Chapter 79: Lifespans and stories
The stool facing the piano still held warmth as Katherine had null doubt demonstrated her prowess with the instrument only minutes prior.
With somewhat shaky hands, Arabella brushed over the keyboard at her disposal, shut her eyes and breathed in so deeply that memories from her childhood bubbled up to the surface, drowning the smothering silence that surrounded her.
The Lady had requested Arabella’s favorite piece and that could have only meant one thing. Persephone wanted to hear "My bright star" which, Arabella would not, in a million years, have wished for a better piece to perform.
"Don’t slouch in front of it sweetheart, you are always having a conversation with your instrument when you play it. Face it right and it’ll sing just beautifully," her mother used to say with such affection, such stillness even its distant reminiscence reflected in every motion Arabella made, every key pressed, yielding a line of notes so fittingly strung together, it’d dispelled the stifling quietness controlling the room.
Arabella was allowed mere seconds of peace before clamor erupted behind her. Just like she’d sat down, the young woman stood up and turned around to bow with equal respect in front of the guests as well as the rest of the entertainers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Arabella," the butler declared.
As her eyes skimmed over the many faces in attendance, her sight froze momentarily when she swore a familiar face that’d been absent that whole time, stood among them.
Well, not exactly among them since Silas remained behind the closed balcony window.
The moment was very short lived however, as in the blink of an eye, he had completely disappeared, leaving her to wonder whether she truly ever saw him there or if it was a mere figment of her imagination.