NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Emily watched in horror as the scene unfolded in her front like a broken track playing back and forth. The horror of watching the Lady who has shown her nothing but kindness drink poison served by her caused a dull ache in her chest like a weight was crushing her.

The orange liquid slowly slid downward as Perdita tilted the glass cup to drink her favorite juice unknown to her what was added to the drink.

Meanwhile, Sthena crossed his leg over the other as he also watched Perdita about to drink the contents in the glass cup. His dark glacial red eyes zeroed on the glass before they slowly went upwards to stare at the maid whose gaze suddenly met his and she was quick to avert her gaze.

Emily’s eyes darted around the room, her hands already shaking by her sides as the time seemed to slow down, making everything momentarily still.

Just as the drink was about to touch Perdita’s lips, Emily suddenly tripped on her toes, causing her to move forward to collide with the table near Perdita. Somehow, her hand slightly shoved Perdita to the side causing the content in the glass cup Perdita held to spill on the table.

”Oh no!” Perdita exclaimed in shock, not expecting such a thing to happen. She was quick to put the glass aside to save the remaining juice inside. Fortunately or unfortunately for both she and Emily, only a small quantity had spilled on the table.

Emily bit her lips in disappointment. She wanted everything to pour. Why didn’t she push harder?!

She was quick to bow her head severally as she beseeched with a horrified look on her face, ”Forgive me, My Lady, Your Majesty! I didn’t mean for that to happen. Please pardon my clumsiness, it will never happen again.”

Perdita looked up at Emily from her sitting position, her green eyes roaming all over Emily. She asked in concern, ”Are you okay, Emily? Are you sick?”

Emily shook her head and then nodded too, confused about what to do or say. She replied to Perdita’s questions, ”I am fine, My Lady. My deepest apologies for causing such a nuisance. I didn’t mean for it to happen!”

Perdita noticed Emily’s fragile-looking body shudder due to fear. She placed a comforting hand on the maid’s arm and reassured in a gentle voice, ”Calm your jittery heart, Emily. I know you didn’t mean for it to happen. Stop looking like your head would be cut off. You didn’t kill anybody.”

I almost caused your death, My Lady. Emily lamented in her head without letting her thoughts known or her facial expressions give away what could have happened.

”I still apologize, My Lady.” Emily continued to apologize with her head bowed. She could feel the King’s red eyes on her which caused an unsettling feeling to twist her stomach.

Did he notice? Emily internally questioned herself as she prayed for the King not to notice. Oh, dear heavens, come to thy aid. Emily prayed as sweat trickled down her back to be absorbed by her dress. She suddenly felt hot staying in the cool room.

”Are you sure you are okay, Emily?” Perdita probed seeing the slight look of distress on Emily’s face. ”You know you can tell me if you are sick so you rest and recover.”

”Oh, no, no, My Lady.” Emily negatively shook her head. ”That is not necessary, My Lady. I am fine.”

”Are you sure?” Perdita stressed, not satisfied with the answer she got from Emily.

”Yes, My Lady.” Emily nodded again. She reached for the drink and proposed, ”My apologies again for spilling your drink, My Lady. Let me make a new one for you since this was got split.”

Perdita made to refute the suggestion as she didn’t like the idea of wasting the remaining drink since it was only a small quantity that poured on the table. But before she could open her mouth and speak, Emily already beat her to it.

”Please, allow me, My Lady,” Emily uttered and took the drink immediately. She bowed as she made to hurry out of the room, ”I’ll be back soon and also clean that mess up.”

Rendered speechless as Emily had already gotten hold of the glass cup, Perdita had no choice but to agree. She muttered a low ”Okay” and went ahead to take the fries on the plate with her fork.

”Yes, My Lady.” Emily bowed, glad to be able to dispose of the poisoned drink, but Lady Luck seemed to have departed from her a long time ago because just as she moved a step forward, she heard the order of the King.

”Stop,”

The single word from Sthena to Emily felt like a death order was bestowed on her. She had no choice but to hesitantly stop and turn around. Even Perdita was surprised and wondered why Sthena asked the maid to stop.

”Your Majesty?” Her voice begged not to give away the fear returning to her little heart.

”Hand over the drink.” Sthena asserted, his ears not missing the sound of Emily’s heart that skipped a beat. He continued to speak, ”Why waste the entire cup when it was just a little that spilled?”

Exactly what I thought. Perdita had to agree to Sthena’s words as she munched on her fries. She had thought the same but didn’t want to argue, so she let the girl do as she wanted.

”I—I,” Emily stuttered to get her words right. She didn’t want to outright disobey the king as it would incur punishment, which she couldn’t bear to fall into.

When Emily spoke again, she said, ”I thought the drink would have been infected...I mean damaged. That is why I want to make a fresh one, Your Majesty.”

”Hmm,” Sthena hummed contemplatively with a thoughtful look on his face. He shook his head and waved his hand dismissively and said, ”No need for that. Bring the drink here, then you can go ahead and make another one for your Lady.”

Oh, dear heavens! Emily sought the help of the heavens as it seemed like her efforts to avoid this death hanging on her neck proved to be futile.

She hesitantly went over to serve the drink to the King, her steps appearing as though she was being forced to move.

Emily placed the glass of juice in front of Sthena and the Vampire in turn, took the cup and drank the content of it quickly at first and then deliberately slowly.

It is finished! Emily exclaimed in her heart, barely holding herself from passing out as the loud bell that rang in her head sang death songs in her ears. The King drank the poisoned juice served by her! Was this how was she going to die??

Sthena tilted his head backward as he examined the empty glass in curiosity. He casually asked, ”What fruit juice is this?”

”Orange Juice, Your Majesty.” Emily promptly replied already feeling faint for being in the presence of the King all this while. This is the longest she has stayed in the presence of the powerful vampire King of their kingdom. She already felt like she was dead.

”Why does it taste like there is another thing inside?” Sthena interrogated the maid with his sharp gaze strained on Emily.

Emily felt her throat run dry like a Well would when abandoned for a long time. She internally questioned herself. Was the King able to identify the taste of the poison??

”I—I...I don’t know, Your Majesty.” Emily stuttered in reply.

Sthena clicked his tongue and waved his hand in dismissal, ”Run along and get Perdita’s drink. Do not dawdle around and start moving.”

”Y—yes, Your Majesty.” Emily quickly replied, glad that nothing happened. She reached for the empty glass this time but then again, Sthena stopped her.

”Let the glass cup be.”

Emily’s eyes subtly widened in sudden realization. The King knew! He knew about the poison. Did he overhear her discussion with Lady Rosamonda in the hallway? The hallway was not far from the library room, so it could be possible that he did hear them. That is why he went ahead to drink the juice, and he said to keep the glass cup.

Oh no! That was definitely to use it and find out what juice contained. Despite her efforts to avoid trouble and a possible death on her neck, it still found its way to curl around her, entangling her into the deepest part of hell.

Left with no choice but to adhere to the instruction of the King, Emily with a heavy heart bowed at the king and Perdita before she left through the door to get Perdita another drink.

What was she going to do?? Emily asked as she felt a sharp sting in her heart, and an ominous feeling settled in her stomach as her eyes watered almost making a tear escape her eyes.

Was this the life she was made for? She just got promoted the day before and now, she had problems on her head only on the very first day. Not only will Lady Rosamonda come after her, forget Lady Rosamonda, she was definitely going to be executed by the King for serving Lady Perdita rumored to be his woman poison all because of that scheming witch of a Vampiress, Lady Rosamonda.

If she was going down, Emily thought within her, then she would drag those involved with her. But what evidence did she have that would prove that it was Lady Rosamonda that added the poison to Perdita’s drink and not her? She had none. That was how miserable her death was going to be.