Letters to Romeo

Roman stood in the middle of the cemetery, amid the graves of the dead, and soon he noticed one of the staff of Veteris headed towards where he stood. It was Mr. Borell, and he walked with his back straightened and his chin slightly lifted up.

"Moltenore," said Mr. Borrell on seeing Roman standing a few steps away from Piper Martin's grave. "I didn't see you after you had left the forest with Maximus and Piper."

"I thought to spend some time away from people," replied Roman, and he noticed the bottle in the vampire's hand. "Is that for Piper?"

Mr. Borrell nodded his head, "Yes. Dante wanted to rebury Piper in a few hours from now."

"I heard," said Roman and he stepped back while Mr. Borrell bent down in front of Piper's grave and pushed the lid away from the cemented lid. Roman watched the vampire pull open the lid of the bottle and then before pouring the liquid into Piper's mouth, where her face had turned hollowed as if her body had been immensely dehydrated.

Roman didn't look at her for more than a second and he looked away, looking in the direction from where Borrell had walked in earlier.

He could feel his heart ache and pull, as if the corruption was trying to squeeze his heart while he tried to take deep breaths. Once Mr. Borrell was done, Piper's body appeared to be more human and less like the corpse she had turned into because of the bullet that had passed through her chest.

Roman didn't stay around and he walked away from there, making his way to Julie's dorm. When he reached there, she was fast asleep while the Corvin stood on the other side of the room.

Seeing Roman inside the room, the Corvin disappeared instantly, giving them the space they needed in each other's company. He walked to where Julie was lying on one side of her body. Removing his shoes, he climbed on the bed and laid next to her, putting his hand around her waist while pulling her back snuggly at him.

A sigh escaped from Julie's lips as if she was half awake and she murmured, "You're back."

"I said I would," Roman whispered into the crook of her neck.

He couldn't help but think about the witch, whom he had met a while ago. To think that he had met Julie's mother, where Julie had no clue about. Opaline La Fay turned out completely different from what he had expected her to be. From what he had heard, witches were often perceived to be as cruel and selfish as the vampires. It was said that they used their beauty to trick men and women, to accomplish their work, and when the time was right, they killed the very same people to remove any evidence.

But Julie's mother seemed to be way ahead of her time. Unlike the one who was in his arms now, pressing her back closely into his chest as if not wanting to leave even a small gap between them. This one was shy and sweet, while Opaline looked like someone who had experienced everything that she could before her death.

"I thought you were fast asleep. Have you been awake all this time?"

"I don't know," murmured Julie, turning around in his arms, with her eyes slightly parted as it was still heavy with sleep, but she tried to keep herself awake. "I guess I just hoped to not fall asleep out of worry."

"And what is it, that had kept you awake," he asked her, gently caressing her cheek with his finger before pushing her hair away from her face, that she hadn't bothered to tie. "Are you worried that something bad will happen again?"

Julie didn't speak right away, and before Roman would misunderstand her silence, she said, "It's not that." She paused for a moment before she said, "It's just that there have been so many deaths within just one week. I worry that... there will be more deaths in the coming days." First it was Reese, then it was Keith, and now it was Ms. Piper and they have no idea what else was going to happen.

"The world's burden doesn't rest on your shoulders, Winters," said Roman, taking her in his arms, and he gently rubbed her back. "There are some things, even if we want to, we can't do anything about it, because it is out of our control. But for the things that are under our control, we should take one step at a time, rather than taking a huge leap."

Julie knew Roman would be there for her and it gave her the assurance to close her eyes without having to worry if someone would come to do anything and cause harm.

"Sleep now. I will be here until you need me," said Roman and Julie nodded her head, feeling him pressing his lips against her forehead.

"Do you ever dream of anything?" asked Julie, instead of sleeping.

"Sometimes," replied Roman. He tucked her under his chin, "I don't think it would be right to call it as dreams, but sometimes, I like to think back about my past, and it probably turns into a possible memory that could have happened."

"Like Tristan and Piper's wedding?" Julie's voice was small and Roman hummed, his chest vibrating because of the sound.

"Yeah, something like that. But as much as I want people to find their peace, I realized things wouldn't be the same as now. I might have probably laid like this now in the room," said Roman, pulling her closer to him. "All by myself and a memory you wouldn't have known."

Julie's hand gently curled around his shirt, into a loose fist as if not wanting to let go of him and she slowly drifted to sleep.

When morning arrived, Julie woke up by herself where Roman was long gone. The gentle rays of sunlight passed through the cracks of the curtain. A letter laid next to the window, when she pushed the curtain and she picked it up, that read—

'I am going to visit the dungeon to see if everything is alright and I set the alarm for you. If you still plan to join me and the others at the cemetery.'

A smile appeared on her lips, and she folded the letter before placing it on the table. She saw her phone that was on the table, and just when she reached for it, it started to beep. Turning the alarm off, Julie got ready so that she could attend the funeral. Wearing an all black attire, she left the Dormitorium.

When she reached the cemetery of Veteris, which was hidden from the regular students, she noticed some of the people were already present there. Like the headmistress, the counsellor, physician, and Mr. Borrell. Apart from them stood Roman and his friends, and the only Elders present there were Remy Oscar and Castiel Marudas.

Mr. Borrell's eyes narrowed on seeing Julie, wondering what she was doing here. "Students are not supposed to step on the restricted side of the forest, Ms. Winters."

"That's alright, Borrell," said Ms. Dante and the vampire turned to look at the vampiress with a slight frown on his face. "Let her pass."

Julie quietly walked towards where Roman was, coming to stand next to him, while she felt everyone's gaze momentarily shift to look at her. The priest had been called, who carried a book in his hand, while everyone was dressed in black. She noticed Piper, who appeared to be sleeping peacefully and she had been dressed in a presentable manner.

It felt unbelievable to think that Piper was gone. Because somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear the woman's voice, scolding the students around her. She hoped wherever Piper was, she was happier than now. The casket was placed in its assigned place and soon the lid was closed before everyone came forward to quietly grieve and place flowers.

Roman pulled Julie closer, kissing the side of her temple before hugging her as if silently telling her that he couldn't afford losing her.

"Did you find out anything from the boy, Evans?" Ms. Dante questioned Mr. Evans, who was talking to Isolde.

"He seemed very unwilling to reveal any information, but I was able to get a name out of his mouth," replied Mr. Evans and Ms. Dante raised her eyebrows.

"And that is?"

"Mortimer," replied Mr. Evans and Dante frowned.

"I don't think the name has ever come up before," remarked Dante.

"Actually it has," came the response from Castiel, who had subtly eavesdropped on their little conversation. "Mortimer was one of the first few original vampires like ourselves."

"So we have vampires trying to collude with morms and trying to set us on fire or on the map with the hunters?" questioned Dante, her lips setting themselves in a thin line. "What would he probably want? Did something happen in the past?" her voice had lowered, while they stood on one side and the younger vampires stood on the other side.

"There was some feud between Mortimer and Azazel. Though I don't know about what exactly it was," explained Castiel.

"Why am I not surprised that it has something to do with Donovan," Dante clicked her tongue, looking in the other direction before she turned back to look at Castiel. "So this Mortimer can try to drop a word with the hunters anytime and burn the entire Veteris down."

"If he wanted to do it, he would have done it a long time ago, Eloise," stated Remy, the lazy look in his eyes didn't leave. "Mortimer will look at the gains and try to use Veteris for his own good. Using something that someone had built, the land of Veteris connects to Willow Creek and it is quite resourceful to bring it to a hunter's radar. It would be best to know his locations and try to disappear the feud that pulled people who were not into it."

"I don't think Donovan would go to speak to the man. He would prefer Mortimer to come to him, than the other way round," remarked Castiel, "But let me go and talk to him."

Dante nodded her head, "Borrell, you can try to run traces if we find this person named Mortimer."

"Why not ask this boy who is in the dungeon?" questioned Mr. Borrell, as it seemed the easiest thing to do.

The counsellor spoke, "He doesn't know. The morms would not know about such crucial information of where the puppeteer is."

Away from them, Julie stood next to Roman, and he slipped his hand into hers before asking, "You okay?" It was because she had been extremely quiet.

Julie nodded her head, "Yeah, I am okay. You?"

Roman nodded, "I am okay."

Julie's eyes moved to look at the others, where Roman's friends had cold expressions on their faces, sad for the woman's death. Maximus rubbed Olivia's arm, while he hugged her.

"Come let us walk," said Roman, and he tugged her hand so that she would follow him, and he did without exchanging another word.

When the couple left, Victoria questioned, "I thought humans were not supposed to step into this part of the forest."

"Eventually, she will be turning into a vampire," commented Simon and Maximus nodded his head. "She's with Roman now, and there's no going back."

Roman and Julie walked past the trees in silence, and he led her towards the East side of Veteris to get some peace from others. "There is something I would like to tell you about, Winters."

Julie's eyebrows slightly furrowed and she asked, "What is it about?"

"If you had information about me, and you are not supposed to speak about it with me. What would you do?" questioned Roman. "Something that might change and affect people. One point you want to tell because you believe you deserve it, but another side you don't want to. Because you know it will hurt me."

"What kind of truth?" asked Julie, a little worried.

Roman's lips pursed and he pulled out the silver chain with sapphire pendant hanging from it, "I was told to give this to you."

When Julie touched the chain and then the pendant, the stone turned nothing less to a mist as if her skin breathed it inside her. "W-what was that?" she asked with a startled expression. Her gaze moved back to look at Roman, "Who gave it to you?"

"Your mother," replied Roman, not wanting to hide things from Julie, while also knowing neither of them would try to alter things.

Julie shook her head as if trying to wrap her mind around what Roman just said, "My mother? You saw her?"

Roman gave her a nod, "I met her a few hours ago."

There was a sense of relief in Julie's eyes and also eagerness of wanting to meet her mother. She looked left and right, wondering if her mother would show up any moment now. But there was no one but them on this side of the woods.

"Where is she?" Julie asked anxiously.

"She left," replied Roman and a frown appeared on Julie's face. "Her time was limited, and she wanted me to give this to you."

Julie looked down at the chain in her hand, and she ran her fingers across it. She regretted sleeping now, wishing she wasn't that exhausted to miss her mother.

"Is she okay? Was it her ghost?" questions popped up in her mind and Roman could tell that the dream that Julie had built about her surrogate mother would break if he uttered one word about it.

"No," replied Roman, taking the chain in her hand and then putting it around her neck before letting it rest there. "She came from the past. From the beginning and wanted to make sure you were safe. Don't be sad about it, she said it was for the best."

Julie nodded her head, a sigh escaping her lips and she then asked, "How did you find her? What did you both speak?"

Roman offered a faint smile, "She was worried about her adorable daughter. If you were safe and noticed you are in a vampire's company. She wanted to make sure no harm would come to you." He paused for a moment and then said, "She was nothing like I imagined her to be."

A smile appeared on Julie's lips and she said, "Yeah, mother is very kind and sweet. She was always polite to people and would never hurt anyone."

Hearing Julie speak fondly of the person, who in truth was not her mother, Roman didn't know how to take it but not comment on it. That the mother who was beloved to her, it was the same person who had turned her life a living hell before coming to Veteris. How ironic, thought Roman to himself.

While they continued to walk and speak, Roman raised his hand in front of her to stop her from walking further. "The fog," said Roman and for a moment, Julie didn't notice what he meant, but soon a mist-like fog started to crawl on the ground of the forest and the air suddenly appeared to look thicker.

"What's going on?" asked Julie, feeling the temperature drop and a shiver ran down her body.

"It's the pendant that mingled with you. It must have caused some sort of a reaction," said Roman, his eyes suddenly switched from black to red.

"I am hearing something creepy, Rome," said Julie, moving closer to him as the fog got too much and she heard whispering that was faint, but it was getting louder.

"Stay close, Winters. Where are you?" he asked her, and Julie turned around, as if realizing his voice suddenly turned distant. She noticed she was standing next to a tree and she said,

"I am still here. I think there's something in the fog," Julie let him know.

"Stand where you are," said Roman, "I am getting there."

But even though Julie's voice sounded as if she was right next to him, she wasn't there. There was nothing but an empty spot. Not having the patience, Roman brought his hand forward, where the ball of flame increased as if it was ready to burn down this side of the forest.

When the flame increased, the fog around him reduced, as if making way for him to look around, and his eyes finally fell on where Julie was.

"Rome!"

But Julie wasn't standing anywhere close to him, but on the other side of the bridge. Before either of them could cross to the other side of the bridge, the bridge disappeared along with Julie.