NIGHTS OF HALLOW

With the help of Emily who had brought a new dress with her, Perdita changed out of her wet dress still inside Sthena’s bathing room after he had left her inside.

While drying Perdita’s hair, Emily couldn’t help but question Perdita, ”Are you okay, My Lady?”

”Huh? Ah, yes I am fine, Emily.” Perdita responded, still slightly dazed at what had occurred. The thought of what Sthena told her of nearly molesting him still in her head. She couldn’t understand how she could have done such a thing or was Sthena joking with her? She would ask him.

Emily nodded her head in understanding not wanting to probe more than she was required to. Though she had seen Perdita sleeping in the arms of the King, she knew she was not in the position to ask questions about it.

Perdita however noticing the quizzical silent expression on Emily’s felt the need to explain more. She said to her, ”I passed out, Emily.”

Surprised and at the same time alarmed at what Perdita said, Emily questioned back, her hand slowing down in drying Perdita’s hair. ”Passed out? How did that happen?”

”I got drunk,” Perdita answered and stood from the chair just as Emily finished drying her hair. She smiled at Emily, grateful she was here to help her change. As it was already time to retire to bed, Emily had brought a night dress for her.

”Got drunk?” Emily turned more confused than she was already, finding Perdita’s replies more bizarre than the former. ”You are not supposed to get drunk. You cannot get drunk. No, something is wrong.” She muttered to herself which Perdita didn’t hear as she was already at the door about to leave the bathing room.

”Come on, Emily. What are you doing still standing there?” Perdita’s voice sounded over her head, bringing her back from her thoughts before she followed Perdita out of the bathing room.

Just as they left the bathing room and headed towards the door of the King’s room, Sthena walked in, almost as if he had been waiting for them to finish.

”Your Majesty,” Emily respectfully bowed and stood by the side to allow the King to walk in. She turned to Perdita, ”Have a good night’s rest, My Lady,” Before she walked out of the room with Perdita’s wet dress in her hand.

”Good night?” Perdita questioned no one in particular as she made for the door. ”I am not sleeping here.”

She turned to Sthena and gave him a slight bow, ”Good night, Sthena, thank you for today.” But just as her hand touched the door’s handle, Sthena’s hand swiftly swapped hers away and he closed the door, locking it.

Perdita’s mouth opened ready to question him when he casually remarked, ”Take a seat and have your dinner.”

”Dinner? Isn’t it late?” She asked, still standing in her position without moving. ”Also, I am not hungry. I don’t need the food anyway. I am a vampire and a witch.”

”And I do believe that there is a food vampires and witches cannot do without. Hm?” Sthena questioned back, his red eyes lazily staring back at Perdita while he took a seat at the table where plates of food were arrayed which she hadn’t noticed earlier when she walked out of the bathing room.

”Blood?” Perdita’s eyes squinted in question. The bubbling of her throat and her veins that tickled at the mention of blood reminded her that it had been a while since she last drank blood.

Sthena clicked his tongue in a bored manner, ”You ask the obvious question, darling. Sit and don’t stand dawdle asking me questions.”

Perdita pursed her lips ready to reply, but the hunger evident in her eyes made her close her mouth. Taking a seat opposite Sthena, she said, ”Can I ask you a question?”

”You can,” Sthena nodded. But before Perdita could open her mouth to speak, he raised his index finger at her to stop her. He continued to say, ”But that will be after you have finished your food. You will need the energy for tomorrow.”

”Energy for tomorrow?” Perdita’s brows rose in question while she reached for the glass of blood on the table ignoring the cooked food on the table as she didn’t feel like eating. Opening the lid of the cup, the rich and potent smell of the blood was quick to reach her nostrils, fueling her hunger more.

”Yes,”

”Why?”

Sthena whose gaze has been on Perdita narrowed at her. He said, ”What did I say about finishing your food before asking questions?”

”But...” Perdita made to protest when suddenly, she felt Sthena behind her, making her heart skip a beat in her chest.

He bent towards her, his fingers slowly weaving into her hair as he spoke in her ear, ”Be a good girl now, will you? Mm, darling?”

Perdita immediately nodded, her mouth sealing shut quickly as she had opened them. Her body in turn burned with a new flame solely fanned by Sthena.

”Good,” Sthena remarked and went back to his initial sitting position as though he never left his chair. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips which he flashed at Perdita when she looked at him while she now drank the blood in her glass silently.

”I just know the best medicine for you,” Perdita heard him say, eliciting an eye roll from her.

”I’m done, Father,” Perdita replied, sarcasm laced in her words which made Sthena chuckle.

”I like your sense of humor,” He replied, his eyes crinkling in mischievousness. ”Here’s another glass for you.”

”Another one? One is enough,” Perdita shook her head in denial, refusing to drink another glass of blood.

”Okay,” Sthena didn’t pressure her. Instead, he said, ”I hope you won’t request for more tomorrow.”

”What is happening tomorrow that I don’t know of?”

”We shall know when tomorrow comes, but for now...” Sthena paused as he adjusted in his sitting position, the playful smile on his face replaced by a serious look. He went on to speak, ”I have a question for you.”

”I have mine to ask first,” Perdita swiftly replied, not liking how he was trying to dodge her question which she hadn’t even asked.

Sthena smiled, his eyes staring back at the green ones of Perdita. ”You can ask yours when you answer mine. Besides, I told you to ask yours when you finished drinking the blood but you didn’t and had let it slip. So it’s my turn now.”

Perdita’s eyebrows furrowed, a frown creasing her forehead, ”You sly vampire. You cheated.”

”There’s no cheat when all you have to do is to be smart,” Sthena remarked, his voice so calm and soothing in the light of the evening that Perdita found herself hypnotized for a second.

The voice of Sthena speaking again brought her back from her fantasy, he said, ”What did Regan ask you about?”

Sthena’s question came straight at Perdita without warning. She hadn’t expected that was what his question would be. Not to add, how did he know she and Regan had met and he had questioned her?

Perdita’s tongue peeked out of her mouth as she wetted her lips before replying, ”He asked about what happened in the castle and also about my brother if it was related to what his mother told the church members of witches being in the castle.”

”And your answer was?”

”That I don’t know what he was talking about and that I didn’t see such a thing happen in the castle,” Perdita replied, and then, the thought that she should have told Sthena about this nagged at her. She bit her lower lip, her face lowered.

”Good,” Sthena replied. ”That should be your answer even when the church members come to the castle.”

”The church members?” Perdita quizzed. The mention of the church members left a bitter taste in her mouth. Those people had been nothing but a salt on one’s injury. Always snooping their dog’s nose in everything.

Sthena nodded his head in confirmation. ”Their visit might happen at any moment. That is why I will ask you to steer clear of Regan and his Mother. Always inform me of everything you discuss with them.”

”Okay,” Perdita obliged, making a mental note of everything. But those leeches were had to be avoided even when she tried her best not to encounter them each day.

Still on the topic of Regan and his Mother, Perdita decided to voice a question that suddenly came to her head. She asked, ”When Emily revealed who she was earlier today, you didn’t appear fazed about it. Have you always known she was a witch?”

The expression on Sthena’s face changed from the serious look on his face to a thoughtful one as he replied, ”I haven’t always known, but since I appointed her as your handmaid, I noticed something off about her. Though I didn’t initially know she was a guardian witch, I had an inkling she had something going on towards you.”

”Okay,” Perdita mouthed, still overwhelmed by Emily’s revelation. But how was she able to hide her eye color? Perdita questioned herself, making a mental note to ask Emily herself.

”Do you believe all she had said?”

”All she had told you is true but that doesn’t wipe out the fact that she is still under my investigation and could meet her death if she tries anything funny,” Sthena answered, his voice sounded serious, letting Perdita know that he was ready to take the life out of anyone who was a threat.

”It’s late, time to retire for the night. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” Sthena said, getting up from his seat. He went to where Perdita sat saying, ”Let me tuck you in bed, darling.”

And with that, Sthena held Perdita’s hand and apparated from his room to Perdita’s room. Without a word, Sthena led Perdita to her bed. He moved the duvet aside, giving Perdita space to lie down.

”You make me feel like a child,” Perdita muttered in embarrassment, though the sound of her gave away the happiness that she liked it.

Sthena smiled without saying anything. Once Perdita got into the bed, he covered her with the duvet and made sure she was comfortable.

Leaning in towards her, he planted a kiss on her forehead and whispered, ”Have a good night’s rest, love.”

At that moment, Perdita felt as if her heart would burst with the feeling that swirled in her heart. She whispered back, a sweet smile on her face, ”A good night’s rest to you too, Sthena.”