#Chapter 28 Sinking into the Dark

The joy that the hockey game brought me held over for the next few days. I was in higher spirits than I’d been in a long time. Bouncing down to breakfast one morning, I was singing to myself, and was caught off guard by Armand’s sudden presence in front of me. “Oh! Hi! I didn’t see yo there. How are you?” Armand hadn’t been around the mansion much lately. I had heard rumors that he had been seeing someone new, and that the tension with the vampires had increased some, causing him to be gone more. “Good morning Beryl. I’m well, thank you. And you?” He seemed distracted, not really looking at me, but off into the distance, contemplative. “I’m great. Ready for a good day!” I couldn’t keep the joy from leaking out. He chuckled a bit at my exuberance. He looked at me fully now. “I’m glad to hear it. Just be careful when you’re off the grounds for awhile. Things are unsettling lately, and I’d like to know you’re safe.” “Of course. I don’t really go anywhere besides h