Allure Of The Night

Music Recommendation: Another Dance- Dario Marianelli

Eve kept a calm composure in front of the wealthy folks as if she was one of them, and they believed it without a hint of doubt. How could they, when she wore an expensive gown and her neck carrying a delicate necklace around it. She looked like the purest woman that men wished to possess and hold.

But Eve wasn't someone who anyone could behold.

It was because she didn't come to the ball to look for a suitor. Two men at a time came to greet her, who were humans.

"Good evening, milady. I am Joseph Armstrong."

"Good evening, milady. I am Arthur Marshal. May I say you are beautiful," the second man quickly complimented her before the other man could. The two men quickly tried to look at her left hand's ring finger, but Eve hid it behind her other hand as she politely smiled at them.

She offered a small bow and politely replied, "Good evening, gentlemen. Thank you for your words."

"Are you here with company? If not, I would be more than fortunate to be by your side the entire evening," said the first man.

"What is your lovely name, milady?" Asked the other man.

Eve was slightly overwhelmed by the attention she was receiving. She looked around the room, which was filled with people, wondering where the people she knew had disappeared.

"It is Gen Barlow," Eve decided not to give her full name so that they wouldn't bother her later this evening or even after that. "I am a little busy at the moment."

"What a lovely name for a beautiful woman like yourself," complimented one of them. "Would you be as kind as to dance with me later, Lady Gen?"

"Me too, Lady Gen. It would be an honor," said the second man.

"If the time stops at the clock," replied Eve, "Gentlemen," offering a slight bow, she walked past them, leaving the gentleman wondering if it was a yes or no.

While Eve moved through the guests, offering and returning smiles to the people in the vast ballroom, her blue eyes fell on Noah, who was now busy talking to a man. She watched him silently until she heard someone speak not too behind her,

"I don't even know why she's invited to the ball," whispered a woman, "Someone like her should stay in their house."

For a moment, Eve questioned if the woman was talking about her until she turned and heard another woman say,

"All she talks about is herself. Her father has this, her father did that. Not only is she irritating, but I can barely tolerate her anymore." The woman placed her hand on the other woman's arm and said, "I am glad that you sent her to get the wine. We could use her as a butler," both women chuckled.

"It is hard to get rid of her from our side, but it is easier to have her do things for us," the first woman coyly smiled. She sighed and said, "If it weren't for her father being a Marquees, I would not have bothered myself with her."

"I cannot agree more on it," replied the other woman.

Not a moment later, Miss Rosetta arrived with a servant following behind her. The servant carried a tray of three wine glasses in his hand. Miss Rosetta's bubbly voice came, "Here are the wine glasses, and some appetizers."

"You are such a doll, Rosetta," replied the second woman, picking up the wine glass.

When another woman joined the trio, the first woman who had been bad-mouthing Rosetta picked up the wine glasses from the tray and offered one of them to the woman who had just joined them.

Rosetta looked conflicted as the wine glass was for her, but before she could say something, the other woman said,

"Oh! I forgot that you didn't pick up your glass yet and there were only three of them. Margot just came from the dance and she must be parched. You wouldn't mind fetching another drink, would you?"

Miss Rosetta smiled and replied, "Of course not."

Eve noticed the disappointment and sadness on Miss Rosetta's face, which she quickly replaced with a smile as if wanting to be part of the conversation with the other three vampiresses. When a servant walked past her with a tray of wine glasses, Eve picked up two of them and made her way to where the women stood.

"Eve!" Rosetta's eyes lit up when she saw her new friend here. "Such a pleasant surprise to see you here."

"Good evening, Rosetta. I was looking for you," replied Eve with a smile on her lips.

Rosetta's eyes shone because Eve had not called her Miss Rosetta but just Rosetta. This only meant that their friendship was growing!

The three vampiresses couldn't help but gawk at this human who had interrupted them. Though vampiresses, they felt complex build in front of this woman's appearance.

Eve stretched her hand forward and said, "I picked this up for you. I thought we could enjoy it together as drinking alone would feel selfish."

"How thoughtful of you, Eve," murmured Rosetta, taking the wine glass from Eve.

At the same time, Rosetta couldn't help but admire Eve's appearance. "You are indeed beautiful, Eve. With or without dressing up."

Eve could sense the compliment wasn't empty, but it came from Rosetta's heart with not a pinch of jealousy in there. She thanked her, "Thank you, Rosetta. You look pretty as well. I like your hair."

"It took Aunt Camille nearly three hours to finish this. Of course, it would look good," Rosetta raised her nose in the air. She turned to look at the vampiress and said, "I was wondering if we should walk to the other side of the room and see the—"

One of the vampiresses interrupted Rosetta and spoke to Eve instead, "I don't think we have been introduced before."

Not liking the vampiress belittling Miss Rosetta, Eve said, "I don't know if you have heard it before, but it is rude to interrupt someone when they are speaking. Not to mention, bad-mouth behind a person's back."

The one who spoke to Eve slightly glared, "I don't think I know what you are speaking about. I am going to get some air." As the vampiress left, the other two women followed her.

"You didn't have to do that," said Rosetta, but then she said, "No non-family member has ever done that for me. Thank you..."

Rosetta wanted to snap the way she usually did with people, to save her ego and pride that she didn't have to be saved by a human, but she was also grateful. Eve was different, she had shown her kindness and offered her company without expecting anything in return.

"You know how they are," said Eve, and Rosetta took a sip from her wine before gulping the whole thing down her throat. Eve's eyes widened in alarm, "That's not water."

" I know people talk behind my back, but I hope they will look at me differently. And not someone who is a Marquees' daughter or repeat what I say," said the vampiress before picking up another glass of wine from the servant. She said, "Nobody ever wants to be friends with me. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have everything with me."

Eve pursed her lips. It was possible that Rosetta, who came from a wealthy family, no one had bothered to point it out to her. She spoke in a low voice,

"If I may speak, Miss Rosetta. I think it has something to do with listening."

"Listening?" Asked the vampiress with a confused yet curious look in her eyes.

"Yes," Eve replied before carefully explaining, "Sometimes we need to allow others to speak, to know how they are doing, or if their day has gone well. This allows others to connect with you rather than just listen to you. Do you understand what I am saying?"Â

Rosetta deeply furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head, "Maybe a little. So I have to ask questions?"

For a vampiress, this person was naive, thought Eve to herself.

Eve replied to her, "Yes, and you allow them to speak. Wait for them to ask and not give away information easily."

When Eve's eyes moved to the dance floor, she caught sight of Noah dancing with a young lady, who was none other than Lady Marceline. And it looked like they were having a good time.