In Aeternum (Actively Updating and Editing)

XV: Truth

There were whispers that the noblewoman from Amarithiyah was a daughter of the lost royal family. But no one dared to bring it up or even confront them - lest they wish for a very brutal end. This week was for the new King of The Night. Anything else would have to wait until a later date.

Hannah seemed oblivious to the stares and whispers she received when she was walking to breakfast with Elysia, both of them bundled up in their velvet dressing gowns.

-

Elysia recognized some of the nobility and their families that served under her father, and they seemed to recognise her too. One of the sons even tried to confront her at breakfast, but Orson stepped in tactically, turning the conversation in another direction.

Hannah couldn't help but admire the grace at which he did things; He was no longer the little kid she knew in her youth. But what bothered her the most was the way he responded to the way Elysia moved. If she even moved an inch, so did he, like he was waiting for something to happen to her so he could jump in the way. And Hannah was smart enough to know that there was more to this then either of them were letting on.

-

Orson had known Hannah for a long time, long enough to know that he was about to have a very difficult conversation with her when she approached him before afternoon tea. Elysia had been called away by Ruby just moments before and now Hannah was on his case.

"You wanna tell me what's going on?" she seethed under her breath.

The man didn't know how to answer, looking around frantically for someone to pull him away. But for the first time, he had no such luck.

"Orson!" she cried out, "You're my best friend, I deserve to know what the heck is going on!"

"With what?"

Perfect, smooth, good job buddy.

"Orson, if you don't tell me right now, then I'm going to go find Elsy in front of everyone and point out the bruise on her shoulder."

If he had any colour at all, it would have drained from his face.

He hid his head in his hands, "You saw that? Ugh.  I'm so embarrassed I could just live."

She knew she had him, "Unless it was some other man in this house. It's full of them and she is very pretty…"

He growled, no longer hiding his face, "Absolutely not!"

Hannah smirked.

Dammit.

"Fine, come on," he gave a dejected sigh, "Off to the Library…"

"Yay!" Hannah giggled and flounced after him.

-

He walked up to the portrait on the wall, Hannah close behind. It was partially covered, only showing young Orson in his finery standing behind a chair.

Hannah gazed at it before asking, "It's a lovely picture of you, but what does this have to do with Elysia?"

Reaching up, the vampire pulled the rest of the cover down, the second half of the picture now available for Hannah to see.

Elysia.

Hannah gasped.

"I thought she was dead for so long,"He continued, "Until that night in Scary's pumpkin patch when you said you met a girl named Elysia with white hair and purple eyes."

The brunette was stunned to silence beside him.

"I didn't want to believe it was her. I didn't want to believe that she didn't die, but had simply left me. It's why I picked her for the dance."