It was obvious his friend didn’t know what to think of his announcement.
“That’s normal, to eventually go back to your roots, the land where you were born. I think it can happen on several occasions in one lifetime.”
“I intended to go back, not for a visit, but to die.”
Finn could clearly see how this revelation didn’t sit well with Soren. “To die? Just like that? After all those centuries, despite our friendship or the fact that you found your other half in Violet?” With each word, his tone increased with his anger.
“Soren, listen. Nothing was decided despite you or Violet. With each century that passed, I fought against the despair invading my heart until it drowned every ounce of purpose, or desire to see another century. It’s the curse of the old vampire. At some point, eternal life becomes unbearable. How could I tell you that? It’s not merely the desire to die but being incapable of remaining empty any longer.
“When Violet told me that her time on this earth would probably come to a close with that curse over her head, I told her I would remain with her until the end. Our end. But now, if her powers have integrated the way I suspect they have, she may live.”
“And that’s bad? Is there a chance the curse could be lifted?”
Finn sighed. “For that, we would need to know who did it and for what purpose. Who would have cursed her like that?”
Soren leaned back in intense reflection. “What happened to Violet, it can’t have been done by chance. We’re talking ancient knowledge here and with a defined purpose. Those two human idiots who took her, one said the other set her free because he thought the spell had failed. If that were the case, whoever contracted them to perform the rituals, this Jove, would’ve asked them to find another human and start again, not kill them.
“That means Jove was pissed at losing Violet. And if I were him, I would stay nearby, look for any opening in the shield around her to attack and take her to finish whatever it was I’d started.”
Finn couldn’t speak, so Soren continued. “What if that person knew, or strongly suspected what would happen? A witch has never….”
“It wasn’t about taking life but giving it back for good!” The words poured out of Finn in a rush.
“Someone who became a vampire wanted those powers. It’s only the damage of time that would turn their initial hunger to despair, so it must be someone who is old like you.”
Him. Finn circled that concept inside his mind. If Violet had been cursed with her new powers so she could give back life, wouldn’t a vampire be tempted to get his desire to live back? To return as a human to end his days. It was partly why he’d rushed out, the risk of having hope flare and being disappointed in the end.
“Who would be as desperate as you are?”
“It would have to be a vampire older than I am or at least as old.”
“Do you know any? How about the Queen Vampire at the High Council?”
“She’s not as old as I am and became a vampire after me. Around five hundred years later. Did she seem willing to step down from the council, or appear withdrawn the last time you saw her?”
Soren shook his head. “Definitely not. The lady thrives on power.”
“So, she’s not the one.”
“What about your maker?”
“Romus? He’s probably been dead for a couple of centuries now.”
“But we discussed him ages ago. Wasn’t he the one who suggested reverting back to human form?”
“Yes, but it was more of a philosophical debate than a real one. He thought it might be possible, but never described or suggested a way of accomplishing such a thing.”
“The passing centuries would’ve given him plenty of time to research his theory and maybe come up with a solution. As a child of his, wouldn’t you know if he was still alive?”
“Since we parted ways, our bond thinned, making it difficult to connect with each other until it eventually broke. Unless I was close when he died, I wouldn’t have felt it.”
“If Romus is no longer, didn’t he have friends from that era?”
“Back then I didn’t follow him everywhere, and when he turned me, he kept to himself. Even years after we parted, I didn’t hear of any particular attachments apart from the one he had with me.”
“Any way to find him?”
Finn knew of a few ways. Romus’ blood flowed through his own. “I’ve heard of some spells that could work, but I’m not fluent in them. This is more notions found in a necromancer.”
“Or very skillful witches. I’m sure when they forgive you for abandoning Violet, and you explain everything, they will find a way.”
Forgive was the operative word.
“And if Romus is as dead as I think he is? Then what?”
Soren stood and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Then, another path will appear. I think finding out if Romus is alive or dead is our best avenue, especially since I don’t know how long Violet will be able to sustain that much power inside her.”
His entire body reacted at hearing out loud what he feared deep in his bones.
“Think, Finn. You’ve been around longer than me. Nobody, no creature can hold the power of two. It’s like a jar. You have enough to contain one portion, but add the second, it will overflow, and in the case of a living being, we can only guess the consequences.”
Despite the surge of fear and protectiveness for his beloved, Finn kept a cool head. A lot of things needed to be addressed and clarified, but first, he would have to make amends. Big ones.
Chapter 23
She wouldn’t cry. Dammit, she wouldn’t. Violet vowed it to herself but found it difficult to hold on to her
