NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Serena wetted her lips and began to speak, ”Marco is...” She paused for a second before continuing to speak, ”Marco is unstable right now. I wasn’t able to find anything. We can check him maybe in the morning tomorrow when his body is relaxed.”

Perdita felt her anxiously beating heart slow the pace at which it was thumping so fast as she waited to hear what Serena was going to say about her brother but was met with disappointment when Serena said otherwise.

”What do you mean his body is not stable? Can’t you find out what is wrong with him? At least a clue or something that could help us heal him?” As Perdita spoke to Serena, her eyes darted towards Sthena hoping he will say something positive but even Sthena’s eyes held no answer to the question she was asking, rather they look void of emotion.

”No,” Serena replied to Perdita’s question. ”There is nothing I can do to make his body stable at the moment. Because of what he inhaled and the nightshade he was fed, his body system is no longer normal. Nothing can be felt or detected in him.” Serena told Perdita and went on to speak,

”Do not worry, your brother will be cured. He is strong, so you have to be strong for him too knowing you’re the elder.”

”I know,” Perdita said in a matter-of-fact tone. ”I’m worried for him that’s why. So, when are you going to treat him?”

Serena turned to look at Sthena on Perdita’s question. She said, ”It depends if the King would allow us to stay a couple of days. Marco’s body needs to be flushed off the ritual’s smell and the nightshade before he will be treated.”

As Serena and Perdita conversed with each other, Marco on the other hand held a deep frown on his face. He stared at his hand with an unspoken question and then looked suspiciously at Serena.

Marco didn’t want to ask the question that was on his mind in front of his sister knowing she would be more worried than she was already. One thing he knew was that Serena lied about not finding anything about him. There was definitely something she did that she didn’t want to tell them. He felt it within him.

Now the attention was on Sthena as Perdita and Serena waited for him to approve Serena’s stay in the castle for the days she wanted to use and cure Marco.

Sthena’s face continued to look emotionless making both Perdita and Serena not detect anything on his face.

After a while, he said, ”It’s alright if you stay in the castle since it is Marco’s health we are talking about.”

Perdita’s mood immediately brightened on hearing Sthena’s approval. ”Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Sthena’s eyes narrowed on Perdita at the way she reversed to calling him by his title because they were in front of her brother and Serena. ”Hmm,” He hummed without saying any other thing.

Serena spoke next, ”Since it is all settled, I would like you to rest, Marco. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Marco only nodded his head and they heard Sthena say, ”Why don’t you accompany him, Perdita? I would like to speak with Serena alone.”

”Alright,” Perdita agreed. ”Come on, Marco, let’s go.”

The sound of the door closing indicated that Perdita and Marco had left the drawing room leaving Sthena and Serena alone.

A minute of silence ensued between Sthena and Serena, both wanting the other to start speaking.

”Are you not going to start speaking?” Sthena asked with glare directed toward the witch.

”Speak on what, Your Majesty?” Serena carefully questioned back with confusion written all over her face.

The glare of Sthena became more intense as he stared at the witch looking unfazed by his anger. It was obvious that Serena was not all that scared of the king. Of course, that was because she was a very powerful witch whose great magic was at her disposal and her strength was almost equal to that of Sthena.

Sthena knew this too which was why he hadn’t done anything to her already. Even though his strength was way more than Serena’s, with magic in her favor, if they were to fight, they would surely badly injure or kill each other.

”I didn’t sit here to play mind games with you, Serena. My order had been clear, yet, you went ahead to do more than you were asked to.”

”I don’t know what you are talking about, Milord.” Serena began and saw Sthena’s face hardened with the flares of anger his dark red eyes were emitting. She lowered her gaze knowing when and when not to provoke the devious king who was capable of doing anything.

”I didn’t mean to do more than you asked,” She finally agreed and looked up at Sthena. She continued, ”But what I discovered will also help me to cure him and also find out what the siblings originally were.”

”Is that the reason why you decided to stay here for a couple of days as you mentioned?” Sthena asked, his angry eyes not looking away from Serena even for a second.

”Yes,” Serena replied. ”I know you badly want to know more about them, Milord.”

”Says the one who kept asking them questions. Hm? Speak for yourself, Serena.” Sthena glared at her and stood up. ”I don’t know what you are trying to do, considering how you are looking for the unknown green-eyed siblings, make sure that not even a strand from their hair is missing. I won’t be this kind to remind you of it again.”

Serena also stood up. She said, ”I don’t go hurting people that didn’t offend me, Your Majesty.”

Sthena clicked his tongue with a narrowed look. ”You and I know that I am not talking about hurting them. I believe that whatever it is that got you combing the kingdom in search of the green-eyed siblings, and not to add, your witch family is waking up one by one from their hibernation, it’s not something to be taken lightly of.”

Serena kept a neutral face. Neither accepting nor refuting the king’s words. She followed behind Sthena when he started to make his way toward the door and heard him say,

”Let’s just pray that nothing as I’m thinking happens, because you know I won’t sit quietly and watch it happen. It’s best we maintain the cordial relationship we have. It is not always good to fight a pureblooded vampire, and neither is it advisable to fight a first-generation witch.”

”It wouldn’t look good, Your Majesty,” Serena said behind Sthena as they now walked along the hallways after leaving the room.

”I’m glad we are speaking the same language and we understand each other perfectly well,” Sthena spoke. ”You and the men you came with shall be given a room each. Also, relate my message to them. I don’t want a situation where I would need to tell them myself.”

”Of course, Your Majesty. You are too kind,” Serena said behind Sthena, the sarcasm in her words not going unnoticed by the King.

”Hm,” Sthena grinned as if his ears heard something pleasing. ”Do come to the dining room for lunch, in case you kill one of the castle’s maids thinking they are food.”

With that, Sthena walked away leaving Serena who continued with her pace. Serena stared at the back of the disappearing silhouette of the King, the meaning behind his words causing a small knowing smile to appear on her face.

”You better be careful lest you became the food,” Serena muttered to herself and saw Leonard and Fredrick join her from the end of another hallway.

”We are staying for some days?” Leonard asked as soon as he stopped near Serena.

”Yes,”

”Why?” Fredrick questioned this time.

”I will tell you both later,” Serena replied and turned to look at the men whose green orbs held questions. She went on to say, ”For now, I need you both to do something important for me.”

”What is that?” Fredrick and Leonard questioned at the same time.