Music Recommendation: Gehenna- Thomas Newman

Lady Annalise stepped out of the piano room, passing through the corridors in the Moriarty mansion until she came to the side of the mansion, which was quiet with no disturbances. It was a corridor that the servants didn't enter unless they had instructions to clean before they stepped in there. The guests didn't dawdle near it, as it was away from the main entrance.

Annalise stared ahead of her with her chin slightly pointing up as she came from a pureblooded family and was the wife to the Viscount of Skellington.

"The elder ones are as reckless as ever, and now even the younger one is following in their footsteps," the woman complained, while she stood in front of the Viscount's deceased first wife, Lady Katherina Moriarty.

She stared at the first Moriarty wife's portrait, who still looked alive as the painter had captured Katherina's expression and beauty in a frame, trapped timelessly even though the silver-haired woman was no more.

Even before Lady Annalise was married to the Viscount, she was familiar with Lady Katherina. A feeling of bitterness came to touch her tongue before it slid down her throat. It was the memories she had buried, memories of their young age before things turned sour and they stopped talking to each other again.

Her memories started to drift back to the past that she occasionally remembered. The memory belonged to many years ago when Annalise and Katherina were young women, almost ready to cross their teenage years.

At that time, even though Annalise's family was as proud as any other vampires in the higher society, she had made an acquaintance in her sewing class at Madame Tara's mansion. It was with a human girl who had unusual silver hair. Usually, it was the vampires or werewolves who possessed such unique hair colour; like many others, it had caught the vampiress's eyes.

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On one of the days during their sewing class, Annalise had trouble in the new stitch they had been taught and kept fiddling around until she heard Katherina say,

"You need to move the thread like a snake before you dive it in the cloth. It is between the threads and the cloth."

Annalise turned and said, "I know. I was just checking what would happen if I did it the other way." She then noticed Katherina had already finished her part of sewing and she said, "For a human, you have quick fingers."

Katherina smiled, her eyes shining with gentleness and she said, "I am glad to hear that you feel that way. I have been working on it for my parents this year."

"How wonderful," came the dull response from Annalise. "Don't you have servants to do that or buy it in the shop?"

"I do, but I think if I do it myself, it will have more value. You should try it," Katherina looked at Annalise, who shook her head.

"I am good. I have other things to spend my time on," Annalise responded and she then asked, "Will you be attending the courtin season that is being held? I will be meeting the man I have been looking forward to speaking with. You should find one for yourself too."

Katherina had noted that Annalise was fond of someone, but the vampiress had never revealed who the man was.

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"The one that Mr. and Mrs. Sey are holding?" The silver-haired girl started to pack her things like the other girl and said, "Yes, I have heard about it from my mother. I am not sure if I will be attending it."

"I believe you are looking for a human? And considering how the Sey's are vampires, they will have our kind invited than humans. If you want my advice, don't sit too long and wait because you would have no good man left for you to choose from. If I am not wrong, I don't think I have seen you at most of the soirees when it is the courting season," Annalise softly harrumphed and stood up from her seat.

As they walked out of the room and into the corridor, Katherina responded, "He must be a man of great honour and status if you have already eyed him," and she smiled.

"He is," Annalise answered with her nose almost pointing at the roof. "My parents have already spoken to his family, and I just need to talk to him about it. As we are both pureblooded vampires, it will be the perfect match."

"I am happy to hear about it. I hope it is everything that you want," Katherina smiled at Annalise. The vampiress stared at the human, not knowing how one could be polite at all times, and she could tell that the human wasn't faking it.

Annalise said, "I will go first and see you next week." She didn't want her coachman to see her talking with the human, as it would reduce her family reputation and her family wouldn't be pleased about it, as her parents despised humans for being in the same status as the vampires.

Katherina offered a polite bow and walked in the other direction. Even though Annalise didn't say it openly, the silver-haired girl knew that the vampiress didn't like to be seen with her outside this place.

Finally, the day of the season's matchmaking soiree arrived, and Annalise entered Sey's mansion with her family. She wore the best dress out of the lot and her hair was done to perfection, which many young women couldn't help but envy her.

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And though Annalise appeared proud, she was internally nervous about meeting Viscount Eduard Moriarty. She had seen him on several occasions and spared a few formal greetings, enough to captivate her.

Her brother Charles, who was younger than her, stated, "It looks like the Moriartys aren't here yet. This will give you time to settle in. Are you nervous?"

Annalise's father turned to his daughter and said, "You have a good eye and made a perfect decision to make alliance with the Viscount. We just need to hear the young man's approval on the matter. Why don't you go with your mother and greet the others who are here. The vampire families of course."

Annalise bowed and took her excuse from there. As minutes passed, she decided to walk towards the powder room to touch up on her face and hair so that she could be presentable when she met the Viscount.

On her way, her eyes spotted the silver-haired young woman stepping from the powder room. When both their eyes met, Katerina smiled, while Annalise only offered a slight nod to her.

"It is good to see you here. Have you found anyone you would like or have been courted by?" Annalise asked Katherina, casually turning her head to confirm there was no one to spot her talking with the human.

"Not yet, but my mother hopes I do. How about you? Did you speak to the person?" Katherina inquired.

"Soon. Before I leave this place, you would see me with him," Annalise breathed and said, "I wish you a good courting time."

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Katherina bowed, "You too," and watched the vampiress walk past her without sharing another word with her, and they walked in the opposite directions.