A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 21: Missing Pages

Elena lit a few candles, the light emanating from them casting a glow in the oddly silent room. She had changed into a fresh dress after the one she was wearing got spoilt by her own blood.

The hour had grown late yet she refused to sleep a wink. She sat on Gabriel’s rocking chair, her eyes fixated on the door all the while.

’He will come back. Maybe he’s just scared.’ She tried consoling herself when close to an hour slipped with no sign of Gabriel.

But Gabriel! Why did he have to endure such pain? And for what? It was meant to be a marriage of convenience yet she felt the weight of it on her shoulders.

One of the candles wore out, driving the light a bit dimmer. Elena had lost track of time now. Her eyelids felt heavy, sleep invading her senses like a thief. The door started appearing hazy in front of her eyes slowly transitioning to darkness.

The morning chatter of the birds was what woke Elena up. She fluttered her eyelashes to be met by the familiar view of their room. Her eyes darted to the bed when she spotted a figure spreading the sheets.

Her vision heightened but ended up disappointment yet surprised at the same time.

"Jophiel?" She called, uncertainty filled in her voice.

The figure turned giving her that familiar smile she was used to recently. "My lady." She curtsied. "I didn’t want to disturb your sleep."

Elena was quick to her feet. "You’re alright?"

"The physician said I can resume my duties today."

Elena felt somehow guilty. She hadn’t paid a visit since the day of the ordeal. "I’m glad you’re back." She offered a comforting smile.

"It is a pleasure to serve you, My Lady." Jophiel curtsied again which had Elena roll her eyes. But she paused when she remembered something.

"And speaking of service," she said and gave Jophiel one of her calculated looks. "The queen summoned me yesterday and said some things only you and I were aware of."

Elena saw her stiffen, her hands clutching the sides of her dress. "I’m certain the queen was aware of the information," she said, her nervous voice betraying her words.

"Of course she was," Elena replied, her eyes looking at Jophiel’s longingly. "A few coins was all she needed to offer."

Jophiel averted her eyes from Elena’s, casting her gaze on the floor. She had been caught! "I needed the money."

"You could have asked me for it, or Gabriel. Anyone else but the queen."

Jophiel was now short of words. "She threatened me."

Elena gave her a longing look, her blue eyes piercing through Jophiel’s as if searching her soul from within.

"You’re lying," she said, and she could see through the lies. "I trust you to keep my secrets as my personal maid, not sell them to anyone. The next time you’ll betray me will be the last time you’ll serve as a maid."

The threat was raw in her voice that Jophiel swallowed hard. "Yes, My Lady." She quickly gathered the bloodied sheets and made for the door.

"I’ll have my breakfast here," Elena said halting her in her tracks. She paused and gave Elena an acknowledgement bow before she fled out of the room.

Maids were difficult to deal with especially ones who came from poor families. It was a lesson Elena had learned in Mysthaven. And those ones were a greater risk. They’d do anything to lay their hands on royal coins.

But she needed to give the girl a second chance. She had served her well apart from that little mistake which she had turned a ’blind eye’ on.

Her eyes lazily scanned her room when she spotted Gabriel’s favorite book on the floor just below the shelf. She moved, her back cracking from the still position she had stayed all night long. Her limbs felt heavy, a sudden sharp pain coursing through her nerves the moment she was on her feet. Her legs felt numb especially the left one.

She winced in pain before the pain slowly dissipated in her standing position. To this, she had Gabriel to thank for. She moved and collected the book from the floor. The Art of Seduction, he had called it. A smirk settled on her lips when she remembered the look on his face that afternoon.

The book was covered in a layer of thin dust which she blew and wiped the rest with the palm of her hand. The cover was golden, the words seeming to shine when she looked at them. Curious, she read the title, her lips moving as she did.

"Vampire Breeding" The words slipped out of her tongue. She stared at the cover pondering over the meaning of the title. It was indeed a fancy one, especially to a human. She turned the first page where the title was repeated in bold, but unlike human publications, there was no Author name on this one. "Weird," Elena thought.

She randomly opened a page that detailed how purebred vampires breeds came to be. The book stated that it took a purebred male vampire and a purebred female vampire to make a complete purebred. The highest in the hierarchy in terms of strength was the royal family followed by the Lords of great houses answerable to the king.

Then there were the half breeds. The book stated that half breeds could be made by a purebred and a human or a purebred and a half breed. In either case, the half breed made through the union of a purebred and a half breed was stronger than that of a purebred and a human. The weakest of the breeds was one made from a half breed and a human.

She turned to the next page but to her dismay, the papers were plucked off, at least three pages. She turned around perusing the book when she spotted the same little girl from earlier standing there. Surprised, she let go off the book, her heart racing in surprise.