The Eyes Of 'Rah

The Peace Festival

The Peace Festival is known to be celebrated by all creatures coming together as a sign of cohabiting peacefully among one another.  It is one of the events organised by the witches to show solidarity. While the Werewolves show theirs by arranging an annual renowned bonfire night, the vampires do theirs by organising a huge masked ball, inviting all and sundry to celebrate acceptance and tolerance of all creatures.

It is also a day all members of each coven come out to demonstrate their talents, exhibiting their high healing abilities, prescribing free medication and giving out concoctions for healthy living to those who can't afford it. For easy identification of the witches so as to approach them, they are usually dressed in a special white garment. The males are always clad in a white robe while the females put on a wrapped-dress covering only one shoulder, while exposing the other, with silver rings around their arms.

As throngs of people flocked the town in celebration of the festival, several stalls were decorated with lanterns and glowing globes, dancers were dressed in bright and glittering clothes, moving to the fast beat of drums.

Seraphine and Felicity admired the work of art in a store, enjoying the loud and bubbly environment. The cluster of different shades of light created a magical ambience around the town as the night light cloaked the sky.

"This is a beautiful piece" Felicity tried the little dark pebbles strung together to form a bracelet.

"It's beautiful indeed" Seraphine admired.

"Can we get two of this?" Felicity asked the sales man, "we need something to bind us to our friendship" grinning as she looked sideways at her friend.

"Make it three little lady" Diane appeared in their midst, "you both don't think you can leave me out of this friendship bond, do you?"

The girls smiled at the lovely vampire whose friendship they have come to enjoyed. "We wouldn't dare" Felicity gasped before they all broke out in laughter.

Seraphine's gaze darted over Diane, guessing the rest of her vampire friends should be around somewhere.

"Looking for someone in particular?" Diane winked at her.

"No" afraid to be caught in a lie, she denied, "I was just admiring that lovely pot over there" pointing at the pot painted in flowery pattern.

"Why would you be admiring a chamber pot" Daniel asked, appearing out of nowhere, his face contorted in disgust.

She gasped, looking at the pot again to realised it was actually a chamber pot, she swiped a hand on her forehead. It would raise an eyebrow if she actually told them she was looking for Xavier. Several days had passed since they parted and she wanted to know how far along he has been with the book.

They would read more meaning to it if she told them about looking for him without explaining why. A loud trumpet was heard to announce the passing of the high chief - the leader of the biggest coven in the kingdom, Lord Witcharoft, putting a break to the merriment.

Seraphine and the others feasted their eyes on the procession, the witches and wizards looked beautiful in their white apparel, a particular maiden witch caught Seraphine's eyes. She was drawn to the redhead witch. Behind her spectacle, her eyes met hers and Seraphine could've sworn that she saw the corner of the witch's lips tugged.

"Who is that?" Asking no one in particular, her gaze was still to her, watching as her form retreated.

"That's the only daughter of Lord Witcharoft" Diane supplied, "she's also his illegitimate daughter, she rarely comes out except during an important occasion such as this. It is said to be one of their most powerful witches, being the offspring of two powerful witch and wizard"

As the high chief and his followers dispersed to offer their services, the crowd rushed to fill the space and continue their exploration. Seraphine was shoved by an unknown arm, while trying to keep herself from falling, she felt the familiar strong arms around her waist.

"Careful" Xavier whispered in her ear as he guided her properly, shielding her with his body from the people rushing forward.

Seraphine stilled, feeling his whole body length behind her, she inhaled the masculine fragrance that accompanied him, she rushed her  'thank you'  as he led her to where others were. After being separated from them.

"There you are" Felicity beckoned at her, holding an extra pebble bracelet which clearly belonged to her, "we've worn ours, wear yours too" showing off the bracelet on her wrist, Diane showed her hers too.

"Where is Francis?" Diane looked at Xavier, "I thought you both were supposed to come together"

"He should be here soon, he said he would be running a little bit late"

A second later, Seraphine heard a distant howl, it was exactly the one she used to hear when she was young, she had long forgotten about it until now.

"That must be him" Xavier spoke

"Who?" She asked.

Diane answered, "the howl you heard now belongs to Francis, it's his way of letting us know if he had gotten home whenever we part or telling us he's on his way whenever we're expecting him"

Seraphine marveled at the explanation, "that's incredible" amazed that the familiar howl she used to hear long ago actually belonged to Francis.

While the merriment continued, at the other part of the town where vampires are mostly settled, not far from Xavier's home was another household which belonged to Lord Knox's partner.

He listened to the distant sound of the drum while waiting for his men's report on the special assignment they were about to carry out.

Barking the word 'come in' when one of his men knocked, "tell me" he commanded.

"My Lord, I've received word that Lord Francis is currently on his way to meet his friends at the festival, we intend to ambush him on the way"

Nodding in satisfaction, "good! Remember, whatever you do must not be traced back to me if you're caught. Make it seem like he was robbed and then killed by human or better still, attacked by his fellow mutts, the rogues. I'm sure their pack are usually dealing with rogues every now and then" The man nodded, "of you go" he dismissed him.

He was glad he had been a quick-witted vampire, planting one of his men among the Upper House guards who had murdered Lord Knox before he spill the truth about the partner he was working with.

Not that he was very happy his partner was dead, but he couldn't be more grateful that Knox had sent him a letter, informing him that Francis Weinroff might have found out about their plan and his intention to hide the eggs of memory in his place.

Since Knox was dead now, he needed to act fast and seal off Francis' mouth forever, he knew it was not luck that was stopping the boy from reveling what he saw that night but whatever he had seen needed to be forever shut off before it was made known to people.

He had instructed his men to tail him ever since but he was usually in the company of his family or friends, ambushing him when he was alone is the perfect time. The festival would be blamed since so many atrocities are usually committed during this time; dunk men and the euphoria of the festival mostly bring out the cruel side of people, thieves always use the opportunity to rob people as well.

He gazed at the night sky as he smiled, he would finally be able to sleep better, knowing his identity is still unknown and will have the time to focus on looking for the Eyes.