Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The clock ticked, each second a tiny hammer blow against Eloise's mounting impatience. Dinner was to be a spectacle, a grand affair with the Grimes family, a family shrouded in secrecy and whispers. Eloise, ever the curious soul, had been anticipating this evening with a mix of excitement and dread.
Suddenly, a sharp rap echoed through the hall, and before the footmen could even stir, Eloise was at the door, flinging it open with a burst of energy.
Standing on the step, bathed in the fading twilight, was Lilith Grimes.
"Good evening, Miss Lilith" Eloise breathed, her gaze lingering on the girl before her.
"Good evening, Miss Bridgerton" Lilith replied, her voice a soft, melodious whisper. "My family... they do not leave the estate often. You see, we are..." She paused, a flicker of something, perhaps amusement, crossing her lips, "... rather particular about our company"
Without waiting for a response, Eloise took Lilith's hand, her touch surprisingly warm against the cool, almost waxy skin. "Please do come in" Eloise urged, pulling Lilith into the warm embrace of the Bridgerton home. Lilith's smile, captivating and slightly unsettling, stretched across her face as she was pulled along the hallway, its warmth fading as Eloise turned to look directly at her. The smile vanished, leaving behind a chilling, almost haunting stillness.
The other Bridgertons, sensing the peculiar atmosphere, were visibly put off by the girl. Anthony, ever the protective brother, scowled, while the others stared with wide eyes. Even Lady Violet couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease.
"Miss Grimes" Lady Violet greeted, her voice surprisingly steady, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Please, do join us. We were just about to sit down for dinner"
Lilith bowed, her dark emerald dress a stark contrast to the vibrant colours of the Bridgerton family. As she took her place at the table, the air seemed to thin, the chatter of the family hushed to a low murmur. The candlelight danced in her eyes as she gazed at Eloise, her smile a silent promise.
Ten minutes into dinner, some began to notice others were not enjoying their meal.
"Miss Grimes" Lady Bridgerton's voice, laced with concern, broke through the murmur of conversation. "You haven't touched your dinner"
Lilith, her pale face even more lifeless than usual, lifted a gaunt hand to her lips. "I... I don't eat much, Lady Bridgerton. Not tonight, anyway" she murmured, her voice as thin as a wisp of smoke.
Eloise, seated across from her, had watched the exchange with sharp eyes. The energy at the table, normally buzzing with lively chatter and the clinking of silverware, seemed to have thinned, almost draining away. Lilith, with her pallid complexion, dark circles under her eyes, and the way she constantly seemed to be receding into the shadows, was unsettling in a way Eloise couldn't quite grasp.
"Perhaps" Eloise said, leaning forward, her tone polite but with an undercurrent of urgency, "You would like to see the new novels i have received this morning"
Lilith's gaze darted toward Eloise, a flicker of something ~ fear? distrust? ~ crossing her face. "Perhaps" she said, her voice barely audible.
With a curt nod, Eloise rose, Lilith following close behind. The air felt thick, charged with an unspoken tension, as they ascended the grand staircase.
Eloise flung open the door to her bedroom, and with a sense of urgency, began pulling out books, scattering them on the floor. She wasn't aware of where Lilith stood, her eyes glued to the books, her pale hand hovering just above the covers.
"Vampires" Lilith read aloud, her voice a raspy breath. Her eyes, bluer than the morning sky , shot up to meet Eloise's. "Are you... studying these creatures?"
A shiver ran down Eloise's spine. This woman, with her unnerving stillness and those eyes, was more than just a bit peculiar. "I... find them quite intriguing" Eloise stammered, her voice catching in her throat. She backed away, her back pressing against the bookshelf.
"Do you think I'm one of them?" Lilith's voice was a low growl, a whispered threat. She moved closer, her breath hot against Eloise's ear. "Is that why you are suddenly interested in my company?"
Eloise felt a cold dread creep up her spine. She couldn't speak, couldn't breathe.
"I should drink your blood" Lilith growled. Her touch, cold and sharp, found its way to Eloise's ear, her teeth grazing the soft skin. A whimper escaped Eloise's lips, a sound barely audible over the raging fire in her heart.
Lilith drew back, her face a mask of fury. "Stay away from me" she whispered, her voice sharp as a shard of glass. "Never, ever come close to me again"
Then, with a swish of her black gown, she vanished from Eloise's sight, leaving the room filled with an unsettling silence that hung heavy in the air like the scent of the blood that was almost, but not quite, spilled. Eloise stood there, frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs, the memory of that sharp, cold touch etched onto her skin.
