Chapter 35: Evilyna- part One
"The king wouldn't find out you were the one who took me to the gallery," Eve tried to convince Ester.
"And even if he does, I'll ask him to spare you," she added. The maid nodded, causing Eve to sigh out in relief. She knew people kept things that were special to them private, but she doubted that this was the case with Sebastian, who didn't allow anyone in the room without his permission.
Ester led her upstairs to the high tower of the castle and stepped into a large corridor. There were two guards situated in front of the room. They were hesitant at first but let her step in, as she was the Lady of their King.
Once they stepped into the large room, Eve looked at the paintings that were hung on the wall and some on the floor. The room was painted white and filled with artistic pictures. The domed ceiling depicted a forest scene, with the branches sketched onto the walls and broad leaves painted green. The sun illuminated the room, giving it a bright, beautiful view. Cans of paint, oil, brushes, and other materials were placed on one side of the room.
There were other paintings of people, towns, seas, and forests. It was a remarkable collection of art, and Eve wondered why Sebastian didn't want people in this room when it housed so many paintings that most people would love to exhibit. She walked over to a canvas that displayed a landscape painting. It depicted a mountain area, the top covered with thick fog, the land below blanketed with ice. It felt as if she was staring at the real landscape, not just a painting.
She moved to another painting, which portrayed the royal family. The King and Queen were seated, and young Sebastian and Leif stood by their side. Sebastian's hair was longer, and his hands were stuck in his pockets as he stood lazily. Unlike the rest, he wasn't looking at the artist but at something else that must have caught his attention.
The next painting was only of the King and Queen. She moved softly over the tiled floor as she went to check another. She couldn't find the portrait she had initially come for and wanted Ester to identify. Her eyes fell on the maid, who seemed to be constantly gazing at the door as if awaiting someone's arrival.
Noticing her fidgeting, Eve said, "You can go, Ester, I'll stay behind." She knew Ester was afraid that the king might show up. Bowing to show appreciation, Ester opened the doors of the large room and exited, leaving Eve alone to admire the portraits.
Each painting of a female had a name written below it, but she couldn't find Sebastian's mother. He had said she was cast out after the king remarried. She was hoping to see a painting of her and find out what the lovely woman looked like.
Moving over to another canvas, it was covered with a white cloth. Eve pulled it back to reveal a beautiful painting of a lady. She was standing in a garden, her hands pulling a shawl over her exposed shoulders. As she continued to look at the painting, she slowly began to frown, realizing that the lady in the painting looked like her.
Her brown hair was loose, and her eyes were closed as she smiled. Eve grew more confused about when she had been painted. She picked up the canvas and moved closer to the window to look at the painting. The Lady did look like her. As she went to return the canvas, she caught sight of another canvas next to the wall and her eyes widened as she moved closer.
She was staring at herself, seated on a bench, her beige colored gown was spread out as she folded her legs on the bench. Except she wasn't the one, the lady possessed light red eyes and her fangs were visible from her toothed smile. Below the picture, Eve saw a name written in black ink, EVILYNA.
How was this possible? Eve thought to herself if not for the eyes that told 'Evilyna' was a vampiress, people could easily pass them to be the same person.
Evilyna, she repeated to herself, even their names sounded similar. She wondered if the lady was related to Sebastian but he had not mentioned her name when he was talking about his family earlier. Looking at the portrait closely, she realized she was the same person she had seen in the group painting she had been looking for. She turned to call Ester's attention but she remembered she had asked her to leave.
Hearing the doors open, she turned to see Leif walk in with two servants who carried cans of paints and canvases. Leif stared at her before looking at the canvas she stood before, he directed the servants to place the items in a corner before dismissing them.
"Good after-noon lady Evelyn," He greeted as he walked closer to her.
"Good after-noon lord Leif," she curtsied a small bow. He stood beside her watching the painting in her hand and the one on the canvas.
"I didn't know you visit the gallery," He said gently.
"I was looking for a portrait and thought I would find it here," Eve replied.
"Maybe we should ask the king to paint you also."
"He painted these?" Eve asked in wonderment.
"Most of it," He replied and glanced at her briefly before looking back at the canvas.
"I had always wondered why you looked so familiar, until a day I saw this painting making me understand," He remarked.
"Who is she?" Eve asked and she looked up to meet his gaze.
"Evilyna. Sebastian's first wife."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone