https://youtu.be/rwTGs6eL3iE

The next evening, Zephyr came to my room to take me with him to the forest. He stood at the door, surprisingly acting like his true self. I can't say I was not a bit disappointed, but I guessed it was a lot better than having him act weird around me.

"How do you feel now, Zephyr?" I asked.

"Well, I took the medicine you gave me and I'm fine now, So I guess I'll thank you." He said slowly, shrugging his shoulders.

"If you were always honest like this Zephyr, you would look kind of cute," I said with a small chuckle and he narrowed his eyes at me in an awkward manner.

"Don't say creepy things. Do you think I would be happy having you think that I'm cute?" He asked and I stopped smiling.

"No, not at all," I replied.

"Hmm...If you're done joking around, we're going to the forest." He told me before we set off together towards the forest.

The forest seemed more peaceful than usual and I wondered why it felt so different. Intrigued, I stepped further into the forest and saw a man chanting a spell.

"Rosario?" I called in disbelief and waited for the man to finish the spell. Then I called out to him again, making the man turn around. And just like I guessed, it was indeed him.

"Irina, you're here." He exclaimed with a smile and I stared at him.

"You're using your powers in the forest?" I asked.

"Yes well, I do use my powers to fix Rosapast's barrier... And besides, Zephyr knows about me." He smiled at Zephyr and continued, "It's fine Irina, we trust each other." He said making me frown.

"Well, I don't. Not completely I mean." I mumbled in a low tone or at least I wished it was.

"Aren't you over it already, Irina?" He asked, sadness visible in his tone and I noticed from the corner of my eye that Zephyr himself was holding back a sad smile.

"I will, someday. It just ain't easy." I slowly exclaimed making him sigh and nod.

"And you." I turned towards Zephyr and continued, "Just because I said this doesn't mean that I care any less about you so get that inside your head and bring up your usual attitude. It feels weird with you being like this." I said firmly making both of them widen their eyes.

I didn't know what made me become so bold then but I spoke up to the fullest before turning away from the sudden awkwardness.

"Oh well Rosario, what's that power you just used now? You said you fix Rosapast's barriers? Is that why the forest is so calm today?" I asked all of a sudden.

"Hmm, so you understood that much? I'm impressed." He replied, smiling a little.

"I've indeed learned to use some of my magical powers but I still don't know how to use strong powers like yours," I exclaimed slowly making him nod in understanding.

"Ah, you just need some training to be able to do that." He stated as he glanced at Zephyr. I couldn't tell whether he was serious or joking, so I slightly nodded to them both.

"Well, is the barrier stronger now, Rosario?" Zephyr asked from my side, making Rosario turn towards him.

"Yes, hopefully." Rosario declared with a glance at the barrier before continuing, "With that being said, I should probably return back to the mansion now, farewell you both." Rosario told us in a blunt way to which we nodded before he dashed back to the mansion. 

" I didn't think the barrier would break with time. I wish I could've helped him." I turned towards Zephyr with a shrug.

 "Yes well, Rosapast's on the watch too, you don't need to worry about it so much," Zephyr told me and I stared at him, surprised.

"Is there something on my face or what?" He raised his eyebrows at me.

"You just told me not to worry. Thank you." I said with a small smile.

"I just said what was on my mind." He declared to which I sighed.

'This vampire, seriously.' I said in my mind.

"We should go back now, don't stay too far from me." He said afterwards, looking away. 

Though his arrogance really pissed me off, his words had cheered me up then and I felt a little more courageous. I looked at him with a smile plastered on my face and walked back to the mansion with me following him.

Once we got back, Lucas called us at the entrance to tell us about something. Edgar and Zerav were there already, along with Drake and Rosario. 

According to Edgar, the leaders of the Nightworth Coven were planning to attack and their targets are the mansion and my house in the woods. The shock was too much for me but I figured I should do something. I glanced at Rosario and he nodded to me. 

'I should tell them.' I thought and took a deep breath before speaking up.

"Everyone, please listen to me," I insisted and they all looked at me, waiting to hear what I had to say.

"Yes, Irina?" Lucas asked.

"Some of you may know that Queen Zahara is my mother. And I only got to find out the truth about my mother's past after I came here," I glanced at Rosario and he smiled at me, "But what you don't know is that she was exiled from the kingdom, along with me and my sister for siding with the vampires. And the house you just mentioned, Edgar, that's where we live. My mother and sister live there right now. I'm sorry for not telling you all about this, but I really need your help to save my family." I said, looking down. 

Rosario came by my side and hugged me for comfort and everyone stared at us. He gave me an assuring smile and leaned back to explain his side of the story to them.

After we cleared up everything, everyone apart from me and Rosario, stood there without saying anything. Minutes passed and Edgar was the one to break the silence.

"The Queen, you say? Well, we will help you for sure, Irina. We really do appreciate you both telling us." Edgar said with a smile and Zerav nodded at his words.

"A few days ago, Irina and I found two of the vampires talking in the shadows of the hallway. They were talking about the house Irina just mentioned right now. We should do something about it." Zephyr exclaimed and I looked at him.

'He's concerned?' I thought in disbelief.

"Yes, we should strengthen our security inside the mansion as well. Although, we can't go around and be suspicious of everyone here." Zerav remarked.

"I agree, but are you okay with that, Zephyr? Putting aside Edgar and Zerav who were a part of our ancestors' bloodlines, you're one of the vampire race, right?" Drake asked for the first time there.

"I've been living here for a long time, Drake. I'll follow your commands like I always do." Zephyr replied.

"You've suddenly become so obedient, Zephyr," Edgar said, raising his eyebrows and I quickly decided to change the topic to avoid the awkward atmosphere.

"Everyone, may I know how Drake and Rosario got involved with all of this?" I asked.

"Drake is to invent weapons that can be used against vampires. And, his gift of observing the truth in a person would be really useful. As for Rosario, now that he told us everything, his powers would help us in every way." Lucas said and I smiled at Rosario.

"Besides, I don't like the way the leaders of the Nightworth Coven do things. And also, some of the wood spirits I know of have got hurt. I will make them pay for everything they did." Rosario declared, firmly.

"You're such a nice person, I'm glad to have found you, brother," I said and Rosario hummed to my words, returning the smile.

"You don't have to be so modest about it, though," I said, making Drake chuckle.

"That's the kind of guy he is. He's a powerful wizard but never gets arrogant." Drake told me and Rosario scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.

"Stop it already, Drake. And Irina, you do have even stronger magic than me, Irina." Rosario told me and I sighed.

"My magic is far from strong, Rosario."

"Just like I thought, you haven't realized your true capability yet." He exclaimed, nodding to himself and then continued, "You're just lacking in training, it has nothing to do with the magic inside you, Irina."

"Are you saying that she possesses powerful magic like you?" Zephyr asked, making Rosario turn towards him.

"Yes, one that is stronger than mine. But, it's better to keep that power asleep because if we awaken it carelessly, it may be capable of killing all of us." Rosario replied and Zephyr furrowed his eyebrows at me.

"If she has such strong magic as you say, Rosario, there is a chance that Damien might be after her," Lucas said and everybody stared at him, including me.

"Who's Damien?" I asked and Zephyr was the one to answer me.

"He's the leader of the Coven, stay away from him at all costs."  He exclaimed firmly.

"Oh."

"Just be careful and let us know if something happens, Irina," Edgar remarked.

It was hard to believe that what I heard was true but I pulled myself together before nodding again.

 Soon, we parted our ways, promising to share anything we may come across. Just as Zephyr and I were about to leave, Lucas stopped him.

"Zephyr, may I have a word with you?"

"Sure," Zephyr replied as he moved closer to Lucas.

"I'll be heading back to my room then." I bowed to them and walked upstairs. 

After separating from everyone and on my way to my room, I got a feeling that someone was watching me. The idea of getting targeted like Lucas had warned me about, suddenly became a reality. I sped up my pace but all of a sudden, the man in the cloak came in front of me.

"We meet again, Irina." The man said and bowed.

'No, I shouldn't trust him either, right?' 

"You are?" I asked.

"Oh, I haven't told you my name yet, have I? I apologize but things are slightly complicated, and therefore I do not have a name I can tell you." The man said making me stare at him doubtfully.

"Irina, there's something I want to ask you." 

"Hmm?"

"Well, I wanted to ask---" He stopped as he got cut off by Zephyr's voice.

"Why are you here, Irina? Go to your room."

"This man wants to ask me something," I said to which he raised his eyebrows at me before turning to the man saying, "She needs to go. If you have any kind of business, I can help."

"Well...an inelegant man will be hated, you know? I guess staying here any longer won't do me any good. So I'll take my leave then, good day to you both." The man said and left us both in a quick flash.

I glanced at Zephyr only to see him staring after the man who just left. He stood like that for a while before turning towards me.

'Zephyr's attitude towards that man is always somewhat strange, maybe I should ask him about it.' I thought.

"Zephyr, why do you hate that man a lot?" I asked.

"Did you forget that you were told to be more careful?" He asked back.

"Well if that man was an enemy, he could've used many chances to attack me, but he didn't, right?" 

"Hmm, just don't let your guard down that easily and go back to your room now, I'll come with you. When you get inside, lock the door and do not open it, no matter who comes by." He insisted and I nodded slowly.

"Hey!" A voice called out so abruptly that I turned around in surprise only to see Michallis appear from the shadows and on his way toward us.

"Michallis, since when have you been standing there?" I asked.

"Well, since around the time, that man came here. And, I see that you have pretty strong luck, Irina." He turned to Zephyr and continued, "Zephyr, if you end up doing everything yourself, you'll end up hurting yourself. But on the other side, if you choose to live like me, you'll have an easier life, you know?" Michallis offered and I stared at them both.

"What are you talking about?" Zephyr asked with a frown.

"If you don't understand, that's fine. I guess I'll see you both." He bowed to us both before disappearing back into the shadows.

"Let's go," Zephyr told me with a shrug and we started walking toward my room.

When he turned to go after we reached my doorstep, I asked him, "Zephyr, what did Michallis mean by that?"

"I don't know. You should take some rest, we've got to go to the forest early tomorrow." He said to which I nodded slightly.

"And...that man who wanted to ask you something, remember him?" He asked me to which I nodded again.

"Well, that was Damien." He told me before walking away, leaving me in shock. 

'What?!'

'Damien?! The leader of the enemy coven?!' I shouted in my head as I slowly walked inside my room, with the thoughts still lingering inside my head.

'He was the one who saved me, then why would he be the enemy now?' I asked myself. 

"Is he after my powers that Rosario mentioned earlier?" I mumbled as I lay on the bed and stared at the wall blankly. Zaphira knelt beside me and I patted her head, slowly hugging the fur of her neck.

"Let's rest for now Zaph, I hope we can get to know the truth, soon," I exclaimed with a sigh before closing my eyes.