"Lauren," Chloe's voice pierced the air for the fifth time, and at last, she responded.
"Hey, Chloe," Lauren replied, setting the dryer gently upon the vanity.
"Oh my God, you're back!" Chloe's voice quavered, her emotions teetering on the brink of spilling over. Lauren smiled as she heard the relief in her friend's voice.
"I'm on my way!" she declared, ending the call.
An ambivalent smile graced her lips as she set her phone down, her decision weighing heavily on her thoughts. Confiding in Chloe about the supernatural realm meant confrontations, risks, and the potential to unravel the delicate balance of secrecy. Yet, Chloe's welfare outweighed the potential repercussions, and Lauren was resolute in her decision.
_______________________________________________
Madame Veronica summoned her daughters to her study to gain insight into the events that transpired in Iceland.
As Alanna entered the room first, Ariana followed closely behind, toting a bag of chips and a carton of fruit juice. "So, tell me everything. How did you find Lauren? And why does it seem that something beyond just her rescue occurred in Iceland, causing her withdrawn state?" Madame Veronica inquired.
"Mother, where should we begin?" Alanna sighed, the weight of their recent experiences flooding back in. They commenced recounting everything—from their arrival through the portal in the Icelandic alley to Vladimir's revelation about Lauren's mother's tragic fate.
"Are you saying my sister perished at the hands of a vampire?" Madame Veronica's voice wavered, heavy with sorrow. Sensing her grief, the siblings drew close and sat beside her.
"If only I hadn't allowed anger to keep me from checking on her after she joined the humans, she might still be here," she mourned.
"Mother, please. There's nothing you could have done. It was a tragic accident," Alanna consoled.
"Actually, a vampire killing a witch isn't quite an accident," Madame Veronica countered, her emotions raw.
"In this particular case, it was. It was the result of what they called the 'blood rage,' compelling Damien to act as he did," Ariana interjected, coming to his defense.
"Blood rage?" Madame Veronica inquired.
"Yes," the siblings confirmed in unison.
"Are you implying that Damien is the vampire afflicted by this 'blood rage'?" Madame Veronica's astonishment was palpable.
"Yes," they responded.
"It can't be," she murmured before rising to retrieve a book from her shelf.
She opened the aged book, the brittle pages revealing snippets of an ominous past. The siblings stood by her side, their curiosity piqued, their minds racing with questions.
After a moment, she landed upon a page that seemed to hold a significance, bearing the inscription: "Cave daemon Scandicus". Which translates "Beware of the Scandavian devil."
"In the years spanning the 1970s to the late 1980s, a vampire struck terror throughout the realms during every blood moon that occurred once in two months. They dubbed him the 'blood rage vampire,' and with each cursed occurrence, his macabre legacy marred the streets with the mutilated remains of men and women," Madame Veronica recited from the aged manuscript.
"Countless forces, both supernatural and human, sought his capture, but their efforts were in vain, save for one instance. Hence, with each blood moon, citizens across every state barricaded themselves indoors from 6 PM until the break of dawn."
"As time ebbed away, the tally of victims dwindled, leading some to mistakenly believe he had met his demise, prompting a return to normalcy. Yet, it seems he may have eluded death all these years," she concluded.
"But mother, what if they are different individuals?" Ariana interjected, her trepidation palpable.
"They aren't. Only one blood rage vampire has ever been chronicled in history. While his name eluded record, I believe there's a centuries-old picture in our archives—a snapshot capturing him satiating his vile hunger. I must find it," she declared, a sense of urgency propelling her to the archives.
Returning moments later, she clutched a small box. "This holds items unrelated to our lineage," she explained, carefully sifting through its contents. With a quiet exclamation, she revealed a faded photograph, black and white like a cryptic relic.
"I should've known," she murmured. The siblings, taking the photo from her, were momentarily struck dumb by the uncanny resemblance before them—it was Damien. Save for his cascading locks, every feature remained unchanged.
"I pray he steers clear of Lauren, lest I take matters into my own hands. He is a monster—the epitome of his dark kinds," Madame Veronica pronounced, an edge of resolve in her voice.
"What about the prophecy, Mother?" Alanna's fear was evident.
"To hell with the prophecy!" she retorted bluntly.
As the chamber's door creaked open, they turned to behold a surprising sight—a silent Lauren. From her troubled countenance, it was evident she had overheard their discussion.
"Can't we employ magic to cure him?" Lauren posed the soulful question.
"Oh, child," Madame Veronica cooed, drawing Lauren close with tender care. Seated beside her, Lauren succumbed to the embrace, taking comfort in the modest solace of her aunt's presence.
"Why would you seek to absolve your mother's murderer? You should harbor a deep-seated resentment for him and his kind. He is the very reason you grew up without a mother. Forgiveness should be beyond your reach," Madame Veronica's words bore an unyielding weight.
Her daughters exchanged a silent, helpless glance, grappling with their inability to counter their mother's staunch decree.
"I've tried, Aunt, truly. I've willed myself to despise him, especially upon witnessing the vision, Lauren confessed through a bitter chuckle, tears pooling in her eyes. 'I should loathe him, but I can't. I already miss him, and I want to hear him explain everything' she wanted to say, but the words remained unspoken, knowing they'd fall upon disapproving ears.
"Aunt, consider that the moon goddess foresaw our entwined destinies before setting us on this path," Lauren reasoned, her grip on her aunt's hand a plea for understanding.
Madame Veronica fell silent, contemplating the weight of her niece's inquiry. She held deep reverence for the moon goddess, understanding her omniscient gaze, yet sentiments of unease lingered beneath her thoughts.
Sighing, she gazed at her niece, a soft smile tinged with sorrow touching her lips. "It's an unfortunate entanglement of destiny, but once the prophecy is fulfilled, I will divulge his true nature to the witches' council and the wider supernatural realm. He shall not escape retribution for his actions against my sister and other innocent witches," Madame Veronica vowed before departing the study.
Lauren longed to challenge her aunt's plans, but the words tied a knot in her throat, veiling the outcry she yearned to voice.