NIGHTS OF HALLOW

In the cool and quiet the night brought with it and the aftermath of the snow that left everywhere frozen with snow, two shadows walked under the street lamps of a town casting an ominous shadow on the ground.

One walked in front with steps firm on the concrete floor and head slightly bent to hide the face that was covered by the hood on the head.

The other shadow walked a little behind the first one, the step quiet and discreet so as not to alert the one in front. This second shadow was none other than Chief Advisor Daemon.

Daemon had gone to the church building in Wallington town to deliver something as ordered by the king when he saw and noticed a strange movement by one of the church members, precisely one of the founders of the church.

Curious to know what the person was hiding and the reason why a bird will discreetly deliver a message to the person, Daemon had decided to follow the person.

They continued to walk, one walking firm and fast, and Daemon keeping up with the person’s pace.

Suddenly the person in front stopped and sharply turned to look back, and at the same time, Daemon with his vampire speed moved quickly to hide behind a building.

This continued for a while, the person suddenly stopping and Daemon quickly moving to hide.

Daemon clicked his tongue in annoyance. He was particularly not fond of the game of hide and seek they were playing. All he wanted to know was the person that sent the bird to deliver the message to the church member and what they were hiding.

With the recent news of how someone was leaking information from the church, he thought he could do some investigation and report to the king since Churchman Theodore was not done with his.

The person in front finally made a stop near the entrance of a mansion. The person turned around to check if there was someone around or anything suspicious before opening the gate and walking inside the mansion.

Meanwhile, Daemon stood not far from the mansion the person walked into and held a knowing look.

He knew who the mansion belonged to. It was the mansion of Vetis Leander, the master of John who was keen on creating terror in the kingdom.

”So one of the founders of the church is working with Vetis. No wonder he always gets the information from the church and had a plan to block theirs.”

Daemon muttered to himself. ”Interesting. I wonder what will happen from now on in the church. With someone as powerful as Vetis having a puppet in the church, there was bound to be a disaster. And it was going to happen sooner or later.”

”The king will be so thrilled to hear this,” Daemon smiled and made his way back to the castle.

Inside the building where the church member Daemon had been following entered, the person now knelt with one knee on the black and cold marble floor while the other knee pointed upwards, propping the arm placed on it to balance the weight of the person.

Vetis Leander sat comfortably on a couch with one leg crossed over the other as he regarded the person kneeling in front of him.

As usual, his attire was inconspicuous where a hat replaced the hood he always wore and a black mask covered his face. Everything he wore was all black. The coat, the gloves, the mask, and the hat were all black. One glance was enough to make one shiver at the sight of him.

”Master,” The person called and bowed the already lowered head more deeply than before. ”I came quickly as I saw your message.” The person said.

”Hmm,” Vetis hummed and turned his face away from the person before saying, ”You know why I kept you in the church?” He asked.

”Yes Master,” The person promptly answered.

”Why?” Vetis continued to question.

The person took a deep breath as if contemplating what to say. ”To be a puppet in the church.” The person answered as much as the person hated to admit it.

”Good,” Vetis said. He uncrossed his leg and kept his hand on the headrest, appearing to be in a relaxed position. He went on to speak, ”Being a puppet in the church, you should know what you have to do. All information should always be known to me. I can easily replace you if you fail to do as I ordered. Do you understand?”

”Yes, Master.” The person bowed again.

”What is the situation in the church? Anything I should know of?”

”No, Master. There is nothing new in the church. Once anything comes out, I’ll let you know.” The person replied.

”It’s so careless of you not to know how the exorcism ritual was conducted. What Head church Donovan did in front of you all was a sham. I know he brought a witch to conduct the ritual.” Vetis spoke. Irritation and anger could be heard in every word that left his mouth.

”I apologize for my negligence, Master.”

”You should be grateful I didn’t cut your hand for it.” Vetis spat. ”All I asked you was to monitor everything and report to me, yet you couldn’t do it. Because of you, I lost my chance of capturing the witch that would have been the success of my experiment.”

”Your next mission is to find out where a woman with green eyes is. Look for her everywhere and make sure you bring her to me. Alive.” Vetis said.

Green eyes woman? The person internally questioned with a frown.

”John failed to capture the Lady on the day of the exorcism. I hope you wouldn’t be useless as him. Hmm?”

”No, Master. I’ll make sure to bring the lady as you’ve ordered.” The person obliged with a bow.

”Leave,” Vetis ordered already in a foul mood.

”Yes, Master.” The person bowed again before leaving the mansion.

At the same time in the castle, Daemon who just arrived walked in the hallways lit with wall lamps burning brightly and enough to chase the darkness away.

Turning to another hallway as he headed to where he felt the presence of the king, he noticed something move behind him.

He stopped and turned, and there at the far end was Princess Sarah standing with her chin up in arrogance and a glare directed toward Daemon.

”Your Highness,” Daemon bowed out of courtesy. On a normal day, he wouldn’t spare the arrogant Princess a look and would walk past her, but tonight, it seemed as if the Princess was out for trouble and he didn’t want to get himself in a stupid mess.

”Why the greeting?” Princess Sarah questioned with a huff. ”You always ignore me and I don’t know if you spare the maids more time than you do to me.” As she spoke, she slowly walked up to Daemon who equally took a step back.

”What do you want, Princess?” Daemon answered, trying hard not to push Sarah out of his way.

”Nothing,” Sarah answered innocently and at the same time, she choose to walk around Daemon, making him more annoyed and dizzy because of what she was doing.

Princess Sarah continued to walk in circles with Daemon at the center. She said, ”I don’t want anything from you, not at the moment at least.”

Then what do you want this little... Daemon thought of a name that would be befitting to Sarah but found none. He ended up adding Princess to the little.

Sarah now stood in front of Daemon, her red eyes staring at every inch of Daemon’s face.

She said, ”I want to know where you went to be so frozen with cold. Even your hair...” As she was speaking, she raised her hand to touch Daemon’s hair only to be caught by the firm grip of Daemon’s hand.

”I don’t think the Princess should be playing this type of game with me. She will end up getting burned.” Daemon muttered and brought her hand down.

”Then, go ahead and burn me. Because that would be the only thing that would stop me from going after you.” The playfulness in Sarah’s initial tone was replaced by a serious tone as they stared intently at each other.

Daemon smiled and released his hold on Sarah’s hand. ”Go back to your room, Princess. It is cold outside.” With that, Daemon swiftly turned on his heels and left Sarah standing in the hallway.

”You’re so cold as ice every time.” Sarah hissed in anger, watching the silhouette of Daemon disappear at the end of the hallway.

”Seems like our Princess is becoming more clingy or should I call it braveness?” Sthena commented as soon as he saw Daemon walk in.

”Milord,” Daemon bowed his head and didn’t comment on Sthena’s words. He knew he saw and heard everything that happened in the hallway with Sarah. He had been on this balcony that allowed one to view both the outside and some inside parts of the castle.

”Oh please,” Sthena waved his hand nonchalantly and rolled his eyes. ”Don’t act so formal with me when I know the beginning of the play between you two though I don’t know what the ending will be like.”

Daemon exhaled and choose not to speak knowing the king was teasing him.

Changing the topic, Daemon informed Sthena, ”I found the church member who is working with Vetis. The puppet in the church.”

The playful atmosphere was quick to change to a serious one. Sthena’s gaze sharpened immediately and he mouthed one word in question, ”Who?”

Daemon slipped his hand into his cost pocket and leaned his back on the rail of the balcony. With a sly smile plastered on his face, he answered the burning question.

”It is Churchwoman Martha.”