NIGHTS OF HALLOW

”Are we still talking about the mirror?” Perdita skeptically murmured the confusion of what they were talking about and the tensed air palpable.

”Yes, My Lady,” Nathan turned his gaze away from the King, a wide smile replacing the grimace that was on his face a while ago. ”Forgive the interruption, His Majesty was only pulling my black heart.” He chuckled at the end, his gaze briefly wandering to Sthena whose lips were set in a thin line.

”Are you the one whose memories were lost inside the mirror?” Perdita quizzed, her mind putting the pieces of what Nathan and Sthena said together.

”He was so obsessed with how the mirror worked and the memories he saw, that before he could realize what was happening, his memories slipped away from him and went into the mirror till today,” Sthena answered, taking the job upon himself to explain how everything happened.

Perdita nodded, her eyes briefly staring at the mirror, her admiration about the mirror immediately disappeared into the thin air and now turned into something she should be wary of.

She had wanted to use the mirror to see her memories especially those about her childhood she couldn’t remember anymore. Maybe she would be able to see what her parents looked like. But now, with the disadvantage that came with the mirror, she couldn’t imagine losing her memories while trying to replay them.

She turned to Sthena whose gaze appeared distant as though he was thinking about something. Recalling what Nathan had said, she deduced that he was the one who backed out while seeing his memories. Why would he do that? Were they not his memories or they had triggered him of his past?

”Will I continue to hold the card?” Perdita, deciding not to delve into something that could trigger the past of both men questioned looking at the card in her hand. The two faces of the card were white, while the sides, were black.

Nathan walked closer to where Perdita stood, his brows were quick to furrow as he stared at the card. He said, ”Can you hold it a little longer, My Lady?”

”Okay,” Person nodded noticing Nathan and Sthena exchange looks with each other.

A few minutes passed in silence until Nathan took the card from Perdita saying, ”Your Majesty, I believe this is a rare case I have ever encountered. She can not be read.” He disclosed as he put the card back to where he took it from.

”What does that mean?” Perdita questioned, curiosity evident in her eyes.

”My Lady,” Nathan gently called, a gentle smile on his face as he stared at the green-eyed Lady. ”The faces of the card are always meant to change when someone holds it. Whatever is shown in front of the card is going to be the fate of the person while whatever is shown at the back was that person’s past life.”

”It usually comes with images and sometimes figures which helps us the readers to interpret what is shown on the card,” Nathan explained, the look on his face thoughtful as his keen eyes stared at Perdita.

”Both faces the card were blank as I held it,” Perdita murmured to see Nathan nod his head. She exhaled, understanding why Sthena and Nathan had exchanged looks with each other. ”What does this mean now? My card showing blank where I cannot be read, what does it imply?”

”In a rare case like yours, it could mean your mind is too strong to be read or that your mind holds no memories in it.”

”Should I be happy?” Perdita’s hands wrung against each other, a nervous chortle escaping her lips, her eyes now dilated in both confusion and apprehension. ”Should I be happy that this could mean I have no memories in my head? Or that no one can read my mind to know what is inside my mind? Which is the better option to pick?”

”It isn’t as bad as you think it is,” Sthena replied, taking Perdita’s hands in his as he reassured her. ”In your case now, it means a good thing because people even if they read you, cannot know who you are or to be precise, what you are. It is advantageous to you and your brother. This is one of the things I wanted to confirm.”

”Yes, My Lady,” Nathan remarked as he tried reassuring Perdita, ”It is a gift and not a curse, don’t think of yourself as one.”

”Was that what you wanted to confirm?” Perdita turned to Sthena who nodded his head in reply saying,

”It is one of them though this was the crucial one. We will confirm the next one later on. For now, I have to take you back to the castle.” Sthena said and then turned to Nathan,

”Thank you for helping out, Nathe. However, a word about this leaves your mouth even to your old Butler, you’ll see your tongue ripped out.”

Nathan waved his hand dismissively as he chuckled at Sthena’s words, ”Your threat is not going to move my black heart, Your Majesty. It breaks my heart that I wouldn’t be able to share a glass of wine with a lovely Lady as you are, Lady Perdita.”

”You can do that with your mirror,” Sthena interjected, subtly glaring at Nathan who never ceased to get on his nerves. ”We shall meet some other time, Nathan.”

”Let me at least walk you out, My Lady,” Nathan ignored Sthena’s remark as he took Perdita’s hand and led them outside his mansion where the king’s carriage awaited them. ”It is a pleasure to have you in my humble home, My Lady.” Nathan tilted his head in a small bow to which Perdita returned with a bow of hers.

As the carriage drove out of the mansion of Nathan, Perdita sat with her face turned towards the window, enjoying the view outside even though everywhere appeared white with the constant falling snow.

Out of nowhere, she saw Sthena drape her shoulders with his coat he removed. Murmuring a thank you, Perdita smiled warmly at the man whose actions towards her every time warmed her heart.

Another silence passed between the two, Perdita breaking it with a question that had been on her mind since they left Nathan’s mansion. ”Can I try the mirror?”

”No,” Came the quick response from Sthena who frowned at her request. ”It is too dangerous to look at. You wouldn’t want to be reminded how you lived your life. It brings too many regrets as to why you didn’t try hard enough. And not only that, there is the danger of losing your memory. It is not safe.”

”I wouldn’t stare for too long,” Perdita pursed her lips in displeasure at being denied a chance to try out the mirror even though the imposing danger was evident. ”I was thinking I could see some of my memories and at least get a glimpse of my parents.”

”The mirror is tempting, Perdita. It pulls you in to take a look until you find yourself already lost in it. It is too much of a bait to take the risk. I wouldn’t want you going through all that.” Sthena’s hand cupped the cheeks of Perdita’s as he gently caressed it. ”Your memories will come to you when you need them. Give it time.”

Perdita nodded, not wanting to press the topic. She could notice the distant look in Sthena’s eyes he tried hard to hide any time she stared at him. What had he passed through that made him not want to see his memories again? She internally asked herself to which she didn’t have an answer to. Her hands in a gentle reassuring squeeze held Sthena’s hand as they continued back to the castle and in no time arrived at the entrance.

Just as Sthena helped Perdita step down from the carriage, the double doors of the castle’s building swung open, revealing Emily rushing to help her mistress and at the same time, the brunette vampiress, Eleanor, could be seen matching her way out.

On seeing the King, a coy smile appeared on her face as she quickly wrapped her arms around Sthena, hugging him, ”Your Majesty! I have missed you.”