NIGHTS OF HALLOW

”The massacre was initiated just to prepare me and my brother to be able to house the powers of this vampire-witch siblings?!” The anger in Perdita’s voice was undeniable as the room fell silent at the end of her question.

Under the table where Perdita placed her hand on her lap, they slowly balled into fits as everything that had happened a decade ago began to make sense to her as the events started to replay in her head.

The massacre that took out everybody, both the innocent ones, the weak, and the children. Families were torn apart, filling hatred into the hearts of everyone as this had caused humans to lose their families because they were turned into vampires who later died because of the transformation.

This same massacre separated her and Marco from their family. The massacre would have resulted in them being killed as a result of being turned into the so-called vampires. Had they not lied to the villagers in Woodbridge so they could live there, they would have died! And now, Emily is saying that the massacre happened so they could be turned into vampires. So that many innocent souls could die?!

”That is insane, Emily!” Perdita suddenly snapped, sharply standing on her feet as her hand slammed on the table. ”You cannot tell me that so many innocent souls were lost all because Marco and I could be turned into vampires! Just so we can fulfill the so-called destiny of the vampire-witch sibling?!”

”M-my Lady, please calm down and let me explain.” Emily stood up as well, her voice low and beseeching. Taking a step forward toward Perdita, she was suddenly halted in her tracks by an unknown force just as Perdita commanded in an angry tone.

”Do not move an inch towards me, Emily!” Perdita’s voice carried a warning tone to it as her green eyes blazed in anger as she reminisced the days that were the most painful days she and her brother had ever experienced. Days where they had no one to help them. They were so little to fend for themselves and yet they survived the hardship.

”M-my Lady?” Emily called out again, her body slightly shaking in fear at what her revelation had caused. This was another outburst of Perdita’s power which had resurfaced because of the anger brewing in her. Oh no, what has she done?!

Taking a deep shaky breath, Emily tried once more to get the attention of Perdita, ”My Lady, please let me explain. It is not as you seem it to be. There were things that happened before then that led to the massacre.”

”Things that happened?!” Perdita questioned back, her palms fisted beside her in a way to control the outrage burning in her. ”The things that happened before cannot justify what had happened. The lives that were lost all to just turn us into vampires!”

”I know, I know, My Lady. That is why I plead with you to hear me out and hear what happened during that period.” Emily spoke again as she tried to take a step forward wanting to see if Perdita’s magic on her had gone off. But no, it didn’t, it still held her in place.

Sthena who had been seated on his chair silently witnessing all that was happening stared at Perdita, a subtle fascination in his red eyes as the abilities of Perdita were coming one after the other. The last one greater than the first one. He wondered what other powers of Perdita’s would be.

In a casual elegant of his, Sthena crossed one leg over the other as he turned to the maid he addressed, ”It’d do you good if you start talking else another ability of Perdita that would resurface would be how to snap one’s neck without a sword and you might the victim.”

The words of Sthena made Emily swallow a lump of fear as the words of the King could turn out to be positive. But before she could quickly start explaining to soothe the anger of Perdita lest it invoked another ability, Perdita’s voice was quick to shut her mouth from speaking.

”As I had said earlier, no explanation can redeem what you all have done. The massacre is something that happened, unless you can bring back the lives of the innocent that were killed during those horrible days. Hm?” Perdita tilted her head in question towards Emily. Seeing that Emily didn’t say anything, she scoffed and remarked, ”I thought as much. You people cannot bring back the dead that died that day.”

Emily exhaled, understanding what Perdita was saying and the pain she felt. She took another deep breath and replied, ”I know perfectly well that lives were lost which was inevitable, and bringing them back alive is an impossible feat. But then, if you hear me out and my explanation of the real cause of the massacre, it will give you a clear view of what happened and things you should know of. And most importantly, enemies to be wary of.”

”Enemies to be wary of?” Perdita quizzed in a skeptical tone, her voice sounding unbelieving but yet one could note the curiosity in them.

”Yes, My Lady.” Emily nodded. ”If you allow me, I’ll tell you why everything happened that way why the massacre took place, and the person who is the real Mastermind of everything.”

Perdita paused, her fisted hands hesitantly uncurling themselves as she turned to Emily, the sharp look still on her face. ”Fine then, let me hear you out.”

”Thank you, My Lady,” Emily bowed, grateful to have Perdita hear her out. When she raised her head, she pointed at her legs, ”Please, My Lady, it has started to hurt.”

A frown flashed across Perdita’s face as she stared at Emily, ”What’s starting to hurt?”

”My legs, My Lady. Your magic had me pinned to the floor.”

”Oh, my Emily!” Perdita shrieked and rushed to Emily’s side and she panickingly questioned, ”How? Where, Emily? I didn’t know, I’m sorry. How do I remove the magic?”

”Please calm down, My lady. I know it isn’t your fault that I got pinned to the ground. That was your ability resurfacing with force because of your emotions.” Emily explained, her voice calm and understanding which added to the weary of Perdita the more.

”Oh my goodness, I didn’t know I did this. I’m sorry,” Perdita continued to apologize as she tried to think of how to release Emily.

”Take a deep breath, Perdita.” Sthena’s voice sounded over her head against the panic drumming in her head.

”O-okay—” Perdita mouthed and then took a deep breath just like how Sthena instructed.

”Now, exhale it as you focus your mind in your head.” Sthena continued to instruct as Perdita followed through with everything he said.

He continued, ”Now think of releasing your pinning magic on Emily.”

Perdita did as Sthena told her and in the first few seconds, nothing happened.

”It didn’t work,” Perdita said, her voice quivering as the fear of leaving Emily pinned to the floor grew.

”Shush,” Sthena quietened her before she could lose control of her emotions again. ”Focus on your emotions, Perdita. Your head must be clear for you to think through. The magic is part of you, all you need to do is just think about it and it will happen.”

”O—okay,” Perdita blew a breath from her lips. Closing her eyes this time, she followed the instructions of Sthena and focused on her emotions. Releasing her breath, the pin on Emily’s legs unwounded around her, freeing her at once.

”It worked, My Lady!” Emily squealed out, happy that Perdita got it right this time.

”It did?” Perdita questioned in disbelief, her green eyes snapping open at once to look at Emily’s legs where she stepped away from her initial position.

There was a proud light that glowed in Perdita’s eyes as she witnessed the first magic she had conducted in her self-awareness state.

”I did it,” Perdita said, her voice low as she still couldn’t believe she would be able to control her magic one day.

”Congratulations on successfully performing your first magic, darling.” Sthena congratulated her, his voice filled with pride as his gaze focused solely on her.

Perdita at that moment didn’t know how to feel, all she could do was mouth a thank you towards Sthena who returned it with a sweet smile on his face.

He stood up, his regal form getting captured by the darkness that had started to fill in as the snow continued to fall, painting everywhere with the white cold flakes.

Emily quickly stepped aside and bowed respectfully at the king who walked and now stood in front of Perdita as he declared, ”That is enough information revelation for today. We don’t want you to lose track of your emotions and perhaps do something more than that just now.”

The look in Perdita’s eyes dimmed at the mention of what she did and what she could do. The thought alone caused her body to shiver involuntarily.

Sthena’s index finger was quick to raise Perdita’s face she had lowered, his thumb gently brushed against her jaw. ”You don’t have to look so down, this is why I said you needed to be trained before anything. To be in control before you can use your abilities lest you burn down the castle one day, though it would be a spectacular day to witness.” A teasing smile curled on the lips of Sthena as he said this.

He took Perdita’s hand in his and turned around to leave the library room with him as he instructed the maid, ”Set a dinner for us in my chambers.”