Death, it's such a delicate word and yet so fearful and unexpected. All that a human being can accomplish during her days don't matter at all when they are dead. Some religions teach of what to expect on after life, hell or heaven depending on your actions when you were alive.
But death or God is like a myth to vampires. They could believe in death and yet they are immortal, never age and never gets ill. When Nina escaped Madeira, she was afraid of being killed by her own people who had turned against her for choosing her freedom. Hence she got on a ship which took her very far from home to Rome.
The great city of Rome was the center of it all. Trade, alcohol, whores and everything you named it and it was there. Nina arrived at the city tired and hungry after a long voyage, she was wearing a toned white dress and had a white scarf which covered her hair.
She looked at the city's gates and was pushed back by two merchants who carried their merchandise and were in a hurry. So was everyone, they all had a life's motives. But she had nothing except for an empty stomach and sore feet. Alongside others she managed to snick inside the city's gates and walked straight to a woman who was selling bread.
"Bread! Get your bread from me" She called out her customers.
"I'm hungry, I need bread" said Nina.
"Two cents for one bread"
"I have no money, I have nothing"
"They you shan't get anything. Move, move..." The woman said and pushed Nina away, she fell down to the dry sand. No one cared about her, they all passed through her some even knocking her with their luggage"
But then a magic happened, as she was down a hand reached out to her. It was holding a bread and she snatched the bread and ate it all. Then when she looked up, it was a man. He was dark and had long hair and a mustache. "Are you alright my Lady?" He asked and picked Nina up.
"Yes"
"I would like to take you to my house, my maidens will look after you"
"Who are...you...?" Nina asked whilst trembling with hunger. She was still hungry.
"My name is Antonio. Welcome to Rome" He replied with a smile and walked Nina to his house.
**********************************************
The next day after Cullen's sudden death, it all felt like everything was crumbling down. The cemetery was filled with mourners who wore black attires and had umbrellas since it was raining. Nina, Amiya and Alice were there to pay their tributes. Alice's father, Mark was also present and some friends from high school attended the funeral too.
It was quiet and emotional. After the body was buried, they stayed for a five minute prayer and dispersed. Cullen's mother, Lucy spoke to Nina and her friends.
"There will be food and celebration of his life at my house later. I will be honored if all of you attend, all his friends..." She said.
"Thank you Lucy and again my condolences to you and your family"
"Thank you"
Lucy's driver opened a door for her and she got inside to the back seat. They all looked as how she drove away and the cemetery remained with few people and Cullen's grave was covered with lots of flowers.
"I need to go home. I'm not feeling so good" said Amiya.
"Call me as soon as you get home"
"Okay"
Amiya hugged both Alice and Nina, then she walked away. Hawaii was nowhere to be seen. It felt like the group was breaking apart and there was nothing they could do.
"I saw his body yesterday. At the mortuary" Alice said to Nina.
"You stayed?"
"Yes. Well, I was curious"
"What did you find?"
"His toes were dark!"
"Dark?"
"Yes it's as if he had scorched dirt"
"That's unusual"
"And I found out this morning in an app, that if a dead body had dark toes. It means they were bewitched"
"Bewitched?" Nina asked with curiosity.
Before Alice could say anything, her dad walked to them. "Alice let's go" and he didn't wait for them to finish their conversation.
"We'll talk later"
"Alright. Come by to my house" Said Nina
"I will"
Alice and her Dad walked away. Nina was the only one remaining at the cemetery. Something was not right, she didn't know what it was but she felt it. The air surrounding her was thick and the wind blowing was heavier than usual.
Hawaii appeared unexpectedly, he locked eyes with Nina and they were in tears. God knows for how long he's been crying. "You come back..." Nina ran to him and embraced him in a hug.
"I can't believe he's gone"
"Shshshh"
"I feel like I've lost a brother"
"I know"
Nina broke the hug and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Something's wrong, the pack wasn't here"
"That's why I'm here. I've found them all, dead"
"What?"
"Drained of their serum and blood. All eleven of them. Whoever is behind this, they have a strong desire to kill us all. Think about this, a werewolf toxic serum is lethal to us as it's the bite"
"And they have collected it. That could only mean one thing..." said Nina
Hawaii took a deep breath and then he said "War!"
"Against who?"
"I would say bad vampires are in town. But a werewolf serum is the last thing a vampire would go for knowing there's no cure. Hence that leaves..."
"The witches?" Nina's jaw dropped. She said that but it was so hard for even herself to believe it.
Silence took over and they slowly walked home. The questions arising in their minds was, if the witches are the ones who have declared war then they must've come out of Warlington. Because the only witch they've come across was Amiya, and she wouldn't declare war on them. That only left one theory, there was a new enemy in town.
Apart from Gladys and her coven of witches uniting and taking werewolf serum for themselves. There was a new danger approaching and no one noticed it, Warlington bar was flooded with vampires. Some were night walkers and some were immune to sunlight.
They were all the same but mainly differed in age and motives. While others had clear motives to remain vampires and were ready to do everything to stop the sacrifice from happening. Well the other group had enough of it, enough of cravings and immortality and they wanted to be humans.
"Alice" Mark called out. He was dressed and ready to leave.
"I'm in my room..."
"Aren't you going out tonight?"
"No, I'm tired and I have homework"
"Oh! Okay. I won't be late"
"Have fun"
Mark closed the door and drove away. As soon as he went away, Hawaii rushed to the porch. But he knew he won't get inside the house since he wasn't invited in. He missed Alice and he felt like they could grief together. So he called out "Ali..." and Alice heard him.
She got out of her room in a hurry and opened the door. At that particular moment, she felt alive just looking at him while he was hiding his sadness in that beautiful grin of his. He said "Hey"
"Hey" She said with a smile.
"I can't get in"
"You are stuck?"
"Argh, it's sort of a law I guess, can't get inside until invited. I thought you would be at Cullen's, for the ceremony"
"Oh shit! I totally forgot about that"
"Well I figured that out so I brought, chirps and this weird drink which I don't know the name and a blood bag for me"
Alice smiled at him and whispered "You can come in..." and Hawaii entered inside the house. And they both walked upstairs laughing and making jokes.
At Cullen's, the ceremony was going on and Nina was present with Amiya. Nina wore a long black dress which made her look very sexy and beautiful, while Amiya opted for a short maroon dress and a scarf around her neck. They didn't know anyone around there.
There was a slow music and a buffet consisting of varieties of food. The whole house was decorated and a big picture of Cullen was hanging on a wall for people to pay their respects. Lucy was all over the place inviting people inside and directing them to the drawing room.
"I don't know anybody here" Said Amiya.
"Me neither. I think they must be distant relatives of Cullen"
"You think they are all werewolves?"
"It'll be a mistake not to assume so. You may never know who broke the curse and who hasn't yet. In fact we need a new werewolf"
"What happened to the pack?"
"You weren't informed?" Asked Nina sipping a glass of martini.
"No"
"They are all dead. All eleven of them, and whoever killed them. Took out their serums"
"All of them? That's impossible!"
Nina was taken by a hot man who was looking at her from a distance. He was a bit older than her, maybe in his late twenties and he had such strong muscles. Nina was sure that he was a werewolf.
"Nina" Amiya called out after seeing how distracted she was.
"What?"
"Did you hear what I just said?"
"What did you say?"
"Never mind...I'm starving. I need to eat"
"Okay, I'll meet you there"
Amiya took off and Nina remained alone. The man that was eyeing her from a distance came close to her. He was blushing.
"Hey"
"Hey..."
"I...I'm Noah!" He said and extended his arm for a handshake. Nina took it and while shaking him, he noticed how weak he was as he was still human.
"Nina. Nina Miller"
"You from around here"
"You can say that"
"Oh well I came over for my nephew's funeral. Such a short life he lived"
"Yeah, unexpected. You and his father were related?"
"Yes. He was my big brother, I'm kinda the last one in the family..." He said and chuckled softly.
"Do you wanna get out of here?" Nina asked and he was shocked by that. He didn't expect it and he suddenly replied "Yeah! Yeah let's go..."
He took Nina's glass and his then placed them on a table and off they walked away into the woods. Amiya saw them going out and she just sighed, after all she had enough problems on her plate.
But then the air felt different, it was as if someone like her had walked in, a witch. And she had visions which were blurry and not clear. "What's happening?" She asked herself.
"Hello Miya" Her granny said but she was in a whole different body. A body of a young woman. Amiya didn't notice her at all.
"Who are you? And how do you know me?"
"We all know each other sister, calm down"
"You are also a witch?" Amiya asked nervously looking around.
"Come on, don't be shy of saying it out loud. We are proud creatures"
"What do you want?"
"I have something that you need. Follow me"
"What is it? I can't just leave, my friend is here with me"
"I am not seeing anyone with you. Seems like they have deserted you. Perhaps you should stop hanging out with vampires and more to your kind"
Gladys started to walk away, in a way that leads to outside and Amiya was left with no choice. She followed her.
"Amiya! Leaving so soon...?" Lucy asked after seeing how hurry she was.
"Mrs Jeremiah! I..."
"Lucy. Just Lucy, ever since my husband died I don't use the Mrs anymore"
"Oh! I have got an urgent call and have to retire early"
"Without your friend?" Lucy asked with curiosity.
"I've already said my goodbyes to her"
"I see, I was actually told that Cullen was with you before his sudden death"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Well he was our friend Lucy. But we found out just like how you did. It shocked us all..."
"I see. Goodnight then"
"Goodnight"
Amiya raced outside trying to find the witch who she just had a conversation with. But it was as clear and as it was cold, she was all alone and it was like the woman had magically disappeared. She called out "Where are you?" and her voice echoed.
Then suddenly she was grabbed and put to sleep by a magic herb that was inside a handkerchief. She fell into a deep slumber. Gladys looked down at her and three male witches came out of the woods and carried Amiya away.