NIGHTS OF HALLOW

During the time of the evening, Churchman Theodore who Sthena had sent to be called by Daemon arrived in the castle in his carriage.

Theodore stepped down from the carriage, his face looking pale because of the cold and also because he was a vampire. His long coat draped on his body and his ironed pants gave him a regal look as he approached the entrance of the castle.

The door of the castle’s entrance was opened by the guards stationed outside it as they bowed their heads having recognized who visited the castle.

A maid was the next in line to be seen hovering near the entrance. The maid bowed deeply in greeting and spoke,

”His Majesty awaits your arrival, Sir Theodore.”

”Where is His Majesty?” Theodore stopped in his tracks and questioned.

”Please follow me, Sir Theodore.” The maid bowed her head again and began to lead the way to where the king was in.

The maid and Churchman Theodore walked for some minutes while taking some turns in the hallways before they arrived in the open space near the garden where Sthena stood with a blood wine in his hand.

”Your Majesty, Sir Theodore is here.” The maid announced and took some steps back, her eyes daring not to look at Sthena as they remained focused on the floor beneath her feet.

”You may leave,” Sthena ordered without turning to see the man the maid announced his arrival.

”Good evening, Your Majesty,” Theodore greeted with a respectful bow.

”Good evening, Theo. I’m glad you could make it.” Sthena acknowledged Theodore’s greetings and finally turned to face him.

Theodore gave a half smile that made his eyes squint a little. He replied, ”As soon as I received your message from Chief Advisor Daemon, I rushed here immediately knowing it was going to be a crucial matter for the king to summon me.”

Sthena returned Theodore’s half smile with a wider one that stretched on his lips. He took a sip of his blood wine before speaking, ”I always knew you to be reliable and ready for anything at any time.”

”You flatter with your compliments, Milord.” Theodore’s smile turned wider. He further said, ”I believe the matter for the urgent call is not as urgent as the call itself?”

”It can be as urgent as the call if the situation is not curbed at the right time,” Sthena responded. The smile earlier on his face faltered and was replaced by a serious one in the same way he spoke.

”Can His Majesty tell me what situation needed immediate attention?” Theodore probed. His face going in tune with that of Sthena’s serious one.

Sthena walked a little forward to stand near a purple flower that had white buds on the top. He stared at the flower as if he was trying to decipher what kind of specie of flower it belonged to.

His gaze flickered from the purple flower back to Churchman Theodore as he turned to face him again. He said, ”It is about the church and the perpetrators in it that could, in no time turn the church into an organization of power struggle.”

”Does the king know who these perpetrators are? Or should I continue to investigate?” Theodore asked while staring at Sthena who took yet another slow slip of his blood wine.

Sthena said, ”I would have left you to continue with the investigation, but since this is something that concerns me now, as when I left it unattended, things started to turn ugly, I have no choice but to intervene now.”

Sthena paused and stared at Theodore to know if he was following what he was saying. Seeing the attentive Theodore nod to his words, Sthena continued to speak,

”The perpetrator in the Church I’m talking about is Churchwoman Martha who is working with that Pureblooded Vampire called Vetis you also know about.”

At the mention of the church woman, Theodore’s brows rose in surprise, and for a moment he felt lost for words. He knew that Churchwoman Martha was one of the people working outside the church and was leaking information, but what he hadn’t been expecting was Martha being the one working with the most sort-out vampire who had been causing chaos for ages now.

”I know you are surprised or should I say shocked?” Sthena continued to speak. ”You shouldn’t be, considering how the world is right now. Everyone wants to grasp this power. Having tasted what it feels like to have the utmost power in the kingdom, I won’t lie to you, Churchman Theodore, that it is very tempting to get hold of it. Even if it is little of it.”

”I won’t judge you though if one day you also want this power,” Sthena added with a cunning smile that now graced his red lips caused by the blood wine continually smearing on them.

”I know where I stand and what I can be able to get hold of. The power struggle is not for me, Milord.” Theodore said in a firm unwavering voice.

”I knew you always have your head with you when it comes to making important decisions. Others won’t see what you see because they are so blinded by the illusion of power they badly try to have while refusing to accept that only one man, who is I, can only be the one holding the utmost power in the kingdom.” Sthena drank his wine again as he continued to speak. Each sip of the drink went smooth and slowly down his throat as he savored the rich taste of the blood wine.

Theodore couldn’t hide the smile that now appeared on his face. ”I can not argue with you on that, Milord. To inform you too, Minister Pristine with the help of Mr. Welsh are gathering evidence against you, this time not only because of his dead son, Markus, but also some other crimes they think you committed.” As Theodore said this, the smile that was on his face a while ago turned into a frown.

”Did they now?” Sthena in turn questioned nonchalantly, ”Allow them to stress their brains. Churchman Welsh wouldn’t be a Churchman if he stopped gathering unnecessary evidence, likewise Minister Pristine would become a useless father if he failed to find justice for his dead son.”

He deliberately paused with an evil glint in his red eyes that the wine glass in his hand reflected so well. He continued, ”So, you see why I asked you to leave them be? I wouldn’t be that heartless to take away the opportunity of them to be useful even if it is once in their lifetime. Though they are good to be called useless in my opinion. What do you think, Theo?”

”Whatever you say, Your Majesty.” Theodore inclined his head to the side in a slight bow. He asked, ”Is there anything else you would like to discuss, Your Majesty?”

”No, Theo. That is all for now. I wanted to do my Church friend a favor by giving him a little information.”

”Thank you, Your Majesty. Your kind gestures are very much appreciated.” Theodore bowed again.

Sthena grinned widely to himself and exclaimed, ”Ah, what can I say? I guess it is my benevolence speaking.”

Theodore inwardly rolled his eyes. This king never stopped to amuse him each time. His benevolence? What a sugar-coated lie. He was doing this because there was something bigger he wanted him to do in the future which he haven’t told him yet. This was one of his tactics to get someone indebted to him.

”I’ll be on my way, Milord. Thank you for having me here.” Theodore said and dusted his coat as a sign of his departure.

”Safe trip back home, Theo. Ah!” Sthena exclaimed, ”Forgive me Theodore for drinking without offering a glass to you. How about I compensate you with a bottle instead?”

”I would appreciate that, Milord,” Theodore said, not wanting to miss the opportunity of getting his hand on one of the oldest wines of the king stored away in his cellar which he was sure all tasted heavenly.

”Please follow me,” Sthena gestured with his hand and began to walk away from there with Theodore behind him.

Out from the open space of the garden and now in one of the hallways walked both men, and not far from them walked Perdita who was heading to the kitchen to refill the jug of water in her hand.

Just before the three people could meet, Perdita like a sneaking mouse dodged behind one of the pillars on sighting the Churchman and Sthena.

Theodore noticed this movement but was not able to see who it was while Sthena on the other hand saw it was Perdita. His lips curved into a smirk and he heard Theodore speak behind him,

”I think there are mouses in the castle, Your Majesty,” Theodore said as if he was informing the king about some animal.

”I think you are right on that.” Sthena agreed. Just before they could cross the pillar where Perdita hid behind, Sthena added in a teasing tone. ”Not only are there mouses, but there are also big rabbits in the castle.”