Chapter 31

"If I'm right, it's supposed to be a sort of curse in a magical formation, and it's a spell that Cecil himself chanted." Burris explained.
"What magic formation?" I looked at him blankly and asked anxiously again, "Why is he fiddling with magic formations?"
Burris sighed suddenly, and he hesitantly opened his mouth without making a sound, as if he was thinking about what he should say.
"It's okay Burris, I'm not as fragile as you think I am." I said grabbing his arm.
"Remember when I told you I saw a case in the grimoire about rebirth?" Burris asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"Remember, what's wrong?" I said immediately.
"The book says that this magical formation has something to do with rebirth, and the exact way to use it is on a parchment scroll. Maybe if you find that parchment scroll, you'll find a way to save your brother."
Burris avoided answering my question by deliberately focusing on the ultimate solution.
But there was no way I could do what he did and just ignore all that Cecil had done for me.
"Burris, you mean ...... I was reborn because Cecil used that damned magic spell, and as a price, he's lying here suffering now?"
I tried my best to sound calm, but the sound that came out was still shaky.
"No Cheryl, you can't think like that, it happened, we should find a way to fix it, beating ourselves up and regretting it won't help a bit. And I think if it was you, you'd do the same for Cecil." Burris said comfortingly, hugging me.
I pulled at my hair so hard I couldn't get a word out. I knew Burris was right, but the guilt that felt like an ocean wave was almost overwhelming me.
"It's not your fault that Tyrone and Katelyn set you up, and you should be holding a grudge against them, not yourself, right?" Burris took my hand and delicately smoothed my hair that I'd messed up.
It was the worst day of my life, and if it wasn't for Burris, I would have had a meltdown.
But Burris was right, I should get my shit together and figure out how to get Cecil's curse off and get revenge on those two bitches Tyrone and Katelyn!
"Burris, you're right, so now what do I have to do to save Cecil?I'd give anything."
Maybe it was because Burris was really strong and I started to rely on him more and more and I knew he had to have a solution.
Burris patted me on the back in relief and replied, "We need to find that parchment first, it should have instructions on it."
"Maybe we can go look in Cecil's apartment." I said looking at him.
Burris was a head taller than me, making me look even more petite when I was in his arms.
Realizing we were now too close, I struggled slightly to get out of Burris's embrace.
"Thank you, I'm much better." I said staring at the ground, suddenly a little embarrassed.
"It's okay, you're my princess, I'm supposed to care about you." Burris's voicerang out above my head.
I couldn't help but glance up at him, noticing the glint of loss that was about to disappear from his eyes.
"Come on, I'm taking Cecil with me."
With that said, I walked over to the bed and prepared to pull Cecil onto my back.
Burris, however, pulled me back, "Cheryl, you should let men do this kind of thing when there are men present, otherwise it's an insult to him."
Without waiting for my reaction, Burris had easily put Cecil on his back, and both seemed to be settling down.
Well, I almost forgot, I'm not the muscular Cheryl anymore.
We went back to Cecil's apartment and prepared to put Cecil to bed for now before rummaging through the room for the parchment scroll.
To my surprise, I had just lifted Cecil's blanket and found the parchment scroll we were looking for right there underneath.
"Burris, I can't believe it, is this what we're looking for?" I picked up the parchment scroll and waved it at Burris.
Burris froze for a moment, as if he didn't expect it to go so well either.
He casually dumped Cecil on the couch and walked towards me, taking the parchment in his hands and examining it carefully.
"Hey, Burris, I wish you'd be a little gentler with Cecil."
I hurried over and set Cecil, who was about to fall to the floor, upright and found him a comfortable spot on the couch to lie down.
"Cheryl, all my tenderness is for you." Burris said, raising his eyes to mine and quickly continuing to look back down at the parchment scroll in his hand.
I froze for a moment before responding that this was perhaps a love speech from the Prince Lord?
Thinking back to the way Burris has been treating me lately, I realize that our relationship doesn't seem quite the same, but Burris has never made it clear, I'm not sure, and I'm not in the mood for a relationship right now.
I frowned involuntarily at the thought and looked over at Burris, only to find him still looking obsessively at the parchment scroll in his hand.
He didn't look like he was helping me find a solution, but rather like he'd been given a favorite toy.
Maybe I'm overthinking it and Lord Prince just wants to marry me and suck my blood to save his sister.
"Burris, see anything?" I couldn't resist asking him.
I wouldn't have to wait for Burris to help me if it weren't for the fact that I couldn't read the text on it, and I've never been one to beg.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I got so caught up in reading this, the spells and magic formations on it are simply exquisite!" Burris exclaimed, a wild gleam radiating from his eyes.
I finally understood what was going on and asked him, "You're into magic and spells?"
"Yes." Burris' eyes shone with pride again, "They're the most amazing things in the world, and they can do anything."
I nodded with little interest, though I thought this made Burris look even better.
But I don't know much about these things he likes, and I'm more interested in knowing what it'll take to save Cecil now.
Burris probably saw my concern, and he had the chagrined look on his face of a little boy who'd upset his mother.
He put away the parchment and walked over to me to reassure me, "Hey Cheryl, don't worry, the parchment says that if you find a witch there is a way to lift the spell. I know a very powerful witch, I can take you to her right away."
"Don't you know magic too? Can't you help Cecil undo the spell?" I wondered.
"I can't do it." Burris however shook his head, "Those spells of mine are simple ones that you can do if you remember the spell, but Cecil's curse can only be lifted by a witch with a witch's bloodline."
"Then let's get out of here, where is she?" I asked Burris.
Burris put Cecil on his back again and said, "Amanda has been living in County Rotali, which is where I went to get the potion this time."
We made a quick trip to County Rotali, Burris purposely slowing down enough to join me that we could still chat.
"How do you and Amanda know each other?" I asked Burris, inclining my head.
Burris recalls, smiling, "I wasn't a Prince then, and I liked to travel around, and then I came to County Rotali."
"I remember telling you that there were potions on the black market that could turn vampires into humans temporarily, and I bought a bottle then and blended into the human town."
"Is that so? That sounds like fun, and to be honest, I kind of envy you." I said with a smile.
I rarely leave Peterman, and when I do, it's to hunt down vampires.
Therefore, I envy the free Burris.
When he didn't say anything else, I couldn't resist continuing, "And then?"
"Nothing to envy, I was unaware that this potion had a time limit and then played a little too long and not only did I get sunburned, but I got beat up by a human."
I froze as I listened, the words sounded a bit tragic, but Burris sounded relaxed, like he was reminiscing about a very interesting past.
Burris seemed to be caught up in the memory, not noticing my gaze, and continued, "I was feeling cheated and was particularly angry, so I tried to go back to the black market to find trouble with the merchant, and I ended up ......"