NIGHTS OF HALLOW
Chapter 129: It is Time

Chapter 129: It is Time

In the part of the castle where Marco and Lady Bethany strolled on, Lady Bethany halted in her steps, waiting for Marco to answer her burning question to which Marco had kept quiet and had not responded to because of the pain that slowly crept up and bit his stomach like tiny ants sucking on a wound.

"I remember she is the same woman you told me on the day of the hallow ball she was someone special. I thought you were joking back then, I didn’t know you were serious about it and you two look really close to each other."

She laughed at the end of her speech. Her ears perked up, eager to know more about the woman who sat next to Marco at the table while they looked and behaved very close and attached to each other.

At the same time, Serena arrived at the end of the hallway leading to where they stood overlooking the vast land of the castle that showed the view of the backside.

Serena walked up to them in sharp and quick strides, her face still holding the cold look from earlier as she spoke, "My apologies for interrupting you two, but you need to come now, Marco."

Marco turned to face Serena who had spoken. "Is it time?" He asked in clenched teeth that showed the pain he was trying to hold back. Veins had started to pop out from his hands that were fisted by his sides.

"Yes," Serena mouthed, and as quick as she came, she turned and started walking from there.

Marco took a deep breath and began to follow Serena when a small hand stopped him, "Where are you going? What is happening?" Lady Bethany asked, having overhead the small exchange of words by Marco and Serena, she sensed that something was amiss.

"I need to be somewhere, Miss Bethany. I’m sorry not to accompany you throughout your stroll." Marco gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

Lady Bethany stood there for a couple of seconds with a sad expression on her face. She pursed her lips, feeling a little bit irritated she was dumped in the middle of her stroll.

Before Marco could entirely leave the place they were in, he felt someone breeze near him. Lady Bethany. Marco internally slapped his forehead.

"It is rude to drop a Lady in the middle of nowhere and not accompany her back," Lady Bethany told Marco with a slight glare before she smiled.

"I apologize, Miss Bethany," Marco said with a shake of his head. If this woman knew the pain he was passing through, she wouldn’t leech on him this way.

Instead of accepting the apology, Lady Bethany added to the headache of Marco with her reply. She said, "No. I refuse your apology. You must make it up to me."

Marco inwardly sighed. "How am I to do that?"

"Accompany me again," Lady Bethany asserted. She added, "Not here in the castle, but outside these high walls."

A look of shock passed Marco’s eyes. This was a brave one to ask a male out while using that he was compensating her as an excuse.

Without waiting for her to reply, Lady Bethany went ahead to speak, "It is agreed. You cannot go back on your words, Master Marco."

God help me. Marco lamented in his head when he saw his sister approach them with the grey-haired man.

"Marco," Perdita was quick to come to her brother’s side. "Serena told me it is time. Are you—" Before Perdita could finish her statement, Lady Bethany interrupted,

"What is, it is time it is time I’ve been hearing? Did anything happen?"

"And you are?" Perdita frowned. She hated being interrupted when she was speaking.

"I believe the introduction was done in the dining room," Came the quick reply from Lady Bethany who didn’t like the thought of someone being close to Marco as Perdita was. She didn’t miss the way Marco’s eyes softened when he saw her approach them.

"No," Perdita answered. This time she glared at her. "Mind introducing yourself again? Because I don’t see why you should interrupt me."

Lady Bethany opened her mouth to retort, to which Mr. Fredrick who came with Perdita intervened, "I believe we all have more important things to do than stand here to bicker." His eyes turned to look at Lady Bethany in a sharp warning signal before he said to Perdita. "Why don’t we go now?"

"You’re right, Mr. Fredrick." Perdita nodded and turned to Marco who appeared to have paced out because of the pain that was trying to erupt a groan from his mouth.

Perdita held Marco’s hand gently on hers to the dismay of Lady Bethany and pulled him along with her.

Lady Bethany stood there, being ignored as the trio left. Her mouth was slightly open by the treatment given to her by the people she thought were below her.

Soon, the calm and sweet demeanor she had been displaying for Marco cracked and revealed a Lady red with fury as she stormed off to look for her Father and brother who went to meet with the King.

Back in one of the guest rooms of the castle where Serena was waiting for Perdita and Marco to arrive, Sthena also made his way there after he had sent off the annoying family of Mr. Gilberto to their carriage.

His mood that had turned sour in the dining room was as if it was increased ten times than it was before after hearing the nonsense Mr. Gilberto proposed for their partnership in a business he wanted to invest in. Such a stupid man trying to woo him with his stupid tricks.

Sthena snorted inwardly. His dampened mood took another time of annoyance when he sighted Mr. Fredrick walking beside Perdita.

"Why do people unconsciously seek my nails into their throats?" Sthena muttered to himself. The thought of Fredrick being with Perdita irked him to no end. He hated when people poked their noses into something he was interested in. Though he hadn’t made it clear with words before, his actions should have been enough to wade these flies off.

Sthena suddenly paused, his mind going back to his earlier thoughts. When did he become this po— way? He abruptly stopped himself from completing the word possessive and instead completed it with ’way.’

What was his problem with people that stayed near her or not? It’s not like they were together. Ugh! Sthena suddenly scratched his head in slight irritation and frustration unaware of the eyes that were cast on him.

"Your Majesty?" Perdita called in worry as Sthena had paced out without responding to them when Serena spoke to ask if they should proceed.

"I was asking if we should proceed with the healing process?" Serena interrupted with her question.

"Yes," Sthena gave his approval. Mr.

Fredrick and Mr. Leonard proceeded to help the now weakened Marco who clutched his stomach inside the room.

Perdita stopped Serena halfway to ask "Should I come in? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Serena who stopped to look at Perdita saw the anxiousness in her green eyes. She replied, "Yes, there is, but that would be later. Just stay outside for now while we treat him."

"Okay," Perdita muttered and Serena finally closed the door behind her. She turned around in time to catch Sthena’s gaze on her. She didn’t forget how he appeared lost for the few seconds he was asked a question.

Perdita stared back at him, and just when she opened her mouth to speak, she heard Sthena question her.

"Are you alright?" He asked, walking to stand beside her near the door.

"I am," Perdita replied. "What about you?" She returned the question, wanting to know if anything was wrong.

"Asking after my health?" Sthena’s lips pulled up into a sly smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I’m fine, Perdita. You should worry about your brother and not me."

Perdita nodded, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "Will he be fine? I mean, will they be able to cure him?" She had seen the pain and agony in her brother’s eyes some minutes ago to know that whatever was wrong with him, was not to be taken lightly. And if care was not taken, it might kill him in the process. The thought of her only family dying sent shivers down her body, making her heart shudder in fear.

"Come," Sthena took Perdita’s hand and began to walk away.

"Where are you taking me? My brother needs me..." Perdita halted in her steps to protest.

"You need yourself more than your brother needs you. You cannot look after him with your weak and fragile body that could be blown away by the wind." Sthena spoke with a narrowed look and began to walk again. He took her to another room, two pillars away from the room of Marco.

Inside the room, he tugged her towards the bed. "You need to rest, Perdita. If it worries you, I’ll stay near Marco’s room to keep watch, and I’ll call you if you’re needed."

Perdita sighed, unable to raise another argument, she went and laid down on the bed while Sthena covered her with the duvet. She felt her body and her muscles seeking to be freed relax from the stress they were bounded with.

Sleep was quick to take over Perdita’s body as she found the rest it had been craving. With her eyelids fluttering to keep her eyes open, she muttered in a small voice, "Thank you,"

"Hm," Sthena hummed and watched Perdita finally close her eyes before he stepped out of the room. His once relaxed expression hardened as he stared at the door to Marco’s room.

"Let’s just hope this day ends with someone not trying any stupid game," He muttered under his breath, speaking about Serena and the male witches she came with.