NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Thirty minutes after Perdita left Sthena in the drawing room, Daemon knocked on the door.

He pushed the door open after he heard the approval of the King.

”Milord,” Daemon bowed in greeting.

”Hmm,” Sthena acknowledged Daemon’s greeting. He proceeded to fold the parchment which he had been writing on and gave it to Daemon. He said, ”Have this delivered to the Head Warden of Woodbridge village. Also, on your way back, inform Churchman Theodore that would like to meet with him.”

”Yes, Milord,” Daemon replied. ”There’s something I wanted to discuss with you, Milord.”

”What is it, Dae?” Sthena probed while bringing out another parchment he started to read what was written on it.

”It is about the witches.” Daemon began and leaned his weight on the table, ”I think I saw some of them the day you asked me to look for Serena.”

”How many did you see?” Sthena asked, his eyes still on what he was reading.

”Two. I saw the two of them. I wouldn’t have known if not for their striking green eyes.”

”Is that so?” Sthena held a thoughtful look. ”Then, this should mean one thing, they were not entirely eradicated by Vetis.”

”Considering how I caught Serena by luck, it means that either all of them are hiding or they are somewhere in their graves hibernating, which I think, the time for them to wake has reached.”

”You reach a conclusion faster than anyone, Milord,” Daemon commented with a smile. ”You maybe be right. I was following them to know where they might have hidden, but unfortunately, I lost them.”

”Even I would have lost them,” Sthena said with a low chortle. ”They are faster and more powerful than you think they are, Daemon. They must have figured out that you were following them. It makes me wonder why they didn’t kill you. I guess they were in a good mood or they didn’t want to dirty their hands with your blood.”

Daemon scoffed and rolled his eyes. ”They wouldn’t dare come near me. They must have sensed my power too, and they know if they attacked me, it would also raise the rumor of them being alive.”

”You’re right on the last part but not on you defeating them. A snap of their finger can get you where you don’t know.” Sthena said. ”Also, I think they must have woken from their hibernation a long time ago. I wonder what the greedy Vetis would do if he finds out that the people he thought he had annihilated a decade ago are back.”

”And not only are they back, but they are also stronger than they were before,” Daemon added with a smile. ”His death he had been courting is going catch up with him soon.”

Sthena laughed with Daemon with a distant thought swirling in his head that wasn’t any good thought. He was plotting those schemes of his again. He heard Daemon say,

”It still marvels me how you shut his mouth in that simple attack. He must have been surprised to see his mansion painted with blood and dead bodies. Ah. Such a poor man seeking power he cannot shoulder.”

”Leave the man, Dae.” Sthena smiled. ”Let him continue his games. I don’t have the time to entertain him this time. Something worth my attention and time is here.”

”Hmm,” Daemon nodded his head understandingly, knowing where the thoughts of Sthena had wheeled to. He stood up and bowed at Sthena. ”I’ll deliver this, and also let Churchman Theodore know that you asked to meet him.”

Daemon said and put the parchment in the inside pocket of his long coat. ”I don’t think I’ll be coming back to the castle anytime soon. I’ll continue to look for Serena. The boy seems to be getting worst, though he pretends to be alright in front of his sister.”

”I noticed that too. His body is not yet stable.” Sthena responded happy that Daemon was looking out for the boy.

Daemon gave a small bow, ”I’ll get going then,”

Sthena nodded and watched Daemon leave through the door.

Outside the room, Daemon’s steps were quick as he walked towards the entrance of the castle to board the carriage he stepped out from some minutes ago.

On his way, he met Marco who offered him a small bow in greeting.

”You are going out again?” Marco asked initiating a conversation as he turned and followed Daemon.

”Yes,” Daemon answered and felt the need to explain. He continued, ”Work calls for it.” He said and thought Marco would stop following him.

”Is there something you would like to tell me?” Daemon asked and turned his head to the side to look at Marco.

”Uhm...yes. I was thinking you could give me a ride in the carriage.”

Daemon raised a brow, ”You want to go out? Where?”

”To Woodbridge,” Marco answered.

”Does His Majesty or your sister know?”

”The king doesn’t know, I sent a maid who went to inform my sister about it. You don’t have to worry about my safety, I’ll be back on time. I just need to take some important things we left behind.”

Daemon did not speak for some seconds, and after much contemplation, he agreed. ”Okay,” Since it was the same place he was going to, he didn’t see any danger in allowing Marco to go with him.

”Thank you,” Marco replied which earned him a frown from Daemon.

”A man doesn’t thank his fellow man, Marco.” Daemon reprimanded.

”Okay.” Marco couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on his face. He already liked this Daemon.

Just before they could reach the entrance, they came across Princess Sarah and her handmaid.

”Ignore them,” Daemon said to Marco, not caring if Princess Sarah heard him.

Princess Sarah on the other hand pursed her lips in displeasure as she halted in her steps. And just like she had heard Daemon say, they walked past her and entered the carriage.

She stood there watching the carriage disappear from her sight heading towards the gate of the castle.

”Your Highness,” Her handmaid called to get her attention.

Sarah sighed and turned to walk inside with a sad smile on her face.

It didn’t take long for Daemon’s carriage to reach the village of Woodbridge.

”Go ahead, I’ll meet with you in thirty minutes,” Daemon told Marco once they stepped down from the carriage.

”Are you here for work?” Marco questioned.

”Yes,” Daemon replied and began to walk in the opposite direction he and Marco stood while Marco nodded and walked the other way towards their house.

Taking the key out from his trouser pocket, Marco slipped the key into the keyhole of the door and the door opened with a click.

Marco looked around the vicinity, knowing the villagers were probably in the market making ends meet. He walked into their small home and closed the door behind him.

Once Marco stepped inside the room, the strong stench wafting from the dead cats that Perdita killed that were still in the process of decay filled his nostrils.

He couldn’t hold in the foul odor and ended up rushing outside to empty his stomach. He breathed in and out after getting a hold of himself. He returned inside the house, this time with his handkerchief tied at the back of his head, covering his nose and mouth.

Leaving what he came to bring with him, Marco decided to clean the house before he left not knowing what transpired between Perdita and Sthena in the room he was in.

He went outside and proceeded to dig the ground behind the house to bury the dead cats since there was no one in the village watching him. When he turned to leave the backyard, he was met with two men and a woman who were none other than Serena, Leonard, and Fredrick. Their striking green eyes pierced into his black ones.

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A/N: I want to thank everyone who continued to vote for this book, and supported it. Thank you so much