Romeo

As I got up to begin my day, I heard my father on the phone, attempting to whisper. Whispering in a house of vampires was pointless.

"A true witch?" he questioned. I walked into the hall as he hung up the phone.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"The Council of Magics' fortune teller has foreseen a True Witch is active and near," he said.

"Do you think it's Juliet?" I asked, my emotions in a whirlwind.

"No, she hasn't been seen since we went to sleep. I doubt she's alive," he tried to ease my mind.

"We don't know who all woke up when we did. It could be her," I implored.

"You're right. Keep your eyes open and watch your back," he patted me on the back, concern evident on his face.

I got to school, and all I could see was Juliet's face. She had brown hair with purple streaks, hazel eyes, and tiny lips. She was beautiful, and as much as I hated her, I felt a hint of something else. Just as I snapped out of my daze, I saw Rose walking to her locker. It was like a scene from a movie: one minute I saw Juliet, and the next it was Rose. I would be a fool if I didn't mark their similarities, but Rose's personality often blinded me from the looks.

"Rose," I called out, but she didn't stop. So I followed her. She went into the auditorium. I didn't see her right away. As I turned to go to the door, she was standing there with a smile. As she got closer, she transformed into Juliet again.

"Juliet?" I questioned, my heart racing.

"Hello, lover." She smiled deviously.

"No, it's a dream," I said, trying to convince myself.

"Now why would you be dreaming of me?" She smiled and walked closer to me. I was in denial, but as she touched my face, I knew she was real.

"Why are you here?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.

"I came back for you," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

"The lies that pass through those lips should be a crime," I said. She smiled before walking slowly up to me and kissing me. I admit I didn't pull away as I should. A part of me wanted her to do it, and the other part wanted her gone. I pulled away.

"How long do you think you can keep your family safe with me around? Not to mention your weak little plaything," she said.

"If you touch her..." I threatened, but she kissed me before the words could come out.

"This is going to be fun," she said before snapping her fingers and disappearing, leaving me in the empty auditorium with my thoughts in turmoil.

My first thought was to tell Rose and be honest because I didn't want to hurt her. Instead, I rounded up Demetrius and Richard and told them everything.

"You let her kiss you?" Richard seemed off-task as usual.

"That's not important. How are we going to protect everyone from her? If she is here, then doom is surely on the horizon," Demetrius began freaking out, his usual calm demeanor shattered.

"We need a witch," Richard whispered.

"What? There hasn't been a witch in forever," I stated, confusion and disbelief in my voice.

"Not yet," Richard whispered again before walking out, leaving me with more questions than answers.

"Talk to Ophelia and let her know we are in danger. I am going to have to figure out what lie I can tell Rose to keep her safe," I said, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

"Or you could tell her the truth," Demetrius suggested before walking away, his words lingering in the air.

If I tell her the truth, she would sense how much I still craved Juliet, and I couldn't hurt her even if I wanted to. The thought of Rose knowing the depth of my complicated feelings for Juliet was too much to bear.

I found Rose in the courtyard, the same place we had talked earlier. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden light over everything. She looked up as I approached, a smile spreading across her face.

"Hey, you," she greeted me, her eyes shining with affection.

"Hey, Rose," I said, my heart aching with the knowledge of what I had to do. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Is everything okay?" she asked, her smile fading slightly.

"Yeah, it's just... things are a bit complicated right now," I began, choosing my words carefully. "There's someone from my past who's causing trouble. I need you to stay away from her."

"Juliet?" she guessed, her intuition sharp as ever.

"Yes," I admitted. "She's dangerous, Rose. I don't want you anywhere near her."

"What aren't you telling me, Romeo?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for answers.

I took a deep breath, the lie forming on my lips. "She's here to cause chaos. She doesn't care about anyone but herself. I'm afraid of what she might do."

Rose looked at me, her eyes filled with trust and concern. "I'll be careful, I promise. But please, if there's more to this, tell me."

"I will," I lied, hating myself for it. "Just stay safe, okay?"

"I will," she said, giving me a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this together."

After leaving Rose, I met up with Demetrius and Richard again. The moon was high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the school grounds.

"Did you talk to Ophelia?" I asked Demetrius.

"Yes, she knows we're in danger," he replied. "And she's right. You should tell Rose the truth."

"I can't," I said, shaking my head. "She can't know how much I still crave Juliet. It would hurt her too much."

"You're playing a dangerous game, Romeo," Demetrius warned.

"I know," I sighed. "But I'll do whatever it takes to protect her."

Richard returned, a determined look on his face. "I have a lead on finding a witch. It's a long shot, but it might be our only hope."

"Then we follow that lead," I said. "We need every advantage we can get."

As we stood there under the moonlight, I felt a sense of resolve wash over me. Juliet's return had thrown everything into chaos, but we would face it head-on. Together, we would find a way to protect our family and those we cared about. The fight was just beginning, and I was ready to do whatever it took to win.

Richard

We had been in search of the true witch for two weeks. Romeo hasn't been as serious as he should be. His arm wrapped around Rose as if his heart wasn't torn made me mad, but I shouldn't care. But I do. Rose was genuinely nice to me. She doesn't deserve someone who can't leave his past in the past. Juliet was like a drug—if you got a dose of her, you were intoxicated for life. Luckily for me, I was able to break free of her first. Romeo claims he's done, but I'm not so sure.

At lunch, I saw Rose sitting alone and approached her. "Where's my idiot brother?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." She looked away as if there were more to be said. "He's been distant lately," she admitted, and I looked at how vulnerable she was.

"Juliet is a huge pill to swallow. I'm sure he told you all the things she did to us. It's not easy letting a love like that go," I explained.

"He claims to hate her," she said.

"You know the saying: it's a thin line between love and hate. I will talk to my brother and see where his head is at," I said.

"And you are doing this out of the kindness of your undead heart?" she joked.

"I like you better when you are smiling and not down," I admitted, and she looked at me with seriousness. This girl's heart was deep, and Romeo was missing a true chance here. She touched my hand, and I felt my heart beat. Literally beat.

"Thank you," she said before letting my hand go, and the beat stopped. How the hell did she do that?

I found Romeo in the auditorium. He was deeply engaged with the enemy of enemies. "Brother, get up," I commanded. Juliet smiled at me as she broke the kiss from Romeo.

"Wow, Richard, I had no idea you still looked so good," she joked as she buttoned her shirt and snapped her fingers to leave.

"What are you doing?" I asked, anger boiling over.

"Keeping her under control until we have a plan," he said.

"Are you sure you're thinking straight? What if Rose had seen?" I asked, concerned.

"Worry about your girl, and I'll worry about mine," he pushed past me.

I grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Listen, Romeo, you can't keep doing this. Juliet is dangerous, and you're putting everyone at risk. Especially Rose."

He wrenched his arm free. "I know what I'm doing, Richard."

"No, you don't. You're blinded by her. Just like before," I said, my voice filled with frustration. "Rose deserves better than this. She deserves someone who's fully present, not torn between two worlds."

Romeo's face hardened. "I'm handling it."

"Are you? Because it looks like Juliet's handling you," I shot back.

He glared at me, his eyes flashing with anger. "Stay out of it, Richard. This is my problem."

"Your problem is becoming everyone's problem," I said, stepping closer. "Juliet is a threat to all of us. And Rose—she's special. More than you know."

Romeo's expression softened slightly, confusion creeping in. "What do you mean?"

I hesitated, thinking of the heartbeat I felt when Rose touched me. "Just... don't lose her, Romeo. She's more important than you realize."

He stared at me for a moment before turning away, his mind clearly troubled. "I'll figure it out," he muttered, walking out of the auditorium.

As I watched him go, a sense of foreboding settled over me. Juliet's return was a disaster waiting to happen, and I feared we were all on the brink of something catastrophic. But amidst the chaos, Rose was a beacon of hope—one I intended to protect, no matter the cost.

Rose

I walked into the house, and it seemed so still and quiet. A sense of danger arose in the pit of my stomach, and my eyes went on the defensive, glowing a purple hue as I passed a mirror. My eyes never glowed before, but I didn't know the full extent of my powers yet. I walked into the kitchen and saw my grandmother sitting at the table across from someone who looked so familiar.

"Mom?" I asked, but she didn't look like my mom. She looked so much younger, almost my age.

"Hey, Rosebug. Sit down, let me explain," she said, reminding me of a name I almost forgot. I sat down, and an awkward silence enveloped us. She's not dead, but something isn't right here.

"What's going on?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

"I've been given another chance, a rebirth of sorts," she began, her voice gentle but firm. "I've come back to help you, to guide you through the powers you're beginning to discover."

"Rebirth? Powers? This doesn't make any sense," I said, feeling overwhelmed.

"Rose, you have abilities that are rare and powerful. The purple glow in your eyes is just the beginning," my grandmother interjected. "We need to understand what's happening and prepare for what's coming."

"Prepare for what?" I asked, fear creeping into my voice.

"For the dangers that lie ahead. There are forces at play that we need to be ready for," my mother explained, her expression serious.

As I sat there, processing their words, I realized that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't have imagined. The return of my mother and the awakening of my powers were just the beginning.

Ophelia

I went to the bar every day hoping to see Dexter Harper. He was sweet and kind. "Hey, Dexter, the usual?" I heard the bartender break my thoughts. Dexter sat right beside me, and a comfortable silence of smiles began. We started talking, and it was like we were old friends.

"Come on, let's have a little fun," he said, leading me to the pool table and setting us up for a game. I beat him every round.

"Either I've had too many, or you're really good," he said, laughing.

"I'm really good," I joked, and he laughed.

"I really should be going," I said after a while.

"I'll walk you," he offered. We walked in a silence full of tension and desire. We got to my car and stopped. He opened my door, and I turned and attempted to kiss him.

"I have a lot of issues," he pulled away.

"So do I," I said, and kissed him. Within moments, we were in my backseat, showing each other how much we needed each other right now. He was hurt and alone, and so was I.

Rose

As I sat at the table listening to my mother's reasoning, I had a flash of something terrible when she touched my hand. She wasn't as good as she claimed to be. She wanted my power for something more sinister. I heard my father's door close, and I got up to meet him at the door.

"Rose, why are you awake?" he asked as my mother walked in behind me.

"Who is she?" he asked before squinting to focus on her. "Julie?" he asked, and began to cry as she hugged him.

"You two need to talk, and I'm tired," I said, walking away from the drama.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"I had to do a lot to get back here," she said. "I don't have time to explain. I will be back tomorrow, and you can ask me anything then." She gave him a hug, snapped her fingers, and was gone.

I got to my room and called Romeo. He didn't answer, but I couldn't hold this in. Nubi and Demetrius were having their first real date, and I couldn't ruin it. So I called Richard.

I have a bad feeling, and I need to work it out. We need to talk now. -Rose

I will be outside Wicca's Point in five minutes. -Richard

Richard

I met her outside Wicca's Point. It's only one road that brings you into Wicca's Point, so it wasn't hard to see her. "What's wrong?" I touched her chin as she hyperventilated.

"My mom is back... but... it's impossible... she died," she panicked.

"Calm down," I said, and she did, as if I had some control over her that we weren't aware of. "Who is your mother? Is she a true witch?" I asked.

"I would think so, since she looks like she's my age now," she said, and it caught my attention. I looked at Rose's hair, and the streaks of purple were more lively than before.

"Who is your mother?" I knew the answer to this but needed to confirm it. There was no way Rose, sweet Rose, was that bitch's daughter. "Do you have a picture of her?" I asked. She went through her phone and showed me.

"Goddamn it," I muttered.

"What?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"This is Juliet. You need to stay away from her," I said, my tone urgent.

"How? She's my mother," she looked so broken. I hugged her, feeling an unexpected surge of protectiveness.

"It's going to be alright," I assured her. As we locked in an embrace, my heart began to beat again. I pulled away, startled. "Are you a true witch?" I asked her.

She looked down at the ground and began making the leaves float in the air. "I called Romeo, but he didn't answer," she said, worry etched on her face.

"I will find him," I promised, knowing he was probably with Juliet, and my stomach turned at the thought.

As I pulled up to our home, I hesitated at the thought of what Romeo was doing, but I had to toughen up. I never thought I would be the good brother here, but I wasn't going to let Juliet win. I rushed into his room, grabbing her off of him.

"Richard, get out," Romeo demanded.

"What do you want, Juliet?" I asked her, pushing Romeo away from her.

"I thought you would figure it out by now. It's simple. I'm not back to my full power. I haven't been since I put you all down a thousand years ago. I need another true witch to gain my full abilities back," she admitted freely.

"So that's the reason you're back. You need Rose to get your powers back," I said.

"Rose is none of your concern," she snapped.

"What does Rose have to do with this?" Romeo looked so confused.

"She's Juliet's daughter," I told him.

"She is one of many daughters," Juliet added as she got dressed. "Don't come back here," Romeo said, finally standing up to her.

She smiled and snapped her fingers, disappearing in an instant.

"Why did she call you?" Romeo asked me, his jealousy apparent.

"She called you, brother, and you didn't answer. Tell her about Juliet, or I will," I warned, pushing past him and heading to my room.

Romeo

My behavior lately has been concerning. I admit my feelings are beyond out of control, and I need to talk to Rose before she really gets hurt. We go to the park together and sit down on a bench under a large oak tree.

"Richard told me everything, and I'm sorry I wasn't there," I said. She looked at me with a serious expression.

"Where were you?" she asked, and I couldn't bear to hurt her.

"Juliet approached me, and we had words. I begged her to leave you alone," I admitted.

"I'm sorry my mother did those cruel things to you. It must be hard to look at her. No one deserves the eternity of pain she has given you all," she comforted me.

"She mentioned needing your help to regain her powers," I said, attempting to change the subject.

"If she asks me to do something, I won't do it. Just be safe," she promised. We hugged, and she gave me a sweet kiss and a smile. I was betraying her. I'm the bad one here.

Meanwhile

The Council of Magics was having their daily meeting when Juliet stormed in, interrupting the proceedings. "I never thought the world I created would have a council. How sweet," Juliet smiled.

"Excuse me. Ms., state your business here," Christian demanded.

"A jinn being tamed with a council is almost too cute for television. I am Juliet," she announced, sitting down. The room buzzed with fear and outrage.

"Juliet hasn't been seen for a thousand years. You must be joking," one of the council members muttered. Juliet gave them a magical display to prove her identity, and the chatter grew louder.

"Order," Clara commanded, standing up. "Juliet, it's been centuries, and we have changed in many ways from the old ways. What do you wish to accomplish here?" Clara asked.

Juliet laughed. "Let it be known I am here, and all of you now serve me," she declared.

The council members exchanged worried glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. Juliet's return meant a shift in power, one that could bring chaos and destruction. They would have to prepare for what was to come, and fast.

Rose

Nubi and I went to an old abandoned factory so that I could test my powers completely. I caught her up on all the events regarding my mother.

"Enough about me. How was your date with Demetrius?" I teased.

"Let's just say I am no longer innocent." She laughed, and I was shocked.

"What? How was it?" I asked, wanting details.

"He didn't pressure me. It was like I knew he was the one," she said, still trying to understand the feelings she had.

"Are we going to talk about my brother or get to it?" Richard walked in without missing a beat.

"What is he doing here?" Nubi asked, her eyes narrowing.

"He promised to help me learn to use my powers," I said as Richard gave her a devious smile.

"Where is Romeo?" She looked concerned.

"Yes. Where is my dear brother?" Richard asked me.

"I don't know," I admitted. Most girls would just give up and think he's not that into her, but I have felt his emotions and I know they are real. But it's something else.

I began by lifting things around the warehouse and throwing them. Nubi was impressed, but Richard seemed unphased by it all.

"What about if I attack you?" he suggested, coming at me. I stopped him with a wave of my hand.

"She's fine. We don't need to do this," Nubi started a victory lap.

"No. Juliet is cunning. This is not enough," Richard insisted, making everything worse but telling the truth. My mother will not be easy to handle.

"My dad's calling," Nubi said, looking at her phone. "Go. I am going to stay here," I smiled to ease her worry.

"Call me when you get home," she hugged me and gave Richard a death stare.

I continued to wield things with my magic as Richard watched.

"Where is he?" I asked Richard.

"I don't know," he said as I sat next to him.

"Where did you find him the other night?" I asked, my gut telling me something I needed to know.

"He said he would talk to you. It's not my place," he said.

"No. Tell me," I grabbed his hand, and I was able to look into his thoughts. I saw Richard and my mother back in the day. He looked so ruthless, and then I saw Romeo with her only days ago. He pulled away from me.

"How do you do that?" he asked, holding his chest. "Make my heart beat," he said as I processed my mother with my not-boyfriend. Romeo and I haven't made anything official, and after this, we never will.

"He lied to me," I said with sorrow.

"It's not his fault. Juliet is manipulating," he attempted to defend him.

"I never want to see him again," I said, getting up, furious. Richard attempted to follow me, but I snapped my fingers and he was frozen.

"No more hiding. I'm done," I said to Richard and walked away.

Richard

I stood frozen, unable to move, watching Rose walk away with a newfound determination and anger that worried me. The factory's dim lighting cast long shadows, amplifying the eeriness of the empty space. I had underestimated her powers and her resolve.

As I regained my mobility, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of a dangerous path for Rose. She was rightfully angry, but Juliet's manipulation was far-reaching, and her connection to Rose made her even more unpredictable.

I needed to find Romeo and make him understand the gravity of the situation. Rose's fury was not just a personal vendetta; it was a potential catastrophe waiting to unfold. As I left the factory, the weight of our complicated past and the uncertain future loomed heavily over me.