NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Martha continued to stand on the pathway while she watched the carriage depart. Just as she was about to head into the forest, she locked eyes with Chruchman Theodore who in turn gave her a creepy smile that could make one’s nerves dampen.

Without wasting a second more, Martha quickly made her way inside the forest which she transversed into and it led her into another town.

The road of the town where Martha walked was lonely with no inhabitant in sight as the continuous falling of the snow had caused people to be in the comfort of their homes, but this didn’t hinder the legs of Martha from moving forward.

She rounded a corner in the street of the town and in front of her equally walked someone whose face looked familiar from afar to her. On getting closer, she found out that the face did look familiar as she had assumed.

”Chief advisor, Daemon, what a pleasant surprise to see you here,” Martha’s face beamed with smiles on seeing the pureblooded vampire.

Daemon who had sighted Martha coming even before she did held a passive expression on his face. He responded, ”My bad I don’t feel the same way.”

The subtle jab did not go unnoticed by Martha who glared at Daemon in return. Without wasting another minute, she continued on her way but was stopped by the next words of Daemon.

He said, ”Your coming here makes me wonder if the church knows what you have been running around doing or should say it is part of your work as a church member?”

”I believe it is out of courtesy we mind our businesses? Besides, your accusations will not go unquestioned when I report it.”

”Like the way you have been tattle tattling about the church activities to your dear benefactor or should I call him savior?” Daemon grinned at Martha who was on the verge of combusting into flames. He continued to speak, ”Don’t mind my interruption, besides I was minding my business when you stopped me unnecessarily.”

”Have a nice day, Churchwoman Martha,” Daemon waved at Martha and swiftly turned on his heels, and departed from the angry Churchwoman.

Martha stared long and hard at the departing figure of Daemon as if with one word, she would command flames to consume him. She equally turned and continued on her way.

It didn’t take long for Martha to reach her destination which was in the forest where she usually met with the pureblooded vampire, Vetis Leander whom she worked as a puppet for.

”You are late,” Vetis spoke as soon as Martha came into view. The long pipe he was smoking created a contrasting vibe to the chilly weather as snow and smoke mixed with each other.

”I’m deeply sorry, Master. I was caught up with something in the early hours of the morning.” Martha bowed deeply at the man who had a cloak covering his entire body.

”And what could that be?” Vetis continued to ask as he blew another thick smoke from his lips.

”Lady Rosamonda reported a case to us saying the king invited witches to the castle and it led to the disappearance of the brother of the green-eyed Lady you have been wanting to get a hold of.” Martha promptly answered her Master’s questions still bowing her head.

”I see,” Vetis replied with a nod. His face held a knowing look as he asked again, ”What happened and how is the case going? Any good news?”

”Not yet, Master,” Martha answered like a dutiful puppet she was.

Vetis frowned, ”Why, not yet?”

”We haven’t gotten solid evidence against the King, Master,” Martha replied. She continued to fill him in on all that happened since the day began, ”I met with Churchman Welsh whom I instigated him to use this to his advantage as you ordered.”

”How does it look with him? Any positive result coming from him?”

”Hopefully, Master,” Martha responded which caused another frown to etch on Vetis’s face.

”No good news to hear from you as always,” Vetis said taking another drag from his pipe. He walked forward and was closely followed by Martha who was two steps behind him.

”I met Chief Advisor Daemon on my way here,” Martha informed.

”Nothing new.” Vetis reply came out nonchalant as he walked on to where he had in mind. He further spoke, ”He always comes here and does his work. You shouldn’t bother with the unnecessary people and focus on the people I asked you to follow. You are always good at failing me each time, Martha.”

”My deepest apologies, Master. I’m trying my best to get your orders done as soon as possible.” Martha’s response in turn made a dark chuckle to escape Vetis’s lips as he shook his head in mockery.

Silence ensued between Vetis and Martha as they continued to walk deeper into the forest, not bothered about the skin-biting cold enveloping the forest.

After walking for a while, they came to a clearing where the weather did not affect them much due to some unknown reasons. As they stood there, a man in a hooded cloak joined them to stand where they were.

”John,” Vetis called out to the man, his pipe still in his hand as he continued to drag smoke from it and in turn blew it at the surroundings.

”Master,” The man bowed his head in greeting. He walked forward and stood on the other side of the man who appeared taller than them.

”How did it go, John?” Vetis questioned the man who was ever ready to convey the outcome of the order given to him by his master some days back.

”It was a successful one, Master, and in no time, it would bear more fruits,” John replied, and this brought a smile on Vetis’s face that looked nothing more like a creepy smile if one stared at his face.

”Good,” He praised and went on to speak, ”This is what I always want to hear. My orders getting done with positive and successful results.”

Martha pursed her lips on hearing what her master said. It was as though his reply was directed at her.

”John?” Vetis called.

”Yes, Master?” John answered with a deep bow.

”I have another mission for you,” Vetis continued in his hoarse voice which was caused by the amount of smoke he had inhaled.

”I am here, Master, ready to carry your orders out.”

”Of course you will,” Vetis’s words came out as a matter of fact as he knew his orders would always be carried out without an ounce of question from his puppets.

”I want you to attack the green-eyed Lady. Do not bring her, only attack her let me see if my intuitions were true after all.”

”Consider it done, Master.” John bowed, obliging to yet another order from his Master.