Eve was walking up the stairs to their room when she remembered Noah's gift to her. It was still in the coat pocket that Alfie had helped her out of when they had returned to the mansion. Turning around, she started to walk towards the front halls when she met Allie.
"Sister Eve, are you going out?" The little vampiress asked her. Her former governess had been busy with her brother, and she missed her time with Eve. "Can I come with you?" She asked her in an earnest voice.
Eve smiled at Allie and replied, "I was going to get a box from my coat. I would like it if you would accompany me there," even though the distance was short, the young vampiress nodded and quickly hopped to where Eve was.
Upon reaching the front of the hallways, Eve walked towards the coat stand and fished her coat pockets. She then pulled out the square box.
"What is that?" Allie asked, staring at it. "A gift?"
"That is supposed to be a gift from a dear friend. How about we open it together?" Eve asked the young vampiress, whose eyes brightened at her words.
They walked to the nearest room and took a seat next to each other on the couch. The fireplace burned brightly in the room, while Eve unwrapped Noah's present. She was curious to see what was in there. And once the wrappers were gone, she opened the box and smiled.
"It is a music box!" Allie leaned forward to take a closer look at the gift.
"Indeed it is," Eve responded. Her blue eyes took in the dark red wood, which felt smooth under her touch.
Eve wondered what had made Noah buy her a music box as a present. She wondered if it had her favourite song, but would he have known? Not like the Duke of Woodlock would drop by the Meadow town's local inn when she sometimes played for the people.
Catching hold of the lever, she turned it round and round and then watched the cylinder begin to turn. She wondered what song Noah had left her. She smiled, waiting for it, but when she heard the music coming from the music box, the smile on her lips dissolved.
"Oh," Allie whispered as she heard the music and said, "It is the same song you sometimes hum in the piano room, sister Eve," her little feet gently swayed to the soft tones.
When the music stopped, silence fell in the room and Allie took hold of the music box to play it again and again, while Eve sat there with a stunned expression on her face. The song was dear to her because it was what her mother often played on the piano when the instrument was available and sang.
Eve had never played it publicly because of how precious it was to her, and the only time she played was for the young vampiress to cheer her up. How could Noah know the song? As beautiful as the song was, it wasn't something one could remember at one time. Then why? She questioned herself.
She stared into the fireplace as her mind and heart raced. Noah couldn't know... no, Eve thought to herself. This minute detail which belonged to her and mother... If Noah didn't hear it from her, it only meant he heard it from her mother.
"No, that's not possible," Eve muttered under her lips, and for a brief moment, Allie turned to look at Eve before she went back to rotate the lever.
There was no way Noah could have known her mother. She had lost her mother when she was too young, and if he did meet, he would have met... met... Eve thoughts started to spiral. Her hands turned into tight fists, and her lips trembled.
The door to the room they were sitting in was open, and Vincent stood there as if he had heard something important from his father.
"Brother Vince, look! It is a pretty music box!" Allie showed him.
Vincent stared at his sister and then said, "You should go to bed now, Allie. Mother was looking for you," he offered his sister a smile.
Allie blinked before nodding. She turned to Eve and asked, "Can I take this with me for tonight? To listen to it as I sleep?"
Eve stared at the music box that continued to play and she nodded before smiling, "Of course, Allie."
"Goodnight, Sister Eve. "Goodnight, brother Vince," Allie wished them before hopping from there, excited to have the little box with her.
Eve walked to where Vincent stood and said, "We need to talk about Noah. The music from the music box, he knew it from my mother."
Vincent frowned at her words and said, "Tell me about it on the way. We need to be somewhere. Come."
"Did your father say something?" Eve asked, a little anxious.
"You will know once you see it," Vincent said, and they made their way through the hallways before getting in the carriage and leaving.
Allie, who had left the room hopping with the music box in her hand, she met her mother who said, "It is time to go to bed, Allie. Come now."
"Yes, mother," Allie replied, and when they neared the stairs, the little girl's eyebrows furrowed on seeing her brother walking down the stairs. She stared at him, and then in the direction she had come from.
Vincent held a subtle frown as if trying to figure out something. He asked his family, "Have either of you seen Eve? She said she was going to our room, but she isn't there," before his eyes settled on his sister.
"Mm, brother Vince... You were with Sister Eve a few seconds ago," Allie stated, wondering if her brother had the ability to move quickly.
Vincent's eyes narrowed at his sister's words and demanded, "Where?"
Allie turned to look back and then said, "At the front of the drawing room. You said I should go to bed."
Vincent clenched his jaw, "Fuck."
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