NIGHTS OF HALLOW

”It is time to address our jealous Lady here, hm?” Sthena remarked immediately the carriage started moving.

His words earned him a glare from Perdita whose head snapped to look at him.

”Easy, darling,” Sthena moved back as though in fear. ”Who would have known that the blood you drank this morning would turn to a glass filled with green jealousy,”

”I wonder whose blood you drank that left you delusional,” Perdita retorted, her face back to looking out the window of the carriage.

”Ah,” Sthena exclaimed dramatically, a thoughtful look on his face. ”If I had known you would react this way, I shouldn’t have recommended styles for the other women. Guess it’s too late to make amends.”

Perdita refused to speak or turn knowing that any word she spoke would betray her. She couldn’t hide anything from the vampire and it infuriated her that he could read her like a book. And more infuriated with herself at the moment for being jealous.

”Perhaps you should probably bring more styles for them. I believe they would gladly love to wear them.” Perdita finally said. Though she tried to keep her voice steady, the crack in her voice betrayed her that she was not far from being jealous. How could a simple thing such as dress designs bring out the jealousy in her?!

”Perhaps I should,” Sthena agreed with a nod. ”Or perhaps you would love to be my first and only model for my styles?”

Perdita turned sharply on feeling the breath of Sthena fan the side of her face. The words he spoke and his closeness caused her already frayed heart to quiver. When did he suddenly sit beside her?!

”W—what do you mean?” She asked, unable to form any intelligent sentence.

”As much as it thrills me to poke you to get these reactions from you, I must stop here,” Sthena replied, his red eyes bore deep into Perdita’s green orbs that lay vulnerable to him. He confessed, ”You are the first woman to ever wear any dress designed by me. There is no other woman besides you, Perdita. You are my first muse.”

The voice of Sthena, his words coupled with the way his breath fanned her face accompanied by the slight sway of the carriage to Perdita felt as if her heart would burst from the rush of emotions that enveloped her being.

It was no lie or secret anymore that the man in front of her had stolen her heart but she didn’t know how to admit it. The feeling was surreal to her causing her stomach to churn in excitement and fear too.

”Perdita,” Sthena whispered softly, his eyes trained on her rosy lips that invited him to suck in as their faces were inches away from each other.

Perdita’s face unconsciously inched closer to Sthena’s, the air around them heavy with the whispers of love that seemed to draw them in. And it was mere inches before their lips could touch, both already breathless from the burning anticipation.

Ever slowly and patiently, Sthena drew Perdita close to himself by her waist, his other hand holding her neck as he angled her head to gain more access. His lips slowly descended on hers but just as their lips could meet, a loud crash was heard that shook the carriage, jolting them back from their climax.

Perdita’s eyes snapped open and she instinctively moved back, her face flushed at what was about to happen. She cleared her throat, her eyes darting everywhere but Sthena’s.

At the same time, the carriage’s door swung open with a terrified Coachman and a worried Emily standing behind him.

”Forgive my negligence, Your Majesty!”

”Are you alright, My Lady?”

Both Emily and the Coachman spoke at the same time, each worried for different reasons.

Sthena clearly annoyed by the interruption questioned, ”What happened, Noah?”

Noah bowed, nervous about the consequences that were to follow. He replied, ”I missed a pothole, Your Majesty, and it broke the carriage’s wheels. But I swear it wasn’t there at first. I don’t what happened...” His voice turned low at the last part. Even he couldn’t understand what had happened. One second, they were driving past, and the next there was a pothole suddenly. But before he could control the forthcoming damage, it was already too late.

”Show me,” Sthena ordered. He turned to Perdita and said in a gentle voice different from the one he used with Noah. ”Wait here, I’ll be back.”

”My Lady,” Emily quickly rushed in to check on Perdita. ”Your face is red. And... it’s hot. Are you feeling ill?!”

Outside, Sthena followed Noah to inspect the damage that was caused. As soon as he saw the pothole and the damage it did to the carriage’s wheels, his brows furrowed in suspicion.

He turned to look at the surroundings where they were, a path with forest at both sides. Surely these potholes are usually present, but this one was particularly suspicious given that the road had just been constructed two months back. And another thing he didn’t believe in was coincidence. Someone knew he was coming to Blackfang Town.

”Noah, find a way to fix the carriage, we will continue on our way,” Sthena spoke to the Coachman who bowed his head in understanding. ”Remember to bring it to Blackfang Town to pick us up.”

”Yes, Your Majesty,” Noah obliged with a bow.

Sthena walked back to the carriage where Emily continued to question Perdita if she was truly good in health. Her fear from last night that something was amiss when Perdita got drunk which was unusual resurfaced and she remembered she hadn’t mentioned it yet.

Seeing the King, Emily quickly bowed and kept her hands from touching Perdita’s face.

”Come,” Sthena said, his hand outstretched for Perdita to take.

”What happened?” Perdita asked as she got down from the carriage, her green eyes taking in the environment they were in.

”The carriage broke down, we would have to continue with our legs till Noah fixes the wheels,” Sthena explained, his hand still holding Perdita’s without letting go. This action reminded Perdita of what was about to happen inside the carriage. They had almost kissed!

At the thought came a skip of Perdita’s heart which Sthena clearly heard.

”You are torturing your little heart,” He commented, a small smile stretched on his lips as he turned his head to regard her.

”Well, who’s to be blamed?” The reply surprised Perdita herself and she bit her lips in embarrassment.

Sthena stared at her for a while and chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. ”My apologies,”

”Huh?”

”I shouldn’t have done that without your permission,” He continued, his voice low and sincere.

”Ah,” Perdita nervously smiled. Her face red as though it was set aflame. Yes, it was. By Sthena. ”You shouldn’t apologize for that,” She replied, her voice a gentle whisper.

”Does that mean I can kiss you without permission?” Came the question of Sthena that had Perdita’s head snap to stare at him. ”I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t do anything you don’t like and will not enjoy.” He added the last part in a low voice he spoke into her ear.

’Will not enjoy.’ Perdita repeated in her head. Now she was curious to know what but decided to keep the question to herself as they continued walking in the comfortable silence that enveloped them walking hand in hand.