Scarlet Rose

Chapter 8 - Building a Wall

Katherine read until 9 o'clock, and as on a daily basis, at exactly this time Margareth looked into her room. Seeing that Kath is awake, dr Stone sent for Marie, who helped her get dressed and ready for breakfast. When Katherine and Margareth came downstairs and then into the dining room, Shiro and Wayne were already seated at their end of the table.

Margareth bowed to both and this time also Katherine curtsied elegantly, just like a lady should, then took her place at the table. Seeing this unusual behavior, dr Stone gave her a surprised look, and she only smiled slightly while sitting down at the table. Then everyone took a longer time to eat in silence.

- Count Akira, count Williams...- Margareth spoke to them both at the end of breakfast.- What are your plans for today?- she asked.

- When are you going to start calling us by name, Maggie?- Wayne asked with a little impatience, but also a mischievous smile on his face.

- Wayne...- Shiro rolled his eyes, sighing a little, then turned his gaze to Margareth.- Unfortunately, today, right after breakfast, we are also going out into the field. There are two nests of turned vampires nearby, so we want to eliminate at least one of them.- he answered her question.

- But I just said you should rest more first...- Margareth gave him a scolding look, but also her eyes were full of concern.

- I know, and forgive me, Margareth.- Shiro replied apologetically.- But we want to take the opportunity, while these nests are so close, before they move again.- he explained in more detail.

- Besides, if they are so close, they can sense pure blood vampires and may want to attack us, so it would be better if we attack first and get rid of them.- joined Wayne, giving Margareth his charming smile.

But she didn't seem convinced by their arguments. Margareth folded arms over the chest as her eyes were wandering from Shiro to Wayne.

- Listen to me, Margareth.- Shiro spoke up again.- I promise when we get rid of these nests, we'll take a few days off, would that be okay?- he looked at her almost pleadingly.

Katherine watched their conversation, and when she saw Shiro's pleading gaze, then looked at Margareth's reaction, she wondered how this woman could resist this charm and ponder about the answer so long. Katherine thought that if any of the counts looked at her the way Shiro had looked at Margareth now, she would have relented at once.

- All right, so be it.- Margareth finally surrendered, taking a deep breath.- But if you will make excuses again later, I'll be very angry.- she added warningly, underlining the word 'very'.- I know perfectly well that you are vampires, pure blooded at that, but it doesn't mean you don't need a rest. If you want to effectively eliminate nests later, you need to rest from time to time. After all, fighting whole herds of wild turned vampires is not that simple, am I right?- asked Margareth, looking at both counts significantly.

- Yes of course. You're absolutely right, Maggie.- Wayne agreed immediately, still smiling charmingly.

- Count Williams, please don't charm me with that smile. I'm serious.- Margareth scolded him.

- Yes I know. I'm really sorry.- replied Wayne, looking much more serious.

- Don't worry, Margareth. We will definitely rest.- Shiro assured her, his expression showing that he knew exactly that next time they would not have a chance for making excuses, so after coming back they should really rest for a few days.

- I take your word for it, count Akira.- replied Margareth.

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After breakfast, Wayne and Shiro began to prepare for their journey, first going on a little hunt in a nearby forest to strengthen themselves even more. Margareth, as Shiro had suggested earlier, had gone with young lady O'Sullivan to the garden at the back of the mansion. Katherine fell in love with this place right away, so she took one of the books, as this place was perfect for reading. Margareth sat down with Kath in the gazebo, needlework in her hands. Her beautiful embroidered napkin was almost ready and made a great impression on Katherine, because she did not expect such skills from a girl born in the countryside.

- Did you do it all by yourself?- she asked, glancing from Margareth to the napkin.

- Of course I did.- dr Stone replied, slightly amused by her reaction.- But I understand your reaction, my lady. I hadn't been taught things like crocheting or other high-class ladies' activities. As I said, I learned from my father how to work as a doctor from my childhood.- she continued, looking somewhere in front of her.- But being stuck here, I had to find myself some other activity besides reading books. One of the female vampire servants came from the aristocracy and knows how to sew, crochet and even knit beautifully. She taught me, and it turned out I have a talent for it.- Margareth added with a smile, looking at her.- Unfortunately, that maid died a year ago when the turned vampires attacked our mansion.- she quickly became sad mentioning the event.

- Ah, that's terrible, I'm so sorry.- Katherine spoke up.- And that's a shame... Maybe she would teach me, too.- she sighed, and seeing Margareth questioning gaze, continued.- I can sew and crochet, but not very well. I never liked to do it, I was impatient and discouraged every governess with my behavior, so I never learned it properly.- she admitted with a little embarrassment.

- Well... Maybe I'll teach you then, my lady? I'm probably not as good at it as that maid, but I've learned a lot from her before she died.- Margareth suggested.

- Really? It would be lovely.- Katherine replied, clearly pleased with the idea.

- Just tell me when and we'll sit together in the living room and start learning, my lady.- replied Margareth with a smile.

- All right, I certainly will.- Katherine agreed.

Before each of them focused on their activities, Shiro and Wayne returned from the woods and they went closer to the gazebo where both ladies were sitting.

- Count Akira, count Williams.- Margareth rose from the bench, laying her needlework on it, and she bowed elegantly, Katherine did the same thing right after her, setting her book aside for a moment.

- Margareth, lady O'Sullivan.- Shiro spoke up, his eyes wandering from one to the other.- It's time for me and Wayne to go. We'll try to come back for dinner, but if we fail, we'll be for the supper.- he informed, focusing his gaze on Margareth.

- Remember your promise. After this escapade a few days of rest, all right?- Margareth reminded them.

- Of course, Maggie.- Wayne confirmed enthusiastically, even giving her a little salute, which made Margareth laugh.

Katherine, seeing this, was able to suppress a laugh somehow, but a rather wide smile appeared on her face. Suddenly, however, she felt someone's eyes on her, then Katherine's and Shiro's eyes met for only a few seconds, but she felt a pleasant shiver on her spine. However, Katherine immediately looked down, noticing that count Akira was also turning head towards his cousin.

- We'll be back as soon as possible.- Shiro assured, turning his gaze to Margareth again.

- In that case, as always, good luck to you both, count Akira and count Williams. May you be able to get rid of as many of these savages as possible, preferably all two nests today.- replied Margareth, smiling slightly.

Hearing about this, Katherine realized how difficult task faced Shiro and Wayne. Two nests full of wild turned vampires, like the ones that attacked her in the woods? That group seemed large enough to Katherine, and there were likely many more in the nest, especially in two. Shiro and Wayne may have been pure blood vampires, but if their victory over the turned had been so certain, such thing as the Great s*******r would not have happened in the past. So Katherine felt a strange fear at the thought that one of them, or worse, both, she might see for the last time today.

- Please take care of yourself.- Katherine finally spoke up, quite softly and quiet, but it was obvious that the others had rather heard her words because everyone's eyes were focused on her.- Be careful, count Akira and count Williams, and come back to us safely.- she added a little louder.

- What a lovely surprise this is, lady Katherine.- said Wayne, literally beaming with joy.- It certainly gave us the motivation to take care of ourselves and do whatever we can to get back. Right, Shiro?- he turned to his cousin with a big smile.

- Indeed.- Shiro confirmed shortly.- Don't be afraid or worried, lady O'Sullivan. I promise we'll be back safe and sound, as soon as possible.- he assured, finally looking at Katherine.

In his eyes you could see a slight surprise mixed with something like... Longing? Affection? Regardless, Katherine didn't understand why he was looking at her that way, and count Akira was looking at her that way for the first time. She also felt her heart begin to beat faster again. No, Katherine had to shake it off. She had to remember that Shiro Akira was a vampire, and a pure blooded one. Kath read the book of vampires and knew their history well enough to realize that infatuation with a pure blooded vampire did not do any good to a human. She was sure count Akira knew it as well, but he still looked at her that way... But Shiro probably didn't even realize it, after all, such things happen involuntarily. But that's why Katherine had to build something like a wall around her heart to keep from pushing it all further. She hoped that count Akira would do the same, for there was still a chance to avoid making the biggest mistake they could have made - falling in love with each other.

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After Shiro and Wayne left the mansion to find and get rid of the nearby turned vampire nests, Katherine and Margareth spent most of their pre-dinner time in the garden. First they sat in the gazebo, Kath with a book, and dr Stone was finishing her knitting. An interesting book effectively distracted Katherine from Shiro, for she thought of him only when it was dinnertime, and count Akira and count Williams still hadn't returned.

- Dr Stone, will they come back?- she asked her with a worried face, as they both sat in the dining room.

- I think they will be back safe and sound. After all, this is not the first such trip for them, they hunt turned vampires for a long time- Margareth answered confidently.- And call me Margareth, dr Stone sounds too formal. And as you already heard, Wayne even calls me Maggie and I like it.- she admitted with a smile, but then suddenly grew serious.- But there is something that has been bothering me lately, my lady .- she pointed out.

- What is it, Margareth?- Katherine asked, looking at her with a slightly confused expression, for she didn't know why dr Stone was looking at her like that.

- Forgive me for my inquisitiveness, my lady…- Margareth paused, taking a deep breath.- I am always watching everything closely and something has disturbed me. Lady Katherine, aren't you interested in count Akira more than you should?- she finally asked.

Katherine almost dropped the fork she was holding in her hand, hearing the question. She had no idea Margareth was watching her so closely.

- Of course not.- Katherine denied right away.- I'm engaged, I couldn't look at another man...- she continued, clearly flustered.

- I hope so, lady Katherine.- Margareth interrupted her.- You've read the history of vampires, and you must know how dangerous are the human relationships with pure blood vampires. It's not just about whether you're already engaged or not... But for your safety, my lady, it would be best to suppress any deeper feelings.- she added with a clear concern painted on her face.

- I know it perfectly well, Margareth.- Katherine replied much calmer.- I understand your concern, but can also assure you that I feel nothing more than a great gratitude towards both of the counts for saving my life and hosting me in their mansion.- she assured her.

- It's good to hear that, my lady.- Margareth admitted with obvious relief on her face, and they both focused on their meal.