NIGHTS OF HALLOW
Chapter 39: Renewal of Friendship.

Chapter 39: Renewal of Friendship.

’In the sea of people, my eyes will always find you’ — Amzy_Bella

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Perdita turned her face away from Sthena and instead focused on the man she was dancing with. She continued to say to Mark,

"Whatever happened between us is all in the past and I’ve moved on and so are you"

Mark exhaled with a clenched jaw. He looked away from Perdita, ashamed to look into her eyes. When he stared at her again, he tried holding back the emotions that were threatening to spill from him.

"I know I’m a pathetic man who couldn’t stay true to his words but things could have been different if my family were supportive and approved of us then. It’s all my fault but I’m glad you’re doing alright."

"It was no one’s fault, Mark. You were young and were under the pressure of your family. Also, it taught me a lesson too, to go for a man who will not take my status into consideration, but rather will love me and everything about me" Slightly annoyed with how the topic was drifting to something she had been avoiding remembering or talking about, the blunt words escaped from her lips which she immediately regretted saying.

She looked away avoiding seeing the hurt look on Mark’s face. Her eyes roamed around the ballroom and she noticed her brother was no longer where he was before.

When Mark made her swirl and turn, her eyes met with Sthena’s red ones who for once had not looked away from her. It was as if he had been looking at her and there was a subtle smile on his face making her wonder if he had been listening to their conversation.

An awkward silence ensued between Perdita and Mark for a long while as they continued to move to the music being played. Both of them were lost in their thoughts.

Mark knew Perdita was right even though it was the truth he didn’t want to acknowledge for a long time until she said. He was young and also foolish. Always doing as his family said. Always following the rules and customs of the so-called vampire tradition.

Being with Perdita was the only time he knew what happiness meant. He got to experience and enjoy it even for a short while it lasted. To think he lost her because of the same tradition that has started to suffocate and eat the little calm air he was breathing, he should be called a fool. In fact, he was more than a fool.

Well, everything that happened must have a reason behind it. It was for the best and he was glad to be able to see and dance with her probably for the last time.

The music stopped and so did Perdita and Mark who now stood looking at each other.

Mark took a step back with a gentle genuine smile he said, "Can we at least be friends?"

Perdita returned his smile with a nod "Sure. We can still be friends" There was no harm in being friends. That is what they will be from now on.

"Thank you. It was lovely dancing and spending time with you" He said and gave a small bow in gratitude and pain locked in his inner shell of emotions. At least he was still part of her life somehow. He was willing to be the friend she never had since he couldn’t be the man in her life.

"Let me walk you back, friend," Mark said already using the new title he was given. This brought a smile to Perdita’s face.

"Alright, friend" She responded and they laughed at the small display of their new friendship.

"After you," Always the gentleman type, Mark gestured with his right hand to Perdita.

Walking out of the dance floor, Perdita still felt the eyes of Sthena on her. She kept her head straight and refused to look at him, but the urge to turn back pushed her head back to the dance floor but the man was nowhere to be found. Where did he go?

"Ahh!" Perdita winced in pain from a sudden collision with someone. Her eyes were searching for Sthena she did not see where she was going, which resulted in the collision when she suddenly turned.

"I’m sorry," she apologized and took a step back to see that the man she was looking for was the very person she bumped into.

"Ah, my bad" Sthena shook his head in pity. His eyes shone with an evil glint in them.

Mark too was surprised. He was about to pull Perdita away but he was not fast enough to stop her from bumping into the man who was sarcastic with his words. What a rude man. Mark was about to reprimand the man but his words got stuck to his throat when he recognized him. What the?! Were his eyes deceiving him? The king? This is the king! He was so sure of it. Even if he had seen him a few times, he couldn’t be mistaken.

"Your Majesty,"

"Sthena!"

Both Mark and Perdita simultaneously spoke at the same time. Perdita’s voice was higher which swallowed the low surprised voice of Mark.

"Yes?" He answered her "You should watch where you’re going else you bump into another shadow" Sthena grinned referring to what chased Perdita in the hallway. His gaze swept past the flabbergasted Mark for a second before his attention went back to Perdita.

"I’m sorry for bumping into you" Perdita bowed and apologized again. "Excuse us," she nudged on the hand of the stunned Mark so they could go far away from Sthena. But the man had other plans in his crooked head. When Perdita walked past him, Sthena knowingly stepped on her shoe making the hook of her shoe go loose.

"Ahh! My bad again," Sthena placed his hand on his chest with a fake apologetic face.

This time Perdita knew that Sthena was looking for her trouble. And he was enjoying every bit of it. She glared at him and decided to ignore him. Unknown to her that her hook was loose, she took a step forward and almost stumbled when her shoe almost slipped from her leg.

Mark also paused in his steps with a concerned look on his face. "Are you alright?"

Perdita forced a smile and replied, "I think the hook of my shoe has gone lose"

"Oh, let me help with that" Mark offered and was about to bend on his knee to help Perdita fix her shoe when Sthena suddenly came in between them.

"Let me fix it" Ignoring the man he pushed away, Sthena bent on one knee and reached for Perdita’s shoe. He raised the hem of her gown with one hand and used the other hand to fix the hook of her shoe.

All the while Perdita was mortified beyond words. What was this man doing?! He knowingly stepped on her shoe and now he’s behaving like the prince in shining armor. What a shameless man!

"It’s all done" Sthena announced and stood back on his feet "Don’t think too much about it. I like fixing the disaster of my actions" he smiled and saw how Perdita’s eyes darted around without looking at him before she quickly left with the man she was with.

Sthena stared at their backs with a frown on his face, precisely at Mark’s back. Seems like he recognized who he was. He wanted to kick the man for almost exposing his identity in front of Perdita. He knew if she ever got to know he was the king everyone termed to be cruel and heartless, things won’t be as it was before. It also made him wonder what her reaction will be if she ever found out. Already imagining her face, a smile appeared on his lips. Such a stubborn woman.

After more hours passed almost clocking midnight, the hallow ball finally came to an end. Like how everyone arrived in their carriages so did they leave. The rich who owned their beautiful and costly carriages were the first to leave the castle. It now left the commoners waiting for their turn to reach before the carriage assigned to them by the king to carry them to and back from the castle.

Like many others, Perdita and Marco were waiting for their assigned carriage to arrive too. Just then Mark appeared from the other end of the castle and approached them.

Perdita was the first to see him. She turned to him and called "Mark,"

"Perdita," Mark smiled at her and offered "You haven’t left yet. You can ride in my carriage with me and your brother too" At the mention of brother, Marco finally noticed the man speaking with his sister.

Immediately Marco’s expression changed into a scowl. "Sis, what is this man doing here?" He didn’t hide the distaste he had for Mark from the tone of voice he questioned Perdita.

"Marco," Perdita gently called with a reprimanding look on her face "He means no harm"

"Obviously," Marco scoffed "I don’t want someone like him near you, Perdita"

"Marco! Please stop it"

"It’s alright Perdita. He has every right to be angry with me. My offer is still available. That is if you still want to use my carriage" Mark replied. There was sadness in the way spoke, even the look in his eyes appeared hurt. He was always bad at hiding his emotions, especially when in front of Perdita.

"I’m sorry for Marco’s rude words. I’ll have to reject your offer and wait for our carriage to arrive" Perdita politely declined Mark’s offer to ride in his carriage.

Just then, the carriage for Kartar’s household arrived. The coachman was quick to jump down and open the door for the siblings.

Marco was the first to enter the carriage with an annoyed face before Perdita followed him.

Settling inside the carriage with the help of Mark, she bid him farewell. Closing the door of the carriage, the coachman returned to his driver’s seat. He slapped the back of the horse to get the vehicle to start moving. And soon the carriage drove out of the castle leaving Mark with complicated emotions and thoughts, especially concerning the encounter with the king earlier. How did Perdita know the king to call him by his name?

★A/N: Please always read authors note at the end of each Chapter. It might be an important information and I may not write it under here. Please read them. Thank you and Happy Reading!