Night 10: Bloody Potluck-Glory (1)

　　O LORD, how my enemies have increased. Many have risen up against me.

　　There were many who murmured that he could not be helped by God.

　　But thou, LORD, art a shield round about me. It is my glory, and the one who lifts me up.

　　And I besought the LORD with my voice, and he answered me from his holy mountain.

　　I lay down to sleep. I am awake. The LORD has blessed me.

　　Though tens of thousands of devils come around and attack me, I will not be afraid.

　　Arise, O LORD.

　　Save me, O my God. For thou hast broken the cheek bones of all my enemies, and hast knocked the teeth of the wicked.

　　Salvation belongs to the LORD.

　　May you bless your people.

　　****

　　Turning evenly outward around the axis, the door was slowly pushed open.

　　In that split second, what couldn't be hidden behind the ornate stone door was a group of men and women whispering words of love.

　　Yvonne was frozen in place. Dim candlelight, luxurious decorations, the atmosphere in the room was understatedly ambiguous.

　　All of this, however, dissipated with the arrival of their two out-of-place 'intruders'.

　　To them - one was a young girl of peculiar appearance and charming dress, the other was a dirty old woman of advanced years and stooped figure.

　　Evina's hand was held merely by the older woman in front of her, and she walked stiffly toward the main table.

　　But, she had to keep her head buried deep in her chest, dead low.

　　She did not dare to look up, even for a moment. For the sensitive woman had long since sensed that none of the dark shadows around her were casting contemptuous and belittling glances at her.

　　A strong sourness curled up in his heart. Perhaps, wherever she went, she would always be so inviting.

　　"It has been a long time, Niditra. We'd almost forgotten just how long it's been since you set foot in this hall of honor."

　　At the main table, a tall blonde man 'greeted' faintly, his words drawing sardonic laughter from the seat beside him.

　　"Venerable Count Poujeaux, your courtesy still makes your reputation shine as brightly as the medals on your breast. But the despicable, pious servant of your eyes is obliged to correct your gaffe ...."

　　The field was dead silent.

　　"From now on, I, Perd. Niditra, will be reinstated as the Niditra Witch. To assist our great king, Duke Dandel, in accomplishing his hegemony and carrying out his will ..."

　　Without waiting for Niditra to finish, the blonde man had presented a grimace.

　　"What a joke, if an order given by the king himself can be changed at will by the vulgar you, it is simply detrimental to the majesty of the king."

　　The blonde, casual man grunted coldly, frowning disdainfully.

　　Evina looked up quietly, surprised to find that the man had orange-red eyes, and the respectful 'sarcasm' she had heard from Niditra just now spoke volumes about the blonde man's position of power.

　　So, is he the one she's looking for?

　　***

　　"I was initially deprived of my rank due to the loss of all my spells, but now I have enough proof to show the restoration of my abilities." Niditra turned back to Evina, whose whole body was trembling from nervousness, and her withered hand affectionately ruffled the loose hair on Evina's forehead, her demeanor ostentatiously obvious.

　　"My crystal ball tells me, 'In a short time, a maiden of a foreign race will set foot in the king's kingdom.'

　　My crystal ball tells me, 'That maiden her spells are superb, and her divinations are far above mine, and we shall honor and love her.'

　　My crystal ball tells me, 'In time, she will be the King, Duke Dandel, the most capable of assisting in making our kingdom brighter than heaven and more vast than hell.' She, who will make the vampires strong to the core."

　　Evina cowardly hid behind Niditra, but still couldn't avoid the pinprick of eyes focused on her.

　　The blonde man turned a mocking gaze on Evina.

　　"Lift your face." Pujo ordered coldly.