Chapter 377: To finish a dance
It was Katherine that sat in front of the piano, firing those notes from her very heart. The turn to dance was Ada’s and how unlucky she was, the universe partnered her with none other than Sebastian.
"That was exactly how you looked like the first time you danced in Sebastian’s arms," Persephone’s voice wrenched the young woman out of whatever surreal pocket her mind had found shelter in.
"Oh dear... I must have looked so unflattering," she grimaced at the sight of Ada’s discomfort.
"Unflattering wouldn’t be the word I’d use," the Lady continued, "I think mortified would be more fitting,"
At those words, Arabella’s eyes snapped back onto Ada’s stiff figure. The poor thing had turned redder than a chili pepper, eyes soldered on her dance partner’s chest.
"Well, he does have a sharp gaze," she stated upon noting the grin on Sebastian.
"He is a go-getter," said Persephone, "That’s what the Ladies love about him," after a short pause, and upon seeing Arabella’s quick reaction, the Lady hastily added, "Vampire Ladies do love him! Yes!"
Arabella kept her tongue still in her mouth for a good moment, looking between Sebastian and Lady Persephone who seemed to find the scene in front of her most amusing.
She debated whether to voice the questions that sprouted in her mind or keep them in the dark.
"Do... You... Like Sebastian, mother?"
Evidently, curiosity got the better of her. However, as sheepish as her tone had remained, it still earned the Lady’s glare which melted all of the courage in her, almost instantly.
"Goodness me, girl!" the Lady’s eyebrows knitted together and refused to simmer.
The indignance in Persephone’s voice birthed figurative nails underneath Arabella’s bums, "I did not mean it like that! I... Simply thought it-"
"Well, whatever it was you thought, it has no place to be," her void-like eyes returned on the moving couple, "He is too young and a tad too frivolous for me,"
Frivolous? No matter how long she stared at Sebastian for, frivolous was not the descriptive that came to Arabella’s mind.
Though perhaps the adjective held a different meaning in older vampires’ eyes.
The very next question that leaped at Arabella right then and there had to do with what type of man Persephone found attractive, but she quickly bit her tongue and swallowed the words before they earned her a second wave of embarrassment.
Instead, her saving grace stared back at her in the form of a... Rigid Ada. That was when the plan to escape the awkwardness she’d created materialized.
"I’d like to stop their dance for a short break if you do not mind,"
"I do not mind," the Lady took her teacup then sipped at its content while still giving Arabella little side glances, "Katherine my dear, would you come sit here next to me? I have some things to discuss with you,"
As Katherine freed the piano, Sebastian stopped moving and along with him, Ada did too.
Arabella wasted not a second and headed towards her friend.
"Ada, come with me for a second,"
After one, firm stare towards the vampire, she guided Ada away with a gentle hand on her back.
"How are you feeling?" despite knowing that vampires could still hear them, they moved to the furthest corner in the room, "I can’t hear it myself, but the Lady says your heart’s drumming is louder than the piano,"
"I am sorry," the frown on Ada was devastating, "I don’t know why, but I just can’t seem to get comfortable near that man," she shook her head while flicking her nails together.
"According to the Lady," Arabella’s hands went for Ada’s hair, putting some order among those unruly strands that colored outside the lines, "He is the confident type," she sighed.
"Perhaps a tad too confident?" Ada bit at her bottom lip.
"Granted," Arabella copied the latest action of her friend as her gemstones rested on Sebastian.
The vampire seemed deep into a stimulating conversation of his own with another entertainer named Agatha.
What jumped at her however, were the little glimpses he spared hers and Ada’s way every time his mouth opened so that he could speak.
His smile stretched a little too thin in her eyes, but to the woman he had in front of him, that seemed like the most charming of expressions.
"What are you thinking about?" Ada plucked her out of her contemplations.
"I am thinking...," Arabella clicked her tongue against her palate once, eyes still on Sebastian, "That me and him never got to finish our dance together,"
Quite ironic those words sounded to her ears since it was the exact same thing he had told her the last time they came face to face with each other.
"What?" Ada’s brows furrowed, "What do you mean?"
But without giving her an answer, Arabella made her way straight towards Sebastian before dismissing Agatha.
The vampiress seemed a tad taken aback but other than, "Yes, of course, my Lady," she breathed not another word and simply turned around to leave.
"My... Lady," Sebastian dragged the sentence as he looked her up and down, "How may I serve you?" his grin reached his eyes, but in a calculated fashion. It was as though he ensured full control over how much they squinted.
"I was simply thinking back to your last words to me about how we never got to finish our dance," she returned a smile that was just as measured as his.
"Indeed," Sebastian let out a light chuckle, "But I said those words before I knew that I could get in trouble for even talking to you,"
"You won’t be in any trouble today," she nodded slowly, "I promise you that," she looked up at him in silence after that and when he made no move, she added, "So, are you going to invite me to dance or should I invite you first?"
For a split second, the shortest of spans, something flashed across his eyes. Something quite scary.
It vanished as quickly as it had appeared as he bowed while extending an inviting hand, "No, of course. Please, pardon the insolence,"