CHAPTER 439: MEET THE SYNDICATE

Abigail was one hell of a quick learner. Picking every branch, every shard of guidance Arabella threw her way.

It was a lot easier for her to believe that Abigail was a genius instead of accepting the idea that Arabella was a good teacher.

Either way, the young woman watched over things as they moved along in the ballroom. All eyes and ears out for the ruckus and people that made all of the beauty around her possible.

"I am sorry for being late," Ada huffed oxygen as though her lung had been deprived of air for a good minute, "One of my students asked me a question before the end of class and I couldn’t leave the room without answering it," she chuckled, "Wow! I still cannot believe it! I have students! me!" seeing the tamer smile on Arabella, Ada cleared her throat, "I am sorry. I shouldn’t be so...,"

"So what? You shouldn’t be so happy? So passionate?!" Arabell’s hands extended to firmly readjust the collar of Ada’s dress, "Don’t you ever apologize for that," she nearly hissed, "I wouldn’t forgive you," her light beam resurfaced, "What was today’s topic?"

"Well, since they are here to be auctioned as blood providers, first and foremost, I thought it’d be more reasonable to start them with a list of plants and ways that would make human or animal blood poisonous to vampires," Ada nodded along to her own words.

"Good call. In fact, I believe I’ve encountered a book that went into details about such subject when I first arrived,"

"Sanguis venenosus?" Ada chirped.

"Yes! That one!"

"I am using the same book as a source in case I forgot something,"

"I wish more tributes opted to join the class," Arabella clicked her tongue against her palate once.

"Some things you shouldn’t push onto people, I am afraid," Ada’s head shook from left to right.

"No, indeed. That is true,"

"Right then! Should we rehearse our entrance again?" Ada clapped her hands once and clasped them near her chest.

"That would be great!" Arabella gestured at Abigail to join them, "We are going to have to make do without Lady Persephone and for that, I will assume her role in this scene-"

Before the end of her sentence came, a vampiress, donning a maid outfit appeared by their side, bringing a cool breeze along as she zoomed at the high-speed vampires could.

"Pardon the interruption, my Lady but the members of the syndicate have arrived and are awaiting you," she curtsied respectfully while avoiding Arabella’s gaze.

"The syndicate?" her eyes widened.

"Why would they travel all the distance?" Ada’s brows were just as furrowed as her friend’s, "Were they supposed to visit at all?"

"Well, if they were, I was definitely not informed," her gemstones swept the floor in a bit of a frantic manner as her mind and heart ran wild, "Have they stated the reason for their visit?"

"No, they have not, my Lady. What should we do?" the maid enquired.

"Welcome them to the main lounge please. I will be with them in a few,"

"If I may share my theory," Abigail spoke meekly, "I believe they are here to check on the tributes considering some of them are bedridden and cannot be sold,"

"That is a possibility," Arabella muttered.

The color drained from her face a little bit as very few souls under that roof knew the tributes hadn’t actually caught the whisper’s flu.

What kept sticking a thorn to her side was the fact that Liriel was aware and had agreed to pass the message along.

Did they not trust the fairy? She was a member of the syndicate after all...

Only one member was forced to remain without a seat due to their large size. The rest found a place to rest their weights upon fairly easily.

When she arrived, all of them had already been staring at the door since at least two members could smell and hear her approach.

Liriel was the one Arabella noticed first. Her smile was warm and somewhat apologetic.

The young woman curtsied before all of them then finally looked them in the eyes.

"As your host for tonight, I welcome your presence under the Eleazar roof,"

"Thank you, thank you, my dear," Liriel acknowledged her first.

Among them, the most well fitted man stood to his feet, flashed in front of Arabella, effectively startling her only to then take her hand and kiss it, "Lord Caden of house Rais at your service," he grinned, bearing his fangs at her.

About as tall as Silas he was, give or take an inch or two. His eyes a gradient of golden light and bright amethyst tint, a blend to lose oneself to if not cautious when gazing at them. As for his soft hair, it nearly followed the color of his eyes but only got the flaxen shade from the mix.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, my Lord," her voice trembled a tad.

"Let us see these tributes and be done with it," the fur covered woman was the next to speak.

Although it more so sounded as though she was voicing her frustrations instead of contributing to the conversation.

"Forgive Mingan, please," Caden’s silky smooth voice rose once more, "The wilderness teaches no manners,"

Arabella bit down on her tongue, allowing the red shade consuming her face to express her sentiment.

"I dare you to say that one more time," the so-called Mingan practically growled.

Very much like Cynric, every visible muscle on her was perfectly sculpted. She too was tall, an inch or so taller than Caden, in fact.

Also, similarly to the wolf women Arabella had come across in the past, Mingan too took care of her hair. Long, dark as a night and straight it was.

"Please, my Lady," a squeaky and nasal voice brought Arabella’s attention downward, "Guide us towards the sickened tributes," the goblin did his very best to bow but his corpulence made it hard, especially considering his short reach.