NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The exorcism in the village of Woodbridge proceeded according to the orders of Headchurch Donovan.

Head warden Humphrey together with the five church members appointed by Donovan were assigned to put the things that were needed for the exorcism in the right places in the village.

Churchman Theodore, Churchman Welsh, Churchwoman Martha, and Headchurch Donovan went further into the village where they would stay and perform the ritual of the exorcism.

Mr. Welsh and Martha walked ahead with Donovan and Theodore trailing behind them. There was a heavy and unsettling feeling that hung in the air as the villagers peeped from the window of their houses to see what was going on in their village.

Among them were Perdita and Marco who sat inside their house in dread that turned their heart cold. They didn’t need to look out of their window to know that it was the exorcism that is happening in their village. It was just a few hours that were left for them before they would be discovered by the church.

Headchurch Donovan who walked beside Churchman Theodore stared at the various houses belonging to the villagers and was taking note of how the village was and everything that needed to be done and constructed in the village.

After a while of silently walking and observing the village, Donovan turned to Theodore who walked beside him and said,

”I need you to get the witch here while I take care of the remaining things needed for the exorcism.”

”Okay,” Theodore mouthed before he took his left and walked away from there.

Mr. Welsh and Martha who were ahead of Donovan noticed when Theodore left them. They simultaneously turned to look at Donovan, wondering what he had told Theodore and where he suddenly went to.

At the same time, Donovan called them as he walked up to meet them. He said, ”Churchman Welsh and Churchwoman Martha, I want the both of you to supervise the five members in setting the things needed for the exorcism in the right place.”

A frown was quick to appear on the face of Churchwoman Martha as she pursed her lips in displeasure. She spoke, ”Why should we suddenly go there? They are capable enough to put the things in the right places.”

Donovan frowned at Martha’s statement. She always proved to be the strong-headed one among the founders of the church members. He replied, ”Churchwoman Martha shouldn’t question my order and go ahead with it.”

”I’m not trying to be defiant, Headchurch Donovan. I was only stating the fact. The five church members appointed to join in this exorcism know what and what not to do.” Martha crossed her arms across her chest as she stared at Donovan with a narrowed look.

She continued to say, ”Besides, Headchurch Donovan, as we discussed before coming out here, we agreed that the four of us, Churchman Theodore, Churchman Welsh, you, and I will partake and stay there when the ritual for the exorcism starts. Isn’t that right, Headchurch Donovan or are you trying to keep us away from it?”

The frown on Donovan’s face deepened. He stared at Martha for a long while before speaking, ”Why does Churchwoman Martha think I’m trying to keep her and churchman Welsh away from partaking in the ritual of the exorcism?”

”Isn’t that what it is pointing at?” Martha questioned back in the same vigor as Donovan.

”I asked you to help supervise the five church members so they wouldn’t make any mistake in placing the things the wrong way that might disrupt the exorcism. I did not ask Churchwoman Martha and Churchman Welsh to stay away from it.”

”Churchwoman Martha,” Mr. Welsh called the furious churchwoman. ”Come on, let’s go do what Headchurch Donovan ordered. He is not trying to chase us away, we have to do this quickly and get on with other things at hand. You’re drawing us back if you keep doing this.”

The words of Mr. Welsh seemed to infuriate Martha more. She turned to glare at Mr. Welsh for interfering in what she was doing.

Martha gritted her teeth and could only curse in her head before she matched off to carry out the order of Donovan.

Mr. Welsh shook his head disapprovingly before he also turned and followed after Martha who was puffing out invincible smokes of anger from her nostrils and ears. The heat emitting from her could warm the dull weather of Woodbridge village.

Donovan stood at the same spot where Martha and Mr. Welsh had left him with a frown still on his face. His eyes looked as if they would drill holes in the body of Martha.

Why did it feel like Churchwoman Martha was up to something? Donovan thought to himself. Martha was surely behaving suspiciously in his eyes. Why would she subtly object doing what he asked her and insisted on staying there when the ritual was being conducted?

Was there something she wanted to do or was he thinking too much into this? Since the past few days they started to come to the village of Woodbridge to verify the report of the missing Mr. Perkin, he had noticed that some information were being leaked out from the church to God knows where.

He knew that everyone who worked in the church had their own hidden agenda, either good or bad in mind for joining the church. He was now suspicious of everyone, especially those among the founders of the church and he was also extremely careful and taking note of what everyone did and said.

The way churchwoman Martha spoke had earned her to be in the top suspicious lists of Donovan, and not to add, Churchman Theodore whose mysterious self was suspicious enough to take the first position in the list of Donovan.

Somehow, Martha was right with what she had said. Donovan had wanted them not to be there when Theodore brought the witch who will perform the ritual.

The secret of the witch should remain hidden from many. It shouldn’t be in the open to avoid bigger trouble.

At the same time when all these went on between Donovan, Mr. Welsh, and Martha, and in the alley, stood Sthena who had directly teleported there.

After walking around the alley inspecting how the guards were stationed, who had not noticed him, he now stood facing a particular wall that made a wide smile appear on his face.

On the wall he was looking at was Perdita’s message she had written to him during the time she was looking for him.

He traced his hand on the words she scribbled on the wall with coal. ’Can I see you? I’ve got some troubles to take care of.’ — green eyes.

She had used green eyes to address herself so that another person who might read the message wouldn’t know the message was from her. The thought made the smile on Sthena’s face widen and a chuckle broke from his lips.

”Perdita,” Her name rolled out of his mouth as if he was testing how her name felt on his tongue.

Not long, Theodore who was sent to bring the witch approached, walking in the direction the King stood with his back facing him.

Sthena didn’t bother to hide or go out from there lest he was discovered. Instead, he stood there still tracing Perdita’s message on the wall.

The next time he moved his hand against the wall, the message of Perdita suddenly disappeared together with the smile on his face.

He turned in the direction of the step coming towards him, and shortly after, Theodore walked in and stood in front of him.

It didn’t take a second for Theodore to recognize the man who had a hood over his head.

”Milord,” Theodore called and bowed deeply at the King. He was not surprised to see the King here. In fact, he knew that he would be here today. This was the King of Vamlone kingdom. The sly and cunning King.

Though he was expecting him to be here in Woodbridge village, he didn’t know what he had in mind for coming.

”Hmm,” Sthena hummed in acknowledgment of Theodore’s greeting. He asked, ”How is the exorcism going?”

”Everything is going well, Milord,” Theodore replied respectfully. His bloodred eyes stared at Sthena but not in the eye.

Sthena nodded his head, making the hood bounce repeatedly on his head. He turned around and began to walk deeper into the alley and Theodore followed behind him.

”I see the church brought the witch for the exorcism?” Sthena suddenly asked the silent Theodore.

A surprised look appeared on Theodore’s face, but it quickly went as it came. How did he know about the witch? Theodore questioned himself.

Of course, it was the king. The mysterious king with whom nothing escapes his eyes. He needn’t ask how he got to discover the witch he and Donovan had kept from the eyes of many.

”Yes,” He replied the king’s question and everywhere went silent again until they reached the place where he had kept the witch. It was as if the king was now the one leading him to the witch.

”I hope, My Lord, is not planning or going to do something that will disrupt the exorcism?” Theodore paused in his track and dared to look Sthena in the eyes and questioned, but Sthena made no attempt to open his lips to answer him.

Seeing the king was not replying, Theodore sighed and continued to say, ”I hope, My Lord, will not cause any death today. Headchurch Donovan is already getting suspicious of everyone, including me.”

”Do not worry, Theo. The king knows what he is doing. Also, you should give him enough reason to suspect you, Theodore.” Sthena grinned as he said the last sentence, and Theodore knew he was going to ask him to do something today concerning the exorcism.

Theodore was not scared or bothered about what Headchurch Donovan would think or say of him, it was just that every order that came from the king was something a strong-willed person can do. It always involved bloodshed and today was not going to be an exception.