Rose

The buzz around school about a true witch taking over the Council of Magics had everyone in an uproar, but I wasn't going to let my mother do this her way. In the middle of the cafeteria, I began glowing, making everyone's trays float. Romeo saw and walked over to me, stopping me as people noticed.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Showing my mother I'm not afraid of her," I said, snatching away from him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking genuinely worried.

"Roselind." Principal Moss sounded annoyed as he called my name. Richard walked in and looked as if he wanted to say something to me, but I pushed past him.

I went into the office and sat down, my mind on fire with the decision I had just made.

"Displaying your magical abilities was not a smart move. How long have you had these abilities?" Principal Moss asked.

"My entire life. The Council needs me," I proclaimed.

"That may be true, but if you haven't heard, the council is under attack," he said.

"That's why they need me," I insisted.

"I will have a member reach out to you, but for now, there is nothing you can do," he said, effectively placing me on the bench before I could even prove how useful I was.

I got up and left the room. Romeo stood outside the door, grabbing me as I walked out.

"Don't touch me," I said, my eyes glowing a hue of purple.

"I'm sorry," he said, not trying to deny what had transpired.

"For what? I'm just some girl. Juliet is the love of your life, right?" I asked, bitterness seeping into my voice.

"You are way more than that. I think you know that," he said.

Richard walked into the conversation. "I know nothing. Richard, can you give me a ride?" I looked past Romeo.

"Of course," he said.

"You couldn't have Juliet, so you go for her," Romeo suggested as I walked out the door.

"I warned you what would happen if you pursued her. I don't want Rose," Richard assured him.

"Protect her," Romeo requested, and Richard agreed with a nod.

Richard

As I drove Rose away from the school, the tension in the car was palpable. "Are you okay?" I asked, glancing over at her.

"No. I'm not okay, Richard. Everything is falling apart," she said, her voice trembling with frustration and fear.

"We'll figure this out," I said, trying to sound reassuring. "You're not alone in this."

"I know, but it feels like it," she admitted, staring out the window. "I trusted him, and he's been with her this whole time."

"Juliet has a way of manipulating people. It's not Romeo's fault entirely," I said, trying to defend my brother while also feeling her pain.

"I don't know what to do," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"We'll find a way to stop her. Together," I said, my voice filled with determination.

We went to the warehouse, and Rose let go with her magic. Her powers had grown so much in the past few days. The more she used them, the more they grew. I walked outside with a heavy heart.

"Why haven't you told her?" Juliet appeared. I didn't flinch at her sight.

"She's not going to lose," I said, and Juliet laughed.

"Tell my daughter her life means I will be at full power again. Tell her that if she sacrifices herself, I will be able to make my creatures again and give life to those who want it," she said in a cult leader voice.

"You will never make monsters again," I proclaimed.

"If you bring her to me, I will show you favor," she said.

"I will never bring her to you. You're so powerful, get her yourself," I said, and she smiled and disappeared. I needed to tell Rose the truth. She's been lied to enough.

"Rose." I walked back into the warehouse. "I need to tell you something."

She looked at me, and she looked so angry.

"Juliet wants you dead," I said, and she didn't look shocked.

"I know. I saw it when I read your thoughts," she said.

"I wanted to tell you. I have no loyalties to Juliet..." I began to rant, and she smiled.

"I know. In some strange way, you're the only person who I can trust," she said, and my heart fell to the floor. No one had ever trusted me.

"I know what you feel for me is something you have never felt before, and it means so much to me." She hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Thank you." She smiled, and my heart jumped.

Nubi walked in, breaking up whatever connection we were making. She went to her, leaving me feeling things I had never felt before. I went home and got in the shower. My thoughts were consumed with Rose.

"I'm not in love with her," I muttered, hitting the wall and leaving a hole there. I could feel her touch again as if she were standing in the shower with me. "You are in love with me," I heard her and felt her. I began to please myself, hoping it would take the edge off. Her face was imprinted on the back of my eyelids as I climaxed.

Meanwhile

Dexter sat at the bar, processing the past week. Seeing his wife, who he thought was dead, had taken a bigger toll on him than he cared to admit. Ophelia walked in and sat beside him. He looked so lost to her.

"Hey," she attempted to break the ice.

"Hey," he replied, his voice cold and distant.

"So, you're one of those guys," she said, offended.

"What does that mean?" he asked, his tone sharper.

"We have sex, and now you act odd," she said.

"No. My wife... she's not... dead. I thought she was, but she came back and... now she's ignoring me. I don't know what she wants, but it's clear it's not me," he said, taking a shot.

"I'm sorry," Ophelia said, grabbing his hand.

"I want to forget her. You can make that happen, right?" he asked, surprising Ophelia that he knew.

"You know what I am?" she asked, looking around to see if anyone else knew.

"Relax. I figured it out. No one else knows. But you can make me forget, right?" he asked.

"My blood can make you forget the pain but not the event," she said.

"I want that," he said, beginning to tear up.

She grabbed his hand and took him to the bathroom. She locked the stall and caressed his face. They began kissing. She bit her wrist and gave him a taste of her blood. He went against everything he believed in as he drank her blood, giving in to what he always thought was his enemy. He was high on Ophelia, and Ophelia's feelings were much deeper than either of them knew.

Romeo

I don't understand my feelings. On one hand, Rose is the complete opposite of Juliet and that makes her the very thing I want, but on the other, Juliet is the woman I dreamed about for 1,000 years as I slept. Demetrius walked into the room as I sat in the dark.

"There you are," he said. "Nubi and I are going to the creek for the bonfire. You should join us."

"No. I can't be out," I said.

"Rose will be there," he sweetened the pot, but I can't believe she would want to see me.

"Fine, I will go." I heard Richard at the door, and the tension in the room was thick.

"So..." I said, and he looked at me. "She doesn't want me. She wants you. Just leave Juliet alone, brother." He patted me on the back, encouraging me.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'm working through my feelings. I have no idea what this is." I believed him. Richard doesn't understand love, and that's probably the thing that will always block him.

"Fine. Let's go," I said with newfound hope.

Rose

"No, no. You can't be serious," Nubi freaked out. I knew I should have kept it to myself, but she's my best friend.

"Calm down," I said.

"No, I am not calming down. You just told me you have feelings for Richard. One of the most selfish people we know from history," she said.

"He's not like that, and he's the only one who hasn't lied to me," I said.

"Talk to Romeo one more time before you make this decision," she said.

"Really, Nubi. Romeo?" I said.

"I know he messed up, but anything is better than Richard," she said.

"You don't know him," I said.

"Neither do you," she said as she began applying my makeup. My feelings were clear, but I don't know if his feelings are to protect me or if it's something deeper, but I want to know.

Council of Magics

Juliet stood in the center of the Council's chamber, surrounded by fortune tellers. The air was thick with tension as she demanded answers.

"Tell me, what do you see?" Juliet commanded, her voice cold and sharp.

One by one, the fortune tellers stepped forward, their eyes clouded with visions of the future.

"Rose's power is unlike anything we've seen. She is destined to be more powerful than you, Juliet," one seer said, trembling.

"What?" Juliet hissed, her jealousy flaring.

Another fortune teller spoke, "Her abilities grow with each passing day. She has the potential to surpass all of us."

Juliet's eyes darkened with anger. "You mean to tell me that a mere girl can outshine me?"

"She is not just any girl. She is your daughter, and her power is her birthright," the third fortune teller said, her voice steady.

Juliet clenched her fists, her mind racing with jealousy and rage. "This cannot be. I am the most powerful being here!"

The fourth fortune teller, an elder with deep-set eyes, stepped forward. "Power is not just about strength, Juliet. It is also about heart and purpose. Rose's heart is pure, and her purpose is clear. She will be a force to reckon with."

Juliet's jealousy boiled over. "I will not let her surpass me. She may have power, but she lacks experience and control. I will find a way to strip her of her power and take what is rightfully mine."

The fortune tellers exchanged worried glances, knowing that Juliet's jealousy could lead to catastrophic consequences.

As Juliet stormed out of the chamber, she vowed to find a way to eliminate the threat Rose posed. Her jealousy had transformed into a dangerous obsession, one that could change the balance of power forever.

Richard

We pulled up to the bonfire, and I went straight to the keg stand. I can't get through this night with my brother getting the girl again, so I watch from a distance.

"Richard," Rose called out to me.

"Romeo is over there," I said, walking past her like a jerk and leaving her to her thoughts as I found my next drink.

Rose

As Richard walked away, Romeo approached me. "I'm so sorry," he said.

"You have no reason to be. We were never together. Make your own decisions," I said.

"I want to change us not being together if you will have me," he said, his eyes pleading.

"No," I said bluntly. "It didn't work because it wasn't meant to be."

"Is it someone else?" he asked, looking for an explanation.

"Yes," I said without hesitation.

"Who?" he asked, and I paused.

"Is it Richard?" he asked, and I didn't answer as the bonfire grew quiet with whispers. Juliet appeared through the crowd. I walked past Romeo and stood my ground as Richard, Nubi, and Demetrius stood behind me.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"I have had so many tell me how powerful you are, and it got me thinking... What if you had no powers?" Juliet blew dust in my face. Richard's speed was undeniable as he stood between Juliet and me and struck her. She got up with laughter as I coughed.

"Get her out of here," I heard Richard say.

"No." Demetrius picked me up and took me away. We went to the warehouse where I had a protection spell. I tried my powers, but I couldn't use them. Richard and Romeo walked in. Richard looked wounded. I went to him to help.

"Why isn't he healing?" I asked.

"She must have poisoned him," Romeo stated with jealousy, walking away as I took Richard to lay down.

"Are you okay?" Richard asked, his voice weak.

"She took my powers," I said.

"She didn't take your powers. She bound them," Romeo clarified.

"How do we cure this?" I asked, desperation in my voice.

"We don't. He will die unless you have some powers we don't know of," Romeo said cruelly.

"He is not going to die," I said with tears as Richard lost consciousness.