The Count's Secret Maid (3)
On this moonlit night, the mansion was mired in chaos.
A piercing scream broke the silence reigning in the night. A sharp sound filled with pain and tears echoed throughout the area - from the annex to the servants in the remote mansion. It didn't take long before another maid came running and also started screaming, thereby forcing the other inhabitants of the estate to rush to the scene.
- Oh my God!
- Is this Christopher? Is this really him?
- Aah! Someone help!
Such screams, as well as hurried steps, filled this place. How dark this night was. The ground behind the outbuilding was filled with blood-red streaks, and blood stains spread across the wall. There was so much of it that this monstrous trail formed a continuous path going far beyond the corner of the building. The trail ended on the body of the family's youngest son, Christopher, who lay unconscious in a pool of blood. This whole picture suggested only one thought - he was attacked. The general awareness of this fact only increased tension and anxiety. Who could do such a thing?
The butler took control of the situation. Isabella ordered everyone to leave, leaving only a few servants to help. The crowd began to disperse, simultaneously looking back at the half-dead body. Now they could whisper to their heart's content about what had happened and who could have done it.
While the surroundings were increasingly immersed in bustle, I locked myself in my room.
I curled up and buried my tear-stained face in my knees. The anxiety did not leave me for a moment until I took my eyes off the tightly closed door. My imagination pictured how someone could burst through this door at any moment to attack, and despite the fact that the door was locked, fear ran through me.
I was terrified.
I spent the whole night alone, shaking all over, and eventually fell into a restless sleep.
In my dream I was floating in the air. The feeling of weightlessness was strangely calming. I didn't want to go back. If I had stayed like this, floating aimlessly with the flow, then maybe I could have gotten somewhere? It didn't matter if it was actually possible, I just wanted to disappear.
“Paula, everything is fine. I’m fine,” such a familiar face smiled tenderly at me. How I wanted to capture this image in my mind for a long time, but it irreversibly blurred and disappeared. All I could do was continue to watch as precious memories slipped through my hands.
“Don't interfere. That's all you need to do."
A sharp, mocking voice burst into my thoughts. I had nothing to answer, because deep down I agreed with this.
“Think about it. This is no place for hopeless dreams."
I know. I know this too well. Just stop it. Don't do this. Even if I hear these words, I still can’t do anything. Please leave me alone.
"I will never forget this moment."
Lucas' melodic voice sounded in my head. He eclipsed all my thoughts. The one who did not take his eyes off me in the dark, the one who confessed his feelings to me. Lucas always laughed and smiled so genuinely around me. Even at the moment of farewell, he smiled. No, then his face was clouded in darkness, and I couldn’t see anything. At the last moment, perhaps the very last moment for both of us, I turned away from him.
The darkness dissipated, and Lucas's face, distorted with pain, became visible. He struggled to keep his eyes open, focusing on me. A tear flowed from the corner of his eye. His dry lips twitched desperately.
“Go, run, run!”
Suddenly I woke up.
My gaze began to dart around the room. Silence. I strained my ears, but there was no sound. Everything is fine. I'm alone. There is no one nearby. I took a shaky breath and relaxed my shoulders.
Steps.
Then a knock on the door.
I shuddered. Wrapping my head tightly in a blanket, I curled up into a ball. I eyed the door warily.
When there was no answer, the door handle shook. Soon the one standing on the other side stopped, as he realized that the door was locked.
A few more minutes, and there was a quiet click - the door opened. Someone entered through the opening. Without making a sound, I watched the figure that appeared in fascination.
The door was lightly closed. It was Vincent, who was cautiously approaching me. He felt the surrounding space - apparently, he was looking for me.
As soon as I saw Vincent's face, I immediately jumped out from under the blanket and ran to him.
With a convulsive movement, I grabbed his hand, and with the other hand I turned him towards me. His surprised eyes widened and moved to my tear-stained face.
- Lu-Lucas, Lucas! – I stammered on every syllable, my legs felt weak. The surprise on Vincent's face gave way to understanding. I wanted so badly to ask what happened to Lucas, but I could only babble indistinctly and wait for a quick answer.
- He's alive.
As soon as Vincent said this, my legs gave way and I collapsed on the floor. Vincent immediately knelt down in front of me. He asked if everything was okay with me, but I was so absorbed in understanding just one phrase that I couldn’t even utter a word.
- He's alive. Alive Lucas is alive...” I almost started screaming and again couldn’t hold back the flow of tears. I frantically grabbed Vincent’s shirt and began to sob even more forcefully.
Vincent touched my face, and feeling the tears running down it, he pulled me towards him.
“Don’t cry,” Vincent patted me on the back, “Everything will be fine.”
“I thought... I thought he was going to die.” He was on the verge of death. His wound, the wound was so deep. He was bleeding...
The hand that was stroking my back immediately froze. Vincent instantly released me from his embrace and looked straight at me.
-What are you talking about? Don't tell me... what were you screaming then?
“Yes,” I nodded, wiping away tears. Memories of a recent incident surfaced in my head. I was so scared, I was completely overcome by fear. But most of all I was worried about Lucas. I screamed at the top of my lungs and hoped that someone would come to help.
Emerald eyes widened. For a moment his gaze became uncertain, then he grabbed my hand.
– Did you see anyone else? Who was it?
- No. I didn't see anyone. I ran away before I could see anyone.
-Did anyone notice you? – Vincent tightened his grip.
– I don’t know, I’m not sure. I could be seen under the moonlight...
Hearing my hesitant answer, Vincent became gloomier than a cloud. He grabbed me with a death grip, bowed his head, and began muttering something inaudibly to himself.
While I was trying to discern some meaning in these sounds, the door opened. I turned my surprised gaze to the side.
Ethan stood there. He looked around the whole room and fixed his gaze on us. He decisively moved closer, grabbed Vincent by the collar and in one sharp movement pulled him to his feet.
I jumped up from my seat and looked intensely at these two.
“Vincent, tell me like it is,” Ethan demanded.
-...
- Tell me the truth.
Ethan's face was distorted beyond recognition. There was no trace left of my usual mischievous and relaxed face. He was breathing raggedly, and his clothes were in such shabby condition, as if he had run here as fast as he could.
Ethan looked like the most broken man in the world: his face was pale, his eyes were red, and trembling ran through his whole body.
The situation was tense, but Vincent was not embarrassed for a second. He kept his cool even when he turned directly to Ethan.
“Did James make you like this?”
Vincent didn't answer right away.
-…Yes.
– From the very beginning, was you his target?
- No. He was originally after Lucas.
- Why?
– Lucas learned his secret. Something you shouldn't have known. James even threatened him, but that wasn't enough. You can't force someone to keep their mouth shut.
- So it was James who organized the assassination attempt on Lucas?
I looked in surprise at Ethan and Vincent. The latter spoke with such a mixture of various feelings on his face, as if he had long known that this moment would come, but avoided it until the last.
- Yes.
Ethan clenched his teeth. The hand that had been holding Vincent all this time began to shake more than ever. Finally, he loosened his grip and covered his face, full of confusion and sadness, with both hands.
–...Did he also have a hand in my father’s death?
And again a terrible question. This time the silence dragged on. Vincent closed his eyes and blurted out the answer that no one really wanted to hear.
- Yes. And Lucas witnessed this.
-...
“This is the secret that James tried to hide.”
Ethan learned everything he needed and turned abruptly to leave. Vincent, sensing this movement, reached out his hand and barely had time to catch it to stop it.
- Ethan! Please understand Lucas' feelings.
Ethan didn't turn around or react.
“Lucas couldn’t tell because he was worried about you.”
- Why?
- Because both you and James are his brothers.
– What about you?
“I didn’t want you to take revenge on your brother.”
-...
“Lucas and I were worried that this would happen.” After all, your father was very dear to you.
Ethan took a deep breath and shook off Vincent's hand. Without saying another word, he turned and ran out of the room. Vincent, instantly assessing the situation, wanted to follow him, but crashed into the table and fell. I ran up to him and asked if he was okay. He kept his eyes on the door, listening to the sounds of distant footsteps.
He then placed his hand on top of the back of my hand.
- Catch up with him. Stop it. And tell him not to do this.
- Ass?
- Let him not do anything. Nothing at all,” Vincent hurried me. I hastily flew out of the room and looked around. Ethan was already at the other end of the corridor.
I ran up to him and grabbed his hand, forcing him to stop. He looked back at me with confusion.
- Stop it.
-...
- Don't do this.
- What?
– Whatever you are planning to do there is not necessary.
- This is too much.
Ethan let out a bitter laugh, his lips curling into a dark smile. Его глаза блестели и были полны боли.
– Paula. I am not here to ask permission, but only to confirm my guesses. I closed my eyes to what was happening and let everything take its course. And here is the result.
“Even so, don’t do this,” I begged.
“He tried to kill Lucas.” My blood.
-...
– I could be the next one, and maybe Vincent too.
My hand fell helplessly down. The sadness on Ethan's face gave way to complete indifference, and this could not help but frighten him.
“Tell Vincent I'm sorry.”
-...
Ethan turned around and walked in the same direction. I made no more attempts to stop him, there was no point in that, because Ethan had already decided everything for himself.
An incredible sadness came over me as I watched his retreating back. My head dropped.
When I returned to the room, Vincent immediately sensed my presence and turned in my direction. I answered his silent question with a dejected smile.
- Sorry.
- Everything is fine. “You have nothing to apologize for,” Vincent shook his head wearily.
I moved closer to catch his hand circling in the air. When I touched him, he immediately grabbed and squeezed my hand.
- Pack your things immediately.
- What? – I opened my eyes wide.
- I'll send you away.
- Why, why? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I couldn't stop Ethan?
- No.
- Then why?..
“Because you’re in danger,” Vincent turned around, holding my hand. He continued, standing facing me.
“You were there when Lucas was attacked.” I don’t know how things are now, but sooner or later James will get to you. If he finds out everything, he won't let you go. You are the only witness.
-...
– There is a villa in Novella that belongs to my family. I'll send you there. Hide while there. When everything is settled and it is safe, I will bring you back.
- No.
- …
- No.
I shook my head, taking steps back. I tried to break free from his grip, but Vincent squeezed my hand more and more tightly. The distance between us increased, but our hands were still tightly clasped with a force that could hold me.
- Don't leave me.