NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Take a guess?

Taking a guess when it came to Sthena was like trying to get hold of a lizard that’ll leave its tail in your hand just so you can’t get hold of it.

A light chuckle left Sthena’s lips seeing the expression on Perdita’s face that gave away what she thought. He replied to his question, ”His chief advisor had suggested executing me to prevent future troubles. But when I presented the letter he had approved with his seal to kill my mother, he had no choice but to pull away. A killer cannot sentence another killer. He had argued he didn’t issue any letter, but my evidence proved otherwise.”

”That was my last piece on the chessboard, and I had to use it perfectly to my advantage.” Sthena continued, his hand mindlessly taking Perdita’s hair in his fingers. ”In that moment, I swore to kill him and become king. To become the highest authority and the bane of those who trampled on me and caused pain to my mother.”

”Must not have been an easy fight,” Perdita mused, imagining the fight he had to pull to get to where he was today. She knew without a doubt that the road was filled with blood.

”It wasn’t,” he agreed with her words. ”It was during this time I met Daemon. He has been someone I could trust with anything till this day. I owe him a lot. ” Sthena shook his head, his eyes distant as he reminisced about the memories he had kept at the back of his.

Experiencing all he did and killing at such a young age without knowing it would shape one into a totally different person in one way or the other. A monster, if one lets it consume them. He was strong to have pulled through even when everyone was against him.

”Did you find out who had issued the letter?” If the late king denied issuing the order to kill his mother, then someone must have used his seal without his knowledge.

”I do,” Sthena replied, a sly knowing smile on his lips. ”I am just waiting for when to use that piece on the chessboard.” The winner of a fight isn’t always the first one to make a strike but the last one to counter the move where it left no chance for the opponent to move again.

”Was it—” Perdita started and abruptly stopped, weighing her words. Skeptically she asked, ”Was it Lady Rosamonda?” Putting the pieces of how she had wanted them gone, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she was the one.

Sthena didn’t answer immediately, as the smile widening on his face was the answer she needed to her question.

Perdita sat upright, her gaze on Sthena, thinking of all he had said. ”You are one cunning man, do you know that?” He knew Rosamonda orchestrated for the demise of his mother, yet here he was not giving her the same fate as the late king. Unless he had another plan in that calculating head of his. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

”You cannot blame me, darling.” Sthena remarked and brought Perdita close to himself. ”When you deal with wolves, you need to be dressed as something more dangerous to be able to eliminate them.”

Pain, they say, truly changes oneself. To do things one never desired just to survive. She couldn’t imagine how much he had to pass through to become who he is today. To be the one in power after being trampled, even down to killing his mother on her sickbed. This explains why everyone feared him and why he did things the way he did them. A cast-out son who is now the king. Of course they would be scared not to cross paths with him. This was the biggest revenge one could attain.

Suddenly, Sthena felt Perdita’s arm around him, hugging him. Surprised at first, his hand went round her to hug her back, enjoying the softness of her body wrapped around him.

”No matter what you went through nor what others had said about you, it doesn’t define who you truly are. Deep inside your heart remains the one that has been in you.” Perdita murmured to him, deepening the hug.

”Should we drop everything and run away together? Just you and me.” He asked her, watching the shock that appeared on her face.

”Why would you want to do that?” Perdita frowned. ”After attaining all these, you want to leave them? Do you think they wouldn’t try to end you, most especially now that you must have made more enemies once the power you hold slips from your hand? I wouldn’t advise you to do that.”

”I was ready to take us away right now,” Sthena sighed, feigning disappointment. Meanwhile, beneath the surface, Perdita noticed the smile that formed on his face. She smacked his hand. ”You were joking with me!”

”I’m sorry. I wanted to see the reaction on your face,” He laughed, then a thoughtful expression replaced the laugh as he said, ”Have you noticed any suspicious moves from anyone lately?”

”Suspicions move?” Perdita shook her head. ”I have not. Is this about the person leaking information from the castle? Why not question the maid I told you I had seen in the garden some days back?”

”I will do that soon. I am waiting for another slip to happen. But if it doesn’t, I’ll have to take matters into my hands.”

”Speaking of which,” Perdita scrambled out of the bed. ”I’ll be back; let me get something from my chambers.” She said and left through the door. A few minutes later, she returned and sat beside Sthena on the bed.

She continued to speak, ”I had wanted to show you this the day before, but you have been occupied. I received a letter that came from Marco. He said he has gotten better and is well taken care of.” She beamed with smiles. She hadn’t forgotten the joy and relief she felt when she saw the writing of her brother.

Sthena took the letter from Perdita’s hand and stared at it for a few seconds, then said, ”I do not see anything written on it. It’s a blank sheet.”

”What?” Confused, Perdita took the letter and read it to the hearing of Sthena. She heard him say, ”He bound the words with magic only meant for you to read. Must have advanced in his abilities. They are teaching him well.”

Perdita parted her lips to speak, but no words came out. For a minute, she stayed silent to articulate her next words. She quizzed, ”Don’t you know where Serena and the others are?”

”I know. Unfortunately, it is not a place you can go even as a king and a pureblooded vampire.” Sthena replied, ”There is a treaty between the witches and vampires, and this one is one of them. Not to enter their territory unless with due cause. Going there will raise speculations in the kingdom, and attention will be drawn to you and Marco, which I do not want. We have enough people after the two of you already. That aside, you need to know their exact location, as they have more than one or two.”

”Oh,” Perdita mouthed, feeling helpless at the situation again. This must be the reason why Marco had not given her an address to write back to him.

”Do not worry your mind; if he is writing to you, it means he is well. We just have to wait a little more time to reach him.” Sthena patted her head reassuringly. ”Until he writes you an address, we can only wait, or we can choose an alternative to find them ourselves.”

”Come,” He urged her, ”Rest your pretty head. It is late. We have another long day ahead tomorrow.”