NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The day ended with Perdita in his brother’s room taking care of him. She didn’t sleep a wink as the thoughts of what Sthena told her kept playing in her head.

They were not originally humans. How did that happen or when did that happen? She will question herself.

If they were not originally humans, then what were they?

Since little, and the little memory she remembered of her dead parents and relatives, they were all humans. Maybe in her eyes. But then, they didn’t behave abnormally or show signs of being another creature.

Was it all a facade or were Sthena’s assumptions false? She didn’t know what to believe at the moment. Everything was now confusing her.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt helpless. If they knew what they are, at least, they would know how to follow up and treat her brother.

Looking at Marco’s pale skin and his cold body, one would think he was dead.

Soon the morning arrived, bringing with it the soft glow of the sun that peeked out of the clouds that tried to hinder its appearance.

The warm and soft golden rays of the sun slipped into the room through the small opening of the window’s curtain where Perdita had her head resting on the bed beside Marco.

She slowly raised her head that throbbed from all the thinking and stress her brain went through the day before.

A tired yawn escaped her lips before she stood up to check if there was any development in her brother’s health.

Marco’s body was still cold as it was last night, but the beating of his heart could now be heard clearly by Perdita, and this brought a small relief in her heart.

Going to the window, she drew the curtain open to allow the sun fully enter the room.

She knew vampires didn’t like the sun, but she wanted it to warm the cold body of Marco. She was trying everything she could as she didn’t know which would work and help him wake up.

A knock on the door distracted the busy Perdita who was wiping Marco’s body with a towel and water she got from the bathroom.

Perdita dropped the towel and opened the door and saw it was the maids. Each of them carried a tray in their hands.

With a glance, Perdita knew what they were carrying.

”I’m not hungry,” She said and made to go back to what she had been doing. She had lost her appetite since yesterday and had not eaten anything after seeing the condition her brother was in.

”We are sorry, My Lady, but this is the order of His Majesty and we cannot take the food back.”

Perdita paused in her steps upon hearing what the maids said.

”His Majesty?” She asked in confirmation and saw the maids nod their heads.

Perdita panicked but then relaxed a bit. She had for a moment forgotten that Sthena mentioned that the king knew they were here in the castle.

For the king himself to order the maids to bring her food, it meant, he was being hospitable and this was because they were the guests of Sthena.

Perdita for the second time that morning felt relieved that she wouldn’t have to worry about the king finding out that she and Marco were in the castle.

These thoughts swirled in the head of Perdita, not knowing that the king and the man she was calling the king’s friend were the same person.

”Okay, come in,” Perdita said and stepped aside to let the maids walk in.

The maids bowed and proceeded to arrange the food on the table. When they finished, Perdita said, ”You can leave. I’ll eat it when I’m done.”

The maid bowed and left Perdita who went back to finish cleaning Marco’s body.

Once she was done, she went to keep the towel and throw the water in the bathroom.

On her way to the bathroom, Perdita’s stomach rumbled at the sight and delicious smell of the food on the table.

She eyed the food and ignored it. She was not hungry.

Coming out of the bathroom, her stomach made another protesting sound when she began to walk past it.

This time, not only was the food calling out to her, it was pulling and drawing her closer to it.

She stopped and stared at the food, her mouth watering and she swallowed a lump.

”A bite wouldn’t hurt now, would it? For the worms, let me take a bite.” She said as if explaining to the food why she was going to eat it.

Perdita sat on the chair and finally opened the lids of the plates that made the sweet aroma of food the lids were covering be let out.

Her stomach again made an appreciative sound to let her know that she wasn’t going to take only a bite.

By the end of the meal, where Perdita momentarily forgot about her worries, she ended up eating almost everything on the table.

With her stomach full, Perdita went back to take care of her brother.

She spent half of the day sitting at a place near Marco with thoughts swirling in her head.

With the thoughts brought a state of helplessness. She was helpless and clueless about what to do.

It had never been this way before. In the past when encountered a problem, she and Marco always figured out what to do to save their heads, but this time there was nothing.

Nothing she could do. Nothing to think of. The more Perdita tried to figure out a solution, the more she became anxious.

Now staring at the landscape of the castle from the balcony of the room, the sky had turned grey with no sign of the sun again.

Some snowflakes that hadn’t melted could be seen on rooftops and trees. She wondered what time of the year it was because sometimes she lost count of the days and months that passed with each day almost looking the same.

The weather was dull and cool. No sun or snow. Just their aftermath was left behind.

Perdita stood there enjoying and basking in the cool and quiet the weather brought, her worries forgotten and left behind until she heard the sound of someone groaning followed by coughing.

Her senses that had gone on vacation were quick to jolt back to reality the same way she rushed into the room and found Marco trying to sit up.

”Marco!” Perdita called already beside him as he helped him sit up.

”Sis,” Marco called in a stiff and tired voice when he sat up.

”How are you feeling? Let me get something to drink.” Perdita sprang up from the bed as she spoke. Her first thought was to bring Marco the wine Sthena gave her that soothed her throat in seconds but then remembered it was not in this room and also she hadn’t seen Sthena since morning.

The closest liquid in the room being water was what she brought and gave it to Marco.

Marco drank half of the water and handed the cup back to Perdita.

”How are you feeling, brother?” The happiness and eagerness in the tone of Perdita didn’t go unnoticed by Marco.

Without speaking, he drew her into his arms and hugged her.

Perdita overwhelmed with happiness was shocked at first but immediately recovered from it. She wrapped her hands around Marco and hugged him back.

”I missed you, little brother,” Perdita whispered and almost sniffled.

”I missed you too, big sister,” Marco whispered back and rubbed the back of Perdita’s head, and this was enough time to make the tear Perdita fought to hold back spill from her eyes.

”I...I thought I was going to lose you,” She croaked, her silent sniffle now turning into a cry.

”Shush,” Marco gently coaxed her. ”I’m fine now. You won’t lose me, sis.”

”I know, Marco. You wouldn’t dare leave me,” Perdita said, her voice sounding almost like a warning.

Marco let out a chuckle and pulled Perdita back to stare at her teared face, ”Of course, I wouldn’t dare leave you.”

”Are you laughing at me?” Perdita pulled back with a frown.

”No,” Marco replied trying hard not to laugh again. This made Perdita suddenly burst out laughing because of the way Marco’s face was twisted.

”I’m sorry I made you worried, sis.” Marco took Perdita’s hand in his and let out a sigh.

”Why are you apologizing? You are the one who is sick. I should be the one apologizing for not taking care of you and letting this happen to you,”

”Besides, I was happy taking care of you. So you better recover soon.” Perdita smiled and rubbed Marco’s hair who was quick to swat her hand away. She laughed. He always does that.

Marco stared all over Perdita’s face and commented, ”You look pale, sis. How have you been? Did I stress you too much?”

”What happened?” Marco continued to question when he saw Perdita shake her head negatively.

Perdita smiled reassuringly at Marco and stood up. ”Ah, my bad. I’ve been a bad sister. Let me get you something to eat.” She said and quickly went out of the room.

She was hiding something. Marco thought with furrowed brows.

Perdita walked in the deserted hallways trying to remember and follow the same way she and Sthena had followed to come to the room but it seemed as if she took the wrong hallway.

As quick as she was to leave the room hoping to see Sthena so she can ask him to tell the maid to bring food for Marco, she couldn’t understand the hallways.

”Seems like I always miss my way in this castle” Perdita muttered to herself remembering on the night of the Hallow ball she lost her way and ended up being chased by that hideous creature.

Perdita shuddered when she recalled the creature and at the same when she rounded a hallway she bumped into someone.

”I... I am sorry. I didn’t mean to...” Perdita took a step back and began to apologize and she froze when she saw who she bumped into. Even the person she bumped recognized her instantly.

Prince Regan! Perdita screamed in her mind.

”You!” Regan barked pointing his index finger at her. ”What are you doing here?!”