Chapter 3: To a new beginning
There came a sudden weight that fell upon Arabella's shoulders. Within her, it struck the urge to spin around in search of the eyes which burned holes into her back.
"What is it?" Ada followed Arabella's gaze.
"Nothing!" she turned to the maid, offering an awkward smile, "I am just being silly. Don't mind me,"
There was, indeed, nothing or no one that stood at the bottom of those stairs to watch them.
"Alright then, let us go. You need your resting," Ada nodded, and without another word, began climbing the second half of the stairs leading to the first floor.
The way Lord Emeric's portrait almost covered the entirety of the wall was intimidating, to say the least.
Not only the silver framing, but the centuries old brush strokes left on that canvas also glistened under the chandeliers' lights. Immortalised in a stance that invoked chills in his beholders and the flames sowed life back in those golden eyes that seemed to glare down at her disapprovingly. It was as though he still stood guard over his home from the beyond.
Arabella threw one last glance towards the deserted bottom of the stairs behind herself, once she'd managed to look away from Lord Emeric's painting, that is.
"This way, Miss Arabella,"
"Call me Arabella, please," Arabella flung her eyes to the ground and hurried to catch up with the maid.
Little did she know, her instincts told no lie as a pair of diamond eyes did, in fact, stalk her every move.