Letters to Romeo

Seeing Donovan's eyes fixed on the cupboard, Julie took a quiet deep breath through her lips. She let out a small laugh and said, "I think one of my things must have fallen in the cupboard."

"Did it now?" questioned Donovan, as if he was daring her to speak up the truth. "It sounded more like a rat moving inside the cupboard. Are you sure you don't have one here?"

That depends on what kind of rat you are talking about, said Julie in her head. She said, "I don't think I have ever seen a rat since I started studying here in Veteris. The university is very clean and well maintained."

"If it was a couple of years ago, I would have disagreed with you," stated Donovan. He then took long steps towards the cupboard. When he caught hold of the handle, Julie's face turned paler, ready for whatever was going to happen today. Maybe it was time to rip the bandaid off. Donovan turned to meet her eyes and said, "Excuse me for opening the cupboard. But it is always better to take precaution beforehand, to avoid coming in contact with any kind of disease or die."

The word die held a heaviness that made Julie uncomfortable.

Elder Azazel Donovan pulled open the door of the cupboard, and he said, "There is this familiar and unfamiliar smell that I am quite unable to point my finger to. What perfume do you use?"

This was the last question she had expected from the Elder when she had imagined her conversation with him.

"It's from Jimmy Choo. A few weeks ago I spilt perfume by mistake in the cupboard and the smell has continued to stay," internally, Julie frowned, her teeth biting into her lower lip because she had no idea what Donovan was looking at right now. She hoped that the Corvin had not decided to fix its head back to its body.

On the other hand, Donovan stood in front of the opened cupboard, watching the same items he had seen before. There stood the long black cloak that looked a little shrunken compared to the last time. His eyes then fell on the bottom part of the cupboard, and he saw the hanger that had fallen.

Unable to control her curiosity for too long, Julie leaned to the side and peeked at what Donovan was watching. Noticing the hanger that had fallen at the bottom, she said, "Thank god, no rodent!"

But Donovan seemed a little disappointed.

As if what he had done so far wasn't enough, Donovan's hand reached for the black cloak, and he said, "Hope you don't mind if I take a closer look at your cloak, would you?"

Julie quickly said, "Actually about that, it has sweat and it stinks. I didn't find the time to clean it and maybe—"

But Donovan didn't pay attention to her and pulled the cloak from the cupboard. Julie cringed at the thought that a wooden body or the Corvin's body would come to fall or hug him. But nothing like that happened. The vampire pulled the cloak, which was empty inside, and he wrapped it around his shoulders as if to check the size and said,

"It indeed stinks."

Julie looked back and forth between the cloak and the cupboard, which looked empty, wondering what the hell had just happened.

"I told you, Mr. Donovan," said Julie, and suddenly the man's eyes turned to look at her.

"It is quite big for a small person like you," he then handed it back to her and said, "Once upon a time, I used to have similar looking cloaks with me. In black too. But then," Julie took the cloak back and went to place it exactly the way it was earlier, by picking up the hanger and hooking the cloak around the hanger. She then closed the cupboard. "There were some people who didn't have originality. They copied my style and it was annoying. So I changed my style to something more expensive while making sure those mongrels wouldn't be able to copy me," he had a satisfied look on his face.

Before Donovan could continue to grill her with questions and more intruding behaviour of his, Julie picked up the chips where Donovan had placed, and she placed it on the table, while careful enough to maintain a gap from him, even if it meant it was little.

She then addressed him in the politest way possible, "Mr. Donovan. I know you care a lot about Roman, but so do I. I am aware that my grades aren't anywhere near Roman's grades, and I doubt anyone can possibly surpass him in that matter. But I am working on being better than what I was yesterday so that I can stand next to him. And support him. I request you to give me a chance to get to know me."

"And why would I do that?" questioned Donovan, his eyebrows raising at her. "There are better girls than you outside, what makes you think you are right for him? Do you truly think you deserve him?"

The Elder vampire put doubt in Julie's mind, and she pursed her lips.

"Yes," replied Julie and Donovan's eyes narrowed. "Roman isn't someone who picks people randomly, there must be something in me and I am a likable person. Give me a chance so that I can prove it to you," Julie's words were firm, and she saw Donovan chuckled.

For a moment, she was confused if she said something funny.

"Time is the essence, isn't it," Donovan clicked his tongue. He looked at the human girl, who had a determined expression on her face.

Julie didn't know if Donovan would ever come to like her or if he would continue to threaten Roman and her relationship. She had never guessed that a vampire could be this protective and control freak. She didn't want the Elder going after her family because they were the only relatives she had in this world.

She was waiting for Donovan to agree to what she just said, but when the vampire came to stand in front of her, she was startled.

For a moment, Donovan had considered giving Roman some more time to spend with the girl before sending the girl away from this world. The impact would be more profound, yet at the same time, this girl was a human. A kind that was way lower than his kind, and he wasn't particularly fond of humans.

"W-what is it?" Julie asked warily, and she tried to take a step backwards as the vampire stood too close to her liking. She knew if he wanted, he could snap her head in less than a second before disappearing from her dorm.

"I must tell, you have beautiful brown eyes, Julianne," commented Donovan, staring right into her eyes as if he was ready to hypnotize her.

Julie clenched her hands, and the space behind her wavered, similar to how it had happened when she was with Natalie. But the air that had opened up the possible passage didn't swallow Donovan. It was as if he was immune to its effect, and she became worried.

"Step away from her, Donovan."

Hearing Roman's voice, the sweat that had trickled down her spine disappeared.

"I was only taking a closer look at her to see if there was something special that I missed about her," said Donovan with a smile.

Roman stepped inside the room with a glare directed at Donovan, and the Elder vampire finally stepped away from Julie. Donovan turned to meet Roman's fuming eyes while the expression on his face was calm.

"You don't have to trouble yourself with it. Winters," Roman called her name, his eyes still fixed on Donovan, who offered him a subtle smile this time.

Julie quickly ducked away from Donovan and came to stand next to Roman.

"So protective of the girl. You should have come at least a minute later," Donovan chuckled and then said, "I should get going. Dante and the others must be waiting for me." He then turned to look at Julie and said, "It was nice talking to you, Julianne. I hope you will consider my suggestion. See you later in the mansion, Rome."

Saying it, Donovan walked past the medium that Julie's ability had opened up. The vampire walked in the corridor of the Dormitorium, and the girls turned to look at the man who made his presence known.

Julie let out a relieved sigh, and her shoulders slouched.

"Are you alright?"

Roman hadn't expected Donovan to meet Julie in her dorm, but he shouldn't have expected anything less from the Elder vampire to pull tricks like this. Though Donovan had given his word, at the same time Roman didn't trust the old geezer.

Julie nodded her head, "I am good. Maybe a little thirsty," she replied, grabbing her water bottle and drinking it until her throat felt less dry.

Roman walked to the door, closing it before returning to where she was. "Did he try to compel you?" his eyes narrowed.

"It looked like he was about to, but he didn't," replied Julie. The vampire stayed in this room for a couple of minutes, and if he wanted, he could have compelled, without bothering to talk to her, thought Julie.

"Fucker!" Roman cursed at Donovan.

For some reason, Roman's curse words always sounded hot in Julie's ears. But at the same time, it didn't stop her from the subtle frown that appeared on her forehead.

With Donovan out of her dorm, and the door locked, Julie quickly went to the left cupboard and, using both her hands, and she pulled the doors. Roman, who had already met the Corvin in the motel, was quick to catch sight of its cloak hanging on the hanger and the right its head resting on the folded clothes on the left side of the cupboard.

Roman's head tilted to the side, and he asked, "What's the Corvin doing in the closet?"

"He said his body is unable to disappear or walk through the walls. I think whenever I use my abilities, even a little, it causes an imbalance in the Corvin's body."

Roman stared at the black cloak while Julie took a step near it, wondering where the rest of the Corvin's body had disappeared. Soon Julie stepped back when she saw something slither towards the black cloak, moving from left to right. It was the creeper-like wood that moved into the black cloak, and soon the Corvin had taken back its form, wearing the cloak.

The Corvin's hand moved to pick up its head, and once it stepped out of the cupboard, it placed its head on top of its body as if fixing it.

'Vampires,' the Corvin cursed the Elder Donovan, who had dared to wear its cloak.

Roman lips set themselves in a thin line before he questioned, "The Corvin was able to disappear and appear before you went to Queenstorm, wasn't it?" Julie nodded her head, "What happened after that?"

On Roman's question, Julie's eyes shifted to look at the Corvin, and she asked it, "Was it that thing you did in the motel? Is it the cause of your unstable body?"

The Corvin stretched its hands and legs, moving its fingers as it had been pushed into a cramped place earlier. Hearing her words, it stopped moving.

"What are you talking about?" Roman's eyes narrowed.

The creature spoke in its raspy voice, 'Don't have abilities. Because of the passing."

"Passing what?" asked Julie.

'To witches,' it turned its bird-like face to look at her and said, 'Some have, some useless. Use it for witches.'

The first ability it had to fix was the way it spoke, thought Julie in her mind. She then asked, "That day when you said I could summon you, you gave away part of your abilities to me. How is that helpful?"

'Is not that.'

Roman patiently waited for the creature to finish speaking. Remembering what he had read before in one of the books he had come across, he said, "You binded yourself to her, didn't you?"

The Corvin didn't reply, this time staring at Roman as if wondering how he knew about it.

"What do you mean binded?" Julie's eyebrows furrowed, and she looked back and forth between the Corvin and Roman.

Roman looked furious at the creature,

"If you weren't of any use I would have burnt you to see your ashes on the floor for linking yourself to her." He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "As you know, in the past, the witches used the Corvins for their own benefit. They linked themselves to these creatures, creating a bond between them. You could tell it was more like a master and servant's relationship. But there's something tricky that comes with it. The few witches who had linked themselves with the Corvin, they died quicker than the other witches. It is equal to making a deal with the devil."

"There should be some sort of logic to it," said Julie because it sounded strange.

The Corvin looked the other way as if not wanting to talk about it, while Roman continued to glare at the creature.

Roman said, "In the history of witches, most of the Corvins usually end up taking the abilities back or more, and in the process, it drinks the essence or the soul from its master to continue living in the shadows."

"What?" Julie whispered in shock.

'I didn't do it for it,' said the Corvin. 'Won't do it.'

"If you look at the history of the vampires and witches, they both are the same when it comes to nature or character, the things that surround them. We all look to see our own benefits," stated Roman, "I don't trust this thing. Unbind the bond that you made with her. It isn't like you are much of a help to her with your weak condition."

"Why didn't you tell me when you made the bond?" Julie questioned the Corvin, that looked like it had truly turned into a puppy, who its owner was scolding.

'Wanted to help you.'

"You can help without having a bond," Roman deadpanned.

The Corvin didn't move, making it look unwilling. Julie stepped near it and said, "Roman is right. You cannot help me with the way you are right now."

The creature finally looked at her and said, 'Promise. Promised to her that I take care.'

"What promise?" asked Julie, staring at it. She had very little knowledge about these creatures, and the Corvin barely spoke unless it was trying to keep her away from the vampires.

'Your mother. Time comes, I help,' said the creature.

Julie rubbed her forehead because things around her were only getting complicated instead of being simple. Realizing something, she asked, "If the Corvins helped the witches, why didn't they come to help those witches in Willow Creek?"

'Not binded to other Corvins. Were bystanders,' the Corvin replied. Julie and Roman heard the cracking sound of the Corvin's fingers as if it was growing its twigs rapidly. 'Some didn't know how to bind themselves to us. So they didn't.'

"Did my mother have a Corvin for herself?" Julie was now curious.

Roman leaned against the wall, watching the Corvin. Even though he couldn't see the creature's expression on its wooden face, he could tell it was nervous to speak about it.

'Had. But a bird.'

"Are you talking about yourself?" asked Julie, and she took the Corvin's silence to be a yes.

'Corvins always scarce, hard to find. Most are birds, not big,' the Corvin tried to explain to her. 'Can't unbind once done.'

"Great," came Roman's sarcastic words.

Roman's mood turned more irritated than when he had seen Donovan in this room. He disliked the idea of anyone else apart from him being closely associated with Julie. And to think that the Corvin bound itself to Julie like a parasite, right now he was more than happy to burn the creature.

Julie stared at the Corvin, who behaved slightly timid.

She herself found it a little uncomfortable that a creature like the Corvin had linked her soul to it. And when she turned to look at Roman, she noticed his eyes were dancing with fire in them, which was ready to set this room on fire along with the Corvin.

Julie asked the creature, "Why don't you try to unbind yourself with me? How many other people have you binded yourself with so far?"

Roman let out a frustrated sigh as if he was trying to control his temper. He said, "You're probably the first one, considering he was only a bird when you were young. She probably didn't feel the need to bind herself to a Corvin, considering she was living a life as a human and keeping away from the vampires or hunters."

"There's always a first time," Julie tried to encourage the Corvin. "I think it would be better if you have your full energy, not because I don't trust you, but because this is weird."

The Corvin stared at her for brief seconds before it said, 'Send the vampire out.'

"I am staying here," Roman's words were firm.

The creature raised its hands, a twig sticking out, which was its index finger. Julie raised her hand, and when she touched it, a spark appeared at the contact of their fingers. The light in the room started to fluctuate in its brightness, while a blue, glowing light and energy formed around them. When the light stretched further to touch every inch of the floor and the walls, it even touched Roman.

On coming in contact with the light and the medium that had been created, Roman felt his heartbeat get louder, his heart feeling as if it was trying to tear itself out of his chest. With a small cough came a small amount of blood which he coughed on his hand.

But the faint blue light didn't stay long, and it was quick to diminish and disappear around both the Corvin and Julie.

Julie asked, "Did it work?"

'No,' came its dull reply with no emotion in it, and Julie sighed. Before she could drop her hand to her side, the Corvin wrapped its fingers around her wrist. 'I promise to keep my promise. Never hurt you.'

Julie nodded her head, "I believe you. I guess what's done is done, and maybe one day when I am able to gain or build my abilities, I can make this right."

Roman said to the Corvin, "I am surprised you didn't get caught."

"I think Donovan sensed it," said Julie, a small worry marring her face. Else why would a person be so suspicious about something.

"He originally belongs to the same period of time as when the witches came into existence. Though I doubt a witch holds any specific scent, the same cannot be told about this one," Roman jerked his head towards the Corvin. "What did you talk about with Donovan?"

"About that..." Julie's voice trailed before she repeated it.

"He probably came to test you. If he didn't snap your head, it means you're good," remarked Roman. "He's a quick killer. So don't worry about it." Walking to where she was, he kissed her forehead.

Julie came to assume that too. She couldn't believe the person who had killed Reese had entered her dorm.

"He knows where my uncle lives and what he does," murmured Julie with worry. "Do you think he will hunt them down? He probably hates me." Roman was too perfect with his grades, and maybe she could tell Donovan that her boyfriend got into trouble and ended up in detention, but that would probably make the Elder vampire happy about it, thought Julie.

"I will take care of it," said Roman and Julie nodded her head.

After a few seconds, someone knocked on the door, and Julie muttered under her breath, "I don't think I can take any more visitors than I already have."

"Let me take it," Roman walked to the door while Julie pushed the Corvin towards the wall, and she stood next to it.

When Roman slightly opened the door, he saw Julie's friend, Melanie, who stood outside the dorm.

Melanie hadn't expected to see Roman opening the door. She gave him an awkward smile because she wasn't familiar with the senior, even with the number of times they had sat at the table for meals.

"Uh, I was going to ask if Julie wants to go to the lunchroom," said Melanie, while Roman stood blocking the view of the room.

"Give her two minutes," said Roman, his face serious. Melanie nodded her head, and she saw the door close.

In Julie's dorm, both Roman and Julie turned to look at the Corvin. The Corvin moved its head left and right, watching them.

Roman said to the creature, "Stay here and don't open the door to any one or put your head out of the window." He watched it with a skeptical look on his face. "Can you do that, or should we babysit you?"

The Corvin didn't answer Roman, but it did sit down on Julie's bed and crossed its arms, facing the wall.

Looks like she would be sharing the room with it as it had made itself comfortable, thought Julie to herself. But on turning to Roman and ready to leave, she saw him continue to glare at it.

Stepping out of the room, Julie locked her dorm door with her key while making sure the Corvin or anyone else wouldn't come to find it in here. At the same time, Griffin, who had been let out of the dungeon by Elder Luciano, was walking near the girls Dormitorium.