NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Donovan exhaled deeply and nodded his head before he folded the parchment and put it back inside his coat pocket. He leaned forward with his hands clasped in front of him and asked, ”Milord, how is it that you were able to know that no man in the village of Woodbridge is answering the name Mr. Persin as you mentioned? I found it quite amazing and I can’t help but ask this.” He paused and stared directly into the eyes of the king.

”Do you always memorize the names of each person in every village?”

Sthena chuckled. He shifted in his sitting position before he answered, ”What can I say? I guess I’m one of a kind to be able to memorize the names of my people. Doesn’t that show how I have their best interest at heart?”

”If that is so, why can’t you remember my name?” Martha questioned immediately with her chin up still annoyed with the king.

”I told you unique things are remembered, not unimportant things.” Sthena’s reply hit a nerve in Martha as she glared directly at the vampire king who didn’t sugarcoat his words nor was he merciful when it came to his blunt actions.

Donovan’s eyes narrowed at the king. He intervened in the matter, ”That is not what I’m saying. It’s very much a surprise to me how you detected something so small.”

”I guess my chief advisor, Daemon, is to be applauded for this. He is very active to let me know things that happen in the kingdom even before you the church gets to know about it.” Sthena’s reply was curt and straightforward bringing no refusal from Donovan the church head.

”Does that mean, you knew about the missing man in Woodbridge?” Donovan asked with a slight smile on his lips.

”You might be incorrect there. From my inspection, I haven’t heard about the vampires abducting and killing humans in the village of Woodbridge.” Sthena replied with a knowing look.

”Hmm,” Donovan nodded his head in understanding. ”I can’t help but say you are quite an active king to know all these.”

Sthena grinned ”That is why I told you I have many unique characters in me. I’m the king after all.”

The church members exchanged looks with each other and stared at the king with mixed expressions on their faces.

Mr. Welsh, Head church Donovan, and Martha were the only ones who had taken part in the discussion. The remaining five members were only watching and taking account of everything being discussed like how Daemon was doing.

Aside from Donovan, Mr. Welsh, and Martha who were the only human members and founders of the church that came to the castle about the exorcism they were proposing for it to take place in Woodbridge, the other members present were vampires and they had little interest in the proposal of the exorcism.

It was a known fact that vampires will always feed on humans for blood, and records of missing humans will always happen in human villages once in a while. It was not like they were in support of vampires going rampant in killing humans for blood, it was just a matter that can’t be cubbed no matter what the church or anyone said. And bringing the matter to the cunning king was like trying to dry an ocean. It was going to be another futile agenda.

After some silence, Sthena spoke, ”I guess there are no other issues at hand or do you wish to bring more? Perhaps reports of more missing humans?”

Donovan raised his hand to show he had more to say. He lilted with a questioning look, ”I heard you have been in Woodbridge village recently. That you have become a frequent visitor there?”

Sthena remained silent, waiting for Donovan to finish his sentence. When he didn’t, Sthena spoke, ”I thought you were going to add that you heard I am responsible for the rumored abduction of the famous Mr. Persin?”

Donovan pursed his lips with a frown on his face. ”I was never going to accuse the king of such an offense.”

”I don’t know if I’m glad or not that you didn’t say it. I would have loved you to do that. The castle has been quiet lately.”

Donovan ignored the king’s latter remark and continued to question, ”I was curious why the king had to go to Woodbridge, a village that is not only dirty but also poor in its facilities.”

Sthena leaned back on his throne and regarded head churchman Donovan with a narrowed look. He spoke, ”I have a question for you, head churchman Donovan.”

”Your Majesty is entitled to ask me any question he has,” Donovan replied.

”Good,” Sthena praised still staring at Donovan who wondered what the king’s question was.

”Do you have a house?” Sthena asked.

”Yes, Milord. I have a house.” Donovan dutifully replied even though he didn’t understand where the sudden question about his house came from.

Sthena continued to question, ”And you have access to every part of it?”

”Yes, Milord. I have full access to every part of it.” Donovan answered.

”Why?”

”Because it is my house?”

”There you answered your question. Because it is my kingdom and I have full access to do whatever I want. Unless you’re telling your, king, what and what not to do?” Sthena tilted his head with his brows furrowed.

Donovan stared at the king for a longer time than usual. What a cunning crazy king. He thought. He always had a clever answer to every question thrown at him. Donovan stood up together with the other members.

”Thank you for your time and for answering our questions, Milord. We will do as you have ordered us and we will come back with the report. Though our proposal for the exorcism will not change any time soon.”

”We will see to that then,” Sthena replied with a sly smile.

”We will go ahead.” Donovan and the rest of the church members bowed their heads to show their respect to the king.

”Daemon see that the church members are successfully escorted to their carriage. I don’t want any one of them to be reported missing here in the castle.”

Donovan gave a small bow to the king,

”Please, we wouldn’t want to trouble chief advisor Daemon with such a trivial task. You have already graced us with your presence and time.”

The small smile on Sthena’s lips stretched into a wide small at the words of Head churchman Donovan. He responded gleefully, ”I knew I was always a very lovable king, though my time with you church members was short. Take it as one of my many kind gestures as a king to the respectable church members. What do you say, Daemon?” He turned to Daemon who bowed his head in acknowledgment of his order.

”Your Majesty is a very benevolent king.”

Sthena nodded his head with a grin on his face, ”There now. I told you so. Didn’t I? Have a safe trip back to the church, head churchman Donovan.”

Donovan didn’t say any other thing knowing the king will twist his words to suit his weird taste. Without wasting more time, he turned around and left with his fellow church members escorted by Daemon as the king had ordered.

Daemon returned to the throne room after he escorted the church members to their carriage and they left the castle.

”Milord, the church members have successfully boarded their carriage and left the castle.” He reported with a bow.

Sthena nodded his head in acknowledgment. The playful smile and laugh he had for the church members had vanished and were now replaced by a dangerous glint in his dark red eyes.

He turned to Daemon and ordered in a stern voice, ”Find out the person who reported this case to the church and also about the church member responsible for clarifying the report.”

These people testing his patience were playing with fire and one touch from him will burn them all.

”Yes, Milord.” Daemon bowed his head, obliging to the new order from the king.

A/N: New Book is out! Add THE SUMMER OF LOVE to library!