Letters to Romeo

Both the girls stared at each other with intensity as if one from far would believe that they would stop staring only after one of them was burnt through the glare. The vampiress' eyes had narrowed after Melanie's words, and she said,

"Don't forget you are a hunter. Keeping an eye on you is only logical. Especially considering how your parents like to not only sabotage others around them, but also themselves."

"Like I said, you don't have to worry about it. But you know what? You should perhaps keep an eye on my parents, it would be a blessing to me," smiled Melanie, and she turned to look at the other side of the corridor, which was deserted. When she returned her gaze at the vampiress, the girl was watching her closely. "As they were former hunters, they are finding it hard to blend it."

"Maybe we should just ask the Elders to snap their necks. It would save a lot of time, don't you think?" asked Nylah.

"Maybe I should instead try running a stake through your heart as it seems like you are the only one who seems to be having a problem with them while the others are relaxed," proposed Melanie, staring back at the vampiress with the same vigour.

Nylah's eyes flared, and she took two steps toward Melanie before threatening her, "You don't know what you are up against, Melanie. It isn't too late for you to leave Veteris with your parents and start new. We don't take it kindly when there are people who hunt vampires."

Melanie didn't know what had gotten to this vampiress. The first time they had spoken, things had been civil, and Nylah had been polite, not to mention even somewhere kind. Was it because she was a hunter, and the chances of her killing vampires were high?

Her lips twisted in thought, and she said, "I don't know what your problem is, but let me tell you something. I might come from a family of hunters, but I also study in a university that is run by vampires. I don't harm people unnecessarily… not unless they try to attack me first," she left a small warning at Nylah to beware of her.

Melanie might be a human, but she was no weak human. She had the skills to run a wooden stake through a vampire's chest and beat people up, something she had done during the fight that had occurred in Veteris a few nights ago. She had been so angry at Jack for hitting her and somewhere manipulating her parents into leaving her in the basement. She had to put her anger out somewhere.

"Good job at securing this place," Melanie's words were sarcastic, and she left the corridor to step out for some air.

Nylah, who stood behind at the same spot, stared hard in the direction in which Melanie had disappeared. Discarding this human was going to take a while, thought Nylah to herself. But it wasn't a difficult task for her, considering how she had done that to some humans or vampires who had gotten too close to Simon in the past.

To Simon, the past was insignificant, but it wasn't the same to Nylah, who treasured it close to her unbeating heart.

The vampiress still remembered things before they had turned into vampires. And to think that they both had survived and turned immortal, it meant that they were meant to be with each other. Nylah's thoughts went to the past… as if she was able to see things clearly.

"Where are we going in the evening?" asked a young Simon to Roman, who was no more than thirteen of age.

"I am going alone," muttered Roman, giving a small glare at his friend.

"Aw, don't be like that. I promise not to create any commotion like last time. I shall behave," Simon raised one of his hands, and Maximilian, who was there, laughed.

"Every time you swear is the time you get into trouble, Si," stated Maximus before he asked, "Even if you were to tag along with Rome, won't it be a problem if your parents caught you out of your room?"

"You do not have to worry about it. The most they will do is lock me up in the room," laughed Simon, his laughter coming out empty, and though Maximus only stared at Simon, Roman watched the boy carefully. "And it isn't like Rome is informing his parents and sneaking out of the mansion. I would be doing the same."

Roman sighed before saying, "Fine. But it will be past dinner. Just to make sure we don't get interrupted."

"How exciting!" Simon exclaimed excitedly, and he asked, "Why don't you join us, Max?"

"I am not sure about it. I heard father mention that the woods have not been safe," said Maximus. "But I guess if we aren't going into the deeper side of the woods, it should be alright."

And while the young boys spoke to each other, discussing their plan that night, a young Nylah had stood behind a tree, peeking from behind it to look at the boy, whose hair looked nothing less than a burning flame.

That night, when the young boys slipped out of their rooms without their families' notice, young Nylah had also sneaked out of her room through the window.

The lights in the lamp posts burned dimly under the starry night. The little girl kept a good distance between herself and the three boys who walked ahead of her, just so that she wouldn't be caught. She had been curious about the red-headed boy and had also heard of how he was a troublemaker who associated himself with the illegitimate son of Mr. Malcolm. But that didn't bother the young girl.

Somewhere between the time walking, Nylah lost her way as she had lost sight of the boys and didn't know where she was. It didn't help that it was nearly midnight, and she turned scared when she heard a distant howl echo in the forest.

She looked back and forth, walking a few steps ahead before stopping and walking in the opposite direction, confused. She hadn't paid attention to the way she was going, as her attention had been on Simon. While she continued to dawdle, she heard another growl, and this time it was more distinct… as if the creature was right around the corner. Near her.

A young Nylah decided to walk, hoping it would be the right direction that would lead to her home. But when a minute passed, she noticed a creature following her in the shadows and it brought tears to her eyes before she screamed and started to run as fast as she could. While trying to run, her foot got stuck on the log of wood, and she tripped and fell on the ground.

As if hearing her scream that echoed in the forest, the three young boys appeared at the scene to notice a little girl on the ground.

"Did you see that thing while we were walking?" questioned Roman, and Maximus shook his head.

"I don't think we did. Isn't she your neighbor, Si? Mr. and Mrs. Benson's daughter?" asked Maximus, turning to Simon, who nodded.

"It does look like her," replied Simon, and he walked to where the girl looked like she had seen a ghost. "What do you think you are doing here in the middle of the night?" he questioned her.

A young Nylah turned embarrassed while tears continued to streak from her eyes. She had been caught.

"She must be sleep walking," murmured Simon, as he didn't receive an answer from his neighbour.

"That's not what people do when they sleep walk," Roman rolled his eyes.

"Do you think she will tell her parents that she saw us here?" Maximus asked in a hushed whisper.

"How troublesome," Roman was quick to turn annoyed. He then stared at the girl and said, "You didn't see any of us here. Go back home now."

Though Roman was young, to the young girl, his gaze was intimidating, and she cowered. Simon, who was observing the girl's reaction, his eyes fell on the girl's knees that had been scraped, and blood dripped down from it.

"We cannot leave her here," said Maximus, before adding, "Maybe we should bring her to her home."

"Isn't that we showing ourselves that we were out of bed past our bedtime? What a brilliant idea," replied Simon, and Maximus gave him a look. "Let us take her back."

"She's hurt," pointed Roman, who wasn't keen on being spotted at the moment.

"Oh well, why don't you carry her, Rome. Piggy back!" Simon clapped his hands, and Roman gave him a dirty look.

"I will never piggyback anyone. What am I? A horse?" questioned the young Roman.

"If you want to think of yourself as a horse, no one is stopping you," remarked Simon with a grin.

Maximus pursed his lips and then said, "Why don't you carry her, Si? She's your neighbor after all. Let us head back quickly. We can return to this place once we see her off," he added in the end.

Simon scratched the back of his neck and then said to the little girl, "Come on. Time to put you back in your house. How did you even end up here?" he asked her, but the young girl didn't reply to his question.

Once Simon had hoisted the little girl behind his back, the three boys started to head back where the little girl's house was located. "Do you think there are people apart from us here?" questioned Maximus, turning behind to take a quick look.

Roman raised both his hands and placed it behind his head as he walked, his eyes moving to the corner to check the thick trees and bushes at the sides.

But once they reached the house, Nylah's parents shouted her name.

"Nylah! Where have you been?!" demanded her mother in worry, and she quickly hugged her. "How did you get hurt??"

The girl's father gave a look at the three boys, who were up to no good. He glared at them, and Maximus tried to explain,

"Mr. Benson, we found her—"

"Young man of the Marudus house, I would think you have something better to do than waste your time with the little rascals," said Nylah's father. "Look at what their company has done to you, and now my daughter?"

"We found her on the ground," came the comment from Roman, who didn't like to be wrongly accused.

"No one asked you to speak. I will speak to Lord Malcolm tomorrow," came the sharp words from Mr. Benson, who wasn't fond of Roman, or Simon because of his constant misbehavior. "And you Mr. Wallace. I will make sure that your father hears about this," he glared at the red-headed boy.

But the man didn't have to wait until tomorrow morning, as soon Mr. Wallace and Wallace's butler came into view, making their way towards the Benson's house. Mr. Wallace, like many other times didn't appear to be in a good mood.

"Oh good that you are here, Mr. Wallace. Look at what your son has done to my daughter?" Mr. Benson's words came out more wrong that what he had meant to, making Mr. Wallace believed that his son had done something not only disrespectful, but had tarnished their family's name. "I wonder how a boy such as this one even mingles with the bad apples."

Simon's facade had suddenly changed in less than two seconds on seeing his father. Gone was the mischievous boy who had smiled like a young boy would, to be replaced by an ice-cold expression now.

Not a moment later, Mr. Wallace walked up to his son and struck Simon's face with his hand, where the boy didn't react. People around them were taken aback by this action. Mr. Wallace glared at his son and said, "Home. Now." He then turned to look at Mr. Benson, and apologized, "I will make sure he is disciplined for his action."

Young Roman was about to say something when Maximus caught his hand and shook his head. Roman gritted his teeth, watching Simon, his father and the butler leave. Before leaving, he glared at the little girl as if it wasn't for her, they wouldn't have gotten into trouble. But the little girl didn't notice the glare as she had been taken away by her parents inside the house.

Little Nylah was put to bed, but the girl couldn't stop thinking about being carried on Simon's back. He had carried her all the way and was even hurt because of her. She decided to make up for it tomorrow.

Returning to the present after recollecting the old memory, which she kept near her heart, Nylah smiled. That little action of him carrying her, was the start of her feelings towards him.

"I will make sure that you are out of his life, Melanie. And once you are gone, I will be there to save the day. Just like the other days," and she walked up the stairs.

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