Damon left his sister's room and ran away. He needed to pretend that he didn't do anything. He needed to show that Veronica wasn't involved in anything. At least for now, he had stopped her from attacking another village.
Five minutes after he left, Elaine, the third princess along with royal guards came to the du Lac mansion. She didn't barge in and just waited for Veronica to come out.
As if nothing happened, Damon's sister came out and greeted Elaine. "Happy birthday. I didn't know you'd come when it's an important celebration for you." Veronica mentioned while walking to her younger sister.
"It's because I'm celebrating something important that I've come to you. You didn't even attend my party." The third princess hugged her half-sister and kissed her cheek. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, of course. I'm spending time with my lover. I couldn't ask anything for more." She led Elaine inside the mansion and brought her to the recreation room where she used to receive guests.
"Didn't your brother come home?" the princess asked as if she didn't cause the problem. "I wanted to talk to him about something but someone told me he went home."
"You mean Damon? He didn't come home, though. I didn't notice his presence." Veronica replied with outright lie. "Let me check again." She used her magic to check the surroundings but couldn't find Damon anywhere anymore. "He's not home. Why would he come back in the middle of the party? Did something happen?"
Elaine watched Veronica's expression but she gave nothing away. She looked calm and unaware of the fact that her identity was exposed. She seemed oblivious in front of the third princess.
"It's okay. I can just talk to him later." Elaine retorted with a faint smile on her face. "It won't really matter if I'm joining the party or not so, can I sleep over here with you?"
"I don't think it's possible."
"Why not?"
"Because my bed isn't really big. There's no doubt we could fit but I am not sure if we would be able to sleep comfortably."
"I don't really care if it's big or small. I just want to spend time with you."
Veronica sighed helplessly and gave in to her sister. When she wasn't looking at her, Elaine gave a signal to one of the royal guards and he immediately transformed to a bat. He disappeared from their sight and went out to survey the whole mansion.
Seeing that he couldn't really refuse her, Veronica nodded her head. "Let's go and take a shower first."
"Yay! I'm happy. Thank you so much." Elaine hugged her sister tightly, hoping she could choke her to death this instantly while keeping a smile on her lips. "I'm glad I could be with you." She added, still keeping her act together.
Damon was nowhere in sight no matter how much the royal guard tried to look for him. There were traces of his energy everywhere he goes but it was because he lived in this mansion all his life.
The royal guard used his spiritual power and sent messages to Elaine. Damon couldn't be found so, she believed Veronica that the man has not come home from the party.
Now, all she needed to find were those book of spells and the forbidden ritual as well as evidence of what she has been doing.
Elaine followed Veronica to her room and when the double door swung open, her eyes lit up in ecstacy but she was soon met with disappointment.
Veronica's room was very neat and it was actually large compared to how she described it. There was a vanity mirror, three floor-to-ceiling closets, full body mirror, study table and a tea table where she could have some refreshments.
There was a huge bookshelf as well but the books there were all written by humans. There wasn't a single book of spell.
Three days later, Serina could no longer focus on her studies. She had been wanting to talk with him since the time he threw those books inside her room. She read those books and found they were book of spells. She even learned a lot using them and with the help of Elder Alina as well.
Now, she even knew how vampires suck out energy from a human who bears a strong spirit within them.
However, Damon had been silent since then. He didn't even try reaching her through their mind link. She was already starting to worry but later on dispersed the idea because Damon was actually strong.
"Wnat'a wrong? You have been sighing since our last break." Lambert questioned when be noticed Serina's downcast eyes. "Shall I call Nicholas?"
"What for?"
"To cheer you up."
Serina grinned at him and nodded her head. She'd rather speak with Nicholas instead of being occupied with some nonsense.
Lambert pulled out his phone while giving Serina an incredulous and unbelieving look. He couldn't just believed she'd be depending so much on Nicholas when it comes to emotional worries. It hasn't been long since she refused talking to him.
Last time, Nicholas was the reason of all her worries. This time, Nicholas became her emotional therapy.
Three minutes later, Serina received a call from Nicholas. "Hey babe, what's the matter? I just got out of the shower when I received Lambert's message. Is there something wrong?" Serina blinked her eyes and check the name on the phone screen once again. It was indeed Nicholas calling her but he used an endearment which he didn't usually do and that makes her hear beat in frantic. She felt so happy being called babe. "Rina, sweetie, what's the matter? Why aren't you speaking?"
'Sweetie? Babe? Where the hell did he left bis brain today? Is he doing this on purpose?'
"Rina?"
"Ah? Yes?"
"Oh! I was worried because you weren't speaking. Are you alright?"
"Better than good. I'm so glad you called..Are you planning to go somewhere?"
"Why'd you ask?"
Serina swallowed hard and pretended nonchalant when she wanted to see him so badly. "I just thought that we haven't been spending time together these past few days."
Nicholas' jaw dropped and even the towel hanging loosely around his waist has slipped off of his body. He was really stunned to know what she was thinking.
"I thought you are busy."
"We will have our second quarter exam next week. After that, I will be free. Do you want to go home with me?"
"Of course. I'd love to."
"Then, let's go and visit your forest as well. I want to see the cubs and play with them as well."
Nicholas was overjoyed with this offer. He couldn't believe that she'd be the one to suggest such thing. And there's no way she'd refuse such beautiful offer.
"How about we get some dinner together tonight?" Nicholas asked, hoping she'd agreed but Serina refused.
"I'd have to study or someone will snatch my place. I want to get better grades. So, just wait until the exam is over and I will spend my days off with you."
"Promise?"
"Hn..I promise." Serina confirmed with firm conviction. "I won't break my promise with you."
"I know and I love that side of you."
The two talked about trivial stuff while Lambert continued to study, ignoring the sugar-dripping words coming out of Serina's mouth. Their conversation completely dispelled her worries about Damon and she finally moved.
Unbeknownst to Serina, Damon was hiding in the least possible place where people could find him - Corrine's room. After he fled from the du Lac mansion, he bumped into Corrine who went out to buy groceries. It was also a coincidence that Natalya wasn't around because she left to meet with her master in Carcassonne
"Did you drink the soup I made?" Damon asked while watching Corrine work. "It's good for you since you are still recuperating."
"How exactly did you get my voice?" she asked in a whisper, looking straight to Damon's eyes and his gaze slightly changed to an emptiness. Before she could get his answer, he returned back to his senses.
"I found clues here and there and with the help of Serina, I was able to finally find the right person."
"Did that person hand you my voice or did you fight with him?" she asked him, wanting to know the truth using the spell of compulsion but she had no idea that this spell wouldn't work on him.
"I didn't fight with the person. We just talked and I told her the reason why I needed to get your voice."
"Her?"
"Yes. She's someone from the royal family." This time, Damon partly said the truth because Veronica actually came from the royal family. His answer left a bitter taste on his lips and his calm expression turned a little gloomy. "Anyway, I've done my best to help you so, make sure that you won't tell anyone of my existence here."
"In the first place, it was a vampire who took my voice away and killed a lot of people. Just because you are good to me, it would mean I wouldn't hate your kind anymore.. To me, your existence itself is abhorrent."