The Blood Contract
Chapter 58: For now

Chapter 58: For now

Marlowe headed to the dining room the next morning, a grave expression on her face and a few pieces of paper in her hands.

"Good morning, Mr. Draven, Adrian," she greeted when she saw them seated at their usual spots, plopping herself down on her seat.

"Morning, Marlowe."

"Morning, Doctor."

Lucian and Adrian responded almost at the same time.

"How do you feel this morning?" She directed her attention to Lucian, who was also observing her and trying to interpret the look on her face.

"I really do not know how I feel. But I think I’m a little better than yesterday," he responded truthfully, collecting a phone from Adrian, on which he was supposed to read something.

"Serena is not out yet?" Marlowe asked, and Lucian paused his reading, one corner of his lips lifting ever so slightly—it went unnoticed. He had been wondering about that look on her face when she had first asked him how he was feeling. Now he knew why.

"Why are you asking me about her? What changed today?" Lucian returned his expression to that of his usual cold mask.

"I only asked, Mr. Draven, as I thought I would see her here already. Don’t think too much into it," Marlowe dismissed, but Lucian knew better.

"With that look on your face?" He finally let out a chuckle. "Relax, Marlowe, I didn’t touch her like you said. She’s still free of my touch. For now." He put her mind at ease.

Although relief washed over the woman, she still put on a frown. If he didn’t touch her, why then did he tie her to the bed and keep her there for hours?

Knowing she wouldn’t want to get the answer from him, she dropped the thought and shifted her focus to the business of the day.

"About the glove of Arashat," she began, switching to a topic she could discuss without the presence of the other people. "Serena told me you know the buyer."

"Bonnie is the buyer, according to her," Lucian responded, recalling the night of the gala when the auction ended and she whispered the identity of the buyer into his ear. "I’m still wondering how she got to know that. Is there more to that we don’t know yet?"

"It’s her hearing ability, nothing more. I think I mistakenly triggered it while locking up the healing ability," Marlowe confessed. "Back to the glove, I think we found something to use against the Council of Vitae."

"How do you mean?" Lucian asked, his interest piqued.

"The council lied about the glove," Marlowe revealed, and a frown found its way to Lucian’s face. "I was fortunate to see the original blueprint of the glove and the final reports before they were destroyed. The glove they sold can only grant five desires. And if they have used up one of the desires for the demonstration, it means there are only four desires left. If Bonnie tries to use it the fifth time, he would go insane. I think this is the time to gain his trust—he has what it takes to sanction the Council of Vitae." Marlowe explained, and Lucian’s eyes narrowed until they were mere slits.

---

Meanwhile...

"Hey, Darrell!" Serena called out the name as soon as he arrived in the living room. He was once again working on something on the laptop balanced comfortably on his thighs, giving it his full concentration.

"Good morning, ma’am." Darrell paused what he was doing and lifted his eyes to look at her. A small smile warmed his features when he saw she was looking brighter than he thought she would.

"What are you doing?" Serena asked, plopping herself down beside him to take a look at his work even before he could respond to her question.

"Compiling business reports for all of our activities last week," Darrell responded, shifting his attention back to the laptop. The next second, he was back to looking at her. "Did you sleep well, ma’am?" he asked, concern etching on his features.

"I did," Serena nodded. "Why did you ask like that and with that look?"

"Nothing much." Darrell forced a small smile before looking away from her.

"Did you get what I asked you to get last night?" Serena inquired.

"No, ma’am. I couldn’t get it again because of how things turned out."

"It’s fine. Can you get it this morning?" Serena threw another question.

"Of course," Darrell answered, wondering what put her in a good mood that morning. She wasn’t at all sounding like the angry woman he saw last night, wielding a knife as if she was ready to butcher a wild animal.

"Great! Go get it for me after breakfast and let me know when you do, all right?"

"Yes, ma’am."

As soon as he answered, she pushed herself up to her feet and walked to the dining room, all bubbly.

"Good morning, everyone!" Serena greeted in a loud, airy, and sing-song voice.

Lucian instantly noticed something was off with her, and it brought a small frown to his face. He expected her to be all moody this morning and shooting him glares, but she disappointed him greatly.

"Good morning, madam," Adrian responded to her greeting, a small frown also plastered on his face.

"Morning, Serena," Marlowe responded as well, turning her attention to the girl. "How did you sleep?"

"Very well," Serena answered, moving to plop her butt on the seat she had always avoided since she arrived at the house—the one immediately after Lucian’s and before Marlowe’s. "I thought breakfast would have been served already. I’m starving," she uttered, fixing her slightly annoyed gaze on Marlowe.

Marlowe instantly noticed it too. Something was up with the girl, but she decided to keep her observation to herself for the time being.

"The food will be here in a few minutes. We just have to wait a little," Marlowe spoke in a bid to pacify her. "Also, I have something very important to discuss, but it will have to wait until after breakfast."