NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Theodore arrived at the last street of Woodbridge village, and just like he expected, he saw Chief Advisor Daemon standing near a house at the far end of the street.

”You’re here,” Daemon said as soon as Theodore reached the place he was standing. ”I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up again considering the time you took before coming.”

”I had something to complete with the church members,” Theodore replied and showed Daemon the cup in his hand.

Daemon’s lips pulled up into a smirk. He commented, ”What a lame way to deceive your fellow church members.”

Theodore glared at Daemon. He ignored the taunt of Daemon and asked, ”Is this the house of the person the king asked us to keep watch?”

”No,” Daemon answered and began to walk forward and deeper into the seventh street, ”Follow me,”

Theodore followed behind Daemon as they quietly walked in the deserted street. The smell of the exorcism ritual was still potent in the air since an hour had passed since Serena conducted it.

Theodore stared curiously at Daemon who still didn’t have anything tied on his nose to protect him from inhaling the dangerous smell of ritual. He wanted to ask him about it but refrained from prying into the life of another man.

Once they reached a particular house, Daemon stopped and turned to look at Theodore and announced, ”This is the house.”

”What exactly are you going to do and what am I going to do?” Theodore questioned for clarification.

The subtle smile that had been on Daemon’s face faltered and he stared seriously at Theodore before he answered his question,

”I am going to help some persons leave the village as it is now dangerous for them. And you, the King’s loyal church member will keep guard over this house and make sure that no one entered it or came near it.” Daemon replied with a serious face.

Theodore narrowed his eyes on Daemon. He opened his mouth and carefully inquired, ”When you said to help some persons leave the village because it is now harmful to them, did you mean help some vampires escape?”

”Yes,” Daemon replied truthfully without beating around the bush.

Theodore kept mute for a while without saying anything. When he did speak, he said, ”These vampires, are they the ones responsible for the missing humans?” He sounded unsure of his question, but at the same time, he wanted to clear the confusion that made his forehead crease into a frown.

”Yes, they are. I don’t have all the time to explain in the detail the reason behind their abducting Mr. Perkin and Mrs. Perkin, but one thing I can assure you is that they are in the hands of the king and the King know all that had happened.”

This new information didn’t startle Theodore like how he thought it would because he had an inkling that the King was involved with the abducted Mr. Perkin and Mrs. Perkin.

It rather came as surprise to him as to why the king will leave the castle and come to Woodbridge village for this particular case. It only meant one thing, the vampires he was protecting were very important to him. But who were these vampires? He was yet to find out.

”Okay,” Theodore agreed with a nod. To think he was aiding the abductors that he and his fellow church members came to capture escape was somehow surreal to him. But either way, he was bound to do it because the king was involved.

”Good. It is nice to see that you are not running to tell Headchurch Donovan about the little discovery.” Daemon said, the smile returning to his face.

Theodore rolled his eyes at Daemon who was dressed in a guard uniform. He said with a snort, ”Better do whatever you are going to do before the other church members come here.”

”If they come, you know what to do,” Daemon said and used his forefinger to trace his neck in a kill pattern. He grinned mischievously at the vampire church member before going into the house of Perdita and Marco.

The door creaked open and Daemon walked in and closed the door behind him. His eyes widened because of the scene he was met with. It was not what he was anticipating to see.

Daemon’s eyes almost bulged from their sockets as he quickly turned around with his head bowed.

”Milord. I... I’m sorry to interrupt you. I didn’t know you were here.” Daemon apologized with his back facing the king who sat in the room of Perdita’s house and the lady was on his lap with her mouth on his neck!

When Daemon walked into Perdita’s house, his eyes met this scene that was, in his thought, more than intimate in his eyes.

The King sat comfortably with his back resting on backrest of the chair and his head tilted to the side, baring and giving Perdita full access to his neck where her lips were firmly placed as she hungrily sucked on his neck.

”You’re late,” Sthena remarked as he stared at the still-baffled Daemon. He didn’t bother to stop Perdita who drank from him, neither was he worried about what others might think if they saw them in a position like this.

”I’m sorry, My Lord.” Daemon apologized again and heard the King say,

”Turn around, Dae.” It was a simple order but Daemon found it a hard thing to do than other orders of the King.

Hearing the clicking of Sthena’s tongue that showed his disapproval, he had no other choice but to turn around and face the King.

Daemon’s eyes briefly stared at the king where he also noticed the way Sthena held Perdita’s waist in a firm grip. It was not the first time he had seen the King with a woman and he shouldn’t be surprised to see this. In fact, the king have had several women on his bed and it was normal. But the scene in the room was on a whole new level than what he had witnessed before.

Never had anyone drunk from the king and neither had he ever proposed to allow anyone to drink from him. So this was unexpected, and he had to admit that this might be the one time the king had truly marveled him.

”You can go. I’ve taken care of the things here. Proceed with the next plan, and after that, you know what to do next.” The voice of Sthena jolted Daemon out of the reverie he was in.

”Yes, Milord,” Daemon answered mindlessly, happy and grateful to the king for dismissing him from seeing more of such an intimate scene.

Drinking blood from someone to vampires had different significances, and where they drank from also had different meanings to the person drinking and the person being drunk from.

Drinking blood from the wrist of someone didn’t have much meaning as it was to drink from the neck of that person. Also, the closeness involved was another important thing to take note of.

This was the reason why when Daemon saw Perdita on the King’s lap and Sthena’s hand that was wound around her waist in a firm grip and the lips of the lady moving rapidly and hungrily on his neck was sure a scene to behold.

”Daemon?” Sthena gently called the quiet man who stood with stiff shoulders.

Daemon shook his head to get the thoughts away from his head. He shouldn’t be shocked. This was the ever-surprising king, and anything was always expected from him at any time. He bowed and answered the king,

”Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll get on with the other plans right away. Please excuse me.” Daemon didn’t wait for Sthena to say any other thing and he hastily rushed out of the room and the scene that was too roman...no, no, not romantic. They were not a couple for him to give it that tag. The right word should be more than intimate.

Well, didn’t both words mean the same thing? Daemon questioned himself with a shake of his head and decided to get on with the other orders of the king. It was then he noticed Theodore come back from God knows where.

”Where did you go leaving the house unguarded?” Daemon questioned with a narrowed look. It seemed as if what he saw in the room had turned his mood sour.

Theodore frowned at the tone of Daemon. He stared at him for a while before deciding to answer him. ”I went to...” Theodore paused. He closely observed Daemon’s face and asked ”Why are you looking so flushed?”

Daemon’s eyes widened. Something he had never done in front of Theodore before. He was quick to school his features and waved his hand in the air in denial. He said,

”W...what are you talking about? Come on, let’s get out of here and stop your perverted thoughts.”

”Perverted thoughts?” Theodore questioned back in confusion before a knowing look appeared on his face. He looked at Daemon with a teasing smile. He taunted, ”Are you flushed because of your perverted thoughts? What happened in there? Tell me,” Theodore coaxed the annoyed Daemon who increased the pace of his steps.

Daemon sighed and hissed at Theodore, ”You go find out yourself!”

Back in the room, Sthena looked at the woman in his arms who was still drinking from him. If it had been another person she was drinking from for such a long time, he was sure the person would have turned dead. But with him being a pureblooded vampire, it didn’t matter how much blood left in him because his body would always pump blood in his body each time it reduced the initial quantity.

Perdita’s lips were still on Sthena’s neck unaware of the things that were happening around her. All her interest and attention were in, was the sweet and warm blood she was drinking from Sthena.

Sthena adjusted his sitting position to give Perdita comfort and more access to his neck.

Sthena used his free hand to remove her black smooth and long hair that covered her delicate face. He watched her for a while and murmured,

”Such a hungry vampiress. I hope you won’t feel bad and remember when you suddenly jumped on me to drink my blood.” A crooked smile made a way to his lips when he said this and he thought of what Perdita’s reaction would be when she regained her consciousness.