Chapter 12 The dance
Everyone, including Ezekiel, was taken aback. All eyes were fixed on the girl. Evan herself was a bit surprised and embarrassed at the same time. If she could remember correctly, she didn't have any friends, nor was there any scenario where she bumped into someone.
Even the soft music playing in the background stopped,as if the world froze. Lord Raphael himself was displeased. He wasn't even given an opportunity to respond to the woman who was welcoming him. He stared at the girl, sending a murderous gaze.
Lord Raphael felt like killing the ballet dancer standing not too far from him.
“I don't think I know you,”Evan broke the chilling silence. Her black brows were both lifted, indicating so many questions.
“I am Isabella.I am a reverend sister in the church. Immediately as you came into this hall, I saw your light,” said the ballet girl, taking Evan's hands into hers.
Just holding her hands alone was enough to make the duke's expression that was 33%darkened back to 1%.
He hated people getting closer to this girl,and he wouldn't let anyone get closer to her, not even Raphael.
“Oh, nice meeting you. I'm-”
“What do you want from her?Don't you have manners? Are you even a lady?” Ezekiel cut off Evan. He didn't want anything to do with the girl, and what he didn't like, Evan wasn't allowed to like. That was his mentality.
“I am so sorry,sir. Please tell me what I've done wrong. I'd like to correct my mistake.” Evan put her hands together in a praying gesture as she bowed her head low.
“Please,please, dear, let's stop fighting now,” the dance teacher slowly said, seeing Zeke's anger. And she was certain that Lord Raphael was boiling with fury by now.
“I'd love to taste one of those your good blood teas. How tasty,” confessed Lord Raphael. His attention was now glued back to the blood tea he dreamt of. They walked into the corridor behind them, disappearing into the distance.
Evan saw Zeke take her hand,leading her to the other end of the hall. He had been here a lot and was used to this place by now. It was now midnight, and they needed a room for the night.
Evan and Zeke exited through a single door attached to a huge,tall wall. The door was tiny, and Evan needed to gradually adjust her turban hat before successfully getting through it, completely ignoring the girl who claimed to be Isabella.
However, Evan's mind couldn't stop wondering who she was, but she wasn't given an opportunity to ask the girl. The door they went through was tiny and dimly lit. She followed Zeke's trail and then burst out in front of another massive hall. This one was also playing beautiful, warm, melodic, angelic music. One that could make someone relax, forgetting all their problems. The ballet dancers were young children of Evan's age. She watched as they all danced to the melody of the song. One could tell it was well practiced; not just practiced, it was perfect. Swinging their legs up, then sideways, then in circles.
Evan couldn't stop staring. They were all dressed up beautifully. She wished she had that. Rich kids are surely blessed.
“My pet,do you want to join?” someone whispered into her ear, snapping her back to reality. Of course, it's Duke Ezekiel.
“I'd prefer to sleep,thanks.” Her eyes were heavy and her body lazy. She adjusted her turban hat that was stressing her out. Half of her concentration was on it. Not just her, as the duke himself was not well pleased with the pressure the hat was causing his pet.
It had been a long day until this time.Zeke led the way to one of the guest rooms. He wanted to take her to an inn, but there were too many pureblooded vampires and elites always dwelling in that inn. To avoid further rumor, it was better to stay here instead.
Evan was so surprised why the duke knew almost all of this mansion. She was mystified how he got to know where to pass, and right now they took turret stairs leading them to the guest room. They were given a room there, and Evan was dumbfounded.
Wasn't she supposed to be given a room separately?Why did she and the duke need to share a room?
“Milord,I don't think it's right to share a room with you,” Evan blurted out. She never failed to tell what was on her mind. He opened the door, and they both got in.
“Why?What do you think of me? I have no romantic interest in you. You're still a child.” As if someone took an important part out of Evan's body, these words left her heartbroken. Her face turned red, and she tried to hold her tears. The room was beautiful, well kept, and glowing inside; it was candlelit beautifully.
She saw the duke gracefully sitting on the bed as he took a newspaper from the table nearby.
“It has been a long day.Go take a shower, and if you don't want to sleep on this bed, you're very free. You can just sleep on that single armchair,” he informed her, the view of his face hidden from Evan's eyes.
“Okay,”left Evan's lips. She went to the bathroom that was as graceful as the room. She saw a robe hanging not too far from where she was standing.
She went back to the room, getting a dress from the wardrobe. It was a long nightdress made of a thick fabric, long to the ground. Milky in color. The beauty of this place was still a wonder to her. The duke kept thinking how the girl knows so much. Maids were just maids, and wasn't Evan educated? They don't know how to read as they weren't given teachers from the start. Zeke believed that the girl didn't know how to read, but what he didn't know was that the girl was talented and educated just like him.
Evan went back into the bathroom; after taking a hot shower, she stepped into the nightdress. Before she could come back to the room, Mr. Duke was not in it. Her wet hazel brows knitted together.
“Huh?Where did he go?” It was pretty late, and Evan could feel the sleep in her eyes threatening to overwhelm her, but she fought it. Thinking he stepped out for a bit, she got into the single armchair. It was a bit long and enough to contain her. As soon as her body collided with the chair, sleep carried her to another realm. A couple of hours later, Evan woke up, looking around the room thinking the duke was back, but sadly, there was no one at all. She got off the chair and stepped out of the room.
Though it was almost dawn, it was still dark. She went back to the last massive hall she and the duke had passed through, and there was still music playing in the background. Only one girl could be seen as she danced to the sweet melody of the soft song. The way she danced touched Evan. She danced with passion, one rhythm to another. This kind of talent wasn't just from talent; it was driven from passion, discipline, hard work, failure, disappointment, and pressure. But passion was able to brush all that away.
Her legs swung in the air beautifully;all her moves were calculated and tamed.
She watched the girl dance and dance until the last point of the music.When the girl majestically ended it with a bow, Evan couldn't help but clap.
“Wow, wow, bravo! Bravo!” Evan said happily. A wide smile was on her face. Her clapping drew the girl's attention. She started walking towards Evan. Evan then noticed it was the girl who had welcomed her unexpectedly when she came.
“Evan?What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Does the duke know you're here?” the girl asked, leaving Evan bewildered.
“How did you know my name?”Evan asked, stunned by how the girl addressed her, as if they'd known each other for centuries.
“Haha,”Isabella chuckled as she got out from the dancing area to where Evan was.
“Like I said,I am Isabella.” Seeing how chill the girl was, Evan's smile widened. It was so free and beautiful; she could dance with expression.
Evan immediately leaped onto the girl's body, hugging her tightly.
“My pet, did you find another toy to play with?” A deep yet sharp voice sliced through the warm air, making Evan immediately pull away from Isabella's embrace. She spun around to see who it was. Ezekiel stood five steps away from them. His eyes were bloodstained, and long fangs grew longer and sharp like blade. He looked scary and terrifying. Evan was petrified and immediately ran, hiding behind Isabella's back.
“Oh? You like her now? She is a black witch in disguise,” said Duke Ezekiel as one corner of his lips lifted into a devilish smirk screaming ‘dangerous’.