"Sending the creature back to the forbidden side of the door is not an option anymore."

  Castiel frowned at the woman's words, "What do you mean, Avice?"

  Avice crossed her hands and explained, "This creature that has now attached to Roman, it will continue to look for a host to serve. If not Roman, then it will look for the next person. And the last thing we need is for someone else to misuse it. Not to mention, the creature has taken a liking towards the boy. You should just relax now that the war has ended and maybe see how to fix the damage in the buildings."

  "That is true," Donovan nodded in agreement.

  Roman looked away from the Elder vampires, and he noticed Julie sitting on the ground. He went to where she was and noticed her looking down.

  "Winters?"

  "Rome," whispered Julie, and she looked up at him. It was then that he noticed blood smeared on her lips.

  "Did you push too hard with your soul energy?" questioned Roman, and he sat next to her. "Let me take you to the infirmary," he suggested, but Julie shook her head.

  "I don't have the energy for that," whispered Julie, and she took support from Roman by letting the side of her body lean against him.

  "Your heartbeat is low. We need to get it fixed," said Roman, and Julie moved closer to him.

  "I am too tired and sleepy," replied Julie, her eyes closing.

  Avice, who noticed this, came to them, and Roman demanded, "Is she alright?" his eyebrows furrowed.

  "Let me see," replied Avice. After a few seconds, her eyes met Roman's eyes, who looked down at Julie. There was no heartbeat anymore.

  Back in the infirmary, the door burst open with Olivia standing at the door entrance, and her breath was heavy. Her eyes fell on Maximus, lying on the stretcher and not on the bed. Her throat went dry, and her eyes started to well up in tears.

  "Max," whispered Olivia, going to the spot and leaning forward to look at him. She slipped her hand into his cold hand, and she said in anger, "You idiot!"

  "In these times you are supposed to tell me I love you or kiss me to wake me up."

  Olivia's eyes widened, and she saw Maximus' eyes open and looked at her. She let out an exhale, and she shook her head. Unshed tears still in her eyes, she said, "Why are you sleeping on the stretcher and not on the bed?"

  Maximus stared at Olivia's blue eyes, a smile coming to his lips, "We have too many injured vampires, and they needed room. So I was put here to make room for others. I mean I am doing better than before," he said to her.

  "You scared me!" Olivia hit his arm.

  "Ouch! I am the patient here, treat me with care," replied Maximus, trying to push himself to sit upright, and Olivia helped him. "I am sorry for worrying you. It was thanks to your Elder that I am alive. Because I am sure I saw Hell for a moment before coming back to my senses."

  Olivia turned her head, searching for her Elder, and she saw the quiet man tending to another vampire student. As if sensing her gaze, he turned his eyes to her.

  "Thank you," said Olivia, her throat feeling as if it was caught up, and the Elder vampire gave her a slight nod.

  "If you are here, I am guessing that the fight is over?" asked Maximus, and Olivia nodded.

  "Yes, everything is over and Joaquin and his brothers are dead. They are scouting for any possible vampire if there's one hiding," replied Olivia, and Maximus sighed.

  "I am glad to hear that. Also to know that you are safe," replied Maximus, bringing his hand to place it on Olivia's face, and he caressed it.

  Olivia leaned into his touch, and she closed her eyes. Relieved that he was alive. She put her arms around him and hugged her.

  Maximus smiled, embracing her, "I am fine now, Liv. Don't be worried."

  Olivia muttered something in the crook of Maximus' neck, and it sounded like 'shut up and don't move.'

  Back in the centre of the Veteris building, while most had scattered to heal their wounds or help the others in fixing up the mess that had taken place, Julie laid unmoving in Roman's arms.

  "She's not dead, right?" demanded Roman, his voice hard.

  Avice pursed her lips and said, "It is hard to say." She touched the girl's pulse and held her hand as if trying to read something. "I am not able to trace her. It looks like her soul energy has left her body."

  "Put the soul energy back into her," replied Donovan, walking towards them.

  "Soul energy isn't some battery that you put back and it will work fine," replied Avice, and she said, "Her body isn't meant to die, but I don't know why her heart stopped."

  A subtle frown appeared on Cillian's forehead, and he asked, "Is she going to turn like me?"

  "I don't care how she turns out to be," responded Roman, and he didn't like the fact that Julie's body was growing colder. "Bring her back, Avice……" he pleaded to the woman. He didn't want to lose Julie and wanted to stay next to her.

  "Let me see what I can do," replied Avice, and they placed Julie's body on the ground. When the woman placed her hand on the ground, a sudden marking appeared on the ground, which had symbols written all around and inside it.

  She closed her eyes, trying to track Julie's soul, but for some reason, she wasn't able to reach it.

  The woman couldn't help but wonder where the girl's soul was, and she hoped it wasn't behind the forbidden door or had turned into a raven.