NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The sound of the running hooves of the horses and the wheels of the carriage echoed as it drove out of the castle’s concrete ground.

Inside the carriage, Perdita sat with her palm placed on her lap, and opposite from where she sat was Sthena whose gaze was directed towards the carriage’s window as he enjoyed the view outside.

”I saw another carriage drive in just as we left. Are you not expecting a guest? I mean, if you are leaving and you have a guest now.” Perdita broke the silence that was nonetheless a comfortable one.

”Here I thought as your lips parted, you were going to ask where I was taking you to,” Sthena turned to Perdita, his eyes on her that made her want to look away. ”I am not expecting anyone if it eases your mind. Where I am taking you to is more important than whoever it might be. Besides, the person could be a guest of my stepfamily.”

”Where’s that? Where are you taking me to?”

”And now you ask,” Sthena shook his head with a smile on his face. ”To visit an old friend of mine.”

”Oh,” Perdita mouthed with a nod of her head wondering why Sthena was taking her to meet an old friend of his. Not wanting to ask too many questions than she had already, she switched the topic saying, ”It feels like forever since I last heard from my brother, Marco. I wonder how he is doing. If they are treating him well. If he is eating. He can be very stubborn sometimes and refuse to eat.” She let out a weary chuckle after speaking, her mind reminiscing the old times she had with Marco.

How many weeks have already gone by since Serena and her men took her brother? The new year was fast approaching, with a few more weeks to go. Everything was happening so fast. Her powers resurfacing, history being discovered, and questions everywhere with little or no answers to them.

What was she and Marco going to do being the vampire-witch siblings? What was the destiny that was to be fulfilled? When was it going to happen? What if it happens at any moment, what was she going to do? How was she going to master everything and not end up conjuring something she didn’t know that could kill both her and the innocent people around her? There were so many questions with no answer. She was a threat to be even to herself.

Perdita deep in thought that flooded her mind felt a touch on her shoulder that startled her as she let out a gasp. She turned to see Sthena now seated beside her, the look in his eyes filled with warmth and love. He said,

”Your brother is fine, Perdita. He is Marco. He is strong and a capable man, he’ll pull through. Just like I have always told you, Serena will dare not hurt him nor will the men do so. You will meet him one day I promise you.”

”Thank you,” Perdita murmured, blinking back the tears that threatened to slip from her moist eyes, she heard Sthena further say, ”Now, now, don’t be a crybaby. What will my friend say? That I made you cry although this might not be the scenario he would think of.”

Perdita’s brows furrowed, and her green eyes stared back at Sthena in confusion. She quizzed, ”What scenario?”

”Bed scenario,” Sthena whispered with a teasing smile that caused a smile to stretch on Perdita’s cheeks when she realized what he meant. ”Come here, my love,” Sthena muttered and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.

”Have I ever told you that you have always been tied to me? And me to you?”

”You say a lot of things, Your Majesty,” Perdita joked, snuggled into the arms of the man her heart skipped beats for any time he was near.

Sthena chuckled at her response. He weaved his fingers into her hair, feeling the smooth and soft texture as he ran his hand on the length of it. He expressed, ”I am telling you now. That day inside the market when we first met was when the confirmation was made. The strings of my heart were always pulled towards you as we continued to meet each other one way or the other back then.”

”Do you believe in fated love, Sthena?” Perdita suddenly asked, raising her head to look at him. He spoke like he had always fallen for her. Which makes her ask, when did Sthena fall for her? Perdita questioned over the thought in her head.

”If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be here holding each other.” Came Sthena’s response as he kissed her hair. ”Yes, I believe in fated love and you are my fated love, my love.”

Perdita fell silent for some seconds while staring at Sthena who equally stared at her. She sat up and leaned towards him and kissed his cheek, her lips lingering for more than a second.

”We are here,” Sthena announced just as the carriage stopped and the Coachman quickly jumped down to open the door.

Stepping out of the carriage, Perdita was greeted with the sight of an unusual house she had never seen before.

”The walls are black?” Out of curiosity and surprise, Perdita blurted.

”Yes, a typical pureblooded vampire’s home. You will find the interior more mysterious. Come on,” Sthena urged as he led her towards the entrance, just in time to see a man walk out of the house, his gray mustache evidence of his old age.

”Your Majesty,” The man bowed respectfully. ”It is a pleasure to see you grace our home with your presence after such a long time.”

”Mmhm, pleasure all mine,” Sthena hummed, acknowledging the man’s greeting. ”How have you been, Old Marcurly?”

”I’ve been very well, Your Majesty. Thank you for asking. Please, come inside,” Old Marcurly gestured towards the double black doors of the mansion.

How could everything she had seen until now all be in black colors? The walls, the windows, the doors, even the statue at the entrance. Perdita internally asked herself, her eyes taking in everything around her.

Almost immediately, another man emerged. He was young and looked vibrant in his early thirties. His dirty blonde hair added to the hint of mischief in his dark red eyes, his lips pulled into a lopsided grin like someone who was regularly amused. Tall and handsome with a well-chiseled face, the type that easily drew attention to themselves anywhere they entered.

”Your Majesty,” The young man called out with a bow, grinning from ear to ear like a child presented with lots of treats, ”Long time no see,” He said, exchanging a handshake with the king. ”And who is this lovely beauty you have graced my home with?”

”Eyes off her, Nathan,” Sthena warned in a friendly tone even though he was dead serious about it. ”She is Lady Perdita.”

”A pleasure to meet you, My Lady,” Nathan reached out, ignoring the King’s words and took Perdita’s hand for a kiss.

Seems this was the old friend he mentioned. She had thought it was the elderly man. Perdita thought and replied to Nathan’s greetings with a smile, ”A pleasure to meet you too,” Just as Nathan’s lips were about to touch Perdita’s hand, he let out a muffled grunt and immediately took a step back, letting go of Perdita’s hand.

Perdita’s eyes widened. She looked at Sthena and back at his friend Nathan whose mouth was now frozen, clapping his lips shut. Did Sthena just use his freezing ability on his friend?! She had seen what did to Lady Rosamonda’s hand for days. How possessive could Sthena get, Perdita wondered.

”I hate to waste my breath saying the same thing twice,” Sthena remarked, a broad smile on his face even though the smile didn’t appear friendly. ”I have come here with a serious business. Can we now get on with it?” He asked smiling as though nothing happened before proceeding to stop Nathan’s mouth from freezing more.

”You never change, Your Majesty. She must be very important to you. Something I didn’t think I would see myself witnessing. My days are finally coming to an end.” Nathan shook his head, placing his hand on his chest dramatically as he exhaled. ”Follow me, Your Majesty, My Lady,” He said leading them inside.

As they were about to enter the building, the elderly man, old Marcurly, who had been standing behind Nathan turned to look at Perdita. His black eyes suddenly glowed a dark shade of grey and then returned to their initial black color.

Shocked and afraid, Perdita quickened her steps to walk beside Sthena, her heartbeat racing at the way the man had stared at her. What just happened and what was this place?!