"What were the maids told about my disappearance?"
"I don't know Essa...When you were away, l was away too. Micael would be the person with the right answer" Lord Quinn said, smiling stupidly
"And why won't that smile leave your face? It is getting creepy!"
"l can't help it Essa...I did not only get you back, l got you back with your affection for me"
"Gabbriel! l need to talk to Lord Micael. l need to ask him about my friends" l said, whining
"He will be here soon."
"And how did you know that?"
"You are quick to forget who l am Essa...l am a vampire. l get to enjoy little things like sharp ears. l can pick up sounds from distances that will amuse you"
"Ohhh..." I was cut short by the jaggy entrance of Lord Micael. He looks disheveled and out of breath as his eyes moved from me to Gabbriel. He shut the door behind him and began pacing room. He is obviously disturbed about something we are about to find out.
"Can l know what the matter is Lord Micael?" l asked, concern detectable in my voice
"It is Grace...Grace...she..."
"What about Grace?" l asked anxiously as l stood in haste. "What is wrong with Grace? Please tell me she is alright" l asked, panicking
"She is alright prettiest. She..l...she..she just could not bear it when l told her everything"
"What everything?" l asked, hoping to hear something other than what l am thinking
"What did you do this time Micael?' Lord Quinn asked impatiently
"l told her everything. She was so worried about Vanessa and she is hitting herself. l wanted to let her know she is safe and somewhere around letting her know Vanessa is save, l told her everything" Lord Micael explained sheepishly.
'What has he done? What in Heavens! How? Why? What will Grace do right now?' l thought worriedly as l pictured shocked Grace in my mind.
"How can you tell the lady anything Micael? What will be done now? Lord Quinn questioned irritated
"Can't you guys do something like erasing of one's memory? Something has to be done about it immediately"
"We can only erase memories temporarily. Only those who learnt how to perfect the skill of memory erasing can erase permanently" Lord Quinn explained, shattering the only hope we have
"l will have to talk to her and explain things. I can't say of it will be productive because Grace is adamant but something really needs to be done. Did you tell her about the incident with Gabbriel and me?" l asked fearfully. He better not have told her about that.
"l did not" He said as l released the breath l never knew l was holding
"Are you sure you can talk to her and make her understand?" Gabbriel asked skepticaly
"I just said l am not certain it will be fruitful but it should still be done"
"Please talk to her Vanessa. She is really in a bad state of mind and her thoughts of us is dreadful. Please, l don't want her to see me as a monster" Lord Micael begged, making me wonder how deep his relationship with Grace is
"l will try my best. But what do l tell the other girls about my disappearance? What did you tell them while l was away?"
"I told them nothing"
"What? How could you do that? You know how worried sick they will be about me" l said, raising my voice
"I am sorry. l ran out of ideas to tell them so l simply acted like all was normal"
"Then you should know how much they detest you right now"
"Tell them you were brought to join me in my trip since l needed assistance" Gabbriel suggested
"You think they will believe that?" Lord Micael queried
"So do you have a better idea?" Gabbriel asked
"If not for the current situation, you know my ideas are the best" Lord Micael countered.
"And what situation is that? The best should always be the best regardless of situations" Lord Quinn opposed. The men continued with their banter solemnly that they did not pay heed to me when l left the room for the kitchen. l took countless deep breaths as l made my way to the kitchen. l never knew l would be this nervous to lie to the girls and to worsen it, Grace knows things. If Grace and l know then Danielle will surely know. Now, the trio of us will know that we live in a mansion owned by vampires and two of us have a fling with these vampires in question. When the others eventually find out, they will definitely detest us for keeping such important fact from them. They will see us as monster for endangering their lives. I choked on my own saliva at the thought of being called a monster. A monster that cares not about the safety and well-being of her friends. I wiped my sweat palm on the plain linen l was wearing and nervousness overwhelmed me. I got closer to the kitchen and l realised l can never be prepared for this. My self preparation was cut short when l heard someone scream my name in utter disbelief and at the same time, relief. l found Lola looking all chubby from the pregnancy with her eyes wide opened. The other girls ran to the spot on hearing her scream and they all wore the disbelief reaction on their face. It felt like the world stopped for a while as l stood, looking at amazed faces. When whatever spell that bound them got broken, they all raced to me, engulfing me in a tight, bone breaking hug. l missed then too so l returned the energy of the hug, hugging them firmly. The hug lasted for what looks like forever before Danielle's voice broke us apart. They happily pave way for Danielle see the reason for the uproar. She was as stunned at them at my sight. However, her joy could not compare to the others. She hovered over me like a mummy bear and l felt a sharp pang of guilt in my hear at the thought of rendering these people insecure.
"Where have you been?"
"We were worried sick"
"How did you just vanish for some good number of days without informing anyone bout your whereabouts"
"Could it be Lady Quinn this time again? Did she deliberately isolate you from us to satisfy her inhumane hatred for you?"
"Or....did you lock yourself up to get away from? You are sure looking thinner and unfed"
"Tell us exactly what happened Vanessa!"
Several questions kept coming at me from different angles and for a second, l wished l had prolonged this meeting.
"Calm down girls, l will tell you all that is there to know. Can we talk in the kitchen? We don't want Lord Micael seeing us crowded on the corridor" l said, exasperated. 'All that is there to know? Really?' my subconscious asked sarcastically, taunting me. We all settled in the kitchen where l told them l was taken to meet the Lord in an office l am not really familiar with for work purposes. l told them how this office was occupied by several Lords working hand in hand on a certain project. l went on to tell them how this imaginary office has lodges for the Lords and even their assistants to settle down after every hectic day. l desperately prayed no one asks what type of project the Lords were doing. l will definitely be out of words and suspicion will rise.
"Where does an office like that exist? l never heard of it" Bride asked thoughtfully
"Me too!" l added rather too quickly. "I have never heard of the office and lt is pity l was unable to make out the directions since l was taken in a carriage." lied through my teeth.
"You must have worked your poor butt off because it is so obvious you loosed weight" Gerl pointed out concerned
"True! You must eat a lot to recover Nessa' Danielle proffered.
"l definitely will. Thank you so much girls...l am extremely sorry for not informing you bout the trio. It was impromptu and everything happened so fast" l said.
Thankfully, my explanation was convincing enough for them and they all believed me. They welcomed me once again and told me l am allowed to take the day off. They literally relieved me of my duties and l can not be more grateful as l still feel very weak. Grace was missing from the mob.