NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The loud coos of the crows and the sound of the tower bell ringing in the distance announced the breaking of dawn to the people of Vamlone kingdom.

There was no snow, and neither was there sun, which the heavens had refused to grace the people of Woodbridge village. It was as if the heavens were afraid and confused as the people of Woodbridge who stayed back in their houses in fear.

Everywhere was quiet and an eerie feeling hung in the air while everybody anticipated the outcome of the curfew they were asked to observe.

Perdita and Marco were the most anxious of all the villagers. They didn’t sleep a wink the night before as they thought of ways to escape, but none came.

With the village that was surrounded by guards who patrolled nonstop the night before, they could do anything but stay in their house till the morning arrived.

It was morning and there was still no way to escape. Even the Samuel man, did not come as promised.

Mrs. Perkin was still tied together with the chair she sat on, while Perdita and Marco sat silently in the room, engulfed in their misery.

Mrs. Perkin somehow had a smug look on her face because of what was going on. She had overheard Perdita and Marco the night before, discuss the exorcism that would happen today. She was happy that finally the vampire siblings will be discovered by the church and will be killed.

In Wallington town, the church members were moving up and about, setting up and getting things they needed ready. Some were busy putting things they will use for the exorcism inside the carriage.

Among all these preparations that went on outside the church building, inside one of the offices inside the church building sat Donovan who was busy with paperwork concerning the exorcism.

As ordered by the king, he was making sure the report was well-detailed and in order to avoid any mistakes.

A knock was heard outside the door of his office just when he stood up from his seat. He arranged the parchments and paperwork on the table before replying to the knock.

”Come in,” He said and waited for the person to come.

The door clicked open with a small creaking sound caused by the nuts of the door that had rotten with years of being the ones holding the door steady.

The person walked in after receiving permission from Donovan, his shoe clicking on the hard floor.

”Headchurch Donovan,” The person greeted with a bow. ”Churchman Welsh asked me to inform you that everything is ready and they are set to move.”

”Hmm,” Donovan hummed in answer. He responded, ”Tell them I’m on my way there now, churchman Lukas,”

”Yes, Headchurch Donovan.” Churchman Lukas bowed obliging to the words of Donovan. He turned around quietly and swiftly left through the door just as he had walked in.

Donovan took a deep breath to release the weight of the church responsibilities hanging on his shoulders. Things he had to take care of and supervise in the church were enormous and heavy for him to carry alone. But there was nothing he could do since he had already pledged from the start that he would be the head of the organization.

Donovan exhaled deeply again, taking with him the parchment of the report and also the parchment of how the exorcism will be conducted, he left the office and closed the door behind him. He locked it and put the key into his coat pocket.

Just as Donovan walked along the passages of the church building, Churchman Theodore came from the other end of the passage and met him halfway.

”Churchman Theodore, ” Donovan called the vampire church member. ”I was informed that everything is ready?”

Theodore’s bloodred eyes looked at the things Donovan was holding before he replied, ”Yes, everything is ready. We are only waiting for you.”

”Yes. That is where I was also heading to.” Donovan responded with a nod.

Yesterday, he had carefully thought about what Theodore had suggested that they take only a few people from the church for the exorcism, and he had come to the conclusion to take the advice of Theodore.

Theodore was right. For confidentiality and a well-organized exorcism, they only needed a handful of people and not the fifteen members he had appointed.

”Did you bring the witch?” Donovan after a while questioned Theodore who nodded his head in confirmation.

”Yes,” Theodore answered. He continued to say, ”I have already sent her to Woodbridge village and she’s currently in the alley.”

”That is good,” Donovan praised and went silent as they continued walking.

For the exorcism to be conducted in the right way, the church had summoned a witch who they held captive for a long time.

The witch was the one that will conduct the exorcism that needed to be performed. The markings and incantations were all done by the witches who held and practiced magic.

No one, except Donovan and Theodore, knew about the hidden witch. This was one of the reasons why Theodore had suggested they went with few church members to keep the witch secret without being known by many.

Theodore and Donovan continued walking along the passage as they passed several rooms of the church building before they arrived at the entrance where three carriages were stationed.

Donovan walked forward and stood in front of the five church members he had left with him instead of the eleven he had earlier appointed.

Seeing everyone was ready, he gave them the signal to start moving.

The first carriage contained the things they needed for the exorcism. The second carriage was occupied by the five church members. The third was occupied by, Headchurch Donovan, churchman Welsh, churchman Theodore, and churchwoman Martha.

Together, the three carriages left through the gate of the church building and headed to Woodbridge village which was quiet as if it was met with a plague.

At the same time in the castle, Sthena stood with Daemon in the drawing room which no one accessed or passed through.

They stood facing the open floor-to-ceiling glass window, overlooking the castle environment.

Sthena asked Daemon, ”Is everything in order as I have ordered?” There was slight urgency in the way he spoke that made Daemon know that the time has come for the plans of the King to fall into place.

”Yes, Milord,” Daemon answered respectfully with his head slightly bowed. To say Daemon was not thrilled about this whole thing was an understatement, he loved every bit of it and if possible, he wouldn’t mind helping the King to rip some hearts out. It was going to be a fun day.

Sthena nodded his head in understanding. He turned to face Daemon as he patted his shoulders. He said, ”You know what to do and know when to withdraw.” It was not a question but a statement to Daemon who knew all he had to do.

Sthena went on, ”You withdraw at the right time and return to the castle while I finish things there.” He instructed and nodded towards the gate and said, ”There is someone outside the gate that was stationed by the church to probably monitor my movements. He might follow you when he sees you leaving the castle. Be careful not to be caught.”

”Go on. The church must already be in the village of Woodbridge and in no time they would start the exorcism.”

”Yes, Milord.” Daemon bowed his head obliging to the order of the King. He turned around and left the drawing room.

Sthena’s hands rested on the pane of the glass floor-to-ceiling window moved towards his lips as he traced it with his thumb. He dropped his hand by his side and his tongue peeked out from his tongue.

Sthena ran his tongue on his sharp fangs that had elongated to cause a cut in his tongue. Blood was quick to slip out of the wound and drop on his lips which he licked off immediately. His eyes darkened at the taste of his blood.

He closed the window with the heavy curtains and returned to his seat.

On the table in front of him lay a sharp short knife he slipped into his coat pocket he wore over his black shirt.

He buttoned the middle coat’s buttons and covered his head with the hood. The next second he blinked, Sthena was no longer in the drawing room.

He had directly teleported to the village of Woodbridge which the church members were yet to reach.

One and a half hours passed before the carriages belonging to the church arrived in Woodbridge.

Head warden Humphrey was already waiting for their arrival, and immediately he saw them, he rushed forward to welcome them.

”Welcome, church members. I’m glad you could make it on time. Everything has been arranged as you ordered.”

Donovan nodded his head to acknowledge the greeting of Mr. Humphrey. ”That is good to hear. But must I say that the village looks too quiet?”

Mr. Humphrey forced a smile on his face before he replied to Donovan’s question, ”Well, the villagers are all in their homes as instructed by you. They’re complying with the church’s orders.”

”That’s good to know that they are not going against the order,” Donovan replied and turned to the church members who had alighted from the carriage. He ordered,

”Start the preparation of the exorcism.”