Julie was someone he loved dearly, and he would never love anyone else the way he loved her. Losing her would be nothing less than Roman losing himself. And this was something people were aware of, who were close to him. So far, Roman's ripper's side had been saved because of the emotional connection that he shared with her, of wanting to protect her. Without her, the foundation of his humanity without a doubt would crumble.

  Donovan moved to where Avice was sitting, and he asked her, "What's going on?"

  Avice's lips were set in a thin line, and she shook her head, "I don't know. I am not able to trace her…… Even though witches die because of the overused soul energy in their body, there is often a little trace of the soul energy left behind, which helps in turning the person into a Corvin."

  Donovan didn't like the sound of it, and he turned his eyes to look at his son, who was right now staring at the young witch.

  Cillian, who was a Corvin, walked towards Julie, and he placed his hand on hers, hoping to create the bond and somehow bring her back here. He then asked Avice, "Do you think her soul has passed through the forbidden door?"

  "We'll need to open the door and see if her soul is there. But there's no guarantee it will be there," Avice replied with a sigh, and she then added, "It will be hard though. The creatures in there have been agitated because of the last fight we had. It won't be easy to get Julie's soul back if she's there."

  "I will go and get her," Cillian volunteered himself to do the job, "I am the Corvin. It wouldn't matter if something happens to me, because I will have the least effect compared to the rest of the people here."

  "I will get her," Roman's words were firm, which gave no chance for anyone to oppose it. He looked at Julie's lifeless body and said, "I am the one who is going to bring her back. We need to open the portal of the forbidden door?" he asked Avice.

  Avice stared at Roman before she said, "We aren't sure if Julie's soul is in there. And you getting in there, it isn't an easy job. You have a creature stuck to you and a dark stone that resides in your heart. You will only end up corrupting it further. I hope you understand what that means." She then turned to Cillian and said, "You are already on the brink of your death, do you think the creatures in there wouldn't want to hold you there?"

  Roman replied to the woman's words, "What's the point of me living here, if she isn't here with me?"

  Donovan was all in support when it came to Roman and Julie's love, but he wasn't going to let his son sacrifice himself. He said, "And what is the point of her returning alive, when you would have corrupted your heart and would not be able to recognise her or anyone else, Rome?"

  "So you're telling me we are going to play the end of Romeo or Juliet now?" questioned Roman, his jaw clenched, glaring at the lot. He said, "I will not let my heart corrupt itself, and I will not stand here without doing anything and waiting in hope. If you cannot open the forbidden door, I will do it myself."

  Saying this, Roman clapped his hands and stretched it forward. Suddenly the wind around them increased, and some of them brought their hands forward to cover their faces because of the dust that started to rise from the ground.

  "He has strong blood running through his veins," remarked Avice, noticing the way Roman tapped into the witch's magic while also continuing to hold his abilities of being a vampire. "I thought people were only supposed to belong to only one kind except for me."

  "His body had always fought to stay as a witch until I decided to turn him, when he was on the verge of his death," murmured Donovan who stood next to her.

  "That explains it," replied Avice, and she noticed the fire spill from Roman's hand, and the fire moved on the ground to form a circle and lines. He created the markings, and soon, the black forbidden door opened at the center of the circle. "Are you sure about this?" she asked the young vampire, who looked confident.

  "I am," replied Roman, and when the door opened, he walked right through it. Cillian, who was worried about Julie, didn't stay back, and he quickly followed Roman.

  As if two people weren't enough, Donovan said, "I never got to see what was inside the place. Let me go and take a look at it." But just when the Elder vampire placed his one foot inside the place, he was thrown backwards on the ground. But Donovan caught his balance with grace and he turned annoyed, "The damn discrimination!"

  "Don't you know that the place is not hospitable for vampires? Roman is just lucky that he has witch blood running through his veins apart from yours," stated Avice, and then she said, "We need to guard the door and make it stay open. If the door closes, the creatures in there will change the direction of return. It will be hard for them to get back."

  "Mm, I will make sure to keep it open. Though I believed that you would take a trip there tonight. Scared, Avice?" asked Donovan, curiously looking at the woman who held a look of seriousness on her face.

  Avice stared at the darkness that the forbidden door held. A small smile appeared on her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. She said, "I have already visited it tonight. I don't think I would be able to bear a second visit."

  "Is he still there?" Donovan questioned in curiosity.

  Though Avice was a mystery to most of the vampires and witches, there were a few details that Donovan was already aware of. Like how when the woman had tried to resurrect her dead son back to life, the creatures had forcibly dragged her and the dead boy inside the door. The boy didn't survive, and somewhere neither did the woman, which was partly why she was a vampire with a creature that had attached itself to her.

  Avice didn't look away from the door and replied coldly, "He isn't. He died long ago."

  The woman then bent and touched the ground, creating a thin barrier to stop the creatures from entering Veteris and attacking people in here.

  Not too far away from where the forbidden door had been opened, Mr. and Mrs. Davis took a deep breath after fighting as many vampires as they could. The hunters had listened and agreed to ally with the vampires of the Veteris.