NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The night slowly went by as snow continued to pour down in the kingdom of Vamlone in large drops, and soon the breaking of dawn was announced by the loud ring of the tower bell built in every town and village, serving the purpose of waking the people up.

As the new day began with no sign or news of Sthena or Daemon since the previous night, Perdita and Marco’s hearts continued to grow in fear and anxiety.

The more hours and days passed, the more the chances of being discovered by the villagers increased. Today, Perdita and Marco agreed that she will return to the market after the inquisitive villagers visited her doorstep the day before.

If she didn’t go to market and continued to stay indoors and babysit Mrs. Perkin, this time she knew, they would surely raise a thick cloud of suspicion in the hearts of the villagers.

Marco will also resume his work at the construction site today. Since it was the king’s work and the higher-ups involved in the building of the mansion did not appreciate tardiness at work, he had to go, if not he will be fired from the job.

After preparing for work like the other villagers, the siblings securely tied and hid Mrs. Perkin in one of their two rooms after they fed her that morning. Now they had one more mouth to feed, decreasing their pocket and food. Such a big hassle. Perdita hissed angrily.

”Sis,” Marco called Perdita who was locking the door. He said to her, ”I’ll be going ahead now. Be careful on your way and also, I’ll be on the lookout for Daemon or the red-haired man.”

Perdita nodded her head in acknowledgment after she had successfully locked their door. She thrust the key inside the bag she always hung across her shoulders and carried to work before replying to Marco.

”Be careful too, Marco. Also, you can call him Sthena and not the red-haired man.” She preferred calling someone by their given name and not by the features of their body like how Sthena and Daemon called her green eyes. Those annoying men, especially Sthena. She wondered where he ran off to when she needed him the most now.

”No, I prefer calling him that.” Marco shook his head as he spoke. The inkling he had of the man being the king had never left him each time he remembered his red hair. That was the reason why he chose to call him a red-haired man instead of calling him by his name.

He was a patriotic citizen of the Vamlone kingdom and he had great respect for the king and those in authority if the person in question had not done any wrong to him. He felt he was disrespecting the king if he called him by his name though he was not sure if the man was truly the king or not. He had his doubts and he will stay calm until he had proven them.

Perdita and Marco parted ways to their places of work after saying their goodbyes.

The weather was still chilly with the snow falling in heavy drops, making the road hard to pass through as snow had covered the entire village floors. But this didn’t deter the hungry and money-deprived men and women of Woodbridge village to stay back in their warm homes as they did two days back. They all went out in the cold in search of money and food that will warm their cold and empty stomachs.

Some men came out with their barrows and shovels to plow the snow that covered the paths and make it easy to access for their wives and children, and also traders who will come to their village to purchase goods.

Perdita tightly clutched her bag as she marched into the market with a sharp intake of breath ready to make the most out of the day. And like she thought, the day and market soon bustled with life and activities as the villagers and merchants from other towns and villages flocked in to sell and buy goods from one another in the cold.

Away from there, and in the bumpy road that led another village to Woodbridge, rode a carriage that shook because of the uneven ground and snow that was falling.

The carriage was heavily decked with snow, and even the coachman was not left out. The small roof that covered where he sat was not enough to stop the snow from reaching and smearing him with the cold flakes. His now pale white hands and face looked dead as the wind occasionally blew bone chilly breeze that made him shiver and freeze in his seat.

Inside the carriage sat three men and one woman who were none other than the church members who were going to the village of Woodbridge for the clarification of the report they got as ordered by the king, Sthena Acheron.

Donovan sat beside Martha on one side of the carriage with Mr. Welsh and Mr. Theodore on the other side. They both faced each other in the carriage as the carriage continued to move at a slow pace because of the snow that covered the path they were driving on.

Mr. Theodore the only vampire in the carriage and also one of the church members out of the eight who met with the king the day before had his head resting on the small window of the carriage. His eyes were closed as if he was in a deep slumber, but they knew he was wide awake, for he will occasionally open his blood-red eyes whenever he was asked a question.

Martha on the hand constantly shifted in her seat with an irritated look plastered on her face. She will look at Donovan and Mr. Welsh with a frown and then glare at Mr. Theodore. Her reasons for her uncomfortable movements were finally known when she voiced out in an annoyed voice, ”Are we not there yet? It’s been two or three hours I’ve sitting in this carriage and cold weather.” She rubbed her hands together to great friction and heat. Then she went back to glare at the sleeping Theodore who was unaffected by cold like them who were humans.

She didn’t like vampires except for some tolerable ones she could converse with. Even she found Theodore a strange man who was oddly quiet and sometimes spoke like a man with loose nuts in the brain. She didn’t understand how vampires could be quirky and sly with their behaviors and speeches. Was it a trait that was passed down to all of them? Martha would always wonder as she continued staring...no, glaring at Theodore.

Donovan and Mr. Welsh didn’t bother to reply her as they knew the type of woman she was. She could get uneasy and uncomfortable in a small situation like this one. Who in the carriage didn’t know it is the snow that slowed the wheels of the carriage?

When what felt like an eternity passed in the carriage, Theodore finally opened his bloodred eyes and peered directly into the black eyes of Martha who didn’t waver or avert her gaze even after being caught staring.

Theodore’s red eyes lazily stared at Martha as if there was an eye contest going on. He opened his sealed lips and spoke, ”Is there something I missed church woman, Martha?”

”Yes,” Martha sharply replied. ”I know you heard what I said earlier. So could step down and see what is wrong? We need to get there as soon as possible. I’m tired of sitting in this cold place.”

”You might as well step down and push the carriage to get it moving. It will cause some friction and give you heat.” Theodore calmly replied and stared at her for a while before he closed his eyes and went back to his slumber.

Martha made to retort but was quietened by Donovan who spoke before her, ”You don’t want to wake a sleeping lion, do you? You should leave him and stick your tongue to yourself.” Donovan warned with a slightly irritated voice that was enough to shut the woman up. He knew she was looking for who to bicker with, but her choice fell with the wrong person.

Theodore as calm and as gentle as he appeared to be, was a wild wolf in reality. He appeared mysterious and unapproachable but also marveled the church members with how capable and efficient he was at any task he was given to solve. That is why he was appointed to follow them on this clarification trip they were going to Woodbridge village for.

Donovan stared at the man lazily sleeping away the boredom in the carriage. But he was no fool to think the man’s eyes and ears were not wide open to hear everything being spoken.

The carriage turned quiet once more, only the restless movement and grunts of Martha filled the air as no one paid attention to her squirms.

Another hour passed before the carriage finally arrived at its destination and Martha was quick to jump down followed by Donovan, Mr. Welsh, and Theodore who now stood as they stared at the old local constabulary building of Woodbridge village where they came to clarify the report given to them.

”Seems like Head warden, Humphrey had been good and up to his job.” Mr. Welsh commented, looking at the building with interest and approval.

”Hmm,” Donovan hummed and commented, ”We will see about that when we see and question him.” With that, he briskly turned and headed toward the entrance followed by Martha, Mr. Welsh, and Theodore.