Cloud waited outside the door while Ethel entered her room. Within a couple of minutes Ethel had opened the door, Cloud noticed she was now carrying a black suede satchel. Before he could question she closed the door behind her and starting skipping back the way they had come, she stopped and looked back at Cloud.
"Are you coming!" Her voice was loud but still sounded so soft.
Cloud nodded and began walking, Ethel had waited until Lord Cloud was a small distance away before she started walking.
After reaching the bottom of the stairs they met with the rest of the vampires that were waiting patiently near the carriages. The servants carefully loaded the supplies into the carriages, when they had finished the vampires dispersed into the rather spacious carriages.
Ethel and her parents climbed into the first carriage, the next held Mr and Mrs vuron, Lord Cloud and Jerome. In the last carriage sat the twins and their brothers.
***
As they reached the lake the carriages halted, on each one rested a coachman as well as a servant. Each servants hopped down from the carriage and opened the doors, allowing the family's to exit. After they had all gathered near the lake the vampires all stared at the gracious scene that laid before them. The luscious green grass reached far into the distance, meeting tall cliff like mountains which were covered in moss and vines. Tall trees sprouted from beneath towering rock, the bright sun beamed on top of the bushes of tree making them more vibrant.
The servants one by one set up the supplies they had brought to prepare their picnic. Laying out a large teal cotton blanket which had white leaves embroidered on the edges, they then placed eleven ivory toned silk pillows in a circle which the vampires then perched themselves on.
"Children why don't you go off and explore, we have private matters to discuss." Mr Leonard spoke firmly before they could get themselves comfortable. The young vampires stopped abruptly and hopped up from the pillow, one by one the vampires ran through the abundant thin grass that wavered at the slight breeze that breathed in the air.
All the young vampire began disappearing into the thick trees that spewed vines from its branches. All but one, Ethel. She sat in the grass that harboured a beautiful collage of hybrid flowers, her tiny hands picking the flowers from the damp earth that lay beneath the grass. Lining up the tall stems that ejected vivid petals, she untied the bow in her hair which let the small part of hair fall down the sides of her cheeks.
After gathering the flowers she began weaving the ribbon into the stems of the flowers, after the entire ribbon was woven with flowers she then delicately braided the ribbon into her hair.
Ethel's hair was quite long for her age so she learned to be able to care for it at a younger age.
Mrs Leonard allowed Ethel to braid her hair and practice so that Ethel was able to do it herself, she had slowly taught Ethel slowly so that when she would be sent to the Vuron castle she would prove to be a capable woman in time.
***
Ethel picked herself up, brushing off her dress and began slowly walking through the grass into the jungle of vines and moss. Her now braided hair draped down her left shoulder and down the side of her body, her breathes were quiet whilst she calmly walked through the abundance of trees. As she crept deeper into the mossy jungle, the light from the sun escaped the holes that broke the ceiling of leaves. The jungle glowed with the vibrant green moss that laid like a blanket on the tree bark, the multitude of flowers scattered across the thick grass.
Ethel stopped suddenly, she heard footsteps from different directions soon after faint giggles of laughter. Before she could grasp her surroundings she felt her body being tugged and a warm hand over her mouth, her body being carried towards a tree with a small opening. As she gripped the arm that held her torso they entered the darkness that took residence in the cozy space, she tried to keep her body relaxed as the arm gently placed her down, the hand fled from her view but before she could turn her head a subtle deep voice filled her ears.
"We're playing hide and seek."
Ethel froze, suddenly two hands held either side of her shoulders.
"Effy don't be scared."
She knew who was behind her, in her mind she could not think of a single time her brother called her by that name. Which meant it was Lord Cloud who was looking behind her.
"I am not scared." Her voice squeaked.
The two hands began turning her body so that she could see his barely lit face, his black and white hair fell on either side of his temples.
"I like your hair." He said gently, Ethel smiled feeling proud of her hard work.
"Thank you." She replied softly.
Update from writer.
I will taking a break from writing currently but I will release more chapters in time. Thank you 💙