Chapter Thirty Nine: My Romeo

Lorraine arrived at school on Monday morning after a long restless night full of dreams that she could recall nothing from. They were more like hallucinations than dreams and they left her more unsettled. She tried not to dwell on Cedric’s topic, the key word is tried, because she spent the better part of being awake thinking about him. She was at her locker, when she heard Aiden greeting her. She turned to him with a small smile, “Good morning.”

“You didn’t get any sleep last night?”

“Is it that obvious?” Aiden nodded his head at her question and she rolled her eyes at him, “Way to make a girl feel awesome.” She closed her locker and they began walking to their class. Her eyes scanned the corridor then she turned to Aiden, “Did you see Judy?”

Aiden shook his head, “No, I haven't heard from her either.” He paused for a breath, interrupting Lorraine before she talked more about Judy. “Are you all right? Do you feel any different?” He had been worried about her, especially after what John had told them about the Vancsura grimoire and what it does to its owner.

“I’m okay.” She felt different, so very different. However, she didn't know how to explain it, nor did she have the energy to. She held her phone, “I’ll text Judy again, I just hope she’s okay.” Aiden nodded and refused to push her further. He decided that he would need to keep a close watch over her.

“Do you think I would betray you?” Aiden fired the question, freezing Lorraine in her spot. The students brushed by them as they walked to their classes, but she felt none of that. She didn’t want to say anything because she didn’t know what she believed any longer. She let out a sigh, and shook her head with a small smile. She was about to find an excuse to escape the situation, but Aiden held her by the arm staring straight at her eyes. The corridor was emptying on them, and she was beginning to feel trapped. “Lorraine, there’s one thing I can promise, which I would never cause you harm. I care way too much for you.” Aiden casted his eyes down and seemed to think over what to say next. “I think… I think I’m in love with you.”

Lorraine’s eyes widened and she stopped breathing for a second. She knew Aiden cared for her, he had made it clear on several occasions. However, she didn’t expect him to come out and say he loved her. *“Love”* The thought sounded strange in her own mind. *“Is that what I feel for Cedric?”* She tried to elope that particular question and focus on the vampire staring at her like she held his entire life in her hand. “Aiden…” She started unsure of how to continue. “I… can’t…”

She didn’t get the time to finish her words. Aiden knew there was a rejection coming his way. It hurt him. It hurt him so deeply that he didn’t know how to react to it. “I know you care about me, I know you feel something for me, Lorraine. I understand you need time, and that much I can give you.” She tried to object, to explain herself to him, but he didn’t give her the chance. His grip on her arm tightened ever so slightly and he held her eyes with his. “Just please, think it over.” With those final words he fled the corridor in a hurry, leaving Lorraine’s mind reeling.

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Cedric sauntered into the church with an arrogant smirk, eyeing the place with condescension. When his eyes fell on the man he came to meet, his smirk widened, “Father Wilmut, I came to confess the sins I have committed. Oh Father, would you cleanse my soul.”

“I wonder if a lifetime would be enough to hear all about your sins, Mr. Bloodworth.” Father Gregory Wilmut knew exactly who Cedric was. He knew him so well, and he wouldn’t say he was surprised to see him. “I have been expecting you.” He tried to hide the disdain he held for the deathless; his stiff shoulders and strained facial expression were proof enough of it. “The Vancsura grimoire has been opened.” Cedric nodded his head, “What do you want now?”

“A little bird told me something, and I need you to confirm whether it’s true or not.” Cedric started, but Father Wilmut didn’t retort with anything. “It has a resurrection spell, one that is so powerful that only a Vancsura can do.”

Father Wilmut shook his head with something akin to sympathy, maybe even pity. “This is about Darla?” He wasn’t asking, and he didn’t expect an answer. “Generations of my family have known the story. It’s frightening but equally admirable.” He turned his back to Cedric, “To fall in love with a woman who belonged to another man, and not just any man. A thousand years old deathless. One would call you rather foolish. You try to steal her away and so he kills her and you barely manage to escape with your life swearing to avenge her. A twisted version of Romeo and Juliet. ” He looked back at Cedric, “I would guess the little bird told you that you can bring her back from death?” Cedric’s silence was enough of a reply to him, “Not even a Vancsura can do this.”

“But there’s a resurrection spell?” Cedric asked with squinted eyes. When Wilmut didn’t reply and maintained a stoic face, Cedric concluded, “If there’s a spell then it can be used.” He saw that the Father was about to argue so he smirked again, “You can’t get involved, you can’t stop me, you can’t do much.” He walked closer so he was face to face with the man, “Your job is to watch, that’s as far as you can go.”

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Lorraine was standing with Jake and Mary during the lunch break. “The weather is beautiful today, how about we have lunch outside.” Jake suggested after they had met in the cafeteria. Mary agreed eagerly, saying something about the mood being gloomy everywhere. Lorraine simply followed them with a dull nod. She had been thinking about Aiden’s declaration of love; she was feeling slightly guilty for the way she was making him feel. Hurting Aiden in anyway was the last thing she wanted.

“I really want to know what Judy is doing.” Mary said in an annoyed tone while moving her salad around. “I’ve been trying to call her for days now, but she’s just ghosting me.” She stabbed her salad with the fork angrily.

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Jake said, “What did the lettuce ever do to you?” She glared daggers his way, so he gave a small smile. “She’s grieving, you know how she was close to Mike. It must be really difficult for her.”

“Yeah, she was a mess the other day”. Lorraine added.
As if she had heard them, a car parked in front of the school ground and Judy exited it, then moved to the driver’s side, giving the man a pretty long kiss. Lorraine could see Mark clearly through the convertible. She didn’t understand how those two came together or how they connected in any way. “Does that mean she knows about vampires?” Lorraine wondered, and she hoped Judy didn’t.

Maria turned to Jake with a scoff, “Yeah, she’s grieving all right.” She gathered her tray and left Lorraine and Jake shaking their heads.

“She has a terrible taste in men.” Jake mumbled under his breath.

*“You don’t know half of it.”* Lorraine thought to herself watching Judy walking their way. Lorraine decided that she would need to speak to Bates and Aiden about that. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to face Cedric or how he would interact with her from that moment on.

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It was time for their meeting. Mark arrived with Dave to the small cottage in the middle of the woods, which Victoria Delvaux had decided to take as a residence during her stay in Secret Valley. The place was secluded enough for them to go unnoticed. When they got inside, they found Victoria waiting for them. “Did you do it?”

Mark nodded his head, “Judith McMillian is as good as a toy right now. She would do anything I ask.” Victoria nodded then she turned to Dave.

“I sent Bloodworth the message. The human who had delivered it to him was killed and her body wouldn’t be found.”

“Excellent”, she turned to Dave, “Proceed with the plan”. He only nodded at her order and got up to leave the cottage. Victoria turned her back to the two and stared with determination at the fireplace, *“We’re close, so close.”*