The Vampire's Court

Chapter 48-The Journey Begins

The day before their departure for Paris had finally arrived, and the manor was alive with activity. Every corner buzzed with the sound of preparations—staff hurrying to and fro with luggage, final checks being made to ensure everything was in order, and the palpable excitement that seemed to infuse the very walls of the estate.

Seraphine, brimming with anticipation, had finished packing days ago. Now, she found herself on her favorite spot on the balcony, the soft breeze ruffling her hair as she focused on her embroidery. The book beside her was propped open to a picture of the Eiffel Tower, which she used as a reference for her delicate stitches. Singing to herself, she felt lighter than she had in weeks, the promise of Paris filling her with a joyful energy.

Meanwhile, down in the gardens, Dimitri walked with a purpose, flanked by a couple of guards and several mercenaries. Their conversation was serious, their expressions grim, as Dimitri laid out the plans for the manor's security during his absence.

"Remember, nothing gets in or out without my permission," Dimitri instructed, his voice firm and authoritative. "The slightest hint of trouble, and you know what to do."

The guards and mercenaries nodded, their faces set in determined lines. They were seasoned fighters, all too aware of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

One of the werewolves, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, spoke up. "And if we do catch something suspicious?"

Dimitri's gaze hardened, his voice dropping to a steely edge. "Kill it. No hesitation. I don't care what it is—if it doesn't belong here, it dies."

The men exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. They were all aware that the manor's safety was paramount, especially with Dimitri away. The werewolves, in particular, were on high alert, their heightened senses picking up even the faintest disturbances.

As they continued to discuss the protocols, Dimitri's sharp hearing caught something that made him pause—a soft, melodic sound drifting on the wind. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was unmistakable. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice—Seraphine's. She was singing.

His words trailed off mid-sentence, leaving the guards and mercenaries staring at him in confusion. But Dimitri barely noticed. All he could focus on was the sound, that beautiful voice that seemed to wrap around him and pull him away from everything else.

"Lavenders blue, dilly, dilly, Lavenders green
When you are king, dilly, dilly, I shall be queen"

The melody was gentle, soothing, and it carried on the breeze like a lullaby. Dimitri's heart swelled with a mixture of emotions that he couldn't quite name, and before he realized what he was doing, his feet were carrying him toward the source of the sound.

"Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so?
'Twas mine own heart, dilly dilly, that told me so."

"What is it about her?" he thought, his mind whirling as he moved through the garden, leaving the others behind. "Every time I think I've figured her out, she does something that completely floors me. That voice..."

Dimitri's steps quickened as he neared the balcony. The sight of her came into view—Seraphine, sitting in the sunlight, completely absorbed in her embroidery, her voice weaving through the warm afternoon air like a spell.

He stopped just out of sight, his breath catching in his throat. She looked so peaceful, so utterly content, and the sight of her in that moment was almost too much for him to bear. "She has no idea what she does to me," he mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "How she makes everything else seem so... insignificant."