Vampire Residence

XXXVIII

"Well. That was- that was all rather unnecessary."

The blonde-haired woman, who was still completely unrecognizable to most, was casually leaning against the doorway, looking almost bored at the scene in front of her. The left half of her face was obscured by a large scar and what appeared to be half-healed burn marks from the time of her death that would linger on her immortal skin forever. The markings continued down her neck and shoulder, only vanishing under the cover of her clothing.

Her left eye was affected as well, the entirety of it completely white but, by some miracle, not unseeing.

Everyone in the room looked at her in horror and astonishment, taking a moment to absorb the words and the tone of voice that she had spoken in, as though she had not just been the reason for another living being turned to ash.

The woman, who had been looking at the shocked people in the room in front of her, now looked down at Eleanor, who was lying on the floor, crying in pain.

"She will return."

She spoke in a flat, dead tone, almost like she was reading out a script.

No one in the room was able to recover from the shock of her words enough to respond.

It was Dorothea, who was shaking with anger behind Garret, who was the first to speak in a tone full of venom and hatred.

"What did you say?"

The woman directed her gaze towards Dorothea and spoke in a bland tone.

"I said 'she will return'."

Dorothea, now positively seething, attempted to take a step towards the unknown blonde, but Garret, who was still standing in front of her, grabbed her and stopped her from fully leaving his side.

Dorothea now attempted to push him away so she could go towards the blonde-haired woman, but he held her, speaking in an urgent whisper.

"Do not step towards her. Do you understand?"

Dorothea, now still shaking with rage and disgust, nodded, now looking like she was restraining herself from lunging forward at the woman in the doorway.

The unknown woman gave a nod of satisfaction and spoke in a dull tone.

"Excellent."

The silence in the room was suddenly pierced by the weak, shaky voice of Eleanor.

She was still lying on the floor, a look of utter heartbreak etched across her face as she spoke.

"Mioara..."

The woman looked back to Eleanor, her tone almost apathetic.

"I see you remember me."

Eleanor, who was still lying on the floor and was sobbing in grief and despair, spoke in a broken and shaken tone. "How could I ever forget-?"

"Come, now. You look quite pathetic on the ground. Get up."

Eleanor, not even considering for a moment denying Mioara's request, attempted to rise to her feet, and managed to shakily stand, albeit with difficulty.

Mioara, who was still standing in the doorway, now turned her gaze to Avery, who was still pressed against the wall, looking quite scared and bewildered.

"You-"

She pointed at him, still speaking in a cold tone.

"Get over here. Now."

Just before he reached Mioara, who was leaning against the doorframe, he paused and glanced over his shoulder at Dorothea, who was standing with Garret, and gave a look that was a mixture of pleading and uncertainty.