NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Perdita brought the glass down from her lips at the interruption. She slowly turned to see who had spoken to her, and there he was, standing tall in his expensive blue coat and his silver mask. She couldn’t have mistaken the man behind the mask because of the color of his hair she had registered in her brain. His physique and posture, even his jaw and lips that were not covered by his mask convinced her that it was him. The man she had been avoiding seeing or crossing paths with.

But here he was, standing near her with an equally shocked face.

Perdita’s mouth was slightly agape as she looked at the man in front of her. The lines on his forehead were furrowed with a frown that marred his face. He raised his shaky hand at her and together, they both exclaimed, ”You!”

Some minutes ago, in one of the hallways in the castle stood Lady Rosamonda and her son Regan. They stood close to each other discussing in a low voice only for both of them to hear.

”Mother, I don’t want to go there. I can’t stand those filthy and bad-smelling commoners in the castle” his tone of voice showed the disgust he had over the lower-class people who were invited to the castle for the Hallow Ball.

Rosamonda frowned at Regan’s words. Her expression showed she disapproved of what Regan uttered, not because she had an interest in the lower class, but because they were the one key to achieving what she was fighting for, which was the throne.

She shook her head negatively and reprimanded Regan, ”You don’t say that, Regan. Not even near a person belonging to the higher society who might have the same view as you”

”But mother...” Regan wanted to refute his mother’s words but was cut short by her.

”No buts, Regan. You are still young and don’t understand a lot of things. But don’t worry, I’ll guide you with every step. As a future leader, when the throne will be yours, you cannot say you’re repulsed by the commoners or by the humans or any other creature that walks on this land.

It will be held against you in the future, and your path to ascend the throne will be tough. Remember, each member of the court is always watchful and wise to discern things around them.”

”But the court members are loyal to you and not the king,” Regan interjected and Rosamonda smiled at her son’s foolish thinking. Sometimes, she wondered how Regan views things that made him speak the way he did at times.

As her only son, and as the future King, she expected him to have more wisdom, where he would access things at different angles before opening his mouth to talk. She had to admit, the king was more wiser and cunning when it came to everything and every word he spoke. She wished her children, both Regan and Sarah will have, at least, half of Sthena’s brain and knowledge. It will save her the stress of explaining and doing everything for them.

Lady Rosamonda exhaled deeply. Her dark red eyes gazed into the red orbs of the confused Regan. She said, ”Listen, the court members are loyal to me because of the benefits they get from me. If they find another person to give them double what I give them, do you think they would be loyal to me again?”

Regan pursed his lips in displeasure. It wasn’t a question from his mother, but a statement to let him know and understand how things are followed up and done in the castle.

Rosamonda continued to lecture her son, ”Not to forget, there are court members who are forever loyal to the king. Do you know what will happen if they get a sniff of what is going on? Don’t you know that the commoners that are repulsed by the higher society are the very first pillar to ascend the throne? Without their approval, you will not go anywhere and would continue being a prince that people won’t respect.

Do you know why the king is holding this Hallow ball with the commoners invited? It is because he wants them to see him in a good light. And when that happens, the church will also be on his side, and anybody coming to fight for the throne will be seen as a traitor who will be executed for committing treason against the king and the throne” Rosamonda grabbed her son’s hand after her long lecture.

”Do you understand, son?”

”Yes, mother” Regan replied and nodded his head in defeat. He couldn’t go against his mother even if he wanted to.

”Good,” Rosamonda praised ”Now go into the ballroom and speak to people. Do not be harsh with your words or behavior. Always be mild and think twice before speaking to anyone. Remember there are eyes and ears everywhere”

”I will remember all you said, mother”

”Good. I’ll go and look for your sister. I don’t know where and what she’s up to” Rosamonda said with a frown that had been on her face.

”Yes, mother” Regan bowed and watched his mother leave the hallway and walk deeper into the castle. He let out a sigh and reached inside his coat pocket and brought out his silver mask. He wore the silver mask that covered his eyes and nose, leaving openings for him to see and breathe. He then walked out of the hallway unaware that someone had been inside one of the rooms near the hallway with a wine glass he was slowly sipping while listening to the conversation between Rosamonda and Regan.

It was none other than Sthena whose lips pulled with an evil smile and glint in his eyes. He drank the remaining wine in his hand in one gulp and spoke to himself, ”The game has finally begun”

The same Regan now stood in front of Perdita with a frown on his face. But more than the frown, he was greatly shocked at the beauty of the woman in front of him.

Like his mother had ordered him, he had come to the ballroom to mingle with people when he saw that everyone was subtly and obviously staring at Perdita.

He approached the lady since no man had the confidence to do it. He wanted to show people he was the brave man among them. And as a prince, he can get whatever he wanted including women. So he followed her when he saw her going to the wine table to grab a drink which was specially made for vampires.

Wanting to appear as the prince in shining armor saving the princess from drinking a harmful wine. He saw Perdita as a human not knowing she was also a vampire. He had said to her, ”You shouldn’t drink that,”

People by now who were around were witnessing this scene, and Regan felt his shoulders puff up with pride. But when the alluring lady brought her down and turned to look at him, he felt his shoulders slump together with his pride. He was astonished beyond words.

He recognized her at a glance. How could he not? When he couldn’t forget the green-eyed lady who embarrassed and insulted him in the village of Woodbridge. The event that day had repeatedly played out in his head, and as he thought about it, the more he became infuriated.

He raised his shaky hand at Perdita and they both exclaimed at the same time, ”You!”

Regan struggled to bring his hand back to his side, more than wanting to impress people and not bring shame and disgrace upon himself and his mother, he wanted to take Perdita to the darkest place in the castle and punish her for her rude behavior towards him.

But then, he remembered his mother’s stern words which made him suppress his anger. He surprised Perdita by asking, ”May I have a dance with you?”