405 Broken pots
As Rosetta continued riding the carriage to Meadow town, she wondered if she would catch Eve and Eugene by surprise for driving. A shy and proud smile appeared on her lips. She hadn’t forgotten that Eugene had indirectly given her permission to pursue him, which somewhere translated to the man walking towards her to meet her in the middle point.
“I cannot wait to build a family with you, Eugene,” Rosetta’s cheeks turned pink at the thought. She spoke to herself, “When we marry, we shall make sure that ou–! “
Rosetta’s words were cut short as the carriage tilted to the side as if hitting a bump, while the horses neighed before being dragged by the toppled vehicle. The carriage had moved off the road, and the vampiress’s body was thrown on the ground.
“Ugh–Ouch!” Rosetta winced, feeling her entire body ache. She pushed herself up and huffed, “Why did you stop like that?” She scolded the four horses and untied them so that she could put them back in the same position. “We were doing just fine, riding to Meadow.”
She looked at the carriage and tried to put it back into its place. But the carriage was heavy, and in her first few attempts, she could only lift it before dropping it back on the ground. The vampiress didn’t want anyone to know that she had gone and crashed the carriage in the forest.
“Arghhhh!” Rosetta used all her strength before being able to straighten the carriage. She took deep breaths, feeling tired.
While the two horses got to standing position, the other two didn’t oblige, and Rosetta sighed. As she tried to get them to stand, her eyes fell on something lying on the road. It was two broken flower pots that were crushed along with the plants. This must be what had earlier bumped her carriage.
The young vampiress glared at them, “Who even drops the flower pots in the middle of the road?! I am in a hurry to see Eve and Eugene, and now–now…” her voice trailed when she stepped closer to the broken pots.
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There was something written in paint on the broken piece, and Rosetta picked it up to read ‘son’ on it. Her eyes then fell on another broken piece that read ‘Da’.
‘Dason,’ Rosetta said before her eyes widened. She asked, “Dawson?”
Her head turned left and right, wondering if Eve and Eugene had accidentally dropped the pot. Since she started living in the Moriartys mansion, she had stalked Eugene enough to know his love for plants. Maybe it was someone with Dason name, but what if it was Dawson?
Rosetta looked in the direction of the forest, biting her bottom lip in wonderment if Eve and Eugene were there. As the horse wasn’t willing to stand, she decided to take a look.
The vampiress walked on the snow-covered ground while her red eyes looked around the quiet place. When she reached the spot where the carriage had earlier been parked by Eugene, she noticed the trail of mud and red spots on the ground not far from where she stood.
Rosetta scooped the snow and took a quick sniff, “It is human blood.” Worried, she shouted the names, “EVE! EUGENE! Are you here?” She walked further into the forest when she was suddenly hit by the scent of blood that heavily drifted in the air.
The vampiress followed the scent, and when her eyes fell on Eugene, who was lying on the ground and blood pooled around his body, she screamed in horror,
“EUGENE!” Rosetta hurried to sit next to him, who shivered because of the cold and the pain that had sunk into every cell in his body. “W–who did this to you?!”
Eugene had tried to hold on as much as he could, but he had reached his limit. Rosetta said, “Let me take you to the physician right away! They will stitch the wound and stop it.”
But when Rosetta tried to carry him, Eugene grunted in pain and, with difficulty, whispered, “No, don’t move me. Please.” The movement in his body was killing his soul.
Rosetta didn’t like seeing Eugene in such a state and noticing how his face had turned pale, his lips cracked, and his eyes droopy, her eyes started to water. She tried to hold back her tears and said,
“I c–can try turning you.” But the problem was that Rosetta had never turned anyone, and not every vampire or vampiress could turn a human to their own kind. If not turned right, the human could corrupt and die. She said, “If we don’t go to the physician, you will bleed more and die. I can go–“
“Don’t go anywhere…” Eugene whispered, and he confessed, “I cannot see… Stay here,” Eugene knew if he walked or moved, the little blood still in his body would drain, and only his corpse would remain behind.
Rosetta’s eyes teared up before one of her tears fell on her cheek. She shook her head, “Please, don’t die. You cannot die.” She removed the coat that she wore and covered Eugene with it. She didn’t know who would have done something so vile as to hurt this man! She wanted to ask him, but he appeared to be in so much pain that she didn’t dare question him.
She loved him so much. He had been one of the people who had shown his genuine feelings towards her, and they had been kind. Why was this happening to them? More tears spilled from her eyes, which he didn’t notice because of the darkness in his eyes.
Rosetta asked, “Is there anything I can do for you? Anything you need?” She placed her hand on his and felt his weak fingers try to hold hers.
“No… How…did you end up here?” Eugene asked her, and his face scrunched in pain.
“I–“Rosetta’s heart squeezed, seeing him in pain, “I came to visit you and Eve, but the carriage broke and I came here.”
Eugene tried to control his laboured breathing and sighed, “Thank you for finding me.” He was sure he would die alone. “F-forgive me,” he whispered. “For not fulfilling your wish.”
The vampiress shook her head as more tears filled her eyes, and she said in a shaky voice, “You have nothing to be sorry for. I am happy with the thought.”
But the next second, the little press Rosetta had felt from Eugene’s fingers on hers loosened its grip.