sleep" I feel something stir in my chest again as she says that. Maybe it's a feeling of concern. "Do you lose sleep often because of work and trying to follow all your passions?" I ask and he looks away.
"Sometimes you just have to live in between all the chaos of life and if to live means following my passion despite losing sleep I don't fear paying the price, M'lady" He is looking straight at me by the time he finishes his sentence. When did his eyes get so magnetic? "There you go with your poetic talks brother" Celeste says and I should to look away from him but I don't want to. "Well Someone seems to understand them so I don't find the need stop myself sister" He says and I smile.
Celeste seems to mumble something to herself which none of us can hear. "M'lady may I ask how is your Novel coming along?" He asks and I remember it's about to be finished. "It's almost done, I'm barely wrapping up the last few chapters" I say and Celeste comes and holds my hand "you must let me read it at least once Vera" She says enthusiastically and as much skeptical as I am about letting anyone I know read it, it's inevitable."sure but you'll have to give me a harsh and honest review" I say and she smiles. "I'm not at all going to be gentle with my remarks just because you're my sister in la- I mean like my sister"
I noticed what she was about to call me but I don't comment on it because no good will come out of addressing it. I understand why she must have the wrong idea about us but She won't understand that two people can be friends without romance getting involved. I certainly had no intention of addressing her mistake however Lord Vulcan had other plans. "Celeste you are offending her by joking about that" He says and I do not know where he got that notion from because It's just a silly joke and I do not mind at all.
"No she's not, I simply do not mind it. It's a harmless joke" I say and he seems relieved "see she doesn't mind at all so why
must you always be so serious" She asks and Lord Vulcan sighs.
I look at the clock behind her and remember it's been 3 hours since I arrived here. Mother will not spare me if I am any more late than this. "It's been a pleasure being here but I must go now or my Mother will be furious" I say bringing both sibling's attention to me. "Sure M'lady I'll drop you off myself" Lord Vulcan says and I decline his offer. "It's fine I arrived in my family carriage hence it's fine you do not need to drop me off" I say and he looks like he wants to say something but decides to just nod.
During the ride home I recall all the interactions I had with the Vulcans today and I can not help but smile. I am certainly blessed to have found such friends. However the reason I visited them for today seems to be still an issue. We did not have any credible proof of the identity of the attacker. I do hope Mr. Rai has gotten somewhere with his work. Come to think of it I have to pay him a visit.
As I'm lost in thought I notice something odd. The carriage is going awfully fast and this isn't the way towards my home. Is the coachman taking a different route today? "Excuse me? Are you sure we're going the right way? I knock on the carriage wall but there is no response for a while so I ask again but there is still no response regarding that. I start to worry a little because this has never happened before and as I look outside the window the streets are getting busier and the houses are getting smaller as the carriage continues down this path. I certainly know that this isn't the right route.
This wouldn't do. I have to do something. I try to open the carriage door but it doesn't open. Did they lock it from outside? There is no doubt that this is kidnapping now. I think back to the moment Lord Vulcan offered to come with me but I declined. What an idiot I am. "Dear Author back when I said my life was boring I didn't mean that you had to have me kidnapped to make it interesting" I curse out my imaginary author.
As the speed of the carriage increases my thinking capability decreases. I look at the size of window and wonder if I can jump out of it but no I can not.
The carriage abruptly comes to a halt and the door is opened violently. Someone comes and grabs me harshly and before I can see who it is, a cloth is wrapped around my eyes and my hands are tied as if that wasn't enough I'm violently thrown on the ground. "What is happening? Where am I? " The person doesn't respond and I'm suddenly forced to get up and walk forward. From what I can smell I think we're in an abandoned factory. I hear three or four other men join the walk and I do not recognize their voice but they're talking about some murders. Now they have my full attention. They're talking about someone who can 'get it done' with no consequences. I'm convinced they're talking about that person responsible for the mysterious deaths and most likely responsible for my Father's attack too.
I stop struggling to get free and listen to them carefully. "That man who was looking for that weird pendant?" One of them says and the other one responds "yes, that fella is looking for a half moon shaped pendant because it's important for him to get it back" One of them breaks a bottle from the sound of it and says "but the police has it how does he expect us to get it back?"
The other men laugh and I feel someone walk towards me.
That's where this pretty thing comes in. The man touches my chin and I feel disgusted. I move my head away and he laughs.
"Do you really think the police will be returning the pendant in place of this thing?" Another one of them asks and the man near me walks away. "Even if they're against it , her fiance has enough influence on them to convince them, her fiance seems to be quite wealthy so we can also ask for £5000 or more" The man who just walked away says and I roll my eyes behind the covered clothes. These imbeciles really thought I am Lord Vulcan's fiance or even that much of value to him?
Sure we're great friends but this is beyond consideration even if I were his fiance. I'm not going to be waiting for someone to save me but what I am going to do is escape before these imbeciles can get that pendant back. "He's visiting us tonight" I listen very carefully. "And he's going to have a chat with her"
It appears being kidnapped has it's positive points. If that man is infact visiting tonight then it is my chance to get any clue regarding him or maybe...
if I'm fortunate enough then just have him caught.