NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Back in the village of Woodbridge, Perdita, and Marco hurriedly went inside their house to see if the parchment they had was the right one.

”Did anyone find you sneaking inside the house?” Perdita questioned in a hushed voice as she waited for Marco to bring out the parchment he brought with him from the house of Mrs. Perkin.

”No,” Marco negatively shook his head ”I made sure no one saw me going and coming out of the house.”

”That’s good. You did well. Some of the villagers were just here some minutes ago before you arrived.” Perdita informed Marco of the visit from the village women.

”What?” Marco exclaimed in surprise and inquired ”What did they come for? Was it about Mrs. Perkin?”

”You know how they are, behaving like monitoring spirits. They came to know why I haven’t been coming to the market. And also about Mrs. Perkin.”

”Mrs. Perkin? What did you tell them?”

Perdita shook her head ”I didn’t say anything. In fact, there is a rumor going around the village that she ran away because she was ashamed and guilty her husband has not returned since he ran away.” Perdita filled Marco in on the things she and the villagers spoke about.

”It’s good the rumors are spreading and that’s also a part-time relief. But we have to hasten things up, or else we will be caught.” Marco responded. He placed the parchment he opened and strengthened it on the table in the room.

”Come on, let’s see what’s written here. I didn’t have the chance and time to properly check what is written here.” Marco said as he and Perdita read the contents of the Parchment.

Done reading the contents of the parchment, Perdita and Marco exchanged looks with each other as a wide smile appeared on their faces.

”This is it. Such documented evidence.” Marco exclaimed in glee. ”What is left to do now is to find where to keep Mrs. Perkin as she had refused to cooperate with us. We have to do the needful if we want to live to see the light of another day.” He spoke and inclined his head towards the woman who lay on the ground still bound by the ropes.

Mrs. Perkin in an attempt to scream and alert the villagers who she heard their voices when they had earlier visited Perdita, struggled to untie the ropes which resulted in her falling on her side on the hard wooden floor. She had been in this position with a hateful gaze she cast the siblings who didn’t seem to notice her presence when they came in.

Her body boiled in anger when she heard that Marco broke into her house and stole the only evidence she had.

In the heat of the moment and with so much anger, she had spilled everything from her mouth and revealed the only evidence her husband had left behind.

These damn vampires siblings! She cursed in her heart since she couldn’t talk because of her tied mouth. She couldn’t wait to get out of there and tear the siblings apart.

”That is another problem, Marco. Where are we going to take her to? We don’t know anyone who can help us aside from Sthena.” Perdita spoke after long silence ensued between them.

”We will find a way, sis. Even if Sthena is not here, we will find a way out.” Marco reassured.

”How? We can’t possibly keep her in the alley, can we?” Perdita questioned in desperation slowly building up. One problem was solved and another was still there knocking and slapping its heaviness on their shoulders.

Mrs. Perkin who the siblings did not bother to raise from the floor she still lay on, shifted uncomfortably on the floor when she heard Perdita mention keeping her in the alley.

She wanted to scream and slap Perdita and her brother across their faces for suggesting something so mean and heartless after all they had already done to her.

Marco shook his head and exhaled deeply. He leaned on the table for support with a downcast and tired look. He said, ”I don’t know what else to do, sis. Worst comes to worst, we will have to keep her in the alley. That’s the only option left now.”

”What are you two talking about? Don’t you dare keep me there, you scoundrels!” Mrs. Perkin’s muffled curse came at the siblings and they turned their attention to her.

Perdita glared at the older woman and chided in a harsh angry voice ”Kept quiet, you woman! If you and your husband had kept to yourselves and have not gone around poking your disgusting self’s into our business, we wouldn’t be in this predicament and suffering as we are now.”

”You are crazy! You two will be killed. Damn, vampires!” Mrs. Perkin stifled another curse at Perdita.

”Damn you too!” Perdita was able to make out the words of Mrs. Perkin and yelled back at her.

Marco placed his hand on Perdita’s shoulders and said in a low calm voice, ”Do not waste your energy on this woman. It is not like she can do anything once we move her to the alley. The rats and other animals in there will make great friends with her.” Marco laughed at the end of his talk which infuriated Mrs. Perkin the more.

”You are right, Marco. It is not like she can do anything in her condition.” Perdita replied with a demeaning look on her face. She further said, ”Hopefully, Sthena might come today though I’m not certain he will. It feels as if he and Daemon are hiding or...I don’t really know, but I have this feeling that they are not what they are posing to be.”

Marco almost said yes in affirmation of what Perdita said, but decided against it remembering Perdita will start having doubts and overthinking it. It was best he kept quiet and observed at the sideline.

”When did Mark say the exorcism will take place?” Marco asked the silent Perdita. She mentioned it to him the night Mark told her about it.

”No. He only mentioned that it will happen soon. He didn’t give a specific date, which is why we have to hasten the process of these things. Maybe after we have settled Mrs. Perkin, we will go to another village and stay for the meantime till the exorcism ends.” Perdita voiced her thoughts to Marco.

Right now, they were all in a thinking mood, trying to find a way out and also save their heads. It was a good thing she met Mark who informed her about the exorcism that was going to happen in their village. She knew Mark didn’t tell her about it because she was a vampire, but it was to keep her safe from the rumored vampires who were none other than her and Marco.

What would he do and what will be his reaction if he found out that they were the vampires responsible for the missing humans in the village? The reason for the sudden exorcism by the church. It would be disastrous. She knew.