A Mightnight Dance

Truth Revealed

After talking with Vivian, I retired to my room. Seeing the scattered mess of familiarity didn't bring me much comfort. My body moved on its own. I gathered the loose fabric and folded them into piles according to size. The normality of the chore made me forget, if just for a while, about everything going on.

When I finished, my room looked tidier. If only to give myself something to do, I rearrange my drawers and my wardrobe. I was so engrossed in the task, I didn't hear Emily knock until she opened the door.

"Would you like your meal in your room?" she asked.

I stood from my spot on the ground. Gowns and blouses laid around me. I almost tripped on a pile of shoes on my way around the bed.

"No," I told her. "Prepare the carriage."

She hesitated. "Lord Stark took the carriage."

"Call for one."

"Right away."

While I didn't know how to keep my family from losing the house, I did know one thing: there was someone who had no family and was waiting for them to come home. I still had all my siblings and she did not. It was only fair that she'd have a family too.

As I waited for the carriage, I ate with the twins and Vivian in the dining room. They had just awakened from their nap and barely kept their eyes opened as they ate their soup.

Vivian stayed quiet throughout as well.

"Are you going to see Delilah?" Annie asked.

"Why can't we see her anymore?" Brian added.

"Her brother is missing," I told them.

Annie put her spoon down. "Isn't it better to be with her then?"

"That's why I'm going."

"Why can't we?" Brian continued. "We're her friends."

I glanced at Vivian but she didn't even look up from her meal.

"Tell you what," I said, thinking quickly. "Why don't you draw her a picture and I'll give it to her. You must finish your food first."

"Okay," Anna said with a sigh.

Guilt made my chest feel heavy. Delilah might be more informed about the expedition than the twins. I didn't want her to know her brother was missing from anyone else but me. I owed her that much.

When the carriage arrived, I was sitting in the drawing room watching Brian and Anna finish their drawings. Emily announced the carriage's arrival.

"You have to give it to her," Anna insisted following me to the door. She rolled up the paper and handed it to me.

"I will."

"Don't forget." Brian folded his and slipped it into my pocket.

"I won't."

The children watched me from the door as I rode away. As the carriage shook down the road, I thought of how to tell Delilah the truth. I knew it was time to stop lying to her and pretending everything was okay. Besides, now that her brother was gone she was technically acting head. However, vampire societal rules were different than ours. She might have the title but no authority.

AS we stopped at Nightingale Manor, my stomach churned. Thanking the carriage driver, I stepped out and walked up to the house. I didn't have to knock. Mr. Timmons greeted me at the door.

"Lady Stark," he said. "What pleasant timing. Miss Delilah was asking for you."

I forced a smile. "Perfect. Where is she?"