NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The next day arrived with thick dark clouds hovering above the kingdom of Vamlone like a blanket.

The air was windy as it blew very cold air that could freeze anything it came in contact with and it was soon accompanied by the thick and heavy white snowflakes that started falling.

Regan stirred with a groan from sleeping on the hard dusty floor of the cell room. He stretched his hand in his dreamy state and tried to reach for the duvet to cover his body not knowing he was not in his room.

Unable to touch what he was looking for, he stretched his hand upward now looking for the pillow but still found none.

He frowned, thinking that someone deliberately took away his duvet and pillows that used to be his comfort when sleeping, he shouted as he called the maids in waiting.

Two minutes passed and was going to the third and Regan did not see any maid come inside the room to answer him. He sprang up from where he lay on the floor in anger and was immediately hit with a sharp pain that shot through his head and the moments of him drinking to stupor played out in his throbbing head.

Vampires barely became drunk from alcohol unless they consumed a great quantity of it like how Regan drank bottles of it.

This occurred to him that he had drunk more than required. But what didn’t seem right and was confusing to him was how he was in another room instead of his own.

He was sure he did not leave his room and had sprawled on the ground after drinking, but how come he woke up on this dusty and dirty ground? Did anyone bring him here? He couldn’t remember that too.

Maybe he had truly walked from his drunken state and now found himself here.

Regan held his head that didn’t stop throbbing as if mini soldiers were matching inside his head.

His feet wobbled as he walked to the door. He turned the knob to open the door but it didn’t budge. He tried again and the third one before realizing it was locked.

Who dared to lock him up?! He fumed.

He pushed and tried to kick the door open but to no avail. He had no strength in him and all he wanted was to bathe and sleep till the next morning arrived. He couldn’t stand the smell of dust accumulated in this stuffy room he was in.

Where in the hell was this?!

”Who’s there?! Open the door!” Regan screamed not knowing he was in the cell of the castle where no one wandered and all his screams went unheard.

Meanwhile, in the dining room sat the king, Sthena Acheron, Lady Rosamonda, and Princess Sarah.

There was an unmistaken unnerving silence that enveloped the room as Lady Rosamonda and Princess Sarah sat with their backs stiff and their expression sour.

Lady Rosamonda was the most vexed as she just stared at the king with visible anger while Sarah was slightly annoyed and shocked at the same time.

Soon, the maids started serving the food. Some left after serving the food while three stayed behind.

Sthena with a smile on his face started to eat acting all happy while Lady Rosamonda continued to stare at him with controlled anger.

”Your Majesty,” Unable to hold herself back, Lady Rosamonda called to get the attention of the king who was enjoying his food.

”Hmm?” Sthena hummed in answer and continued to cut and put the food inside his mouth, savoring the taste of the tender meat in his mouth.

”May I know why Prince Regan was locked up?” Lady Rosamonda questioned now clutching her cutlery in a tight grip.

”Do I have to answer to you?” Came the nonchalant reply from Sthena.

”What—” Lady Rosamonda made to talk but withheld herself from saying more. She took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking in a more gentle voice.

”Your Majesty, Prince Regan is your younger brother and it wouldn’t look good for your reputation if heard that you locked him up because of some woman.”

”You did know about it and you still wanted me to say it. Did you so much want to hear my magnetic and hypnotizing voice?” Sthena said ignoring Lady Rosamonda’s words about reputation.

Sarah rolled her eyes over her brother’s statement. She said, ”I can’t believe you locked him up just because of the Lady rumored to be your woman.”

Now this caught Sthena’s attention as his lips pulled up slightly. ”My woman you say?”

”Isn’t that what she is? And not to add, she has been in your room since two days now. Besides, where is she anyway? Are you hiding her?”

”Sarah quiet,” Lady Rosamonda spoke shutting the babbling mouth of Sarah.

Lady Rosamonda turned to look at Sthena who had resumed eating as if what Sarah said was not about him. The man had many quirky characters and right now, the gears in his head must be working.

She carefully asked, ”Milord, are these just rumors as it was termed?”

”No, they’re not.” Sthena dropped the heavy words in the room.

Lady Rosamonda furrowed her brows in annoyance. ”What do you mean, Milord? Whose family is she from?”

”You talk too much, Stepmother Rosamonda.” Sthena interrupted and dabbed the napkin on his lips already lost his appetite.

”Get me a fresh blood,” He ordered one of the maids in the dining room and turned to Lady Rosamonda.

”Whose family she’s from shouldn’t be your problem now, should it? Also, you shouldn’t ask me these questions considering you’re not my mother to choose who I want.”

”It is also a choice for the kingdom. You cannot possibly go and marry someone who would not be able to contribute to your rule and kingdom.” Lady Rosamonda firmly replied.

”Shouldn’t you save that line for your dear son?” Sthena calmly stated and watched as Lady Rosamonda pursed her lips immediately.

”My son is not the king, Your Majesty.” Lady Rosamonda responded.

”And neither am I your son. This case is closed and no one shall question the Lady about it or the person will be met with the same punishment as Prince Regan.” Sthena’s words were absolute leaving no room for arguments.

His intention for agreeing to the rumor that Princess Sarah said had been going around the castle was to use it and protect Perdita from anyone who might want to pick on her.

He didn’t want what happened the day before to repeat itself but it seemed like his agreement to the rumor was going to cause an uproar considering how Lady Rosamonda had twisted it that he was going to marry her and make her the queen.

No more words were spoken in the dining room as Lady Rosamonda kept quiet and silently ate her meal.

At the same time, on the other side of the castle walked Perdita who walked in the hallways looking for Sthena.

Now wearing a light green silk dress that was soft on her skin and also highlighted her figure and her enchanting green eyes, she received the curious but subtle looks of the maids.

The news of what happened the day before had already gone round and everyone was now wary of the lady rumored to be the king’s woman.

No matter how subtle their stares were, Perdita still felt it and each time she turned, the maids will all look away pretending to be dutiful with their work.

Not knowing where she was going or where to find Sthena, Perdita sighted one of the maids who attended her before.

”Emily,” She called and saw the girl turn swiftly on hearing her name.

Emily’s eyes widened before she immediately lowered them and approached Perdita with cautious steps.

”My Lady,” She bowed in greeting before Perdita could stop her. She didn’t like the attention that was on her so she quickly asked,

”Where can I find Sthena?”

Again, Emily was stunned by the way the Lady was addressing the king. ”H...he is in the dining room, My Lady.”

”Can you show me the way? I have something important to tell him.” Perdita said.

”Yes, My Lady. Please follow me.” Emily replied and led Perdita to the dining room.

On reaching the door, they met another maid who had gone to bring the blood Sthena requested for.

”This is the dining room, My Lady,” Emily announced with a bow before she quickly left.

The other maid who was about to go in understanding the Lady was going to meet the King bowed and said, ”My Lady, since you’re going inside, please can you help me serve this to the King?”

”The king?” Perdita asked in doubt.

The maid cast a confused look at Perdita. She didn’t understand why she was asking her about the king. Wasn’t she going to meet him?

”Yes, the king. He requested this. Please help me, My Lady. I’m not really good in health.” The maid lied. Truth was, she didn’t want to go back inside the dining room where a hateful conversation was going on between the king and Lady Rosamonda.

Perdita was hesitant to take the tray from the maid on hearing that the king was in the dining room too. On a second thought, she thought it might be wise to use the opportunity and thank the king for allowing them to stay in the castle.

”Okay,” Perdita agreed and took the tray from the maid who helped her open the door before she disappeared from there.

The silent dining room was disrupted of its peace when Perdita walked in with her head slightly lowered, and she stood by the side of Sthena as his seat was the first one.

Perdita gave a side nod at Sthena and then bowed at the two women who she guessed were the royal family members. She said,

”I’m looking for the king. I heard he ordered this.”

For a moment, Lady Rosamonda thought she didn’t hear correctly. It was Sarah who snapped at her,

”Are you blind not to see the king?”

Perdita turned but saw no king. She only saw Sthena who looked as if he was holding himself from smiling.

She turned back at Sarah with furrowed eyebrows and uttered the words that almost made Lady Rosamonda and Sarah’s eyes almost fall from their sockets.

She said, ”I’m looking for the king and not Sthena. I was told the drink was for the king.”