Cloud waited outside the door while Ethel stepped into her room. Within a couple of minutes, she reopened it, now carrying a black suede satchel. Before he could question her, she shut the door behind her and began skipping back the way they had come, stopping to look back at him.
"Are you coming?" Her voice was clear, yet still remarkably soft.
Cloud nodded and began walking. Ethel waited until he was a short distance away before matching his stride.
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, they met the rest of the vampires waiting patiently near the carriages. Servants loaded the remaining supplies before the families dispersed into the spacious seats. Ethel and her parents climbed into the lead carriage; the second held Mr. and Mrs. Vuron, Lord Cloud, and Jerome; and the last carriage carried the twins and their brothers.
When they reached the lake, the carriages came to a halt. The coachmen and servants hopped down to open the doors, allowing the families to step out. Gathering near the water's edge, the vampires took in the breathtaking scene before them. Luscious green grass stretched into the distance, meeting tall, cliff-like mountains draped in moss and creeping vines. Towering trees sprouted from the rocks, their high leaves glowing vibrantly beneath the bright sun.
The servants quickly set up the picnic. They laid out a large teal cotton blanket embroidered with white leaves along the edges, arranging eleven ivory-toned silk pillows in a circle for the family to lounge on.
"Children, why don't you go off and explore? We have private matters to discuss," Mr. Leonard instructed firmly before anyone could get comfortable.
The young vampires immediately hopped up from their pillows and ran toward the tall, thin grass wavering in the soft breeze. One by one, they disappeared into the thick forest of trees and trailing vines.
All except Ethel. She sat in a patch of grass harboring a beautiful array of hybrid wildflowers, her tiny hands gently plucking them from the damp earth. After lining up the tall stems and bright petals, she untied the ribbon from her hair, letting a small section fall back against her cheek. Carefully, she wove the ribbon through the stems of the flowers before delicately braiding the ribbon back into her long, crystal-white hair—a skill her mother had patiently taught her so she would prove to be a capable young lady when sent to the Vuron estate.
Picking herself up, Ethel brushed off her dress and began walking slowly toward the jungle of vines and moss. Her newly braided hair draped over her left shoulder. As she crept deeper into the trees, shafts of sunlight pierced through holes in the leaf canopy, illuminating the vibrant green moss that blanketed the tree bark like a carpet.
Ethel stopped suddenly. She heard footsteps coming from different directions, followed by the faint rustle of laughter. Before she could process her surroundings, a pair of arms gently tugged her back, and a warm hand covered her mouth.
Carrying her small frame, the figure pulled her into the dark, cozy opening of a hollow tree. Ethel tried to keep her body relaxed as she was gently set down. The hand withdrew from her face, and before she could turn around, a subtle, deep voice whispered in her ear.
"We're playing hide-and-seek."
Ethel froze. Gentle hands rested on her shoulders.
"Effy, don't be scared."
She recognized the voice immediately; her brother had never once called her by that name, which meant it could only be Lord Cloud.
"I am not scared," her voice squeaked softly.
Cloud gently turned her around so she could see his face in the dim light, his black and white hair falling over his temples. His eyes drifted to the vibrant petals intertwined with her white locks.
"I like your hair," he said softly.
Ethel smiled, a small sense of pride welling up in her chest. "Thank you," she replied softly.
Before another word could be uttered, echoing giggles crept into the opening of the tree hollow. The sounds bounced around Ethel's ears, making her heart hammer against her chest.
"It's only a game, Ethel," Cloud whispered lightly.
"I know," her voice cooed.
Taking her hand, Cloud pulled her to the side of the entrance where thick tree roots intertwined with the damp earth. The giggles drew nearer; Ethel knew it could only be the twins, who always seemed slightly unhinged on occasion. Cloud's grip tightened around her small hand, and she felt her spine tense as two pairs of heavy footsteps came to a sudden halt just inches away.
"Do you think they climbed the tree?" Primrose spouted.
Viridian grunted before replying. "They don't seem to be up there..." She paused, leaning in to whisper to her sister. "Look—there's a hole in the trunk."
The twins crept toward the opening, their shoes crunching the twigs on the forest floor. Ethel's body tensed, rising onto her toes like a cat stretching its hind legs in fear. As the footsteps grew closer, the light filtering into the hollow disappeared, plunging the space into darkness.
"FOUND YOU!" the twins bellowed in unison, peering into the hole.
Ethel let out a startled screech like a tiny mouse. Disgruntled as she was, not a single tear escaped her eyes. The twins burst into laughter, collapsing onto the grass outside, which allowed the sunlight to flood back into the hideout. Seeing Ethel's thoroughly dissatisfied expression, Cloud let out a quiet laugh of his own.
Ethel shot him a sharp look before crawling out of the hollow. Everything outside was blindingly bright, and she was relieved to be back in the open air. Cloud crawled out right behind her, stepping through the thick wooden trunks.
"That hiding place was ingenious—much better than your spot in the library, cousin," Viridian taunted Cloud.
"Thank you, I try my best," Cloud smirked. "Why don't you go find the others? You can't let them beat you."
The twins stared at him for a moment before turning and dashing deeper into the woods.
Cloud turned to Ethel and offered his hand. "Let's head back, Effy."
Ethel placed her small hand in his, and as Cloud led her through the forest like a little lamb, the canopy thinned until bright rays of sunlight pierced through the trees.
"I can see the lake!" Ethel cheered, her voice beaming with joy as they broke through the tree line and stood before the sparkling, sunlit shore.