ALLURE OF THE NIGHT (C)

Chapters 131-140

The emotions of fear that had been hovering around Eve before seeping into her, that she had been trying to hold back until this moment broke in Vincent's arms. Tears continued to fall from her eyes, most of which fell on Vincent's shirt as she continued to cry.

Since Eve had been captured and thrown into the cell, it had left her terrified and helplessness had caught her. She couldn't stop crying, and soon sobs broke through her lips. She clutched onto the vampire's shirt, wetting it with her tears and Vincent didn't make any attempt to push her.

"Shh. It's all over," Vincent comforted her.

His hand that he had earlier used to bring her to him, to hide her tears from his coachman or another person, hadn't moved away from Eve's head. Her golden blonde hair which was usually tied was let down, and he gently stroked her head with his hand.

Vincent had always seen the governess put a strong front, meeting his eyes and words almost as if she was no less than him, even though he was the predator and she was his prey. He could tell that she was shaken.

"There there. Nobody's going to hurt you now," Vincent's words were like a warm blanket to Eve's ears. "You have been very brave, Ms. Barlow and you survived." It was because only she could think of escaping from the dungeon, he thought to himself.

If Eve wasn't overwhelmed with her emotions, she would have noticed the gentleness Vincent's words carried, as if he was talking to a child. Her lips trembled, and her body experienced little tremors as she sobbed.

Vincent's coachman, Mr. Briggs closed the carriage door without interrupting the two and went to sit on the driver's seat before riding the carriage away from Raven town.

Once Eve spilt most of her emotions, her mind calmed down and the sobs quietened.

Her mind had been so wrapped around the events that had taken place in the dungeon that she hadn't noted how she had buried herself in her employer's arms. Once she started to come to her senses, she blinked before pulling away from him and trying to slip her hand in her dress pocket to pull out her handkerchief, but she realised her dress was lying cold in the corner of one of the dungeon's cells.

"Take this," Vincent offered his handkerchief to her.

Eve slightly bowed before using it without making too much noise.

Vincent watched the woman dab her eyes and nose, while she avoided his gaze. Her face had flushed, and the rim of her eyes had turned red. Her lips were parted to be able to breathe. She looked fragile, similar to a glass doll that could easily break and crumble if one were to touch her now.

"Drink some more water," his words turned firmer as he continued watching her, and Eve followed his order without any question.

Eve sensed Vincent's gaze, and her movements turned skittish under his eyes. Some of the water spilt on her chin before sliding down her throat. Closing the lid of the water batter, she placed it at the side. She then said,

"Thank you for what you did back there..." Eve didn't meet his eyes. The state in which he had seen her in... it was the lowest she had been or let anyone see, and Vincent had not only seen her, but had helped her. "I will forever be grateful for what you have done, Master Vincent," her voice was lower than usual, and Vincent detected the vulnerability in it.

Eve then picked up all the pearls that had fallen on inside the carriage, and once she was done, Vincent stretched his hands in front of her, "Let me keep them." She carefully handed the pearls to him, seeing him slip them into his trouser pocket.

"Did you do something you were not supposed to do, Ms. Barlow?" She heard him question her.

Eve's eyebrows slightly furrowed before she raised her gaze and met his dark red eyes that stared right back at her. She shook her head, "No."