NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Some minutes back when Emily left the library to get Perdita’s afternoon snacks, Sthena had arrived in the castle before he went straight to the library knowing that was where he would find Perdita.

”Someone has been busy and is in a pretty mess,” Sthena said to Perdita when he walked inside the library. He approached the fatigued-looking woman with a grin on his face. ”You look a mess, Lady.”

”All thanks to your big personal library.” Perdita retorted with a small glare. ”When did you arrive?” She asked as she reached for a book at the topmost part of the rack.

”Missed me?” Sthena teased with a smile. He watched as Perdita stood on her toes to get a book but couldn’t reach it. ”Shortie.” He smirked.

”I’m not short!” Perdita pursed her lips in displeasure. ”Also, did you just come back from two kingdoms away for me to suddenly miss you?”

Sthena titled his head with a look of ’is that so’ at what Perdita said earlier about not being short. ”Then get the book.” He dared, a wicked smile plastered on his handsome face.

Perdita took to the challenge and stood on her toes once again, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reach the book not to talk of touching it.

Sthena chuckled, amused by the stubbornness of Perdita. He teased her, ”Perhaps, I would have gotten it for you if you had said you missed me, but no, you didn’t. Also, it doesn’t hurt to ask for help from a great man like myself.”

”Self-pride and narcissism have laid a lot in their graves.” Perdita snapped with a roll of her eyes.

”Perhaps you might have find yours next to mine?” Sthena remarked, subtly letting her know of the pride that rests on her shoulders too.

”Fine,” Perdita gave up with a sigh. ”I need help with the book. Can you help me get it, Your Majesty?” Perdita spoke with a smile as she tried so much to stop herself from rolling her eyes instead.

Sthena negatively shook his head. ”That is not what I was looking forward to hearing. I want to hear the other one.”

Perdita narrowed her eyes in suspicion. ”Other one?” She skeptically quizzed and she saw Sthena nod his head to a yes.

”Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean, darling,” Sthena remarked. He walked closer to Perdita, his red eyes on her like a predator in the dark.

”Or—” He drawled with a thoughtful look on his face. He further said, ”—do you want me to remind you myself? Hmm?”

This sly Vampire! Perdita eyed Sthena as if he was about to chop off her head.

”Fine! I missed you. Happy?” Perdita finally said in a rush as heat rushed up to her face at the words that left her lips. This man was going to be the death of her heart. She further lamented and internally facepalmed herself.

”Pardon?” Sthena feigned ignorance, pretending not to have heard what Perdita said. ”Sorry, your words came as a whizz past my ears that I didn’t quite hear you. Could you repeat that, darling?”

”You heard me!” Perdita retorted with a frown.

”Believe me when I say I didn’t.” Sthena placed his hand on his chest in a pretense of getting offended by what Perdita said.

”It’s even better that you didn’t. I’ll get the book myself.” Perdita muttered under her breath and resumed her struggle.

Suddenly Sthena was beside her as he took the book she had been struggling to get. His fast reflex caused Perdita’s legs to wobble because of standing on her toes.

Sthena’s hand effortlessly and naturally wound around her waist to help keep her balance. ”Watch it, green eyes.” As he spoke, his red hair fell from his shoulders and in turn fell on her face.

Perdita’s nose was met with the sweet scent of Sthena’s hair, and the softness of the long hair tickled her face like soft feathers.

How can a man’s hair be this luscious, soft, and beautiful?! Perdita questioned her as Sthena removed his hair from her face, his red eyes suddenly darkened more than they were before. At that moment, as Perdita stared at him, her heart skipped a dangerous beat and caused her to involuntarily shudder.

Oh, dear heavens! Was the first thought that came to her mind as her heart raced in its ribcage. From the corner of her eyes, and the faint orientation her brain still had, she saw Sthena lean into her, his face inches away from her face.

Without warning and no words exchanged, Sthena’s lips touched her cheeks in a gentle kiss.

”I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist,” Sthena remarked when he brought his lips away from her cheeks, but his face was still dangerously near her face.

No need for apologies! Perdita’s heart screamed. Her stubborn self refused to acknowledge it as she stared thoughtlessly at the handsome face in front of hers. She couldn’t even form any intelligible thoughts in her head or words.

She felt Sthena lean in towards her again, this time his lips an inch away from her lips.

Was he going to kiss her on the lips?? Perdita’s heart skipped another beat as she recalled what Sthena had said the night before when he also kissed her cheek.

’You don’t have to be so shocked. It wasn’t on your lips though I can’t guarantee what would happen next

time.’

He had said it himself. Was he really going to do it now?

A thousand questions and a million thoughts swirled in the head of Perdita. Before she knew it, her eyes involuntarily closed on their own, probably waiting for the inevitable.

Sthena intently watched the Lady in his arms, acutely aware of what could be possibly going on in her mind as he watched every reaction of hers she displayed. She was delectable to watch and her reaction could get any man to...he paused in his thought as he didn’t want to complete the sentence in his head lest he did what he never planned.

”Here’s the book, Green Eyes,” Sthena stated and withdrew from Perdita as he walked to the only table in the room where he sat in one of the chairs placed opposite the other.

Perdita turned embarrassed at what happened as she quickly composed herself. What was she thinking?! Why did she close her eyes?! Why? Why? She felt like smacking herself severally on her cheeks.

She took the book Sthena placed on a lower rack and made her way to the table without meeting the unwavering gaze of Sthena on her.

Can’t he stop staring at her?? She just wanted to hide. Urgh!

”You haven’t found what you are looking for?” Sthena asked, wanting to know what had kept Perdita busy all the while he left the castle.

”No, I haven’t. It’s only books about other creatures I’ve been seeing.” Perdita tried hard not to stammer as she spoke. She proceeded to open the book she had gotten and alas, it was what she had been searching for all this while.

”I found it!” She exclaimed excitedly, her green eyes looking up to meet Sthena as, at that moment, the embarrassment had slipped from her memory.

”Good for you. At least you have found something to occupy your thoughts with.” Sthena responded. The underlying meaning of his words is obvious to Perdita that he knows how she feels.

It was at this moment that Emily knocked on the door and pushed it open only to see the King seated comfortably on the chair.

His red eyes that was filled with warmth for Perdita was quick to sharply stare at the maid.

Perdita on the other hand couldn’t be more happy for the interruption. ”Oh, Emily. You are back.” One could see the gratefulness that filled her eyes.

”G—greetings, Your Majesty.” Emily couldn’t hide the nervousness in her voice as she greeted the King.

Sthena didn’t bother to respond to the lowly maid. His red eyes intently stared at the glass of juice on the tray and he said in a cool calm voice, ”What are you standing there for? I don’t think the snacks will serve the Lady by itself. Will it?”

Emily shook her head and forced herself to move her feet. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she placed the tray in front of Perdita.

”Your refreshments, My Lady,” Emily said and stood straight, her hand clutched behind her in fear.

”Thank you,” Perdita murmured, and in haste to cool her burning self, all thanks to Sthena, she grabbed the freshly squeezed orange juice and brought it to her lips to drink.