Author's note: Apologies for the uneven update, I have been having a stye and the screen time has been irritating it.

  —


  The vampire limped in the darkness as he made his way away from Veteris and now in the forest. His vision was hazy, and he tried to keep himself up and awake. His fangs ached, and all he wanted to do right now was sink them in a human's flesh and feel the warm blood seep into his mouth and travel down his throat.

  At a distance, an owl that had perched itself on the branch of a tree hooted while watching the bloodthirsty vampire walk past the trees.

  When he came to a certain distance, he finally caught sight of a lone couple making out in the woods. He took a deep sniff of them from where he stood, and he ran his tongue across his lips.

  "Do you think it is safe to do it here?" the girl asked the boy with whom she had come to the forest. She looked back and forth while the boy cupped her face with both his hands.

  "It's the middle of the night, do you think anyone would ever come to the woods at this time. It is just the two of us here and we have the place for ourselves," the boy chuckled before he kissed the girl in his arms.

  Enoch's pale face felt like it was already receiving colour by seeing the two naive humans who were at this time in the place. He slowly crept up and behind the boy and said, "You don't mind if I join you both, do you?"

  The couple turned startled at the voice, and they pulled away from each other. Before the boy could turn to see who had spoken, the vampire sunk his fangs into the boy's neck and ruthlessly sucked the blood out of him while the boy tried to get away from the vampire.

  "AHH!!!" the girl screamed in panic, noticing blood trickling from the boy's neck.

  She noticed the boy struggle less, and soon his body turned limp. In fear of having to save herself, she turned around and started to sprint from there. Running through the forest with her feet, making a rustling sound every time her shoe trampled on the dried leaves.

  Enoch continued to suck the blood, his hold on the boy tightened, and his face started to fill itself with colour. Once he was done drinking blood from the human, he decided to tear the person's head away from the body so that no one would know about a vampire being around.

  "Not the best I have tasted, but I am fucking hungry and need more," Enoch said to himself, his gaze shifting away from the dead person.

  Dropping the body on the ground, he took a deep sniff in the air, trying to find in which direction the other human had run, and he quickly followed.

  The human girl continued to run, and in between, she turned to catch sight of the vampire getting close to her. She ran towards the road, and while trying to take another look behind her, she failed to notice the truck that was speedily coming on the road. It hit her body, and she fell on the side of the road. The truck driver suddenly stopped the vehicle, and so did Enoch, his eyes staring at the vehicle in wonderment.

  "I told you to keep an eye on the road for the animals!" complained one of the men who got down from the truck.

  "I was fucking looking at the road, and this person jumped out of nowhere! There is the person!" said another man, and the two males went to take a look at the girl, whose head was bruised. He quickly checked her pulse and said, "She's still alive."

  "What are we going to do?"

  "What do you mean what?! Let us take her to the hospital, come help me carry her now," said the person, and they picked up the injured girl's body, taking her inside the truck, and they drove away from there.

  Enoch, who stood near the edge of the forest, watched the vehicle leave, and he wiped the blood that was smeared across his lips. He would now have to find a new prey while also looking where his brother was.

  Morning was quick to arrive, but the rays of the sun didn't touch the lands of Veteris as the sky was heavily covered by the clouds.

  Julie woke up with a yawn escaping from her lips while she stretched her body before sitting upright on the bed. Her head turned to look at the side of the window, which was now empty, and she wondered if Roman's night had gone peaceful.

  Getting ready, Julie joined Melanie to go to the lunchroom to have a quick breakfast.

  "Is Conner skipping breakfast?" Julie asked Melanie as they walked towards the lunchroom.

  "I haven't seen him since last noon. I wonder if he's busy working with his project. He said he had to start his project and with time being scarce in his hands, he's probably pulling an all nighter on his work," replied Melanie, tugging on the strap of her bag while walking next to Julie.

  "Mm, I see," replied Julie. "I think the students are going to be busy with the approaching exams."

  "Yes, while there are some who still have time to goof around," commented Melanie, on seeing the seniors, who were sitting outside the lunchroom, while some were busy making out in public. "Did you hear anything from your uncle about your father?" asked Melanie, and Julie shook her head.

  "No phone network remember."

  "Families often make calls to the main office. If there's any urgency. Maybe everything is fine," said Melanie, offering an encouraging smile while also holding a little worry in her eyes.

  Her father was a whole different subject that Julie had decided not to worry about. But then she corrected herself. That man wasn't her father. He might have loved her in the beginning, but for him to brutally kill his wife and then try to kill her, she doubted there was even an ounce of love left with him for her.

  While Julie was having her meal, she felt a kiss being pressed on one side of her head, and a smile appeared on her lips. When she turned her head, Roman pressed his lips right on her lips before murmuring, "I missed you."

  "Missed you as well," Julie whispered back, noticing his black eyes weren't black, instead, they were dark red that only appeared to look black. "How was your night?" she asked him.

  "Not that great," replied Roman, and he pulled the chair next to her and sat down. "How was yours?"

  "It was alright, but much better now," said Julie and Roman's lips subtly quirked up. Melanie had company, who had decided to annoy her, which was Simon, who had come to join the table. Julie took the opportunity to speak, "Mel said this holiday there's a family gathering."

  "We have our plans already," said Roman and Julie nodded her head. "Pack your things that you need for the three days. We'll be leaving early as there's no need for you to ride the bus." His gaze moved to look at Melanie, and then it returned to Julie, and just for her to hear, he said, "They found a body in the forest."

  "Enoch?" asked Julie in a low voice, and Roman gave her a nod.

  "There are no other bodies, so I guess he decided to escape from here and we don't have to worry about him hovering around here until for the next few days," stated Roman, and he picked one of the french fries that was on Julie's plate.

  "I saw my mother yesterday, father too… The Corvin showed it to me," Julie informed him.

  Upon hearing about the Corvin, Roman's eyes looked around the place, and he noticed a shadow that was darker than the others in the room. He said, "You should try to give it a full form, it will be easier to keep the creature around than it appearing to look as if someone punished it to stay away from you."

  "But I don't think it's possible," replied Julie with a small frown on her face. "Father told he could come in his human form only twice, and it was what pushed him to… disappear."

  Roman gave it a thought before he said, "Your father had bonded himself to your mother, who was long gone for years. But your Corvin, you still are living and breathing. And not to forget you are different. Maybe it will work for a much longer time compared to what your mother had tried before."

  "Sometimes I wonder if I can resurrect the dead…" whispered Julie, and Roman noticed her lower her gaze, looking at the surface of the table.

  "It isn't a bad idea…… As long as it doesn't harm you I am good with anything," assured Roman, taking her hand before intertwining their fingers together. He brought their hands up to his lips and kissed her hand.

  "I won't," Julie smiled at his words.

  Julie was already being used to Roman's tender affections, but the same couldn't be told about the other students, who hadn't spent enough time with Roman or Julie. Some of the student's even spilt food from their hands-on, seeing the black-haired boy, who was an A-listed delinquent in the university, showing loving affections towards the girl.

  "Are you going to attend classes?" she asked him, and he gave her a nod.

  "It gives me a reason to see you to your classroom. I might stick through my class though," responded Roman, who had no interest in sitting in a place with a bunch of idiots around him. "Let's go grab my drink," he said to her.

  Julie excused herself from the table and followed Roman to the counter, watching him order a coke filled with blood. "Do you need something?" he asked her, and she shook her head.

  "I am full," replied Julie, and she asked him, "How is Conner?"

  "I had Olivia sedate him for a few hours. He's in his room, resting soundly and Maximus keeping an eye on him so that he can compel him once he's awake," stated Roman, and Julie let out a relieved sigh. Glad to hear that her friend was alright. "I told you, Winters. I got you."

  After Roman saw Julie to her classroom like the doting boyfriend, some of the girls looked at Julie in envy.

  Around noon, the clouds had turned heavier and darker, which took away most of the brightness from the atmosphere. With two cans of coke in his hand, Roman now leaned against one of the graves, while standing in front of a grave that he sometimes came to visit.

  The name on the grave read— 'Tristan Moltenore'.

  The headstone he was leaning against belonged to a man who often liked to look down at people when he was alive, and Roman was least bothered if the headstone had slightly bent with the amount of time he had spent leaning against it.

  All these years, even though he had the slight doubt that Malcolm Moltenore had never cheated on his wife, Roman had continued to believe that Tristan was his own brother. It wasn't the blood that had brought them close, but each other's character and nature.

  "I wonder if you are disappointed that I was not able to protect your lover from her death," murmured Roman while staring at the headstone which was in front of him. "Did you ever feel that I was not related to the family… You always kept hovering around me. I doubt if you ever noticed it."

  Because from what he remembered, Tristan had been excited with the idea of having a sibling, while all Roman wanted was to stay alone.

  Roman now brought the can to his lips, siping the blood until the last few drops and then opened the other can and took more gulps from it. Roman wondered, if not Tristan, did Lady Petronile ever find out about it? He didn't relate the woman's change of heart to having come from knowing the truth because she wasn't like that. While his mother had loved him dearly, protecting him from the harsh words of the people, it was under Lady Petronile's influence, did Roman grow up.

  Hearing the sound of footsteps coming from behind, Roman's eyes turned to the corner, and he said, "I believe we'll have to draw some line on what can and cannot be done. What are you doing here? I don't remember you having any one here that you can mourn for."

  "I heard you skipped classes, and like a responsible father, I decided to come find you," responded Donovan, his hands in his pockets and his coat covering his shoulders while he made his way there. "Spending time with your second family I see."

  Roman's face didn't hold annoyance, but then it held no emotion where he didn't bother to turn to meet Donovan's eyes.

  "How responsible indeed," came the sarcastic words from his mouth, and he then said, "The next thing I know you will be sitting down with the staff to check my academic performance."

  When Roman brought the can to his lips, he heard Donovan say, "That has already been done on the second day when we were brought back from the long rest. I knew there was nothing to worry about when it came to you, you have always done well."

  "Thanks," deadpanned Roman, barely affected by the compliment, while he continued to stare at his brother's grave.

  Silence filled around them, and Donovan asked, "Are you still cross with me?"

  Roman finally turned to look at Donovan, who eagerly waited for his answer, and he asked, "What do you want me to tell you?"

  "That you are not angry with me?" Donovan could be a dangerous person, but he could equally be annoying people. "You can call me, father. Or maybe papa."

  "I must have sinned in my previous life," muttered Roman, for getting someone like Donovan as his father.

  "I have been trying to patch up things between us," stated Donovan, taking a seat on the headstone of the grave that was next to where Roman was leaning against.

  "There's nothing torn that needs to be patched. You introduced yourself as an Elder to me, and that's how we started our relationship," remarked Roman, and Donovan tilted his head.

  "Hm? Are you angry because I didn't confess when we first met?" asked Donovan before he continued, "Frankly, I was quite in shock myself that I had a son. Do you know how shocking it was to find the woman you haven't been in contact with has passed away and then you have a boy who is in his teenage years."

  Roman didn't care about it now. He was angry yesterday, but today… he wanted some time away from people and alone. Except for Julie.

  "I don't care about it. You should already know that I was content with the Moltenore family," stated Roman, and Donovan nodded his head.

  "Yes, I noticed it. It looked like a perfect family, while the Lord decided to snatch my son," Donovan's eyes subtly narrowed. Roman rolled his eyes at the old man. "You know… we spoke. The Lord and me."

  This caught Roman's attention, and he asked, "When was this?"

  "The same day the massacre took place in the town."

  Roman's lips set themselves in a thin line for not having a clue about this. "What did you guys speak about?"

  Donovan pushed himself away from the headstone, which ended up pushing the stone forward, which the Elder vampire didn't bother to fix. He took a few steps forward, and Roman noticed the man's coat, where the ends of it gently swayed because of the wind.

  "I was only curious, when I first came here to Veteris. You are like your mother. So mysterious and wanting to do nothing with people, ignoring people as if they were nothing," stated Donovan, and he raised his chin as if to get a better look at the scenery that was in front of them. "Of course, you didn't know about anything, and I was curious to know why exactly the Lord decided to take you from the village where your mother came from."

  Donovan pulled his hands away from his pocket as if remembering the day when he had appeared in front of the Lord. His thoughts carried himself to that time.

  'Lord Moltenore,' Donovan greeted the man in his office.

  Malcolm raised his head from the documents he had been signing, and he gave the person a questioning look.

  'Yes?' asked the Lord. 'How did you come here?' he questioned because the door had been closed, and he had told his assistant not to let anyone in. He wanted to go through the documents and finish signing them as he would be busy this evening.

  'You ask the wrong question, Lord Malcolm Moltenore. What you have to ask is, if what you did a few years ago was right,' Donovan smiled at the human, stepping forward, he pulled the chair in front of the desk and sat down.

  Lord Moltenore held a serious expression on his face because the man who sat in front of him didn't just look arrogant, but his actions were impolite. But he didn't comment and patiently said, 'I don't think I know you.'

  Donovan nodded his head, offering the politest smile he had to offer before he said, 'I go by the name Azazel Donovan. You must have heard my name, as I have been around the similar line of work as you.'

  Lord Moltenore nodded his head, 'I have. It is good to finally be able to see you in person, Mr. Donovan. How can I help you?' His words were being cautious as the man seemed to look at him with a smug smile.

  'The boy, whom you claimed to be yours. I wonder if you have any explanation as to why you decided to take him in your house. I am referring to the boy Roman,' Donovan brought both his hands together, interlocking his fingers while he saw the human's face turn pale.

  Lord Moltenore had always told everyone that the boy was his, and he did the same this time, 'Roman is m—'

  'He is my son,' Donovan openly claimed the boy, something he hadn't done. The vampire didn't like the fact that this mere human had not only claimed the boy as his own but who knew what relationship he had with Lilian.

  Lord Moltenore's eyebrows furrowed, and he stared at the person sitting in front of him.

  'Is this some kind of joke, Mr. Donovan?' Lord Moltenore questioned Donovan.

  'I don't make jokes about these things, Lord Moltenore. Though I am very curious to know why you brought the boy here, and decided to raise him as your own son. I can tell he has quite a certain charm to him,' stated Donovan, letting his fingers unlock before he placed his hands on the surface of the table. 'Did you have an affair with the boy's mother?'

  The thought about Lilian in someone else's arms didn't particularly sit well with him. It had been his intention to let the woman lead a normal life where she wouldn't be caught up with him, nor would he be caught up with her. But then why was this sudden urge of possessiveness surfacing now, when she was no more in this world, questioned Donovan in his mind.

  'You must have already heard what people have been speaking about,' said Lord Moltenore in a calm voice.

  'I don't care what others speak. What I do care is what you have to say, I won't judge you. Lilian was a beautiful woman, and many had their eyes on her,' smiled Donovan, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

  Lord Moltenore finally revealed about the incident of what happened that night, during his visit to the village, how Lilian had ended up unintentionally killing a man who had come to attack him.

  'Hmph,' Donovan's lips twisted in distaste. 'And that is why you took advantage of the rumours and brought the boy here?'

  Malcolm pursed his lips, and a slight frown appeared on his face. He then replied, 'I owed my life to the woman, for saving me. When I found out about the boy being an orphan, I decided to bring him here. It was the only way I could think of repaying the woman.'

  'What an amazing man you are, Lord Moltenore. To accept someone else's child and also take up the blames. I really applaud you,' remarked Donovan.

  But Lord Moltenore didn't pay attention to the praise, and instead, he asked, 'Why didn't you return to the woman or the boy earlier? I heard she had to go through too many difficulties, and she bore it all by herself.'

  Donovan clenched his teeth, not liking being questioned because he had no clue about having a family growing here. 'If I knew I would have been there.'

  'Then… are you here to take him with you?' Lord Moltenore held a guarded expression on his face.

  Donovan chuckled; the laughter was soft and pleasant. He said, 'I am here only to see how he looks and is.' As curious as he was about the young boy… he didn't know how to proceed with it. Because it had been only a day since he found out the truth.

  Lord Moltenore's frown deepened on his face. He wondered why the man was here then if he weren't here to claim Roman. One moment, he was here demanding why he took in Roman, and then he was saying he didn't want to do anything.

  'Can you not let him know then? That you are his father…' Lord Moltenore requested. The man looked slightly uncomfortable because he hadn't expected Roman's actual father to one day come to him and speak to him about this. 'If you have met Rome, you should already know that he likes to keep to himself. He's quieter than most of the people I have met, and he has had to hear a lot of people talk ill about his mother.'

  'Are you trying to protect the woman or yourself, Lord Moltenore?" questioned Donovan, raising his eyebrow at the person who shook his head.

  'I will be fine, Mr. Donovan. I will only be the man who tried to aid the boy, the woman's family, but it wouldn't be the same for Rome,' said Lord Moltenore, his eyes holding concern. 'It is one thing if you are taking him, or accepting him as your son. But another thing if you will be unable to provide him a family, where people, once they come to find out about how his mother was left estranged after she was pregnant, where the man never turned back to look at her, it would never be the same.'

  Donovan tapped his fingernails on the surface of the table, and he then said, 'You don't have to worry about that. I am not here to associate myself with such things and am only here for my mere curiosity.'

  The vampire stood up, turning his back to Lord Moltenore, ready to leave, but he asked, 'Is there anything that you have noticed in him. Rome I mean.'

  It was because Roman was born from a vampire and a human, and there was no way that his body had received only the human side while ignoring the vampire side.

  Lord Moltenore answered, 'Rome is an extremely smart boy. He has a keen interest in medicine and enjoys spending his time at the Trosney's house, even though my wife isn't very fond that he spends more time with the dead bodies of the people.'

  'Of course, he will be smart,' Donovan lightly huffed, and he then said, 'This conversation, let it stays just between us and no one else knows about it.'

  'Yes, that would be a wise thing to do,' replied Lord Moltenore, standing up from his seat. Even though he had questioned Donovan if he was here to take Roman away, he had grown a fondness towards Roman, treating him like his own son, and he had come to believe that the boy was indeed his second son.

  Compared to Tristan's outspoken nature, Roman was the opposite, and he often replied with nods and certain boredom in his eyes.

  'I will see you later at the evening soiree, Lord Moltenore,' Donovan wished the man before making his way out of the room. A soft sigh escaped from Malcolm Moltenore's lips, glad that his family couldn't continue having Roman with them.

  Returning to the present, Roman, who heard the story from Donovan, just stared into space while not speaking a word about it. He asked, "Do you know what happened the night the massacre took place?"

  "The rogue vampires attacked the town, you already know that," replied Donovan, turning around to face Roman.

  "Not that. Dante said that she heard Luciano speaking about my heart and the state that it had been found…… Of how there was no heartbeat and it was dead," stated Roman, with a cold stare at the man. "Do you know about it?"