Letters to Romeo

Julie frowned at Elder Remy's words, and she turned her gaze to look at Simon, who had a blank expression on his face. There was no way Simon was working for the Mortimers, she thought in her mind. The red-headed vampire had always been their accomplice, helping Roman and her friends.

"Why don't you ask him, because he seems to have difficulty in answering our questions," stated Donovan, his eyes slightly narrowing at Simon.

Roman turned to Simon, his eyes trained on his friend before he asked, "Is it true what they are saying? Are you working for the Mortimers?"

"No," came the prompt reply from Simon. "I am not working for them."

"Who are you working for then?" questioned Castiel, who seemed on his guard. "It is funny how we never able to suspect it until now. But Remy is unable to read him."

"What do you mean?" asked Julie, the frown on her face deepening.

"Every vampire in here knows not to go against the word and order of an Elder vampire," explained Castiel to her, "They know the consequences, and in the world of vampires, there's no room for errors, especially when it comes to being unable to follow something. We find it easier… to discard."

Remy stared at Simon with a blank expression, his eyes carrying a certain coldness, making him appear as if his orbs were hollow. He said, "I can tell who was turned when and how, sometimes by whom too. But for some reason, I am unable to do the same with this boy."

Castiel raised his hand without any notice, and suddenly Simon fell on his knees, on the ground in pain. Roman clenched his teeth. Releasing it, he said, "We can talk it out. I believe Simon would never go against us. I can vouch that he will never betray us or me," and he turned to look at Simon, who threw up blood on the ground, while his face was still empty as if he couldn't sense the pain.

"Are you sure about it, Rome?" questioned Donovan. Clicking his tongue, he said, "People are not what they seem. Especially knowing his track record when it comes to holding relationships." It was no secret that Simon had killed and drunk blood from his very own family, turning their bodies dry.

"Simon," spoke Roman to his friend, "Are you fighting for us or against us?"

"For," Simon coughed, clearing his throat. Julie could tell that the red-headed vampire was in pain, but he didn't complain or react; instead, he welcomed the pain.

"Who turned you, Mr. Wallace?" questioned Castiel, and Julie never thought there would be a day where she would see the two quieter Elder vampires trying to torture someone together for an answer. Simon clenched his teeth, and blood spilt out of his lips.

"You are hurting him," said Julie, not liking the way things were turning out to be, and she saw Roman didn't like it either.

Simon shook his head, "I don't know," he replied with a blank expression on his face.

"Lies," stated Castiel, and Simon threw up more blood. "We can do this all night and day, Mr. Wallace. Or make things easy for yourself and tell me what you know. Why did you try to escape Veteris with the two hunters?"

"T-they are my friends," answered Simon, running his tongue on the corner of his lips.

"I think that is enough," Roman stepped in front of Simon when Castiel was going to hand out more pain for Simon. "We already know that Simon isn't the one you are supposed to be targeting. He's one of us, and not a traitor. You cannot make him spill something he isn't aware of."

"We cannot have him free, Rome," remarked Donovan. This one is under suspicion, someone willing to sacrifice his life while knowing the trouble that comes with his actions. That is someone we should all be wary of. Maybe we should probably see if he holds any special abilities that were given by one of the Mortimer brothers."

Roman rolled his eyes, "Now you sound like Luciano. Fine, let me ask the questions and make it quick." He turned to Simon and asked, "Are you going to keep Veteris safe?"

Simon stared at Roman, who had been his friend before they had turned into vampires. His green eyes fluctuated between green and red.

"Yes," Simon replied to the simple question.

"Are you working for the hunters or the Mortimers in causing us harm?" Roman continued his question, staring right through Simon.

"No," Simon replied to Roman's question again.

"Do you plan to escape from Veteris?"

"No."

Roman turned to look at the Elders and said, "There you go. The simplest way, and he's answered everything you would need to know. Let go of Simon, I know him better than you, and you have my word that he won't cause any harm." He glared back at his father, who stared right back at him.

"Simon isn't bad," Julie added her thoughts, and the Elder vampires turned to stare at her at the same moment.

Remy stepped in front of Simon, placing his finger on the vampire's forehead. After a few seconds passed, he pulled away and said, "Nothing but blankness."

"I don't mean to bring any harm here," assured Simon, bowing his head to show his obedience to the three Elders.

Roman said to Simon, "Come. Let us leave and head back to the boy's Dormitorium." He placed his hand on Simon's arm and pulled him from the Elder's mansion. The three Elders stared at the blood on the floor.

Remy said, "It is the first time I haven't been able to read and it is vexing," a sigh escaping from his lips.

"Something is definitely not right with him," commented Castiel, and Donovan agreed with a nod. "Like the answer is right there, but I am not able to point my finger at it."

Outside the mansion, Julie, Roman, and Simon stepped back into the restricted side of the forest as they made their way to their Dormitoriums. When they reached the edge of the forest, Roman, who was going to accompany Julie to the girl's Dormitorium, said to Simon,

"Is there something you would like to say. This might be a good time." Roman was aware that Simon had secrets, and he was trying hard to protect it. It was why he had framed and finished the questions so that the Elders would let him off.

A smile appeared on Simon's lips, "Everything is well."

Both the senior year boys stared at each other hard. Roman said, "I will see you later in your dorm."

"Sounds good," replied Simon, who gave a nod to Julie, who returned it, and the red-headed vampire walked away from there.

Both Julie and Roman saw Simon walk away, and she asked him, "What is he hiding?"

"Something he is trying to protect," Roman's eyes narrowed, and he wondered what was going on. He trusted Simon, but his actions could have anyone doubt him. "He won't cough it up even if you place a knife on his neck. Come, let me see you to your dorm."

Julie gave him a nod, and they walked to the front of the girl's Dormitorium. She asked him, "Will the Elders really let them off the hook?"

"Just for a few hours while they have the guards keep an eye on each of them," replied Roman, and he pulled her into his arms. "I don't want to part with you. Not now, not in future," but he had to speak to his friends about what happened. When Griffin had mentioned taking Julie's life, all Roman had seen was red.

Julie felt warm in Roman's warm embrace. She circled her arms around his waist. She asked him, "Will you come later?"

"I will try, but don't wait for me," said Roman, and a smile appeared on her lips.

And though he said not to wait, Julie couldn't help but wait for him, "I love you," she whispered to him.

"And I love you," came Roman's words. He kissed the top of her head before letting her go.

In the boy's Dormitorium, Melanie had just finished tending Conner's wound and she asked him, "How are you doing, Conner?" They hadn't spoken much, since they had returned here, except for her asking where the first aid kit was.

"Still wrapping my head. Everything feels like a dream, as if it will break tomorrow morning and we'll be back to reality. Thanks for this," Conner pointed his finger at the bandage that Melanie had helped.

"I am just glad to see that you and I both are still breathing. See, the vampires in here aren't bad," said Melanie, and silence filled the room again. While keeping the first aid box, she asked him, "I am sorry about Reese, Conner. I really am, and what happened to her, she didn't deserve it. But I hope one day you will be able to move on from those painful and bitter feelings."

"Thanks for those words, Mel," Conner's words came out to be distant. "Also thank you for coming to get me today. I knew deep down that I can always count on you."

"Of course you can," smiled Melanie.

Conner suddenly reached out for Melanie's hand and pulled her closer to him. Melanie's heart skipped a beat, and she stared at him. At the same time, outside the corridor of Conner's Dormitorium, the red-headed vampire had arrived near the door, which was left slightly ajar. Simon saw Conner pull Melanie for a hug, with her back facing the vampire.

"I don't know what I would do without you. I meant it when I said I would try for you, and not because I want to replace you for someone else," said Conner, holding Melanie while, for the first time, she stood like a statue.

Melanie hadn't expected Conner to return her feelings after these many years, which was why, she had slowly started to let those feelings go.

Conner then asked her, "What do you say, Mel? You didn't give an answer yet."

Before Melanie could reply, Simon turned around and left the Dormitorium. His eyes had turned back to a constant green and he dodged the eyes of the guards of Veteris. He walked far enough to get a call on his phone, and he picked it up,

"Yes…No, I am good. They couldn't guess it," he answered the call. He heard the other person speak, and said, "Yes, it seems like that's what happened… I will keep you updated on it… Yeah… see you later then."

Simon disconnected from the call, slipping the phone into his pocket, he made his way back to the boy's Dormitorium.