Crime and Punishment

Part 7

Cerulli feels like his mind is on fire.

He sits at the small island counter with you, gazing down into the book of dark spells as he reads through them. He is so tired of looking at this chicken scratch some would call handwriting, trying to decipher the words and find any meaning to them. You look bored, your chin propped on your hand as you lazily turn the pages. 

It's been four days and you still haven't found the curse that your mother placed on your father, but it has to be in here! This is the only book of dark magic you knew she kept, but of course it's possible she had others, or maybe someone gave her the curse instead?

It's just, it can't be a coincidence it looks so similar to what's happening now!

"We're never going to find it," you groan, finally giving up as you lean back on your stool. "This is taking too long!"

"Well, it is a thick book," Cerulli comments, flipping to the next page. The fact this is the fourth night he's had to spend in your house with your gloomy ghost glowering at him from her not so hidden perch inside the china cabinet is very depressing to him. He has matters of state to attend to, and yet here he is, pouring through some dusty old book of nonsense! He's had to order Angelo to take over, despite he's overseas, and this is just very detrimental!

Vinny is skulking in the living area, looking through other handwritten files of your mothers, which Cerulli knows Claudette has already gone through multiple times while the rest of you are sleeping. You look quite exhausted, you're not even bothering to hide the circles beneath your eyes, or the fact your hair could use a good washing. Whereas at least he sleeps during the sunlit hours, you insist on reading and scouring these old tomes.

You're determined, to your detriment.

"Claudette," he glances up, seeing the look of surprise on the ghosts face before she begrudgingly floats forward, black tendrils of hair brushing against her pale cheeks, "why don't you brew (Y/N) some tea?"

"I don't want tea." you mutter, but Claudette inclines her head anyway. Yes, you look so exhausted, you could use a refreshment! She immediately bustles towards the tea kettle, turning on the stove and busying herself about the room. She likes the kitchen, it's her area and keeps her busy, and she almost feels like Cerulli is invading in her personal space. She wishes he would just go home, but perhaps with him here things will move faster.

It helps there's some vampires milling about the yard, added protection does make her feel more secure where you're concerned. 

"How did your father receive the curse, do you know?" Cerulli asks, ignoring the banging the ghost is making to be obnoxious. Your eyes flick to him before away, and you shrug your shoulder.

"Beats me. He was fine one moment, and he just keeled over the next. I'm assuming it was just a spontaneous, very centered curse. This one is... different, altered. It spreads through contact, through cuts, and the speed of which it does seems to vary with everyone. I wish we had someone who was infected I could study," you sigh, your eyes threatening to close on their own accord. 

Cerulli reaches over, tugging boldly on your braid and causing you to cut your eyes at him. "When was the last time you slept?"

You're not sure, you've been running off those five hour energy shots and donuts. At this point, you're surprised you're not hearing colors and seeing sounds. "What is that again?"

The vampire rolls his eyes, tugging again on your braid. "You need rest. I can finish looking through this book."

"No, don't be ridiculous. It's my fault this is happening," you mumble, pulling away from his annoying touch. You've been mulling over this for days, and you're torn between feeling so guilty about it you could cry and wanting to punch drywall like a white boy named Kyle.