222 A Lady At The Door
Returning to the underground building at late midnight, a displeased expression carved itself on Luderick’s face, right after stepping into the room and finding the coffin gone. There was nothing in front of him, and he gnashed his teeth as his fists furiously clenched at his side.
“It’s gone??” His eyes widened at the empty sight in front of him, wondering how it was possible when he had left that coffin here. Not too long did he make his shocking outburst, did a fellow being walked in as well, also keeping her gaze fixed on the empty sight in front of her.
Her hair fell across her shoulder, down to her back in brown and darker shades. She was wearing a completely black dress that gave off an uncomfortable and disturbing aura. Her hair was covering her face, but despite that she could still see clearly.
After observing the room, she tilted her head up, her hair effortlessly moved away from her face, revealing a beautiful visage that had a striking resemblance to Annalise.
“It’s gone.” The lady muttered to herself, sounding more calmer than Luderick who was feeling anguished at the disappearing coffin, and his abnormal dark eyes turned darker with distaste as he punched the wall to relieve himself, giving it a damaging crack.
“I knew that mad Demon would come looking for me, but I never assumed he’d be smart enough to take the coffin with him.” He uttered, finding that to be a little worrisome, but the lady beside him didn’t seem to panic at all, instead, she looked at Luderick with the same innocent gaze that Anna was mostly fond of giving.
“You look more traumatized than me Luderick, I didn’t know you had a wish to sleep in a coffin.”
“That’s not the issue!” He glared, and the innocent look on the lady’s face vanished. It was obvious she was only messing with Luderick and her face instantly went deadpanned with not a single trace of emotion displaying on her face, for a moment she looked nothing like Annalise while wearing such an expression.
“No need to fret, we’ll just head to the palace and get it back.”
.....
“Head where???” Luderick’s brows rose, as though the lady had brought up a very stupid suggestion before him. But from the look on her face, she doesn’t appear to be making a joke as she studied her own fair hands.
“The Viscarrian Palace.” She made her voice more audible, “surely he must have taken it to the palace, so we’ll just pay them a visit and get it back.” She sounded like she was paying a visit to an old friend, but Luderick wasn’t silly enough to fall for her antics.
“I really want to call you Aveline, but you failed to hold her expression despite carrying her face.” Luderick wasn’t one to give sweet talks, he had gotten Anna’s blood specifically for this reason, but it appears the soul he brought back to life already has a dark history of her own.
“Call me Aveline.” She turned away from him, letting her eyes scan the room for anything they were probably missing out on, but there was nothing.
Today she had to sleep without her coffin and it silently angered her from within since her body can’t do without it, and she wasn’t going to let such repeat itself ever again. She might have been conjured to life, but she’s still glued to that coffin, and unless she finds a way to rid herself of it, that coffin sticks with her soul.
Her chocolate-brown eyes turned a molten red, a strange glowing energy hovered in her palm in the form of a red light, and she smirked, seeing her powers were still intact.
But her body was unfavorably weak, she needed to consume souls in order to get stronger, and it’s Luderick’s mission to satisfy her with as many souls as she wants, in return for whatever he wishes to seek from her.
“So, we’re going to sneak in and get you that coffin?”
“Maybe.” She pondered while pressing her index finger to her cheek, “but there is one thing I’m sure of, the girl must visit my coffin, I was wondering how I’d get that part of the job done, but that half-Demon made it easier by taking it with him.”
“When we’re done with all of this, you must tell me what you know about the dark woods.” He made his first assignment known to her, and she doesn’t seem to object despite wearing a blank expression.
“The dark woods?” She smiled, “I’ll tell you exactly what I know about the dark woods, but right now I’m hungry for blood.” Her eyes darkened, “get me food.”
Smirking devilishly, Luderick vanished in an instant, leaving the assumed Aveline to stand alone in the dark room, and her red eyes glowered in a silent threat, her teeths gritting in anger as she tried to keep her powers stable.
“I am coming for every one of you Demons! Await my return dear Roshan! I’ll make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!!” A thunder clapped loudly above the darkened sky, signifying the boiling rage that was bottled on the awoken Demon.
Not only did she hear it, but the thunder sound woke a lot of people in Euphrasia, leaving them frightened cause it was winter season, yet the sound of clapping thunder could be heard.
——-
A quick gasp escaped Anna’s lips the moment Becca shook her by her shoulder, breaking Anna from her train of thoughts and she turned her attention to the maid who was folding her arms at her.
“Did you even hear the things I’ve been saying to you?” Becca questioned, one of her brows slightly arched as she looked at Annalise who was trying to regain herself, acting half-embarrassed with her actions.
“I_I blacked out for a second there, you were saying?”
“We were talking about the right dresses to choose for your wedding with His Highness, and also what date you’d think would be more suitable to hold the wedding.”
“Oh, yes.” Anna responded, but barely sounded as excited as Becca who was willing to get all the information down so they don’t miss anything when the wedding is near.
Anna wasn’t feeling down because of her wedding with Roshan, she was happy about the preparations but at the same time, something else was bothering her, something she couldn’t understand and she found it difficult to get it out of her chest. It all started this morning when she woke up earlier than anyone else in the palace, and it became difficult to go back to sleep.
She felt dizzy some of the time, but had managed to pull through. Right now, she was having breakfast with the Astaroth family, and everyone was present in the dining room at Roshan’s orders.
“Hey Anna, let’s go for a grand wedding where everyone is invited, there’ll be lights, drinks, food–” Levi kept listing as he stuck his fingers out one by one, and Anna smiled faintly at his sweet suggestions, not until Azazel gave the young Demon a smack at the back of his head.
“Hey!” He glared at Azazel who was busy enjoying his breakfast with such elegance that made him appear even more gentle, one wouldn’t believe he was capable of hitting anyone.
“Keep quiet, and allow the lady to choose herself. It’s not your wedding, is it?”
Gemma, who was sitting opposite their table, giggled with her hands on her mouth, watching her favorite brothers annoy one another again.
“I’m giving her suggestions, you’re just looking for an opportunity to bully me.” He complained, but Azazel didn’t react.
“I won’t deny.”
“Stop, the both of you, or else you both will give my Anna a headache with your silly excuse for a love play.” Roshan finally intervened, and the two gentlemen nearly froze like statues at Roshan’s statement.
“You call that love play??” Levi grimaced loudly, and he almost sulked, ‘of course, everyone hates me in this palace, I’ll just have to run away if I plan on living longer.’ he thought to himself.
For the first time, Anna felt a healthy family bond while watching the three brothers and she looked at Gemma who was sitting beside her, and the little one also seemed to be enjoying the show. But it would have been better if Lady Odette and the rest joined them for breakfast, but recently, Odette has refused to cross paths with her, talk more of seeing her in person.
Roshan, who’s gaze finally shifted to Anna, noticed her mood didn’t appear as lively as before. He moved his chair closer to hers, and his sudden movements made Anna look at him.
“Are you alright?” He asked, and Anna smiled at his concern before nodding her head.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Is the whole thing feeling a bit rushed to you?” He wanted to know so he could decide if he should postpone the discussion again, but Anna shook her head.
“Not at all, it’s not rushed at all, I guess it’s because of too much drinking.” She came up with an excuse, and Roshan was obviously not buying it till Levi intervened.
“What are you doing? Have mercy on the singles sitting on this table with you. I don’t need to be reminded of my lonely self.”
Becca silently chuckled while looking away, and Roshan was about to break Levi’s heart with a retort when a guard showed up at the dining table, bowing his head before Roshan.
“Your Highness.”
“What’s the issue?”
“There’s a lady at the door requesting to see His Highness and Milady.”
“A lady?” Roshan’s brows furrowed, and from his facial expression, he didn’t look like he was expecting someone.
“Who is it?”
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