NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Sthena’s step on the floor was sharp and firm as he walked quickly to reach the East wing of the castle. Reaching the side where there was no maid or anyone in sight, he immediately teleported to the East wing which was near the forest that surrounded the castle.

The sight that greeted Sthena’s red eyes was blood and dead bodies lying on the floor. The guards of the castle fought with all their might to kill the intruders, but no matter how strong they swung their swords, it didn’t stop them from being outnumbered and killed one after the other.

Sthena’s gaze went from one angle to the other silently observing everything going on and at the same time trying to see if he would catch a glimpse of Vetis, but the intruders didn’t give him that chance as they all swam on him with their claws and jagged teeth displayed to tear Sthena’s body to pieces.

Sthena didn’t have the time to deal with the men coming to fight as his main target was Vetis. He swiftly disappeared and reappeared on another side of the castle his claws already out and sharp.

What were these men? Sthena questioned himself as he observed the movement of the intruders. Their claws and teeth were bigger than that of a normal vampire. It was double what a vampire usually had. And their movement was faster and more precise, killing everything and anyone they came across.

Well, he shouldn’t be that surprised. With Vetis taking the job to produce pills that who knows what they do, it should be that this was the outcome of those pills. It helped in enhancing the ability of anyone who took them.

A swish in the air had Sthena turn sharply to the side and with a swift move of his hand, his claws slit the throat of the man.

Seeing the unknown man killing one of their men, more men came at Sthena with furiousious movements with the aim to kill Sthena at once.

Sthena sensing the attack moved behind a tree, and with a punch, he fell a tree. Without wasting time, he broke one of the branches, making sure it was as unevenly broken as possible. He used the uneven side of the branch and threw it toward the vampire intruders.

The branch like magnet caught three of the men in front with its sharp tips, killing them on the spot.

Sthena moved from there, using his claws to tear and cut limb after limb. This only fueled the aggressive vampires to fall in groups relentlessly attacking Sthena.

Sthena sighed, clearly pissed off by the attacks when he wanted to get Vetis. Or perhaps he was not here? But Daemon mentioned the man was here, meaning he should find him as soon as possible and return to Marco’s room and see what the witches were planning.

Sthena moved some distance away from the bloodthirsty vampires and caught one by twisting his hand behind him. He demanded, ”Where is your master?!”

The answer he got from the vampire was the growling sound that came from his blood-inked lips.

”Useless,” Sthena’s lips twitched and the next second he twisted and broke the head of the vampire leaving the body to fall limply to the ground. He turned and began to walk away from there while killing some vampires on his way as he searched for where Vetis could be hiding but more vampires came at him which he tried to avoid by teleporting away from there but his body refused to move.

Sthena’s lips twitched in anger and slight confusion. He tried apparating again but his body still refused to move. Before he knew it, the vampires had reached where he was, brandishing their claws like swords. Two of the vampires clawed his back at the same time, ripping the clothes and skin together.

Another one came to his face wanting to dig his claw into his eye. Nearly reaching his face, Sthena punched the face of the vampire while he used his leg to send the other two flying some meters away.

The fight continued between Sthena and the vampires as he tried to teleport but it proved futile. By now, a deep frown had marred his face as he thought about what could have gone wrong. He had been able to teleport some minutes ago, so what happened now? It was then he noticed that something was off.

It was as if all the vampires were now focused on him only. Even the guards had stopped fighting them. Not only that, the vampires he had killed were all standing on their feet. Either with punctured faces, hollow hearts, broken libs and hands, open skulls, and even the ones he had torn their heads away from their necks. They stood up, all matching towards him to kill him.

What the fuck was this?!

Sthena inwardly cursed. The vampires were not showing any sign of stopping and there were more than fifty that were after him. How could this happen? How were they able to stand up after he killed them? And now, he couldn’t teleport. Just what the fuck did today want to mean?!

Sthena gritted his teeth in anger. And in the heat of his anger while killing the beasts he had killed before, his eyes blazed as if a fire was burning inside them. With a wave of his hand, the trees caught fire, and also the vampires. But this didn’t stop the vampires from advancing forward.

Fuck! Sthena hissed angrily again. The anger boiling inside of him was being directed towards the fire making the place burn more than before.

Flames rose up the sky, alarming those who were outside the town or in the castle. One of whom was Lady Rosamonda and her daughter Sarah who just came back from a soiree held by a pureblooded vampire family.

”What is that, Mother?” Sarah questioned in confusion as they stepped down from the carriage.

”Even a blind person can see it is fire, Sarah.” Lady Rosamonda mused and turned to the nearest maid who was watering the flowers and demanded, ”You there! What is going on in the East Wing?”

The maid quickly bowed her head, ”My Lady, I—I don’t know what is happening.”

”Stupid!” Rosamonda spat and turned to the rest of the maids and servants scattered around, doing one thing or the other they were assigned. ”Has anyone notified His Majesty?”

”No, My Lady,” Another maid answered with her head bowed.

”You are all useless. I’ll have all of you beheaded!” Rosamonda spat and angrily climbed the short flight of stairs leading to the entrance of the castle.

”Guards!” Lady Rosamonda’s voice boomed in authority and the guards nearby who heard her voice were quick to stand before her with their heads bowed. She ordered, ”Find out what is going on in there and check if there are any intruders in the castle!”

”Yes, My Lady.” The guards chorused and immediately dispersed to carry out the order.

”And you there,” Rosamonda turned a maid walking by, ”Go and call Prince Regan immediately!”

”Y—yes, My Lady.” The maid bowed and quickly ran away from there to call Prince Regan.

Three minutes later, the maid came scurrying with the Prince who was visibly surprised by the sudden call from his mother.

”Mother,” Regan bowed at Rosamonda once he stood two steps away from her.

”You are dismissed.” Rosamonda shooed the maid away and turned to Regan. She said, ”I think there was an attack in the castle. I want you to investigate and find out what happened.”

Prince Regan let out a sigh and spoke, ”Mother, I thought you sent the guards to do it. I’m currently working on something and besides, it’s just some fire and smoke.”

”No!” Lady Rosamonda blatantly refused Prince Regan’s answer. ”You leave whatever you are doing and get on with what I asked you to do, Regan! Don’t you dare defy me!”

Prince Regan opened his mouth to speak, but seeing how flared up his mother was, he respectfully bowed at her and walked away.

Lady Rosamonda watched the retreating back of Regan with a frown on her face. Her goal behind sending Regan to investigate what was happening was so that he would take credit as the one who made sure that the people within or outside the castle were safe. By doing this, Regan would slowly get a foothold when it comes to the ministers and also in the eyes of the people.

A smile slowly made its way to Rosamonda’s face while Sarah stood there watching her with narrowed eyes. What was her mother planning this time? She questioned herself as she watched Rosamonda walk away with her chin high in confidence and pride.

Back to the East wing where Sthena was trapped with the vampires or beasts as he had called them earlier. His face and clothes were now covered in blood and his claws used to snap and tear flesh after flesh was not left out.

As he fought his way out, he noticed yet another thing with the vampire intruders. Those he had killed that woke up no longer had their red eyes. Their eyes were now green!

Sthena’s eyes widened when he finally understood what was going on. This was no attack. It was an illusion created by the witches. This was why even after he killed them, they woke up because they were not living but created to serve the purpose of deceiving him.

”Fuck!” Sthena cursed again with gritted teeth. Didn’t Daemon tell him that Vetis attacked the castle? Or was he also deceived? No. Sthena thought. Daemon was not in any way fooled rather he had fooled him. He could remember Daemon’s facial expressions when he had stopped in the hallway as if he was afraid he would turn back.

Had he been working with the witches behind his back? Sthena questioned himself as the bitter taste of betrayal and being fooled rose to his tongue he clicked in anger.

Daemon deceived him! Did they think they can do away with their plans? Sthena gritted his teeth and immediately placed his hand on the floor while also defending himself with the other hand.

Before long, the floor began to freeze and it soon spread across the forest floor and in the process froze the vampires together with the earth’s surface.

Killing them was of no use and also using fire was useless too, that was why Sthena resulted in using his ability to freeze. Once they were trapped by the ice, he would get the opportunity to escape from there.

Immediately Sthena got the chance, he quickly walked towards the exit since his ability to apparate was not working.

Once out of the forest, he walked as quickly as possible. His steps were firm and his strides long. He didn’t bother to retract his claws as the one goal in his mind was to kill.

To kill anyone and everyone who fooled and got in his way today.