NIGHTS OF HALLOW

”Who dares disobey the hunting rule?! Everyone assemble this instant. The hunting is over!”

The sudden voice of the King came as a shock to everyone as not only was it rare for him to raise his voice, but the anger behind every word he spoke could be detected, and hence everyone from where they all scattered gathered on their horses. On each of their faces were questionable gazes directed towards the king who rode in on his horse.

The questions on the tip of their tongues, ready to question the king, were immediately tied when they saw whom the king carried.

Arrow? Blood? Perdita? Who shot her?! Were the three questions that immediately struck in their minds which no one dared ask as it would trigger the already furious King.

”Who, while I ask nicely, did this?” Sthena’s gaze locked in on each person’s face, gauging their reactions, trying to pick out the one who had decided to sign up for a trip to hell.

No one answered. None could provide the answer as they all had the same question going on in their minds.

”I asked, who amongst you broke the hunting rule I had specifically laid out not to be broken?!” This time, Sthena’s voice was a big contrast to his earlier tone. It shook the hearts of everyone present, fear of what was going to happen next etched on their minds.

Still, no reply came forth. And then, very slowly from one end came a movement which had everyone’s gaze snap towards Princess Sarah, who now took another step forward.

Lady Rosamonda and Prince Reagan’s eyes were quick to widen in surprise and questions which they wanted to ask the princess but at the same time wouldn’t dare to voice in the presence of the king.

Feeling everyone’s gaze on her made Sarah anxious, her hands twitching slightly by her sides, which she squeezed on her dress as she continued to walk towards the king, holding an unconscious Perdita in his arms, who at the moment didn’t know what was happening.

Sthena’s eyes narrowed very slightly, having not expected Sarah to step forward. Was she the—

Princess Sarah spoke, interrupting the question that came to Sthena’s mind, ”The Lady, she’s bleeding, we need to tend to her wound.” As she spoke, her hand was already outstretched, all ready to touch Perdita when Sthena’s voice halted her movement.

”No finger of yours should touch her.”

”But, but she might die from too much loss of blood. She’s a human.” Princess Sarah tried reasoning with Sthena whose gaze turned away from the worried Princess.

”And it is this same reason why one of you has decided to shoot her. To kill her.” His voice turned a menacing low octave that had Sarah immediately step back. She hadn’t seen him this angry before.

Could it be that all they had been saying had been true all along? The king indeed has fallen for the green-eyed lady he had brought to the castle, who, till this day, no one knew the reason why.

Sthena continued to speak, ”The silence now doesn’t mean whoever it is shall not be fished out. And believe me, when I say this, you wouldn’t like the part of hell I’ll send you.”

Another silence ensued, this time more nerve-wracking than before, as the king said no word he didn’t do. Everyone looked at each other, questions and doubts swirling in their eyes.

Amongst them was Daemon who stood with his hands in his behind his back, his red eyes swirling with an unreadable look. The moment Sthena declared those words, Daemon’s eyes were quick to but subtly look in Princess Sarah’s direction.

She had shot an arrow today without prior calculations. Could it be at that moment? Daemon thought to himself, his mind retracting to when and how everything happened. It was almost the same time when the King had declared the hunt over that she had shot that arrow.

Or could it be? A mere coincidence? Perhaps, someone else had shot the arrow? But then, who would have done such a thing to shoot at the green-eyed lady who was with the king?

Daemon’s hands gripped over the other as several questions swirled in his head. If it is found out it was Princess Sarah who shot the arrow, even though it wasn’t international, he doubted she would be pardoned as she not only broke the rule but also almost killed the woman the vampire king has come to love.

This wasn’t looking good. Daemon took a deep breath. If only he could magically find out that maybe, just maybe it wasn’t because of Sarah’s shooting, then she would be safe. But how could he do that? Everyone had scattered out and he had been watchful until he spotted Princess Sarah and decided to speak to her.

”Very well then,” The king’s voice brought everyone out of their reverie as he continued to speak, ”Let’s do this the hard way. No one shall move from this spot until I make sure Perdita is alive and safe.” With that, Sthena rode off on his horse carrying the still Perdita as they rode back to the castle.

Daemon watched as the back of Sthena disappeared into the distance, leaving a distance echo of the horse’s hooves stomping on the hard floor. Should he tell the king what happened? It was his duty to do so. But then, the life of Princess Sarah also lay on the line.

What should he do? In that moment, his gaze turned to Princess Sarah meeting her gaze that for a moment he imagined the worst that might happen if he spoke up. The very thought caused a triple in his heart. He is the only one who could be the cause of her death and also save her.

Never had he imagined to fall into a case as this one. Duty over love.

Love? He questioned himself, confused and annoyed at the thought. A little nerve of anger twitched ever slightly in his heart. However, the expression he saw on Princess Sarah’s face, as though the sequence of events had finally begun to make sense to her, made him clench his jaw in irritation. Her red eyes widened in disbelief, and there he saw helplessness, pain, and answers she sought from him.

Which one was he to protect now? His integrity and trust towards the King? Or, to protect the woman he had a past with. One who caused him both love and pain? It was a war between duty and love.

”Why is His Majesty so furious about the shooting at that woman? Is she so important? Whose family is she from? One death of a human wouldn’t matter anyway.” Lady Eleanor snorted. Her red eyes swirled with jealousy and hate at how protective the king was towards the woman she hadn’t imagined would be a thorn in her flesh. This had been her opportunity to get close to the king, but that woman had to ruin her chances!

”In as much as she is good as dead to me and I believe to everyone else’s. I must say however, it is not going to end well for anyone who is involved. The king is unforgiving, especially to things he considers special.” Lady Rosamonda responded to Lady Eleanor’s words with a harrumph.

The words of the two ladies had the gaze of Daemon snap in their direction. Had he missed something? He questioned as he skeptically stared at the two vampiresses.

Lady Rosamonda, he could remember had tried poisoning the green-eyed lady and was still planning to do so. And Lady Eleanor, since she came to the castle, has been bitter over not getting the attention of the king and had fought over space in the dining room today.

Could it be, perhaps, that this might be one of the two vampiresses? What other opportunity to kill Lady Perdita, if not today, where everyone else can also be a suspect? No one would see them. No clues, no eye witness. Just a clean job done by either of them.

However, these were all speculations. It could indeed be from the shooting of Princess Sarah. Daemon exhaled as everything came crashing just as he thought he found a solution. But then, his eyes shone in eagerness as a new solution came to his mind. Now, he only had to wait for the king to come back.