NIGHTS OF HALLOW-Chapter 118: New Roles

In the deserted forest of Cuckooland walked Vetis, John his right-hand man, and Churchwoman Martha who walked on each side of him, and a step behind him.

The cloak of Vetis swept the snow-covered ground of the forest making the hems of the cloak slightly wet.

The leaves of the trees were missing and were replaced by the snow that froze on their tops.

Vetis’s gaze wandered around the forest searching for nothing in particular. He looked up at the sky that appeared gloomy just like how his appearance was. Dark and gloomy, his face dangerously looked fierce but it was always hidden behind his hood and the black mask.

"The winter seems to be persistent this year," Vetis commented with a distant longing in his eyes that John and Martha did not notice, but his tone of voice gave off a small feeling of what he felt.

"Yes, Master," John replied while subtly staring at his master whose gaze was still at the sky.

"And it is nearing the end of the year. Very soon another year will begin, adding to the number of years I’ve waited to achieve my goal." Vetis continued to speak, this time, the expression on his face returned to the vicious man he had always been. The man who wanted to conquer and rule everything there is of the kingdom.

To his words, John did not reply, and neither did Martha contribute to the conversation. Her presence there was merely out of the command of Vetis who seemed to be delaying why he called them and was rather enjoying the view of nature.

When was the last time he held an interest in such things? It has always been power, money, and blood that clouded his senses turning him more evil as the days passed by.

A minute silence followed after the speech of Vetis as they continued to walk deeper into the forest where John and Churchwoman Martha didn’t know where he was taking them.

Vetis slowed his pace and turned his head a little to the left to look at Martha whose face didn’t show what she was thinking.

"Did you know that there is a witch in the church?" Vetis asked the woman.

Martha’s brows arched upwards in surprise and a frown settled on her cold frozen face, "I...I didn’t know about that, Master." She replied, a little apprehensive of what Vetis would say or do to her.

Vetis tsked and shook his head in disapproval and disappointment. "I don’t know why the people I choose to work with me are this dumb and foolish."

"If you two were a little knowledgeable to not miss the little details which were the reason you are working for me, then things wouldn’t have remained as they were now."

"My deepest apologies, Master, for missing such an important detail. If it pleases you, I can go on your order and capture the witch." Martha voiced in a slightly strained voice.

"Capture the witch?" Vetis questioned in mockery. A small laugh escaped his lips. "What have you to capture a witch? You have proved your incapability when you failed to capture the green-eyed lady from Woodbridge village and you’re talking about capturing a witch?"

"Besides, you are just a human with no power. It makes me wonder or perhaps ask myself why I had let you go and did not turn you into a vampire."

"Turning you into a vampire will be of more benefit to me than now you are just a weak human."

Martha tightly clenched her hands by her side, her face turning pale and she was quick to fall on her knees, "Please, Master, do not put your words into consideration."

"I will work harder this time to not let you down, Master."

Veits did not respond to Martha’s words as he peered down at Martha from where he stood.

He ignored Martha and continued to walk deeper and further into the forest and Martha took it as a clue to stand. The sound of their steps echoed and accompanied them in their walk.

"John," Vetis called, and John was quick to answer with his head bowed.

"Yes, Master."

"I want both of you to follow the king and his chief advisor. Inform me everything they do every day."

"What about Mr. Malphus and his family? What shall I do with them, Master?" John quizzed. It had been long since Mr. Malphus and his family were confined in the dungeon, which now left them looking as if they were dead.

"John, you should know by now that I don’t keep fools with beside me. Malphus is of no use to me. Assuming your colleague, Clayton, had successfully returned unharmed, I would have killed him by my hands. You should know how I work. Malphus and his family are good as useless. The task is simple. I don’t want to see or perceive the smell of their ashes." Vetis ordered with his gruff voice that was void of emotion.

"Yes, Master." John complied, knowing it was how his master worked. Killing those he thought were of no importance to him.

Vetis continued to order, "Also Martha, you have a new mission."

"What is the mission, Master?" Martha respectfully asked with her head bent to the side just to a side glance at the man.

"I know that Minister Pristine has a small feud with the king. And, I know that he is working with churchman Welsh to bring justice to his dead son."

Vetis paused and continued to speak in his deep hoarse voice, "Your new mission is to instigate both Minister Pristine and Churchman Welsh to take a step and bring justice to his son."

Martha nodded her head in understanding, "Yes, Master." She said obliging to the new mission assigned to her.

She knew what her master was trying to achieve. By instigating Minister Pristine and Churchman Welsh, they would bring up the case of the dead Markus, the son of Minister Pristine again, thus, distracting the king’s attention from them. And when this happened, her master will use the opportunity to strike.

The only question here was, will only the case of Pristine make the sharp and sly king lose focus of his lifetime enemy? The answer was on a scale of thirty percent if she were to be asked. Unless her master had another strategy to use and overpower Sthena Acheron, the wise and cunning King.

"What about the green-eyed lady from the village of Woodbridge you asked to capture for you?" Martha questioned as they now stopped at a clearing in the forest.

Vetis turned to face them, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood. He said, "The Lady appears to be more of value than I thought she would be. Leave her to me. I’ll find her myself."