Chapter 314: Not so odd for news
"The sky had an odd color," he said.
"It did," Arabella nodded, "And the three of us sat upon this piece of fabric," her eyes squinted momentarily, "It was very reminiscent of a picnic,"
Silas and Arabella sat together on the very same balcony where the feast took place the night before.
The tables and food were gone. Only one lounge chair that fit both of them had been placed there.
The sun had risen more than two hours prior to that moment, and the young woman had taken the opportunity to wash, change and take breakfast.
"Katherine looked normal," he whispered.
"So did my mother,"
There were those long yet comfortable moments of silence between their sentences. There was no rush, no need to fill in the blanks.
There were just serenity and an adequate breeze that ran by.
"What will Katherine’s punishment be?"
"You do not need to worry yourself with that," Silas’ tone remained constant, but since his hand was around Arabella’s, she was able to sense the tension coursing through him, "Besides, she needs time to recover first before taking responsibility for her actions,"
"I can’t not worry about it but... At the very least, promise me that whatever you decide, you will be fair," she looked up at him with big hopeful eyes.
"Then perhaps I should leave this task for my mother to handle,"
"That is probably for the best," she nodded.
Silas kept on gaping down at her as if beholding her for the first time, allowing his diamonds to absorb every inch of her face.
"What is it?" her head tilted slightly to the side.
"Nothing," he shook his head while not taking his eyes off her for a second.
Silas had no words to describe the fact he couldn’t get enough of her. The feeling that it could all be whisked away from him at any second haunted him.
Eventually, she let it go and turned back towards the trees facing them.
"What did the doctors say about you basically falling asleep for the first time ever?"
"I didn’t fall asleep. I lost consciousness," he corrected her, "And... I did not speak to the doctors about it,"
"Well, when will you speak to them?" she straightened up and turned around just enough to face him.
"The time isn’t for that," he stated dryly.
"But it isn’t just an everyday occurrence," she gripped her brooch, "We must find out what was the cause of it,"
"We will find out in due time," he stared ahead, avoiding her gaze at all cost, "Not to mention, I believe it was the shock of what had happened that caused it,"
Arabella did not seem all that convinced, but didn’t push him any further.
She turned back around and lay against his chest once anew to admire the cushy white clouds that traveled the sky above them.
"There is also the fact that your blood was able to bring Katherine back...,"
That too went without getting a response. In fact, it was the last topic he wished to broach in that moment.
"Did you mean what you said to Katherine?" he broke the newly fallen silence between them, "About yours dreams, I mean," he clarified upon seeing the interrogative look on her.
"I meant every word I said to her, but which part exactly do you mean?"
"I mean when you told her that you haven’t seen your mother smile in your dreams," his hand rose to stroke her hair.
"Oh yes...," her features plastered a feeble smile, "For the life of me, I was never able to see her face in dreams and nightmares alike," she paused momentarily before adding, "As strange or scary as that sounds...," she bit down on her bottom lip, "While I hate that Katherine, Ada and Arumina were hurt, I still am grateful for going through this experience,"
Silas took a deep breath and kept his eyes on one specific tree in the distance that had nothing particular to show.
He did not like her words one bit, but there was no use in letting her know that for she sure already was aware of the fact.
A pair of feet made its way towards the balcony and that on its own reminded him of yet another aspect of their... Shared dream.
In the dream, he wasn’t able to extend his hearing and sight. That made him feel so helpless, crippled even.
The footsteps grew louder until Ada came into view. She smiled, but barely.
Her shiftiness and irregular heartbeat did not help her case either.
"I am sorry to interrupt you two, but may we have a word?" Ada’s eyes were straight and uniquely on Arabella while speaking.
"What is the matter, Ada?" Arabella sat up.
Silas stood to his feet, "I will be in my office. Come find me there once done," he addressed Arabella.
Ada curtsied as he walked away then quickly turned to Arabella, "Edna has been sent to the dungeons," she blurted.
"What? What for?" Arabella gave her all of the attention she had.
"The Lady summoned her yesterday and she did not come back since then," Ada shook her head, "None of us know why and they have been tight lipped about it since,"
"Silas was not made aware, otherwise he’d have told me," she looked at the floor.
"Her bed and belongings have been searched as well," Ada took a seat, "They found many things that could be used for witchcraft. I am not surprised by it but still, I am still shocked that this happened at all,"
Arabella had the suspicion of knowing what Edna had been apprehended for but kept it to herself. A talk with the Lady needed to be had as soon as possible.
She wished to speak with Edna too but knew that going down to the dungeons without letting Silas know was out of the question, and something told her that telling him about Edna wouldn’t end well at all.
He’d most certainly reach the same conclusion as her and act before thinking. Arabella could not allow that to happen.
There was also the high possibility that he’d listened in on their conversation already... But well, that couldn’t be helped.