NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The fire Sthena had started with his ability fizzled out as snow countered its effect and so did it on the attacker’s bodies.

They all stood up after the unaware fire that came from the people they came to attack. There was confusion clearly in the way that looked back at Sthena and Perdita like they weren’t expecting such a thing from them.

Meanwhile, Sthena had a wide sly smile adorning his handsome face that looked so innocent as though he was welcoming his favorite guests. He commented with a smile, ”Looks like they loved our welcome language to them just as they greeted us with theirs.”

Perdita cast a quick side glance at Sthena with an ’Are you kidding me?’ look. ”Who are they?” She asked, confused and wondering why they would suddenly be attacked out of the blue. How did they find out where they were in the first place? They couldn’t have been followed because Sthena had teleported directly to this place. Then how were they found out?

Wait! Were they sent by Serena?!

The question hit a realization in Perdita’s head as she turned to look at Sthena and at the same time, Sthena turned to look at her to answer her question, ”I cannot tell from whom they came from. But one thing I know is that they cannot be from Serena. They wouldn’t send another person to do the job. They would come by themselves.”

Perdita looked surprised. She asked, ”How did you know it is what I was going to ask you.”

”Your face, but before that, move out out of the way.” Sthena causally said meanwhile, another attack was coming their way. But before the man could get to him and Perdita, he had already blocked Perdita from their view so she could go hide.

The floor of the forest soon turned into a battleground as Sthena and the unknown men were now engaged in a serious fight. But it looked more as if Sthena was playing with them rather than fighting, but at the same time, he was injuring them badly at their weak points.

The men seven in total did not give Sthena a moving space as they clustered around him wanting to give him an injury too. But Sthena being experienced in the act of fighting built from years of experience countered all their attempts.

One of the men’s elongated claws came at Sthena’s face to claw him and in return, Sthena set his sharp nails on fire using his ability. The man’s nails due to the fire created by Sthena burnt and melted instantly leaving him with a burnt finger with no nail intact. The man fell to the ground to grab snow to stop his nails from going down but it was too late to save it. Without a second more, Sthena stepped on the man and broke his backbone and his claws went into the man’s chest from his back, killing him on the spot.

As Sthena was doing all these, he never allowed the others to get near him. And like the first man, the remaining six men died one after the other.

Perdita in her hiding place watched in awe as Sthena gruesomely killed the men who came to attack them. The sight was unsettling but that didn’t bother her as all her attention was solely focused on Sthena’s movements and his skill in fighting.

Her mouth was parted and her eyes were wide as the fight ended without a scratch on Sthena. She couldn’t move until Sthena walked towards her with a smile on his face.

He said, ”Entranced and enchanted by me already?”

Perdita blinked, shaking her head in return to Sthena’s remark. She couldn’t help but praise him, ”That was so smooth and cool. And you were so swift with your attacks. Let me not forget to add brutal too.”

Perdita’s words made Sthena let out a chuckle. He remarked, ”That means I did enchant with my movements. Interesting. You want to learn?”

”Learn?” Perdita questioned back in surprise, her voice laced with excitement as she continued to question ”You would teach me?”

”Do you want to? I will teach you if you are interested. Speaking of which...” Sthena paused with a thoughtful look, ”I did mention that I would teach you how to fight so you can be able to protect yourself when I am not with you. Today’s attack will surely repeat itself.”

Perdita’s heart sank on hearing Sthena’s words. For a moment, she had forgotten they were attacked because she was fascinated by the way Sthena fought. This was the first time she had seen him openly fight anyway and he was so good at it. As if he was born with it. Did she enjoy fighting this much? Perdita asked herself in doubt.

”I would love to learn someday but...” Perdita began and paused.

”You are scared,” Sthena pointed out with a smile. ”Do not worry, I’ll be gentle when teaching. Today’s encounter should encourage you to learn it anyway.”

”Okay,” Perdita nodded and questioned, ”Did you find out whom they came from? The person that must have sent them.”

”Not yet,” Sthena replied and started to walk to be followed by Perdita. ”But my guess is that they might come from Vetis.”

”Vetis? The one that is also after me and my brother and your long-time enemy?” Perdita questioned with a raised eyebrow while constantly looking at Sthena while she spoke.

”That is correct,” Sthena affirmed. ”But it is my assumption for now, though I wonder why he would come after you now. Must have heard about what happened in the castle through Martha.”

”Martha? Who is she?” Perdita continued to question as she had never heard the name before.

Sthena answered her, ”She is one of the church members that came to the castle this morning for their so-called investigations and questions.”

Perdita’s brows rose in surprise and her face scrunched in confusion. She asked, ”Why would she be working with him?”

Sthena turned to look at Perdita with a gentle smile on his face. He said, ”There are a lot of things you don’t know yet, Perdita. But since we are here now and we’ve come this way and not to add, we have a common enemy now. We should properly enlighten you on the things that have been going on. What do you say?”

Perdita looked up at Sthena without saying anything at first. The way he had spoken to her felt as if he was letting her into his secrets that no one knew of. At the same time, it caused a small torrent of excitement to surge within her just thinking of how it would feel working side by side with him.

Perdita shook her head to get rid of the image forming in her head. What was she thinking?! She heard Sthena say,

”I think it’s best I show this now since it is confirmed you are a witch and a vampire. There’s a little something we need to test out.” Sthena spoke, still maintaining the pace at which he walked.

”Test?” Perdita quizzed in uncertainty. ”What kind of test?”

”We will know till we get there,” Sthena replied.

Perdita only nodded though she had a lot of questions burning in her chest she wanted to ask. It seems she would have to take everything slowly and one at a time. She would do anything it took to get her brother back.