The Case Study of Vanitas (Vanitas x Reader)

Chapter 8 ~ 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴

Once morning arrived, you got ready for a meeting with Lord Ruthven that you, Noé and Vanitas had. Arriving at his manor, the three of you headed inside.

Entering Castle Carbunculus as it was apparently known as, the three of you headed to where Lord Ruthven was. Due to have a meeting with him in just a few mere moments. You eventually made it to the meeting point, entering the room with it soon beginning.

Glancing around at the long corridors that stretched in front of you. Your lips curved into a thin frown as your eyes danced across the walls, noting all of the aristocratic vampires. You blinked in surprise as you suddenly stopped in your tracks, your heels no longer scraping against the carpet as you tilted your head high.

At the very center of a long hallway came a large painting, one that was covered in a thin sheet of cotton. It slipped over itself slightly, revealing a portion of a woman.

Your eyes widened at the sight of her Twilight Black hair, her strands peeking out from underneath the covers. She was wearing an intricate dress, one that was stained in thick coatings of blood.

Your face crinkled up in slight confusion as you came closer to the painting, staring at the intricate strokes of an artist's brush. You could barely make out her face from the thin covers of cotton that surrounded the painting.

However, you could see just slightly. . . a piece of metal on the right side of her body alongside a faint smile that appeared on the surface of her skin.

Unconsciously, you raised your hand, your fingertips peeling back the fabric. You flinched as you felt a gloved hand touch yours, their skin strangely cold.

You pressed your lips together into a thin line as you straightened out your back, your eyes veering over towards Ruthven who innocently smiled at you.

"My apologies, Lady Clarestia, this portrait is extremely important to me. I wouldn't want you to damage the painting by removing her cover. Please, look around at the other paintings for now." He said.

Vanitas quickly hurried to your side, his eyes drawn up towards the painting as he found his blood running cold. He swallowed a thick lump at the base of his throat, his blue eyes trembling at the sight of the tall portrait.

Twilight hair, radiant ivory skin, and the strength and notoriety to rival the aristocratic vampires, he couldn't believe that a painting of her would show up here out of all places. He sucked in a deep breath as he looked up, his hands quivering slightly before he pulled himself away, staying unfazed.

"I. . . see," You replied, "Is she your friend that you were talking about before?"

He slowly bent his head away from you, lifting it high to admire the glossy edges of the portrait. Although he couldn't see her face anymore, he could feel her presence lingering near him, almost as if she had never left his side from the start. He could feel shivers slither down his spine as his smile became wider, a line of chuckles leaving the cracks of his lips.

"Yes. Indeed she was," He answered, causing you to shift away from him as you squeezed your hands into a tight ball. "I had a special painting created for her after she had disappeared. It's not in the best of conditions right now but. . . I wanted at least a piece of her within these castle walls. I hope you can understand the sentimental value of this painting."

"It's fine," You said, returning to the group as you waved him off. "I didn't mean to intrude."

"It's not a big deal," He said, bringing himself towards the front of the party as his hand reached out towards a large door. He shifted the scrolls that were placed in the crooks of his arm, his separate hand pushing open the wooden entrance as it revealed a large library and office.