NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Sthena stared at the sleeping woman on his bed as he recalled all that happened in the house of Perdita before his Chief Advisor, Daemon arrived.

Sthena raised his hand resting on the armrest of the couch and touched the place Perdita had bitten him on his neck. His eyes darkened and a wave of emotion flickered and disappeared quickly as it came in his dark glacial red orbs.

”So troublesome,” He murmured to himself and pushed his body upward. His gaze went to the woman on his bed and the next second, he found himself seated beside her.

Unable to keep his itching hand to himself, he gently removed the damp baby hairs that stuck to her forehead because of the wet towel he placed on her forehead. Her face looked smooth and delicate even in her sleep.

Perdita stirred in her sleep, her tongue peeked out of her mouth and she licked her lips.

Sthena’s eyes followed the movement of Perdita’s lips and the way she swallowed the lump in her mouth.

”Still hungry for my blood?” He said to the unconscious Perdita with a grin.

”Sleep. I’ll be back later. I still have things to take care of.” Sthena spoke and stood up from the bed. He removed the towel he had placed on her forehead which was now hot because of Perdita’s high temperature.

He replaced the used water in the bowl and brought a new one before he dipped the towel inside it again. He wrung the towel and placed it back on Perdita’s forehead.

Done with that, he wore his coat and hood over his head, and in the next second, he teleported from there.

The cloud in the sky moved like a thick blanket, slowly bringing its darkness that hovered over the people of Vamlone kingdom.

Cold breeze coupled with mist that rose slightly in the air was announcing the possible snow that was going to fall in a few hours coming.

It was now the time of the evening since the church arrived in the village of Woodbridge, and right now, Headchurch Donovan was hasting their activities before the day finally ended.

As ordered by the Headchurch Donovan, the church had gone around the village searching every house, in case there was any vampire who might have hidden in one of the houses.

They also conducted a census for the village, taking note of the people currently living in the village and how many residents of the village died or relocated.

Theodore with his sharp mouth as usual performed the task of deviating the church members away from the house of the siblings as ordered by the king.

Theodore not knowing that he, with the Headchurch Donovan had questioned one of the siblings in the village, precisely the green-eyed, had told his fellow church members that he had already checked the house. That it was owned by a sibling who traveled from the village two fortnights ago.

It was hard at first before the church members agreed to it because Churchwoman Martha and Churchman Welsh insisted on checking the house that a vampire might be hiding in there.

It was on their way from leaving the house of the siblings that Theodore spoke about the issue of the missing guards so that the mind of his fellow church members would entirely deviate from the unchecked house.

He said, ”Headchurch Donovan, I noticed that the guards stationed at the borders have all gone missing.” He paused and turned to look at Mr. Welsh and Martha to see if there was any reaction they would give out. But their face remained the same as before.

”The guards at the borders are missing? When did that happen?” Donovan questioned. Shock evident in his voice.

”I think it is before the exorcism started.” Theodore held a thoughtful look on his face. He continued and knowingly asked, ”Did anyone perhaps ask them to stop guiding the border? Because that was the thought I had when churchwoman Martha and Churchman Welsh were sent to assist the five church members that accompanied us.”

Again as Theodore spoke, his gaze briefly lingered on the two church members. He went back to speak with Donovan, ”Headchurch Donovan, what do you suggest we do about the missing guards? Who knows if they aided the abducting vampire we are looking for? Not to add, we have been searching for a long time now and there’s no sight of any vampire. Doesn’t it look suspicious?”

”Hmm,” Donovan hummed, ”It does look suspicious, churchman Theodore. What I don’t understand is how and why all the guards would plan such a thing.”

”Well...they could have been paid by someone. And who knows if the person aiding them is also from the church. What do you suggest, churchwoman Martha and Churchman Welsh? ” Theodore brought the silent Martha and Mr. Welsh into the conversation.

Mr. Welsh nodded his head, agreeing to the words of Theodore, ”It is possible the person might be from the church. But do not worry yourselves churchman Theodore and Headchurch Donovan. I’ll personally make sure the culprit is fished out as soon as possible.”

Theodore smiled, something he rarely did unless something was going according to his plan which in truth, it was.

”Of course, Churchman Welsh. I know you’re very much capable to do the work. We are very lucky to have you in the church. Why don’t churchwoman Martha help you out? That way, you two would be able to solve the case faster than only you taking the whole matter.”

”I would appreciate the help of churchwoman Martha in the case if she doesn’t have anything to do in the church currently.” Mr. Welsh replied.

”Do not worry about that. Churchwoman Martha is always ready and available to help you out. What do you say, churchwoman Martha?” Theodore asked the churchwoman, his red eyes swirling with an evil glint in them.

Martha pursed her lips and for a while, she stayed quiet before answering Theodore, ”There is no problem with helping Churchman Welsh solve the case. After all, why are we called the church members?”

”Isn’t that awesome, Headchurch Donovan? This way, you will have time to perform other tasks of the church.”

”Hmm,” Donovan hummed without saying any other thing. His face showed he was in deep thought over what Theodore had reported to him, but he kept quiet.

Donovan deliberately slowed his steps and Theodore caught what he was doing and also slowed his steps and waited for Mr. Welsh and Martha to walk further in the front.

Making sure he won’t be heard by the two in front, Donovan asked Theodore, ”What do you know, Theodore?” He didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point. His black eyes peered deep into the red eyes of the vampire church member.

The smile that was Theodore’s face when he spoke with Martha and Mr. Welsh vanished and was replaced with a serious look. He stared back at Donovan with that same vigor and responded to his question,

”There’s infiltration in the church. Someone is working with someone outside.”

Donovan’s brows rose in question and surprise. ”And you think it might be them?” He quizzed, his eyes briefly looking at Mr. Welsh and Martha.

”I don’t know who it might be, but the person is among us. Either within the founders of the church or among the five members you appointed to accompany us.”

Donovan exhaled deeply with his head hung low in thought. He knew something like his will happen someday but he had not expected it to be this soon.

”How do you plan to find out who it is?” Donovan questioned after a moment of silence.

”Leave it to me to solve. I’ve laid the traps, waiting for the one that will fall in. And another thing, this should be a confidential matter. No one except you and I must know.” Theodore answered in a serious tone which Donovan concurred with with a nod of his head.

The exorcism had come to an end and the church members had all boarded the respective carriages they came with, all ready to go back to the Wallington town where the church building was located.

Donovan was the last to climb into the carriage and before entering inside, he turned to look at the village for the last time, and he knew that everything that they had done was fruitless and useless just like how the king had told them.

There was no way they were going to get to the root of what they came to do because the vampire that must have been in the village had escaped with the help of someone who was working in the church.

No matter how hard he thought of who the person might be, he still failed to connect the dots. He had relaxed and something so grave was going on behind his back without his knowledge.

Donovan exhaled again and entered the carriage he with Martha, Theodore, and Mr. Welsh came with.

The door of the carriage was closed by the coachman before he returned to his driver’s seat and the three carriages of the church all left, leaving the village of Woodbridge in the cold embrace of their visit and the snow that was about to fall in the coming hour.