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Eve's eyes moved back to meet Vincent's eyes, who stared back at her. He took his seat next to her in the carriage. She asked him,

"Where is the soiree being held?"

"In one of the councilman's mansions. Denny Marshall. Like many others, he has been trying to get a seat in the Inner Circle of the Council. The soiree is a weak attempt by him to show his generosity as one of the positions has been opened," Vincent crossed his legs and leaned his back against the carriage seat.

"Fowler," replied Eve, and Vincent nodded.

"Looks like you know quite a bit about the council now," Vincent joked with her.

Eve's hands were on her lap, and she closely held them, "Are you sure Mr. Hart will be attending the soiree tonight?"

"The man rarely misses any soiree. I am sure he will be there. Did you make sure to remember the points we went through earlier?" He questioned her.

Eve gave him a nod. Vincent had told her not to dress or appear like her mother, as they didn't want anyone else recognising her at the soiree, especially if her mother's murderer turned out to be present in the same soiree.

"Make sure to ask questions only when Hart is away from others and wouldn't have the opportunity to discuss it with anyone. Though I doubt he would mention his extra marital affair with anyone or you," remarked Vincent. His eyes moved to look at the mermaid, who squeezed her hands. "Nervous?"

"A little," replied Eve. Though she was wrapped in a coat, she felt cold. She didn't know if she would get the answers she was looking for.

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"What will you do if you find the man who murdered your mother?" Vincent questioned her.

"I will kill him..." whispered Eve, and if it was someone else in Vincent's place, they would have judged her conscience. She remembered her mother's screams in pain and tears while telling her to run.

"Personally I think we need you to have practice on how to kill someone before you kill the actual person. Unless you don't mind dying in the man's hand," Vincent's words were calm as if he wasn't ruffled with what she said. But it was mainly because he doubted Eve was capable of killing anyone at all.

Eve smiled in nervousness and said, "Actually, I don't know. I know it will go in different ways. But before he dies, I want to know where my mother lies. Where he might have buried her."

Vincent watched her from the corner of his eyes and then said, "Though you will be next to me most of the time, try to stay out of trouble tonight."

The carriage continued to ride through the dark forest, and the horses galloped, pulling the carriage towards the destination. On the way, Eve mentally tried to prepare herself for the possible consequences. Vincent didn't disturb her and looked outside the carriage window, with trees that passed in the shadow of darkness.

When the carriage moved closer to Denny Marshall's mansion, Eve looked from her side of the window and saw the mansion was located at the top of the hill. Soon she heard other carriages accompanying them from the front and back, which carried other guests like them.

Once the carriage stopped, Mr. Briggs jumped out of his seat and opened the carriage door for his master.

When Vincent stepped down from the carriage, the nearby guests, who had yet to walk towards the mansion's entrance, turned around to look at the pureblooded vampire. His very presence demanded attention, and a slow smirk appeared on his lips, knowing the effect he had on people. There was barely anyone who didn't know who Vincent Moriarty was, including people who didn't belong to the council.

Vincent turned to the carriage door, where Eve was still inside and was about to remove her coat. He said,

"The servants will remove your coat for you when we step inside."

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"I know," replied Eve. She then said, "The coat--"

"It's old. I know. Jump out of the carriage unless you want me to deduct your wage for making me wait," there was an evil glint mixed with mischief in Vincent's eyes, and it didn't go unnoticed by Eve.

Vincent raised his hand for Eve to take, and Eve stared at his hand. He asked her in a low voice, "Are you testing me, Eve?"

"I was just a little stunned because you don't seem to be a person who likes to offer your hand to anyone," Eve answered, with her body hunched as she was yet to step foot on the ground.

"Is your bottom as sour as your memory of falling down on the wet ground?" Vincent taunted Eve only to end up receiving a quiet glare from her. She placed her hand in his palm that clasped hers before she got down.

"Do you always have to behave this way, Master Vincent?" Eve asked him.

"How would you like me to behave?" Vincent stared at her while hovering in front of her. There was something in the way Vincent asked her that left her throat slightly dry.

Eve replied, "Like a gentleman should."

"I don't think people would be able to digest it if I were to behave gentlemanly. Do you want to try it?" One corner of his lips pulled up, and Eve knew he had cards up his sleeves. "Also, try calling me Vincent."

"What?"

"It would be bad for you to call me Master Vincent in front of all the people in there," Vincent pointed out the obvious, and Eve stared at him. So the man knew it was odd to call him that way, yet he did it anyway until now.

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"I think I would prefer calling you Mr. Moriarty," came the quick reply from Eve.

"Vincent," he deadpanned.

Eve noticed some of the guests who had got down from their carriage turn to look at them while they were the only ones who hadn't moved from their place. She finally said,

"Vincent."

A charming smile spread on the vampire's lips, and he said while letting go of her hand, "See, it wasn't hard." He turned to Briggs, who bowed and closed the carriage door, to take the carriage to be parked.

Vincent and Eve walked towards the entrance of the mansion. Some guests stared at Eve's dull and worn-out coat with disgust. They would have remarked about it if it weren't for the pureblooded vampire next to her.

One of the servants stepped in front of Eve and bowed, "Good evening and welcome to the Marshall's mansion. Shall I take your coat, milady?"

"Yes, please," Eve replied and undid the lace of her coat tied around her waist, while the servant removed her coat.

Silence fell in the hallways when the guests and the servant's eyes fell on Eve and her gown. Most of them had been deceived by Eve's earlier appearance, their mouths fell open and swallowed their previous demeaning thoughts.

When Vincent's sight fell on Eve, he didn't look as shocked as the others. But that didn't stop him from looking at the woman, who looked like she had stepped out of a painting. The woman didn't just do justice to the mermaid's beauty and charm but exceeded it. His tongue ran across one of his sharp fangs.

Eve held a natural innocence and kindness that one could see if they looked into her blue eyes, which many women only liked to imitate.

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While he drank her appearance, it left Eve very aware of the coppery-red eyes staring at her. She took two careful steps towards Vincent and saw a crooked smile on his lips. He whispered to her,

"Looks like you have indeed come to kill today."