The Eyes Of 'Rah

A New Friend

Another vampire that has nothing to pawn...interesting! Seraphine thought as she observed the pretty vampire.

Diane turned to Mr. Pawn with an outstretched hand, "I'm Diane Manchester, you're the owner of this shop, I assume"

"I'm Peter Pawn" the old man nodded, still not sure of her intention, he watched her discretely.

"And you are Miss Seraphine Patrick" flashing her white teeth.

Seraphine nodded and sighed as she stared at the beaming lady, "what do you mean survive Xavier's wrath?" Curious to know why she used the the word survive.

Diane used that as her cue to feel at home, she sat on one of the chairs and patted the one beside her, "I'll tell you more if you come seat" she smiled.

Seraphine was skeptical about Diane's attitude, given the bad behaviour of her fellow vampires she had encountered, she wasn't sure if there was more to her visit or it was purely based on her curiousity.

"I'm sorry Miss Manchester, I wish I had enough time to sit and chat with you but I have a prior engagement" being as polite as she could.

"Oh, I understand since I came unannounced" with an apologetic look, she continued, "and please, call me Diane"

Seraphine didn't think it was appropriate to call such an elite woman by her first name, especially since she's just meeting her the first time.

The conflicted look on her face was not unnoticed by Diane, "I insist and I would loved if you allow me call you by your name as well." Excited as Seraphine nodded.

"Would you mind if I invite myself tomorrow?" Diane hardly makes friend, perhaps because many of her peers couldn't tolerate her blunt comments or because of her tomboy attitude which they find unrefined, she didn't care about any of that.

Diane just knew she would loved to be friends with the lady who manned the pawnshop. She had already gleaned the type of person she was just by standing up to Xavier Orsini, something that rarely happens.

Seraphine didn't know what to make of Diane's self-invitation but since she didn't seem to mean any harm, she agreed.

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then"

The old man, Seraphine and Diane stepped out of the shop at the same time, as Diane parted ways with them, Seraphine brought up the matter.

"What can you make of what happened back in there?"

"It's just as she said, she wanted to see how you escape the wrath of Xavier Orsini without a scratch"

"But I didn't do anything to incur his wrath in the beginning"

"I hear there had been series of cases where some ladies thought they could gain his attention by lying about something similar to what you said"

Understanding a little why Diane could be curious about why she 'escaped' Xavier's clutches, she heard the old man's complaint, "I don't know why you prefer taking this route when there's a shorter one by the town square"

She stopped as they get to the last path which would lead to her father's grave, "since when does your evening stroll requires you pass this place?"

"I can pass anywhere I like"

"And that is also the same response for your complaint" she spoke while the old man huffed.

Seraphine would rather walk two extra miles to get to her father's grave than to take a shorter way which meant she had to pass by the town square and factory. Whenever she passes the place, her chest usually constricts, recollecting the scene which took place in the two locations long ago discourages her from going anywhere near there.

"Didn't you say you wanted to see someone" with a raised eyebrows, she asked "or you deliberately accompany me to protect me from any possible vampire attack?"

"Now you've ruined my stroll" the old man huffed in annoyance as he turned round to the opposite direction. Realising she had gotten to her destination, she smiled in contentment that the old man cared for her in his own subtle way. She took to her favorite position, breathing in the sweet mint fragrance of the orange tree.

********

"How was the tour round the town with your dear companion?" Daniel teased his twin.

"Like I care" settling down on the space beside Francis instead of the empty chair across her brother, "I only shared a carriage with him to see Miss Patrick"

"Who's that?" Francis faced her.

"The lady at the pawnshop"

Xavier had sighted them on his way to the factory when three of them parted ways, he went about his business as the others continue their chat.

"Why?"

"Nothing, I just thought I could use a friend, that's all" Diane shrugged. She knew Xavier would never bother or get curious about it even though he was listening to their conversation.

Daniel scoffed, "you seem to forget that your nasty character won't allow you to keep a friend for that long." He quickly moved out of her reach before she could land him a blow.

"She's different, I'm sure. I could practically see myself being friends with her for a long time. I don't know what it is but I have a feeling she is one special human"

Studying Xavier as he busied himself with whatever content of the paper that had gained his attention, she continued, "to hasten our friendship, I would try to persuade her to accompany me to that haughty Lady Knox birthday party" smiling with satisfaction.

She can't wait to see the look on Priscilla's face, the haughty vampire would be displeased.

"How did you know you were invited?"

"How else would she persuade Xavier to come if she didn't invite his friends? I know she would rather not invite me if she had the chance, but she just don't have a choice."

"Would Miss Patrick accept to accompany you after her previous experience with vampires"

"Then I need to do everything I can to convince her" the wheel of ideas had started rolling in her brain, looking for a way she would persuade her to join her. If her judgement about Seraphine was right because she appeared like someone who would never back down from a challenge, perhaps, she could find a way to make it seem like a challenge.

Xavier continued to read the disturbing report of one his factory managers who complained about the absence of some employees. The strange thing being how those employees were werewolves and period before that, he had noticed their inability to do their job efficiently, largely on the part of forgetfulness. The manager had raised his suspicion on a possible memory loss which was peculiar to a specific component, like a portion of their memory was missing.

With the intention to look more into it, Xavier studied his werewolf friend, could that be what was troubling his friend the other day?

"Xavier, what do you think about Diane inviting your enemy to a party of one of your admirers?" Daniel asked.

"Miss Patrick is not my enemy, not that she has what it takes to be one" looking at his friends, "and I don't care about both women enough to be bothered about their presence" he answered with a tone of finality.

Diane on the other hand was busy thinking about how to persuade her new friend .