While I was trying to teach Bonnie basic magic, we were talking and, without meaning to, I ended up revealing that I knew a little about the future.
"How so? Are you a seer?" Bonnie asked excitedly, moving closer, eager to know more. "Are we going to win the lottery?"
Brat. I say I know a bit about the future and she immediately thinks about money… I'm proud.
"Well… it's not like that," I said with a sigh. "I only know the future I take part in. It's like I'm seeing events from my own future."
"Seriously? So what's the future like? We're not going to get burned at the stake, right?" Bonnie asked in a teasing tone, but I could see a bit of truth behind her words.
"You won't… Apparently I'm going to die because of my sister," I said jokingly and burst out laughing.
"Nik? Are you serious?" Bonnie said, staring at me in fear. "You're kidding, right? You don't even have siblings."
"Of course I'm kidding," I said, putting on a slightly serious tone just to scare her. "Don't worry."
"Okay… but what about everyone else? What happens to everyone?" Bonnie asked, already grabbing a notebook. "Does everyone get a happy ending in the story? And what's the name of your supposed sister?"
Ohhh, she took it seriously. I need to change the subject fast.
"Well, Tyler is a werewolf, Caroline is going to be turned into a vampire by an evil version of Elena, Jeremy is going to date an Asian vampire, and Elena is going to have a threesome with two old vampires," I said, laughing.
Bonnie froze.
"Caroline is going to…?" She immediately focused on her best friend, shocked. "Why her?"
"Because she's the only one that vampire could use to send a message. You were a Bennett, Elena had two vampires ready to die for her, Tyler was a werewolf, and Jeremy would also have protection from a vampire almost as old as she is… And I'm a prince of the Other Side. If she kills me, she'll have a legion of monsters coming after her," I said in a bored, sad tone. Of course, I made some of that up.
"Can we change that?" Bonnie asked sadly. "Save Caroline?"
"No. Apparently my future self tried several times…" I said, pretending there really was a future me. "But it always happens the same way. She's always turned."
"Nooo…" Bonnie covered her mouth and started crying, and I hugged her.
"But… I think I can make it easier for her," I said with a sigh, smiling at Bonnie. "At least make her a vampire of my bloodline and not some idiot's."
"Hmmm." Bonnie nodded and lay down on the bed.
"Hey, that's my bed," I growled, slapping her foot. "Go to your room."
"I don't want to," she kicked my hand and snuggled in. "I'm sleeping here."
After all the chaos and losing part of my bed to Bonnie, I went to my computer and started looking for information on a vampire forum where I was sure there were some real ones.
(V-prince – I'm willing to make some lapis lazuli, at a negotiable price.) I typed and posted it on the forum.
The post stayed there, simple enough for an ordinary human and specific enough that any curious person would ignore it. "Lapis lazuli" wasn't a pretty word thrown around at random. It was a password. Anyone who wasn't a real vampire would read that and think of crafts, cheap necklaces, esoteric shop junk. Anyone who was… would understand exactly what was being offered.
The daylight ring stone.
I closed the tab and waited. Vampire forums work more like a swamp than a social network: nothing seems to move, until something ancient decides to rise to the surface.
Bonnie turned over on the bed, stealing even more space, and murmured my name in her sleep. I adjusted the blanket over her by reflex before going back to the computer.
A notification popped up.
(NightArchivist): you seem like a big fan of vampire mythology to know about that jewel..
I smiled to myself. This one spoke the right language.
I typed calmly.
(V-prince): I study a lot… I have good hobbies and, most importantly, I know what to do with the jewel.
Almost a minute passed. Long enough for me to think about closing everything. Long enough for the future to itch at the back of my neck.
The reply came.
(NightArchivist): I see… then why are you selling something so valuable to just anyone?
I tilted my head, cracking my neck.
(V-prince): I'm not selling it to just anyone. It wouldn't be useful to just anyone.
Three dots appeared and disappeared. Then a new private message.
(NightArchivist): so you want more than the purchase value, you want the buyer to owe you something.
(V-prince): you learn fast.
The three dots disappeared again, as if he were smiling on the other side of the screen. Before he replied, other notifications started popping up, one after another, like bats drawn to noise.
(SilverRose): Lapis lazuli is currency now? Next they'll be selling grimoires on the marketplace.
(OldCrow): Careful, kid. People have lost their heads trying to play alchemist.
(BlueSun_88): lol that's fake, daylight stone doesn't even exist.
I almost laughed. That was the forum's natural filter. Those who didn't know mocked it. Those who knew… stayed silent.
(BlueSun_88): You talk like someone who believes too much in his own character.
(SilverRose): Or like someone who's seen people burn at noon.
The topic went suddenly quiet.
Interesting. Very interesting.
A new private message appeared, but it wasn't from NightArchivist.
I leaned forward. The old crow had sharp eyes.
After a while, the reply came, heavy as a sinking stone.
(OldCrow): So you're the kind of trouble that attracts war.
Before I could answer, NightArchivist returned to the public chat, breaking the tension.
(NightArchivist): Enough games. Whoever buys doesn't just want the jewel. They want the ritual. And that's not learned from a book.
The entire forum went silent. Even the jokers.
Bonnie shifted in her sleep, murmuring something about "don't touch grandma's grimoire." I smiled to myself, then went back to the screen.
(V-prince): That's why the price is negotiable. And the debt… mandatory.
(SilverRose): This is getting weird.
(BlueSun_88): Dude, this was supposed to be just a forum.
It was always like this. Digital humans stumbling into a conversation not meant for them.
(NightArchivist): Last question, V-prince. Do you want protection… or influence?
I leaned back in my chair. That was the real question. The one that separated survivors from urban legends.
I typed slowly.
(V-prince): I want certain vampires to walk in the sun… and remember who made that possible.
No immediate reply.
The topic was locked.
Seconds later, a private message appeared.
(NightArchivist): say when and where
(V-prince): message me in private
Three days later, I had a meeting scheduled with NightArchivist in a neutral location.
When I arrived, the person there was none other than a character from the series who would die soon.
Slater was sitting at a table in front of a window that seemed to be made of some material that blocked UV rays.
I walked over and sat in the chair across from him.
"Well… I didn't expect the person I was talking to to actually be a real vampire," I said with a laugh, signaling the waitress. "A Pepsi and a bacon cheeseburger, please."
"I didn't think you were a real witch," Slater said with a relieved smile. "This is honestly a dream come true… But why are you helping me? Aren't witches supposed to hate vampires?"
"First… I'm not helping you. Second, 'witch' sounds way too feminine for my taste," I gestured with a look of disgust. "Third, I'm not a normal warlock. My mother has an army of witches, vampires, and other interesting little things."
I wasn't lying. My mother really did have an army at her command: every supernatural being who died went to her domain, and those she found interesting or powerful enough, if they weren't from the Bennett line, were given the chance to swear loyalty and live in the paradise of the Other Side.
"Your mother sounds interesting," Slater said, now clearly intrigued. "What's her name?"
"You wouldn't know it," I replied with a sigh and a smile. "You're not important or powerful enough, and you don't meet certain requirements to know her."
(Not dead, and lacking the traits that would catch her attention on the Other Side if he were.)
"Cruel," he laughed, and didn't push it.
"But let's talk price." I placed a paper on the table, and he picked it up.
"Ten million per ring and three hundred years of eternal friendship?" he said, confused, then his eyes widened. "But you won't live for three hundred years for me to keep my loyalty."
"My descendants will," I said, tossing his logic aside. "You can continue the rest of that eternal friendship with them."
"I need to think," he said, and I stood up.
"Sure… think about it," I said, raising three fingers. "You have three seconds. One, two—"
"Damn it… I accept!" he almost shouted. "Damn, you're evil."
"I know," I said with a smile, pulling another paper from my pocket. "This is a magical contract. If either of us breaks it, we'll be magically punished."
Slater picked up the paper with two fingers, like it might bite. His eyes ran over the lines written in an elegant mix of archaic Latin and symbols no online source could ever explain.
"Magical contract…" he murmured. "You really don't know how to play."
"I warned you I wasn't a normal warlock," I replied, signaling the waitress as she brought my Pepsi and bacon cheeseburger. I took a bite, far too calm for someone about to bind a vampire for centuries. "This isn't play. It's risk management."
Slater took a deep breath. Vampires pretend they don't need it, but when it comes to ancient magic, even they remember to breathe out of habit.
"And what exactly is the punishment?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"Depends on the breach," I explained, wiping my hands on a napkin. "Direct betrayal causes constant pain for as long as you exist. Breaking loyalty transfers everything you gained from the deal to me… including the ring. And lying in the contract—" I shrugged. "Well, lying to magic never ends well."
He swallowed hard.
"You're really worse than vampires."
"Thank you," I replied. "I try."
Slater picked up the pen. When the tip touched the paper, the symbols glowed deep blue, the same shade as true lapis lazuli. It wasn't flashy light. It was old. Stable. The kind that doesn't need to prove anything.
As soon as he signed, the paper folded itself and turned into silent ashes, disappearing before it even touched the table.
Slater blinked.
"Okay… that was officially the coolest and most terrifying thing I've ever seen."
"Congratulations," I said. "You're officially an investment now."
He let out a nervous laugh.
"So… when do I get the ring?" Slater asked eagerly.
"All you have to do is hand over the jewel and I'll cast the spell," I said, holding out my hand. "You brought the jewel, right?"
"Of course," he said, placing a ring with a jewel engraved with an 'S' into my hand. "This will be the jewel."
"Great." I took the ring, focused my magic, and enchanted it. "Done. You can go out into the sun now."
He took the ring and sped out of the shop at vampire speed, stopping at the doorway. Then he extended his hand into the sunlight.
He didn't burn.
"Thank you," he said, tears in his eyes.
"Don't thank me. Don't forget you sold your freedom for this," I thought, then opened my mouth and said aloud, "When I need you, I'll call. And you'd better answer."
Then I left.