Midnight Surrender-Chapter 37 Uncanny Discoveries (AVOT)

"Your hair... shall I assist you with it as well?" She asked, looking at the dark strands framing his face.

He smiled. "If you wish."

She didn’t know why the thought of taking care of his hair intensified the fluttering in her stomach. She motioned for Rhain to sit at the dresser, and he already had a nice comb laid out. Standing behind him, she caught his reflection in the mirror. The sight was almost hypnotizing, but she forced herself to focus and picked up the comb.

The sensation of the cool, smooth comb in her hand anchored her, and she began to carefully run it through his hair. The strands were as soft as silk, slipping through her fingers like dark waves. The room was filled with a silence so intimate, she could hear the gentle rustling of the comb weaving through his hair.

Despite her nervousness, she found herself losing track of time, engrossed in the task. The intimacy of the moment, the soothing rhythm of her movements, and the warmth emanating from him lulled her into a sense of contentment.

Rhain seemed to be equally engrossed in the moment, closing his eyes and leaning back. She could see his face reflected in the mirror, the relaxed lines of his features adding to his attractiveness. His broad shoulders, which were still uncovered, rose and fell in a rhythm that was calming.

Without realizing it, Daisy started stroking his hair each time she ran the comb through it, as if to straighten it further. When she thought it couldn’t get smoother, she stopped and looked at him through the mirror.

"Where do you keep your hair ribbons?" she asked.

He opened his eyes, while his hand reached for the top drawer. He pulled it open, and a range of ribbons were on display. There were different colors and materials, all beautifully arranged. Choosing a simple black satin one, she turned back to him.

Standing behind him again, she gently gathered his hair, pulling it back from his face. The soft strands slipped through her fingers like water, and she briefly lost herself in the simple task.

Securing the ribbon into a loose tie at the base of his neck, she allowed some of the shorter strands to fall free, framing his strong jawline. The result was a simple yet sophisticated look that only added to his darkly handsome features.

"Done," she announced.

Rhain only glanced at him in the mirror before looking at her. She wasn’t sure if that was trust in her ability or in his looks. She would guess the latter.

He rose from the seat and turned to face Daisy, his golden eyes twinkling with an unspoken delight. "I must confess," he began, his voice low and sincere, "that I’ve never had such a delightful morning. Being taken care of so meticulously... by my wife... is an experience I find most pleasant."

Then, to her surprise, Rhain gently captured both her hands, pressing a soft kiss to each of her knuckles. "Thank you for your diligent assistance," he said, his voice warm and sincere.

Daisy felt her heart skip a beat. This... this man would be the death of her. She’d spent years serving her ungrateful step-family, laboring without so much as a word of thanks. Now, this man - her husband - was expressing gratitude for such a simple task.

She looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of insincerity, only to find warmth reflected back at her. As she walked him out, he held onto her hand, his thumb gently caressing her knuckles. She found herself starting to enjoy the comforting gesture.

Exiting the manor, Rhain guided her towards the stables - a robust, well-kept structure nestled in a corner of the estate. He held the stable door open for her to enter, his eyes never leaving her face. The familiar smell of fresh hay and the comforting sounds of animals resonated with her, reminding her of her past.

There, standing in its own stall, was a magnificent horse, as black as the night sky. The morning light seeping through the gaps in the stable doors reflected off its glossy coat, making it shimmer. Its eyes, gentle yet alert, surveyed them curiously. "This," Rhain said, his voice soft with affection, "is Onyx."

He approached the horse, his hand stretching out to gently caress its flank. The horse responded to his touch, leaning into his palm with a soft whinny. "He’s been with me for a while," Rhain said, his gaze not leaving the horse, "a loyal companion."

Daisy couldn’t help but feel touched by the evident bond between Rhain and Onyx. She saw a different smile on his face, and his touch... it was also different.

He turned to her. "Can you ride?"

She blinked at him, caught off guard by his question. It had been years since she’d last ridden a horse. "I...It’s been quite a while. I’m not sure I would remember how to."

His eyes gleamed. "Then, I suppose I shall have to teach you."

His easy confidence brought a smile to her face. "I would like that."

Turning back to Onyx, Rhain ran his hands gently down the horse’s sleek flank once more, his touch soothing the animal. Moving with the assured grace of a seasoned horseman, he checked if the saddle was secured to Onyx’s back before taking hold of the riens and starting to lead the horse out of the stables.

"Is there anything you would like me to bring back for you?" He asked her as they walked to the large gates of the estate.

"Like what?" She blinked, confused.

"Anything you wish to have."

"I am sure anything I wish and more I will be able to find within this large estate."

Rhain chuckled. "I hope so." He said coming to a halt as a footman opened the gate.

His gaze held hers for a moment longer, something unspoken lingering in the silence. Then, a slow smile spread across his face, and he gave a single, respectful nod. "Very well."

With a final, lingering look, Rhain turned and mounted his horse, leaving Daisy in the large garden. She watched him ride away until the gates closed, leaving her with an odd feeling.

What was she supposed to do now?

Returning to the manor, Daisy found herself in unfamiliar territory. There were no chores planned for her, no demands on her time. Wearing the fancy dress with her hair arranged so elegantly, she felt as though she were tiptoeing on a stage, needing to act with an extra layer of care so as not to ruin the servants’ meticulous efforts.

With a newfound sense of freedom that she had to get used to, Daisy began to wander the halls of her new home. The manor was a labyrinth of corridors, each one darker and more mysterious than the last. Stained glass windows filtered the morning light, casting an array of colorful shadows that danced upon the walls and floor.

Each room she discovered held its own unique allure. One was adorned with ancient weapons, their sharp edges gleaming ominously in the dim light. Another held a collection of ornate boxes, each one filled with an assortment of trinkets - coins from foreign lands, intricate pieces of jewelry, and other oddities that she couldn’t even begin to identify. Rhain seemed to have traveled around the world.

Daisy found herself drawn to the library. It was a realm unto itself, shelf upon shelf, aisle upon aisle, the room was a maze of knowledge just waiting to be unraveled. Dusty leather-bound volumes sat next to newer editions, their subjects ranging from history and philosophy to astronomy and the arts.

A particular shelf caught her attention. It was filled with stories of mythology and folklore, accounts of mystical creatures and supernatural beings. Her eyes scanned over titles about fairies, witches, and demons and her curiosity piqued.

She hesitantly reached out, pulling a worn, leather-bound book from the shelf. The cover was embossed with an intricate design of a dragon, its scales glistening under the dim light. Flipping it open, she found tales of dragons, griffins, and other mythical beasts and decided that would be the book of the day. It reminded her of childhood stories, making her want to dive into the world of fantasy.

When she emerged from the library’s labyrinth, she found herself disoriented. The manor’s hallways stretched out like a vast web, and her path through them was already blurred in her memory.

She decided to trust her instincts and ventured down a path that felt vaguely familiar. As she roamed, she found herself drawn to the open doors of the numerous rooms that lay along her path.

One room, in particular, caught her attention. It was a grand chamber, its walls adorned with a myriad of paintings.

There were enigmatic portraits of men and women, their eyes carrying an uncanny glow. Some were depicted with a pallor so profound it was as if they were void of life, their crimson lips providing a stark contrast to their ghostly complexions.

Perhaps even more intriguing were the nocturnal landscapes, bathed in the cold light of a full moon. They depicted haunting forests, the trees twisted into foreboding shapes, under a sky so dark.

The paintings stirred an inexplicable chill within Daisy, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from them. Their peculiar beauty held her captive, an underlying dread seeping into her as she studied them. There was something distinctly eerie about them, a silent whisper of a reality she had not known before.

There were more paintings on the floor, stacked upon each other. Drawn by an inexplicable curiosity, Daisy crouched down to sift through them. The first canvas she uncovered revealed a scene that made her pause – a mysterious figure cloaked in darkness, the artist’s brushwork so intricate and lifelike that it was almost as if the creature could step right out of the painting.

Despite its strange, almost unsettling features, there was a fascinating allure to it. Its mouth was slightly agape, revealing what looked like unnaturally sharp, elongated teeth. Its eyes, too, held an eerie glow that echoed the penetrating gazes of the portraits hanging on the walls. Daisy could almost feel as if the man in the painting was watching her.

Shaking her head, she moved onto the next painting and her heart stilled. A portrait of a man, whose likeness to Rhain was surreal, stared back at her. His features were slightly different, less defined perhaps, but there was no mistaking those piercing eyes. It was him. In the painting he was dressed in an odd fashion. His clothes were odd, with long, flowing sleeves, a high collar, and an embroidered doublet that looked vastly different from the fashion she was familiar with.

His hair was styled differently too, long and flowing, unlike the neat, pulled-back style Rhain wore now. As her eyes took in the details with a contemplative frown, her gaze found the faint ink scribble at the bottom. ’1367’ it read.

She blinked. 1367? That was almost... 400 years ago.