CHAPTER 425: TRAGEDY

The sun did not greet Arabella the way it always did every morning.

All gray the world around her was for it rained. It wasn’t pouring down the ground by any means, but it certainly tapped the window like a guest that knocked and waited to be allowed in. The temperature too had dropped a notch, or so it felt.

Even the air was heavy on her lungs, but then again, the young woman believed it was a natural consequence after the previous night’s ordeal.

All of it was for her own good, yes, but it didn’t make it any less hurtful.

The lack of Silas around her did not help either. He was so kind... Handled her with such warmth and care even though his heart still ached from the hurt she forced upon it.

The atmosphere outside the room wasn’t any lighter. Every face that met her only returned a grim face with their greetings. None of the daytime staff met her eyes for longer than a second.

Something was amiss. Something serious at that.

Arabella had no way of pinpointing everyone’s whereabouts and thus turned to the only place that was guaranteed to host a familiar face.

One of the lounge rooms that Lady Persephone had agreed to put to use prior to that day, gathered both Ada and Arumina as well as a group of tributes, most of whom were women, but included three men.

"Good morning, everyone,"

Arabella wasn’t radiant per se, but the lukewarm response her good wishes had garnered instantly cooled her down.

"And to you as well, my Lady," Arumina bowed her head respectfully whereas Ada practically ran to take Arabella into a warm embrace.

"Oh... Is something the matter?" she squeaked upon finally freeing herself from Ada’s hold.

In reply, Arumina and Ada exchanged one stern glance before nodding towards each other. After which, the head maid turned to the somewhat blank faces of the tributes while Ada guided Arabella out of the room.

"You have me worried," the young woman grasped at her brooch, eyes soldered on her friend.

"Well, it seems that the weather isn’t the only rotten thing about this day," Ada peered around before leaning closer to Arabella’s ear, "Tragedy has struck again, I am afraid,"

Arabella’s stomach dropped to her heels even before Ada clued her in on any of the happening.

"Out with it, Ada! My heart can suffer this no longer!" hand over her heart, she demanded.

"It is Allegra...," Ada’s eyes trailed away the same way her words did.

"What happened to her?"

"She’s disappeared," Ada murmured.

"What!?"

"And as of now, all evidence points to the possibility that she’d been abducted,"

"What evidence?" Arabella kept leaning in as if by catching Ada’s eyes, all she held within would spill out.

"It was Katherine that found the first clue. She uncovered Allegra’s shoe on the path we usually take towards and back from KasselMoon... The poor thing, I had never seen her that distraught since her illness has healed,"

"What... Where is Silas? Why did no one awaken me? All of this happens while I am left snoring on my pillow?!" Arabella clutched at the sides of her gown, took three steps forwards then halted all of the sudden to walk back, then again, making no progress in the process.

"Lord Silas’ orders," Ada tried to keep up with her, "He said you’d gone through a painful medical test and needed all the rest you could get,"

"Oh goody!" the young woman huffed, her features crumpled, "Tell me all! Everything down to the last letter, Ada and don’t you keep anything from me!" she finally stopped and spun around to face her friend.

Ada stared back at her for a moment then took the deepest of breaths, "A search party has been organized. All of the vampires under this roof put their hands on the deck, including Lady Persephone. They combed the entirety of the area but found nothing of substance. It is as though Allegra has simply vanished,"

"What about the syndicate? Have they been informed?"

"Of course, they have been. Help was sent, but still, nothing could be found before sunrise. Although...,"

"Although what?" Arabella pressed on when Ada took too long to resume her speech.

"On the shoe that Katherine discovered... There were traces of Yuniper,"

"So, it is true then," Arabella stared at nothing in particular, stern, "She has been attacked,"

"Lord Silas is out there with the human guards, leading the search until the vampires rise again from their slumber," Ada added.

"Has Cynric been contacted?"

"Why would they contact Alpha Cynric?" Ada’s eyebrows threatened to disappear up her forehead.

"For obvious reasons!" Arabella launched into yet another speedy walk. Only that time around, her destination was clear in mind, "Wolf folk need no hibernation, and their olfaction is as advanced as that of vampires so...,"

The skirt of her gown in hand, Arabella paid no mind to anything or anyone around her.

"Where are you heading?" Ada rushed behind her.

But no response came from the young woman.

"Please, slow your pace," she tried again.

"When all failed, Ada turned to stronger means, "Arabella!" her voice blared and echoed across the hallway, "Would you please stop for a minute and share your plans," she gasped for air.

"I am going to write Cynric and enquire on whether he will agree to help us," Arabella did not break a sweat.

It was as though all of that pain and discomfort holding her back that same morning was no more.

Ada, on the other hand, was bent out of shape, holding her side, "His help will come at a cost,"

"Whatever his price is," Arabella looked through the window nearby, "I am sure we will be able to meet it,"

"I have another question," Ada walked in front of Arabella, "Do you think Lord Dragomir or your father have anything to do with this?"

"Oh, I am ready to bet my own life on that," Arabella retorted without blinking.