Letters to Romeo

The book on the table felt nothing less than a treasure. To think that there were spells that could resurrect the dead, she couldn't help but feel thrilled about it. Did that mean the people who had died could come back alive? Hope started to fill in not just Julie's but also in Roman's chest.

"This book should have the spells that should be a good enough guide for you to learn and work on the potions. Each witch uses a base, a skeleton reference before they make their own spells and modify it accordingly," Cillian informed Julie, to which she agreed.

A little curious, Julie asked him, "What about the spell to bring a Corvin back to life?"

Cillian shook his head, "I don't know about it. When I was still alive, neither your mother or grandfather had got their hands on it. Your mother must have discovered it at the end of her times, and tried to bring Knox to life. I don't need you to turn me into a living thing."

"But you are the only one who can tell what these two potions do, which mother left for me. She surely must have thought that you would be the key to my questions," replied Julie, pursing her lips. She then said, "Thank you for giving this book. I will make good use of it."

The Corvin gave a nod to her, and with one snap of its fingers, it disappeared, leaving a light smoke behind in the air.

Out of curiosity, Julie asked, "What do you think might be the missing component for resurrection?"

"It could be a sacrifice, blood, stone," Roman listed the possible things, and as his eyes went through one line after another, he said, "The calculations that the witches make use of, it is not too far from what you and I know. It makes use of Rubix."

On a closer look at the equations drawn out while creating the potions, Julie realized Roman was right. "Will it be safe to go to the dorm and experiment on the spells?"

"The forest is a better option because of the open atmosphere and you don't know what might break or burn. You will also need a cauldron if you are going to make potions. I know a place where you will be able to perform your spells without anyone's interference," said Roman, and Julie gave him a questioning look. "There's a barren land that is located at the back side of Veteris. It is hidden by the thicket of bushes surrounding it and no one goes there. It has been left untouched."

"Shall we go now?" At Julie's question, Roman shook his head.

"Not now. We can go later once everyone goes to sleep or when everyone goes to have dinner," suggested Roman, and Julie agreed on the idea. "Let me try it first, and see if it works." He wanted to try the spell himself, to see why he couldn't perform the spell when he wasn't a turned vampire, but he was a hybrid. "Let us finish your studies first. We still need you to pass the exams," he stated.

When they left the library later, Julie returned to the girl's Dormitorium, and on her way, she knocked on Melanie's door, but it seemed like her friend wasn't there. She wondered where she went and made her way to her own dorm. When in truth, Melanie was sound asleep.

Stepping into the room, Julie turned on the lights and closed the door. She pulled out the glass vial which contained the souls of the witches. She brought the vial near her ear, and though she couldn't hear a thing, Roman had told her that he could hear the people inside it screaming. They would need to be released and pushed back into the ground like before, but the last time she had tried it, she had been unsuccessful.

Far away from Veteris, in a wide dark hall, the Mortimer brothers were planning on how to attack Veteris and claim the place so that they could gain control over the entire being when a man came running into the hall.

"Sire!"

"What is it?" questioned Enoch.

The person held a paper in his hand, and he quickly came near to Enoch. Bowing his head, he passed the paper to the vampire. When Enoch unfolded the paper, his eyes widened on seeing his picture on it. There was another folded paper, and on unfolding it, he noticed it had his brother Joaquín's picture in it. Below it was written 'Wanted' along with the false criminal records.

"What is it about, brother?" questioned Joaquin, coming to stand next to where Enoch was. His eyes narrowed.

Enoch was about to tear the paper when Joaquin stopped him, "Who do you think dared to do this?!" he asked his elder brother.

Joaquin stared hard at his printed picture and then said, "There is only one whom I can think of. Azazel Donovan, he's the only one who can try to trace us. Who else knows that we have been on the move? Dennis!" he called the young morm, who immediately stepped forward with his head bowed.

"What are all the Elders upto?" questioned Joaquin to Dennis.

"They weren't doing anything in particular apart from living in Veteris," replied Dennis, and to this, Joaquin hummed.

"How very unlike them. Are they taking it slow? But they have seen you Enoch, which is why I can only believe that they are up to something. If Donovan and the others have already started their preparation to attack us, I don't see a point in delaying the time. We should take the first step," announced Joaquin, turning to his brother. He said, "Inform everyone to be prepared. We'll be claiming Willow Creek."

"But brother," began Enoch, "I didn't find the land to be of any value. The witch made sure to take the powers with her when she died."

Joaquin laughed as if his brother was foolish. He responded with, "Opaline was too weak to defend herself, what makes you think she would have taken it with her? We only need to get a hold of the land and then perform the spell. Find the right witch. Whom do we have?"

"We could get Avice," offered one of the men, but Joaquin dismissed the idea by waving his hand.

"I want a pure witch. Not a witch who has mixed blood. We need the witch's blood to spill it as sacrifice," said Joaquin with his chin tipping upwards. "We weren't able to get our hands on the dark stone before, but this time, there's no one to stop us."

"Are you sure our plan will work, brother?" asked Enoch because of the four Elders in Veteris.

Joaquin smiled. Raising his hand he pointed at someone, and he replied to Enoch, "Do you think I have been idly sitting in this building, waiting for you, Enoch? Allow me to show you the cursed stones."

The servant stepped out of the hall and returned with a wooden box. When the box was opened, Enoch was greeted with four gems of different colours. "You found some of the stones… Do you plan to use them?" asked Enoch.

"I do not hold the dark stone to be able to accept the ability of the stones, but we have people who can make use of it. We have equal pawns as the Elders, to counter attack their own abilities," replied Joaquin, and he came forward before picking up one of the stones that sparkled under the light. He then handed it to Enoch, "You are the person I trust the most, Enoch. Use this wisely."

Enoch looked at the stone in eagerness, and when he stretched his hand forward to take it, his brother dropped the stone in his brother's palm. While the younger vampire was looking at the stone, the stone suddenly dissolved as it sank into his palm. Enoch started to scream in pain, enough to startle the people around them.

Joaquin said, "The stone will do you good if it stays within you." He then turned and gave two more stones to two other loyal people of his, and he then picked up the last stone. His red eyes looked around the place before it fell on Dennis. Dennis was sure he would get the stone, but Joaquin dropped his gaze and said, "I will keep this one," it was a yellow stone that he slipped into his pocket. "Within the time of two weeks, we shall make our attack."

"Attack?" asked Dennis, who stood on the side. "I thought we were only reclaiming the land of Willow Creek."

Joaquin clicked his tongue, raising his eyebrow, "Do you think the other vampires will let you walk there freely? First comes attack, then comes claiming the land where I shall perform the magic."

When everyone's eyes were away from him, Dennis's eyebrows subtly furrowed at the thought of the girl, who was in Veteris.

Three days passed in Veteris, and Melanie had not spoken or seen Conner. He was avoiding her, and she wondered what was going on in his head. She wondered if it was because of her or any other reason. But he wasn't the only one she hadn't seen, there was also Simon, whom she hadn't seen since she had slapped him in the lunchroom.

Did her slap leave him in shock? Asked Melanie in her mind.

In the afternoon, she had finished discussing one of the subject syllabus with her teachers, and she was on her way to the library to pick up some reference books when she met Olivia.

"Are you going to the library?" asked Olivia in a polite tone.

"I am," replied Melanie. Previously, Olivia was only someone from the famous five cliques, but knowing she was a vampire made Melanie warier of the girl than before.

"You wouldn't mind if I tagged along with you until there, would you?" asked the vampiress, and Melanie shook her head. And with that, they started to walk next to each other.

The first few seconds were filled with silence until it was Olivia who broke the silence, "How is Conner doing? We haven't seen him lately."

"He must be studying," replied Melanie.

"I would like to apologize on Simon's behalf for what he did in the lunchroom. He sometimes doesn't know where to draw the line," said Olivia and offered a small smile to Melanie. "He wasn't this annoying before he turned into a vampire. But something happened after he turned into a vampire."

Though Melanie didn't want to do anything with Simon, she was still intrigued by Olivia's words.

"What happened?" asked Melanie, turning to look at the blonde girl next to her.

"Vampires transition differently, and it just doesn't change just physically but also mentally. I think the more right way to say it would be that it sometimes amplifies our traits. Hidden ones too," explained Olivia. "Sometimes… people change."