Allure Of The Night

When Eve left the Moriarty mansion, the maid named Kehlani asked her mistress, "Milady, if Lady Annalise comes to hear that you handed your gowns to the governess, she wouldn't be pleased with it. Why did you do that?"

Marceline rolled her eyes and questioned the maid, "Do you think I am not aware of it? And you will not breathe a word about it."

The vampiress had her own reasons behind her actions towards the human, and she softly smiled. 

"Of course, milady," the maid bowed her head. 

Right now, Marceline stood on one of the balconies on the front side of the mansion so she could look at the governess, who now juggled the dresses, shoes, her hideous umbrella and lunch. 

"Such a pitiful thing," murmured Marceline as she watched the human, who paused now and then while walking. A few days ago, the human had tried to show off that she had a carriage as if it was better than theirs. "There is no guarantee the gowns won't be damaged with the way she's carrying it. They will be ruined before she even reaches her house."

Marceline turned around, leaving the balcony, and ordered her maid, "Get me my blood tea, and inform the coachman to get the carriage ready. I will be going out in an hour. I have to ask the merchant if he's been able to find anything of value in my eyes."

"Yes, Lady Marceline," answered the maid, quickly leaving the place to prepare the vampiress's tea. 

Eve, who was walking on the street of Skellington town, made sure that she didn't drop anything from her hands. She walked carefully while seeing to it that she wouldn't trip and fall on the ground. 

Truth was that Eve hadn't taken the gowns or the shoes with her while leaving the piano room. She had decided to take it tomorrow by asking Eugene to come pick her up. But before she could cross the entrance of the mansion doors, another maid had quickly come carrying them and had dropped them in her arms. 

"Miss! Excuse me!" Someone shouted from the back. "Miss with the clothes."

Did she drop something? She looked at her hands to make sure everything was still there. 

Eve stopped walking and turned back to see who was calling her. She noticed a few passers-by stare at her, which wasn't welcoming. 

"Milady!" 

Eve looked up, and her gaze fell on the young lady she had met in Thresk Hills. Unlike the time at the inn, right now, the person had loosely tied her hair. Eve bowed her head in greeting, and the lady returned the bow as if remembering her manners.

"Good evening, I didn't know you lived in Skellington town. What a small world we live in," remarked Miss Rosetta in awe and a nervous smile on her face. 

"I don't live here, but I come here for work," Eve corrected the young lady.

"Oh, is that so," the young lady's eyebrows knit together. "I was standing on my balcony, counting the number of carriages passing by, when I noticed you. I am Rosetta Hooke, you must have heard about me."

Eve slowly shook her head and greeted the young lady named Rosetta, "Good evening, Miss Hooke. It is good to see you are doing well," came Eve's polite words. 

The last time they met, the young lady had been crying and sobbing, she seemed to be in a better mood today. Miss Rosetta nodded, "I am doing well. Thank you for offering me your handkerchief…"

"Genevieve Barlow." Noticing the lady move her lips as if trying to get the pronunciation right, Eve said, "You can call me Miss Barlow or Eve."

"Thank you for lending me your handkerchief," said Miss Rosetta, and she nodded. 

Last Sunday had been the worst day of her life. Her parents, as well as her aunt, had tried to push her into a marriage with a man who had treated her as if she was nothing. She had refused to speak to anyone in the mansion. The only kindness she remembered that day was by this woman. 

"Do you live nearby?" 

"Yes, in the town of Meadow," replied Eve. People curiously looked at them, wondering what a wealthy miss was doing by talking to a woman of lower stature. 

Miss Rosetta only nodded, as she had heard about the towns which were of her status and the ones that weren't when she had arrived at Skellington. To think that this woman in a town like that existed. She wasn't often generous, but she could make an exception for this human today. She said, 

"Let me order my butler to bring the carriage. This way I will be able to repay your kindness."

"Do not worry about it, Miss Hooke. I will be catching the local carriage—" Eve saw the young lady stare at her "—that should be here within the next fifteen minutes."

Miss Rosetta couldn't comprehend after Eve mentioned 'local carriage'. Snapping out of her thoughts, the vampiress urged, 

"Let me be of your help today. I was meant to see you walking by, so that I could repay your kindness. It might be hard to carry all those things in that…kind of space. Allow me to help."

Eve wondered if God was being kind to her or if the devil was waiting to strike at her with these young misses of the mansions wanting to help her today. 

Though Miss Rosetta said she wanted to help Eve, the young lady only held Eve's arm to guide her towards her aunt's mansion while not taking a single item to lessen the weight in Eve's hands. 

It wasn't that the vampiress did it out of purpose. Miss Rosetta, the Marques' daughter, was used to people carrying things for her, and she had never needed to lift a finger to move things around except for her dress while walking. 

"This is my aunt's mansion. It isn't much, not inside or outside. I hope you don't mind," remarked Miss Rosetta, and Eve blinked. The mansion in front of her was beautiful and large like other mansions in Skellington.