NIGHTS OF HALLOW

In another aspect, this means that your abilities and powers are slowly coming back.” Sthena stated and stopped walking. He turned the quiet Perdita to face him.

He took her right hand and lifted it to inspect her index finger which had a faint marking on the tip. He asked, ”You once said that you were able to make a fire in the fireplace in your room?”

”Yes,” Perdita answered as she also joined Sthena to look at her index finger which he turned to show her the mark as he gently went on to explain,

”That was also one of your abilities resurfacing. The reason why we were able to walk in here is because, for you or your brother to unlock this place, your abilities must have started to resurface.”

”So the fire I told you about made you suspect that it was my power that fell the building and it meant that my abilities were awakening which in turn unlocked this place?” Perdita quizzed with a thoughtful frown on her face.

”Yes, you are correct,” Sthena replied. ”For now it is your emotions that are awakening your abilities and we should avoid it happening that way because it can harm others and even more greatly on your body and energy.”

”Your emotions causing your abilities to awaken, things like you unconsciously causing fire and falling a building might happen. Not to scare you but imagine if the fire you created was bigger than that or that I was not with you to teleport you out of the building on time?”

”I’ll be a dead, Witcher,” Perdita replied, her answer made Sthena chuckle at her choice of words.

”You are more than a Witcher, Perdita. You are a powerful witch with the abilities of a vampire in your blood too. You are more than great, Perdita.” Sthena gave the hand he was still holding a reassuring squeeze, his gaze soft and have never left Perdita’s face.

”We need you to take everything slowly. Your abilities should come naturally back to you and not forced. I do not want you to worry about your brother. He is in good hands because he is in his home now.”

The mention of home caused Perdita’s heart to shudder as a thought crossed her mind. She voiced what she was thinking, ”Home, does that mean I might still have parents? That my parents are still alive?”

”Maybe. I do not want to answer yes because I don’t want to give you hope that might crash later. For now, let’s focus on you, okay?”

Perdita nodded with the lingering thought that her parents might not be dead after all. A tired sigh escaped her lips as her shoulders slumped. She said, ”Thank you so much, Sthena. I don’t know what I would have done without you by my side helping me all this while. You are truly a heaven-sent.”

”Now, now, don’t be a crybaby.” Sthena teased when he saw Perdita’s green eyes turn moist as she teared up. Without further words exchanged, he drew her into his arms. His strong arms around her gave her mind an assuring feeling that she had someone she could lean on.

The thought alone made a tear slip from her eyes that got absorbed by Sthena’s coat. He allowed her while gently rubbing the back of her head, giving her the comfort she needed.

When Perdita got a hold of herself at the overwhelming feeling that took over her body, she slowly disengaged from the hug with a shy smile on her face.

”Shy,” Sthena teased and he removed his coat and wrapped it around Perdita who looked as if she was suddenly awestruck by Sthena. ”Let’s keep the rabbit warm, shall we?”

A blush teased the cheeks of Perdita as she felt warmth spread from the coat to her heart. She recalled when Sthena had called her a big rabbit when he caught her hiding behind one of the pillars back at the castle.

To distract herself, she remarked, ”You seem to know the way around here.”

Sthena tilted his head in thought as he replied, ”I do not know the way. I was just following a path I used to walk on back then. I have not been here that much.”

Perdita’s brows rose in surprise. She skeptically quizzed, ”Are you not worried we might get attacked? I mean by the ghosts here.”

”Get attacked?” Sthena questioned back in amusement. ”I am not worried when I am with the owner of the land. Do you think if they wanted to attack us they wouldn’t have done that immediately we came in here?”

”But—” Perdita drawled as she pointed backward with her index finger. She recalled the hands that crept from underneath the ground that gave her the greatest fright she had experienced that evening.

”Those things?” Sthena casually questioned. ”They were probably welcoming their Ladyship by trying to touch her mighty feet.” He chuckled at the end of his words and had Perdita send a small glare his way.

”Are there buildings here?” She suddenly questioned while looking around the place. It still felt surreal that she was the reason why this place was unlocked.

”We would find out if there is any when you eventually bring light to into it. It is one of the things I anticipate to see too.” Sthena disclosed with a thoughtful look that turned into a smile when he caught Perdita staring at him. He was greatly moved by the urge to tease her, but he could let today slip and let her enjoy the calmness the moment brought.

”I can’t wait to discover more about myself,” Perdita spoke after a while. A sigh escaped her lips once more. She heard Sthena speak,

”You sure will. You have grown from the village woman I saw a few months ago selling buns to this strong vampire witch with great potential.”

”You believe in me so much,” Perdita uttered in a voice almost a whisper.

”Because I know you can do it. Don’t you believe it too?”

”I am scared,” Perdita admitted with a shaky intake of breath. ”I am afraid I may not be all that you’ve mentioned. That I would not be able to stay strong.”

”And I am here to be the shoulder you can always lean on. It is okay to be afraid, just don’t let it consume you. We all have been scared at one point in our lives.”

”You have been?” Perdita asked in surprise.

”Silly,” Sthena chuckled. ”Of course, I have been afraid and I still do sometimes.”

Perdita just stared at Sthena without speaking. It felt as though she drew closer to him more than before. She had always seen him as someone brave, someone who had always been sure of his next steps. Having heard what he just said brought him a different light in her heart. It mysteriously gave her a sudden assurance that she too could do it no matter what it took.

”Look more and you’ll end up falling for me,” Sthena teased unable to stop himself. Guess he would leave not teasing her this night for another day.

Sthena’s red eyes darkened when he saw that Perdita didn’t avert her gaze from him. She stood there looking at him with those swirling emotions in her captivating green eyes.

”Do you have any idea what you are doing?” Sthena questioned, his voice an octave lower as his unwavering gaze went from her lips to her nose, her green eyes before they settled entirely on her flushed face that looked flawless in the darkness of the night.

Perdita oblivious to the chaos she was silently creating in the heart and mind of the man before her shook her head to no. Her voice was lost in her throat as though all rational thought to speak ran from her.

Sthena closed the remaining distance between them. He took her long silky hair in between his fingers as he ever slowly released the strands from his hold, leaving only a strand in between his middle and index finger. He bent forward, leaning down to her height, and he whispered in the shell of her ear.

”Do not look at another male in such a way but me.” His voice ever so alluring and hypnotic sent shivers that went from her ear to every part of her body, compelling her to nod a yes to his words.

”Let’s get you back home, shall we?” Sthena said as he stood straight once again.

Perdita still speechless could only continue nodding her head in response. She didn’t know how the night went from being chaotic to something she couldn’t comprehend to even give it a name. Her heart beating widely in her chest did not even help matters at all!

Sthena with a satisfied look on his face, held Perdita by her waist as he teleported back to the castle.