Belle, who had placed her hand to hover above the fireplace, moved around the ashes to hear a crackling sound coming from the fireplace as if logs of woods were burning but there weren't. It was her hands and the motion along with the ashes which were creating sound. The ashes which were grey and black had started to turn red, burning bright enough like they had caught fire and she had to move her hand higher to not burn her hand. 

The ashes started to turn to pieces of papers, papers that were getting unburnt and those very ashes started to form to pages and bind until there was no more fire in there. She then picked up the book, running her hand over it and then opening it to see the spells and diagrams and drawing inside it. 

The things that were inside the book should have looked foreign to Belle but it didn't. She had drawn these even before she had come to know she had a past that was hidden away in time. She had drawn these markings when she was a little girl. Taking the book, she quickly ran down to her room. Opening the cupboard and then the drawers, she pulled out sheets of drawings which she had made when she was a young girl. 

Picking them out, she came to realize these were the same versions of drawing she had been doing, her drawings were always made of circles and lines, that had been too precise for her age. 

She started to spread out the diagrams and tried to remember which markings were needed out of these. Running again back up to where Baltimore was, Belle stepped close to the cell to see which design it was. 

"Hello, Lady Belle," greeted Baltimore, but Belle had no interest in talking to the Tenth Grim of cards who was the reason there was the start of imbalance in the realm of the living. If he hadn't helped the black witches, Lady Isabell would have still been alive and would be living with her family in Valeria but the man had stolen it from her by whispering and pushing the villagers and other needed people to cover her death to make it look like an accident. 

Belle continued to look up at the ceiling while trying to match the design. The drawings of markings looked almost the same and there were at least more than thirty of them in the book.

"I am astounded that you are not surprised by the creatures who now surround you. You must be feeling very lonely in the mansion," said Baltimore, "To have your parents killed at this young age and the only family. What a pity it must be. Are you looking for something?" he asked her. 

"Yes," Belle answered to realize she had spoken even though she hadn't. In a hurry to match the designs, she had forgotten for a second about his abilities. She played it cool and looked at him, "Are you enjoying your time here, Mr. Whisperer?" she asked him, her red eyes staring into his black eyes. 

"I wouldn't say I am enjoying it. Perhaps if you would be able to get me out of this place, I would have better entertainment. It is hard to enjoy with the three walls and one grilled front. Not to forget that," he said pointing his finger up to the ceiling, "How come you are not scared about me," he murmured, his body turning to his skeleton reaper form and he smiled. 

Belle was not scared of his appearance. She had seen enough skulls and bones, "It must be because of my lover," she gave him a sweet smile. 

Baltimore turned his head to the side in thought. Lover? Who was she speaking about? 

"And who is this lover?" 

"Lucas," answered Belle, "You know him as Cross," hearing this Baltimore's eyes narrowed and he started to laugh. 

"Seems like you both will end up together. Dead."

"I guess," Belle answered, barely bothered with it and her words coming out to be nonchalant. She continued to look and turn the pages when she found the diagram that matched. She found it!

Baltimore could barely resist not telling the others, especially the Hawverts who would be pleased to hear that the Thirteenth Grim was following the Twelfth Grim's footsteps. Wanting to get out of this cell, he said, "Why don't you open the lock here so that I can step out and breathe?"

"I think you look rather great in there than out here," she said, not having time to talk to him as they had to confine another reaper. 

Belle started to leave when Baltimore called her with a sweet velvety voice to charm her, "Lady Belle, open the door for me. You wouldn't want me angry later and kill you with my bare hands. Stop," he said and Belle stopped her footsteps from going any further outside the room, "Now turn around," and Belle turned from where she stood, "Walk."

She started to walk towards the cell but when Baltimore went to go to give another order, Belle raised her hand and snapped her finger turning the entire cell mute which he was in. 

"I am sorry, you were saying?" asked Belle and she then smiled, "Don't take me for being stupid. I grew up under the shadow of a Grim, I know people like you. Enjoy the rest of your day."

Baltimore who was trying to speak, his voice never came to reach her ear as his words fell deaf after crossing the bars. He gritted his teeth in anger and his eyes fuming for being tricked. She was a vampire and she had stopped his words from influencing her. It was not supposed to happen! Baltimore who had stepped in front of the rods gripped them in both of his hands. 

She was a mere vampire. Not even a pureblood vampire to defy him. 

Belle couldn't help but smile as she left the room. 

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Do vote for the book with your power stones~