NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Stepping into the mansion, Perdita was greeted with a space shrouded in darkness. The walls just like the outside were painted with deep rich black that seemed to absorb the faintest glimmer of light. The air heavy with the smell of old leather and the undeniable smell of blood that wouldn’t be noted by a normal person could be smelt by Perdita.

Across from the entrance was the sitting room holding its majestic elegance. The furniture, plush and exquisite in blood red hue with silver thread embroidery shimmered in the dimly lit room.

Walking further into the mansion, the floor polished to a high sheen reflected the soft glow of candles that flickered like fireflies in the darkness. On some parts of the wall were old tapestries depicting scenes of dark forests, ruined castles, and ghostly apparitions.

For someone who was brought up in an environment where certain things were perceived as witchery, Perdita found herself in awe looking at each art displaying the rich and dark nature of vampires. Their love for darkness and the fact that dwelled in it without caring about who would visit their house.

”Where are we going?” Perdita whispered to the hearing of Sthena, nonetheless was heard by Nathan who turned in the direction of Perdita and answered her question.

”To my working room, My Lady,” Nathan replied, flashing her a bright smile. He went on to ask, ”How do you see the interior design of the mansion so far, My Lady?”

”Uhm,” Perdita cleared her throat, her eyes darting from Sthena to the hallway they currently were passing through and then to Nathan. ”I must say, your choice of decorations is quite unique, depicting the heritage and true nature of a vampire. The ambience though dark, is calm and nerve-indulging.”

”You have a keen eye and a way of appreciation, My Lady.” Nathan smiled, his fangs coming into view as he slipped his hand into his trouser pocket. ”I’m glad you like the interior design even though everywhere and everything is shrouded in darkness.”

”His house is the exact depiction of his heart. Don’t be fooled by the welcoming and calm ambience of everything.” Sthena rolled his eyes at Nathan’s reply.

”I hate to admit, Your Majesty, you sell me short on everything, especially in front of as lovely lady as Lady Perdita.” Nathan exhaled, shaking his head with a downcast expression on his face.

”Only a fool will fall for your tricks,” Sthena’s words made Nathan chuckle as he pushed a door open. ”We are here!” He announced, pushing the door to the room open and then stepping aside to let the duo walk in.

As Nathan opened the door, Perdita was in awe once more at how ghostly the room looked yet, had a certain thrill to it that can make one discard the imposing danger of walking in to explore the artifacts inside.

The walls similarly, were painted black and in the corners of the room were cobwebs shrouded candelabras like skeletal sentinels, their candles burning with a faint outwardly glow.

At the centre of the room was a massive ornate mirror stationed to capture the view of anyone who walked into the room. Its surface smooth and void of any trace of dirt, reflected the darkness in the room like a still black lake. Looking at the mirror seemed as though it was a portal to another world.

”Welcome to my workroom,” Nathan gestured, smiling at Perdita whose gaze took in everything she saw. It was nothing like she had seen before. She thought. This mansion was more mysterious than the regular vampire houses she had seen and had heard of.

”Don’t look at the mirror for too long,” Sthena cautioned taking Perdita to the side to take her gaze away from the mirror that had an enchanting reflection and was alluring to look at.

”Why?” Curious, Perdita asked not resisting the urge to take a last glance at it.

Seeing this, Sthena went to stand in front of the mirror, shielding Perdita’s gaze from looking at the mirror. He then explained, ”This is not the typical mirror you have always known. Looking at it for a while can make you lose yourself as you would start seeing images that seem to reflect the life you have lived, nonetheless, is all but a façade.”

”What he is saying is not entirely true, My Lady,” Nathan intervened, holding in his hand a bunch of cards he shuffled. ”Who is doing the reading?” He asked, directing the question to the king.

”She will,” Sthena replied, his expression stern as he looked at Nathan daring him not to say anything more about the mirror.

Nathan rolled his eyes, clearly ignoring the threat from Sthena. He handed a puzzled Perdita a card, ”Hold this for me, My Lady.”

”What is this for?” Perdita unable to hold back the question that had been at the tip of her tongue since she walked into the mansion wanting to know the reason why Sthena had taken her here quizzed, her eyes staring from Sthena to Nathan.

”It’s called card reading,” Sthena answered and further explained saying, ”There is a theory which I read about you being a vampire-witch sibling I want to confirm. I didn’t tell you beforehand so as not to get your hopes up in case it doesn’t work out.”

”Oh,” Perdita mouthed nodding her head in understanding. The voice of Nathan came again, resuming his explanation about the mirror.

He said, ”My Lady, the explanation about this mirror isn’t exactly like my friend here explained it,”

”I’d like to hear your explanation then,” Perdita said, still holding the card given to her.

”Yes, My Lady,” Nathan nodded like a dutiful teacher as he now stood before the mirror. ”This mirror like His Majesty said, isn’t like any mirror you have seen till now. It can reflect the life you have lived. Meaning you can see the course of your life being played out here in this mirror. The only false explanation to what His Majesty said is that it would seem like it is what happened in one’s life. In this scenario, it doesn’t seem, it is what happened in your life. Everything being played or reflected by this mirror is what happened in your life.”

Perdita’s eyes slightly widened, mirroring the surprise she had of the mirror she would have mistaken for every other mirror. ”I didn’t know such a thing existed. How does it work?”

”You will find that there are so many abnormal things that exist as you explore the world, My Lady,” Nathan acknowledged with a knowing smile. ”All you have to do is stare into the mirror for some time. The mirror itself has the ability to connect to your soul, and then bring alive everything you have done in the course of your life till the last second.”

”There is a precaution to be followed, however, the more you view your memories through it, the more it would be snuck into your soul and it could have an after-effect where you could lose your memories inside it sometimes forever, or maybe you could get them back.”

”Just like he lost his memories into it and his heart is now black like every part of this mansion,” Sthena remarked, his red eyes staring down at Nathan.

”Or someone whose memories were replayed before his eyes, backed out in the middle of it saying that those memories didn’t belong to him.” Nathan countered back, his gaze equally on Sthena with the same intensity.

What is going on here?! Perdita questioned herself, glancing between both men, the air tensed like the words they spoke to each other.