NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Fully dressed for the day, Perdita accompanied by Emily headed towards the library skipping going to the dining room as she had drank two glasses of blood as her breakfast.

After the scene on the bed with Sthena which Emily had walked in to witness, Perdita had been embarrassed to speak to Emily. On the other hand, Emily dared not ask any question as she wasn’t in the position to do so even though she had been shocked and was still shocked with a thousand questions going on in her head.

”My Lady,” Emily called to get Perdita’s attention.

”Yes, Emily?”

”If I may, I would like to help you with discovering, harnessing, and mastering your powers,” Emily suggested, walking two steps behind Perdita as they headed towards the library where Perdita had proposed going to read the books about witches and other creatures she wanted to learn about.

Perdita nodded and replied, ”I will appreciate that, Emily. But first I need to get the knowledge I need before learning about harnessing powers. I do not want to conjure anything that could harm anyone unknowingly.”

”Of course, My Lady. You are right about that. Would you like to eat any snack as you read?”

”No,” Perdita declined. ”I don’t want any. I’ll read without them today. Say, Emily, as my guardian witch, do your powers vary or are they limited?”

”Well, My Lady,” Emily began, her chin raised and her eyes slightly closed, the look on her face mirrored the thoughts she was trying to set right in her head. ”I have different powers, My Lady. A few I know of and also a lot I do not know. But as you regain your powers and strength, I will be granted more powers to be able to guide and protect you.”

Perdita nodded, her attention keen on everything Emily was saying as they turned to a new hallway where she saw Sthena and Daemon standing, her name slipping between their conversation she could barely make out.

She stopped in her tracks, looking from Sthena to Daemon and asked, ”Did I just hear my name?”

Yes, darling,” Sthena nodded, smiling warmly at her. ”I was just telling Daemon here how I no longer have a black heart but a red heart now.”

”Ah,” Perdita mouthed, heat rushing up her cheeks as she realized the meaning behind his words, ”I’ll leave you two then,” She said, greeting Daemon with a bow and immediately left with Emily.

This cheeky vampire. Perdita thought. He was always a different person anytime he spoke. From a cranky vampire to a sharp-mouthed vampire who dishes out blunt answers with a charming smile on his face.

”Why are you smiling, My Lady?” Emily had noticed the blush on Perdita’s cheeks and the small smile widening on her lips quizzed with furrowed brows.

”Am I?” Perdita blurted. Realizing how she phrased her words, she quickly corrected, ”I’m not smiling, Emily. I was only reminiscing over a thought that crossed my mind.”

”Or was it about, His Majesty?” Emily drawled and immediately cleared her throat when Perdita turned to stare at her. ”Ahem! Something got in my throat.”

”I have always seen you as a quiet person, Emily,” Perdita remarked and went on to further speak but was interrupted by the presence of another maid who bowed to relay her message,

”Greetings, My Lady. His Majesty has requested you to wait at the entrance of the castle for him.”

”Oh,” Perdita mouthed. I thought I saw him discussing with Daemon some minutes ago. She said to herself. ”Where is he now?”

”He headed towards the courtroom, My Lady. He will soon join you. If you may excuse, My Lady.”

”You can go. Thank you.” Perdita nodded at the maid who swiftly turned on her heels and immediately left. Turning back to Emily, Perdita opened her mouth to finish what she began before she was interrupted by the maid.

”My Lady!” Another maid came rushing in, ”His Majesty requests your presence at the entrance of the castle!”

”Why don’t we continue this conversation when I come back? Hm?” Perdita smiled at Emily who nervously nodded her head and followed behind her mistress as they headed towards the castle’s entrance.

”I thought you have encountered some challenge inside the castle as I would have been the next to get you myself,” Sthena commented as soon as he saw Perdita approach him.

”My apologies for keeping you waiting,” Perdita responded while also wondering why Sthena was in a rush to see her. Noticing the carriage packed outside, she asked, ”Are you going somewhere?”

Sthena nodded and took Perdita’s arm, ”We are going somewhere. After you, My Lady,” He gestured as he helped Perdita into the carriage. ”You are not to follow your mistress today,” He halted the steps of Emily who was about to head to the driver’s seat to sit with the Coachman.

”Yes, Your Majesty,” Emily bowed and took a step back. ”Be safe, My Lady.” She wished and watched the carriage drive out of the castle.

Just as the king’s carriage drove out of the castle, a few minutes later, another carriage drove in and stopped at the entrance of the castle.

Alighting from the carriage with the help of the Coachman and a maid who jumped from the driver’s seat and was quick on their heels to assist the person inside was a young Lady whose brunette hair cascaded down the length of her back in smooth deep waves.

”Get my things out now!” She ordered as soon she stepped down from the carriage to the Coachman and maid who quickly bowed to get the order done.

With shoulders puffed, and chin as high as the castle’s walls, the dark red eyes of the Lady scanned the castle building, the grandeur of it bringing a proud smile to her lips.

Adjusting her cloak made from the softest cotton and feathers of a peacock, a testament to the wealth she came from, her red eyes gazed down on Emily who stood quietly on the side observing her. ”You there. Was that the King’s carriage that just left?”

”Yes, My Lady,” Emily politely replied with a bow.

”Hmmph!” The Lady stomped her feet on the ground harrumphing. ”Couldn’t he have waited here to welcome me first? After all, he was the one who invited me.”

”My Lady, here is your luggage,” The Lady’s maid announced, standing at a considerable distance away from the fuming Vampiress. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

”And what shall I do with them? Carry them by myself?!” She snapped at the maid. Her lips twisted and her gaze pierced down on her.

”You!” The Vampiress barked, pointing at Emily. ”Take my things inside this instant.”

”My apologies, My Lady, I am only ordered to serve Lady Perdita and no one else. If you may excuse me, I’ll get another maid to assist you.” Emily replied, and turned around and went inside the castle.

Not believing her ears, the Lady stared horrified at the words of Emily. ”How dare you?! Get yourself back here this instant!”

”Lady Eleanor,” Daemon walked into the scene with a bow of greeting. ”What are you doing here?” He asked looking at the luggage beside the proud-looking Vampiress.

”Such a stupid question to ask me, Chief Advisor Daemon on seeing me. I do not answer to you. I want my stuff inside this instant and no more questions from you.” She declared, impatience written on every movement and word that came from her lips.

Walking past Daemon with chin high in the sky, she said to him, ”Do you think I would be here if the King hadn’t invited me? I’m sure he missed me.” With that, she walked inside the castle, with her maid dragging her luggage behind her.