NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Donovan stared at Perdita for a while, as if gauging if she was lying or not. He then calmly asked Mr. Humphrey and Perdita, ”What evidence did the vampire present and who is this vampire?”

Donovan’s question brought a minute silence between Perdita and Mr. Humphrey. The village women stared from one person to other and questioned among themselves.

What evidence and what vampire? Also, when did Perdita get involved with a vampire? These were the questions that hat swirled in the heads of Mrs. Castor, Mrs. Williams, and Rosie, and also some of the villagers that gathered around to hear and observe what was going on.

Mr. Humphrey felt the hard stare from Donovan cause a loud thunder strike that slapped and blasted his body making him unable to move or speak. He kept fidgeting with his coat while staring at the ground, for he dared not look Theodore and Donovan in the eye.

What was he going to say and how was he going to explain who the vampire was? That was the first time he had seen him and the lady they addressed as Perdita.

This was also what he had been scared of. No matter what he did or said, these church members will never let this matter go because it was about vampires. He knew that exposing what that vampire showed him will not only cause another big trouble, but it will also implicate him. He was now at the mercy of both the king and the church.

Perdita on the other kept quiet as she carefully arranged her words in her head. After a while, she finally answered Donovan’s question, ”The evidence is that Mrs. Perkin said she is not the one taking the pills.”

Donovan became curious. He inquired, ”And how did you know that she was not the one taking them?”

’Because the pills are not birth control pills and also, I am the one taking them’ Perdita answered in her mind before saying out loud, ”Because she said it herself.” Her voice was firm and unwaveringly looking at Donovan.

”Because she said so?” Donovan questioned back. His head tilted to the side as he stared amusingly at Perdita. ”Isn’t that a lame answer?” He knew she was lying.

Yes, she knew it was a lame answer.

”Pardon?” Perdita’s eyes squinted into a frown, pretending to be shocked. She peered bravely at Donovan without batting an eyelid.

”Just because she said so, does it make her innocent? If for example, I took one of those buns you are baking and you saw me and got me arrested by the head warden. If later he released me because I said I did not take the buns, does it make me innocent?”

”That is a different case from what the one of Mrs. Perkin.” Perdita firmly replied, not allowing the church member to have the upper hand in the interrogation.

”Hmm,” Donovan hummed shaking his head knowingly. He said to Perdita, ”Could you spare us some minutes of your time? We would like to ask you some questions if you don’t mind?”

Questions? Perdita internally panicked. How did wanting to question Mrs. Perkin now turned to questioning her? It was because of Mr. Humphrey when he mentioned her name that she was dragged into this mess!

”Of course, churchman...” Perdita left her words hanging so Donovan will give his name.

”I am Headchurch Donovan and you are?” Donovan smiled, but this smile was not in any way a friendly smile to Perdita. It was that of an unknown danger that was quietly knocking on the door of disaster and waiting for Perdita to open and welcome it in.

Headchurch Donovan?! Perdita internally screamed in her mind. She thought she was dealing with the ordinary church members not knowing she was standing before the Head church himself. And was she trying to be smart with him? Hah! She let out a small mock laugh that had Donovan and Theodore look at her with narrowed eyes.

”Ahem...”She coughed to cover up before replying to Donovan, ”I am Ms. Kartar, Headchurch Donovan.”

”So, Ms. Kartar, shall we?” Donovan said gesturing to Perdita so they could privately ask her some questions.

”Sure, Headchurch Donovan,” Perdita replied obliging to the request of Donovan.

”Please this way,” Donovan responded and led the way to be followed by Mr. Humphrey, Theodore, and then lastly Perdita who quickly left her shop to answer the church members.

Immediately they left, the villagers started to speak in hushed tones. News both true and false spread around the village in span of two minutes.

Perdita, Theodore, Mr. Humphrey, and Headchurch Donovan walked quietly away from the busy and noisy market and stopped in a corner in the quiet street of Woodbridge.

Donovan stopped walking and turned to Perdita also paused in her steps. She heard him ask, ”Ms. Kartar. From what head warden Humphrey told us that you brought a vampire who got Mrs. Perkin released because he showed him evidence. Am I right?”

”You are correct, Headchurch Donovan.” Perdita’s reply was quick and firm. She didn’t want to show any weakness that might make the head church see through her lies.

”Good,” Donovan tapped his chin thoughtfully and began to speak again. ”And you also said the evidence the vampire showed head warden Humphrey is that because Mrs. Perkin said she was not the one taking the pills. Am I correct?”

”Y...yes. You are correct.” Perdita’s voice slightly quivered when she realized the mistake she made. Headchurch Donovan asked for the evidence Daemon presented to Mr. Humphrey, and in the rush to speak, she had told him that it was because Mrs. Perkin said she was not the one taking the pills. Was that the evidence?

Just like Perdita was thinking, Donovan asked her the question, ”Is that the evidence, Ms. Kartar? And not to forget, it seems you are the only one among the villagers who was eager to help release her. Did you have a special relationship with her?”

”Well,” Perdita shrugged as if she did not get what Donovan was implying. ”That is the only reason I know as to why she was released because she said she was not the one taking the pills. Her husband might have gotten the pills somewhere.” She paused and stared at the church members and noticed Theodore intently looking at her.

Her breath hitched a bit seeing the bloodred eyes of the man. Did he know she was lying? Vampires could easily smell a big fat lie like hers even before the person can open their mouth. Or did he also discover she was a vampire? No! He can’t. He is not like that annoying Sthena who was quick to recognize her at a glance even before she could speak. A smile threatened to show on Perdita’s lips when she recalled the memory of her first meeting with Sthena.

Perdita cleared her throat to dismiss the thoughts of Sthena that were invading her brain and continued to say, ”Also, Headchurch Donovan, speaking of how I was the only one to help release her. You can say I have a magnanimous and kind heart. I always want to help my fellow humans. Is that a wrong thing to do?”

A spark appeared in Donovan’s eyes as he regarded Perdita who he knew was spouting the big lies she was telling. He felt suspicious of her but at the same time, it felt like she was saying the truth. She was quite an interesting lady. He thought

Donovan slipped his hands into his pants with a subtle smile on his lips. He answered Perdita’s question. ”I must applaud you for always trying to help your fellow villagers out. You must be soo kind.” He knowingly stressed the ’soo’.

Perdita didn’t miss the mockery behind his words. She subtly glared at Donovan and replied with a smile on her face, ”It is true I am kind. And it makes me feel so bad that the older woman is missing. I wonder what could have happened to her and Mr. Perkin. Such sad news.”

Donovan nodded his head and concurred with Perdita, ”Very sad news indeed. What about the vampire who together with him you helped to release Mrs. Perkin? Is he also from this village?” Donovan inquired. His eyes intently watched every move of Perdita.

”The vampire? You are right he is not from this village and like Mr. Humphrey, that is the first time and last time I saw him.”

”Yet he helped you?”

”Yes, he did. I think he is a kind man.” Perdita continued to smoothly lie her way out not knowing she was confirming the doubt in the heart of Theodore who was quietly watching her.

”Such a kind man indeed,” Donovan again agreed with Perdita. ”Were you perhaps the last person she met with after she was released?”

Yes, I am. In fact, she is securely tied and hidden in my house.

”No, Headchurch Donovan. Since she was released a week ago, I haven’t spoken with her. But I saw her a few times before she went missing.” Perdita continued with her smooth lies that were piling one after the other.

”Hmm,” Donovan hummed, gently rubbing his jaw with his index finger. He went on, ”You might find my questions overbearing or suspicious which I must apologize for. We are looking for Mrs. Perkin so we can ask her some questions concerning her missing husband. But it turns out she was met with the same fate as her husband.”

Donovan stopped speaking but his eyes never left that of Perdita’s that gazed back at him with a neutral brightness in her eyes.

She dared not give out any information either through her eyes becoming fearful or her heart skipping a beat. Living in a cruel world where every day she and Marco had to fight to survive and not be discovered that they are vampires, they had perfectly learned everything there is to learn so as to not give them away, especially when they were in the midst of vampires like how she was beside this vampire church member who from the sideline, she noticed that for once he had not blinked when looking at her.

”I understand, Headchurch Donovan. You can ask me any question and I’ll try my best to answer you.”

Donovan smiled, ”Thank you for understanding. You are truly a kind lady. I have one last question to ask you.”

One last question so you can completely pin me down? Perdita questioned in her mind.

”Please, go ahead, Headchurch Donovan.” Perdita urged him on.

”Thank you,” Donovan smiled again and quizzed, ”Do you know or have you seen vampires in the village recently?”