VAMPWERGIC

Chapter 4

PAST
The distant neighing of horses pulling a carriage drew near, coming to an abrupt halt close to a guide holding a hurricane lamp.
The coach driver's eyes were widely dilated and it occurred to the guide that the driver had been compelled. He steadily approached the carriage's door, peering in at the faces of a grinning lady in a petticoat gown and a man in a black coat. The voice that spoke up to him was that of the man's and it was calm and soothing but his depth was cold even as he stared into those emerald-green eyes.
"Do tell kind Sir, we are headed to the Seer's lair." Olin explained. The guide looked thoughtful for sometime before motioning with his finger due North.
"Not too far from here, I will lead the way." The trip took hours of moving through noisy villages and quiet forest before they got to the large castle which looked like it had been hewn out of marble.
"The Druid's home," the guide spoke at once as Olin took a step out of the carriage with caution as though he were treading on enemy soil. The lady beside him spoke in a sweet voice, captivating the guide in an instant.
"Thank you." She said. Her golden locks of hair were sprawled in curls around her head.
They were ushered into the main hall where an aged man, in large robes tightened at the waist, welcomed them.
"Welcome, may we proceed into the inner chambers," he moved into a smaller room which had a stone altar. Olin's eyes strayed around before stopping at some shining stones which the old Druid presented to his Lady and then to him.

"What are these for?" Olin said examining the Lapis-lazuli stone which felt warm under neath his touch. The Druid gave him a startled look and said. "Olin Tragellas, the vampire asking about the Vampire stone; you should know better than anyone." He turned to the lady. "You do know what it is you hold, don't you Bekreana d'Avirnon?"
"

Of course, it is the Sapphire; the Moonstone." Her eyes flashed yellow as she clutched it possessively. Their young usher stepped into the chambers. He had watched his Master Gaius give the strange visitors the stones.
"Vernon, here take the Pearl stone," Vernon followed his Master's order while concealing his reluctance to go ahead with the ceremony; he would never do anything to do away with his Druid powers. " I will need a drop of blood from the three of you on the stones." He added presenting a short blade to Olin who sliced across his palm,  letting the blood trickle on the Lapis-lazuli stone before his skin healed instantly. Gaius watched Krea and Vernon do the same with theirs and then began reciting a spell in druidic tongue.

Leas eht sarua fo eseht larutanrepus serutaerc nihtiw eht senots secrof fo erutan evael meht latrom

The chamber doors blew open letting in the wind in full force. Gaius' pupils were a whitish glow as he chanted repeatedly. Olin and Krea let out a loud shout as they felt their aura being split from their bodies and entering the stones.

Defendo hex

Vernon muttered beneath his breath in between grunts, fighting mentally to conceal his own aura which tore relentlessly to get out. The stones flew out of their vessels' hands, levitating in mid air before flying straight into crevices in the stone walls and vanished.
Olin gasped, clutching at his throat as he struggled with the feeling of air entering his lungs. His eyes were itchy and the paleness of his skin had faded into a normal shade. Gaius presented a scythe to him after a few minutes of adjusting to being human. Olin gave him a questioning gaze.
"It is just a test," Gaius cajoled. The blade felt light in Olin's hand and a sharp pain went through his palm as he made a cut on it, even the metallic smell of fresh blood didn't bother him anymore. Gaius took a vial of vinegar and a piece of clothing which he offered Olin to nurse his cut. He then caught sight of Krea about  to use the blade on herself. "There would be no need for that Bekreana. The blade's hilt was dipped in a rare breed of aconite which would have had you paralyzed if you were still a Lycan."
Gaius looked in Vernon's direction, the young Druid acted as normal as was possible. They all moved towards the Castle's doors and a guard flung it open.
Olin took Krea's hand in his, saying a farewell to the former Druid while entering their carriage which galloped all the way out.
"You lied to them. You told them you were helping them get rid of their connection to the supernatural," Vernon questioned with a far away gaze, his young face looked its seventeens. Gaius' face turned into a scowl as he faced his young protege.
"And risk them refusing to go on with the ritual?" Gaius asked. "How could I tell them that the spell would not only expel their powers but also that of every Druid, Vampire or Lycan there is? Would they risk all that just to be together?"
Vernon looked his master in the face asking. "So what now?"
The Castle walls were quiet and only a few torches burned faintly. "I believe the war between the supernatural worlds have come to an end. I will be in my chambers resting and I suggest you do the same. We return back to the Druid village at first light." Gaius completed, taking his leave up the stairs inside the castle. Vernon listened silently hearing the door to his Master's chambers lock shut, taking off his cloak he opened his palms to gaze at the Pearl stone which he still had. He closed his eyes and opened them, their shine had a whitish glow.