Belmont spun to the rhythm of his half-whispered love song, paintbrush between his teeth; a wooden retainer. The sunset melted onto his canvas and honeyed Y/n's eyes with warmth. He smiled. His portrait of her was almost halfway finished. And though he wanted to surprise her with it, he also wanted it for himself.

Belmont nipped his paintbrush (leaving faint fang marks) out of his mouth to reassess his muse, but froze. Popped the brush back in his mouth. And scratched his head.

He needed something else, something more... personal... to really liven up the piece. Although, maybe new art supplies wouldn't hurt either!

Still humming to himself, Bel turned towards his bed to tuck his supplies away underneath it, when he caught Y/n's acrylic eyes as he stood back up, only for his to turn silver.

A hard male voice was first, while the visuals lagged behind.

"I only wish there was more I could do Miss-"

"Please, it's Melanie. Or Mel. My friends call me Mel- Y/n calls me Mel."

The dining room they spoke in was difficult to see from the thickness of the night pouring in from the walkout glass door. The woman's weathered eyes made her look older than she probably was. But the man, whose black hat rested on the tip of his chair, his dark cape drowning the floor in ripples of fabric, was unmistakable.

"Thank you Sir Enebris."

"Please, it's Cadere."

Before Bel could register what he was seeing, his sights swirled into even briefer vignettes. The calming blue moonlight of the woman's kitchen dissolved into early morning. A quaint, dewy garden, peppered with winter frost. The peace was interrupted by thudding footsteps wildly appearing by desperate sprint, heavy panting. A tall boy threw himself at the ground and shoved his hands deep into the earth, knees black with dirt.

Bel swore he had only blinked, but the next thing he felt, before he could even see it, were the scorching flames searing his skin, charring his uniform. Outside, the fire voraciously engulfed the trees and crackled embers into makeshift stars against the otherwise black sky.

When Bel blinked again, he was staring at Y/n, coy strokes diluting the expression of his favourite student, her smile slightly crooked.

After what must have been several minutes catching his breath, Bel searched for consistencies and irregularities in his visions, his fingers molding his temples like dough. It was rare to have so many visions at once and they threw him completely off balance.

His thoughts now revolved around the girl and fewer around the new visions. Instead, his mental cinema plastered all over his mind the first one he'd had all year. The one of them happy together, holding hands, affectionately embracing. The one of them in love.

His body felt magnetized down the hallway, where he found himself directly outside Y/n's temporary door.

He knocked quietly, relieved that Cadere wasn't due back for another two days, and waited for her usual, warm greeting. It didn't come.

Belmont whipped his head left and right but didn't see anybody, and so, he opened the door and walked right in, before closing it gently, as he'd done before.

How badly Bel wanted to stay in the room until she returned. His now green eyes happily drank in the living space and every antiquated crevice that had brilliantly been transformed by Y/n's presence. One of their chalices from downstairs sat on her nightstand, half full. Her adorable stuffed bear lay at the head of the bed in front of the pillows (only half made). He smirked, remembering the night they met as a result of his and Roman's troublemaking. Indeed he recognized many of her belongings.

Glancing at the needlessly ornate garbage bin beneath the desk, he remembered the tissue incident in someone else's room, before realizing (thankfully) she was a lot more tidy than he was, and smart enough to avoid any more such... conflicts.

Bel felt worse for Roman than usual lately. The latter wore his despondency like a weighted winter blanket but couldn't see the maxed out thermostat in the room. Roman was making himself uncomfortable and angry through his strange indignance, but Bel didn't know why.

Maybe he was tired of looking for the Almanac... back then, Bel was equally sure Avery took it, before he realized whoever took it probably took the tissue at the same time. At least if Cadere took it, it was back to its original owner. Still- Bel's intuition told him it was in the wrong hands. Something was still stolen, and whoever had it, Bel still new, was very, very, dangerous.

Tapping his fingers on Y/n's nightstand, Bel hoped Roman knew that he didnt judge him for keeping the tissue. Roman was a good man, and a good friend. Besides, Bel took pride in his affirmation that there was no future where he wasn't the best one for Y/n, so competition was out of the question. Nothing at all to worry about.

With these liberties in mind, Belmont began opening and closing random drawers, careful to be quiet. Curiosity was often his friend more than his enemy. Four bras (ah-ooh-ga), school books, some mismatched socks and underwear. Very sharp looking pencils. Bel glanced behind him- he had to leave soon. When he looked back, he saw something glassy beneath the socks, just catching the light.

He slowly took out the vial of pills.

One of six. Although one had been mysteriously crossed off with black marker.

The white capsules inside instantly made the boy sweat. Oh God. Was she sick? Anxious? Depressed? Was she on this much medication as a result of what happened to her roommate? As a result of what he did to the other day student? He swallowed hard and suddenly felt guilty for intruding. He just wanted to see her.

Curfew was on the horizon, with patrol to follow. Belmont wondered where Y/n was, and why his bizarre visions today couldn't have been more about her instead of some random people and places he didn't even recognize.

Bel remembered the older woman saying Y/n's name and shuddered to think it could be a sad scene- Cadere visiting Y/n's family to confirm her withdrawal from the academy, as had happened to those other students not long ago. Or perhaps it was expulsion. Or illness! Why would Cadere take such interest in a seemingly average student? Maybe Bel did have some competition somewhere after all...

Somehow, he'd been sitting on her bed this whole time without realizing it. Preserving the integrity of her poor morning routine, Bel's head plopped on the pillow as he fell down on the bed. The softness of the it calmed him down, but also, aroused his carnal instincts.

Her scent was enthralling, enough to make anyone do anything, he thought to himself.

As he stood up to leave, Belmont noticed her hairbrush half falling off the side of her vanity. He took it in his buzzing hands. Pinching off a few strands of hair, he held them up to the dim chandelier light, and marvelled at their dazzling luminescent sheen.

Purposeful but more eager to help Y/n than ever, Bel made his exit, ready to continue his painting with proper references, but not before noticing the wrapped pads poking out from Y/n's purse. With the door gently closed, he was home free.

"Ahem."

Bel stopped.

"Your room's on the other side of the hall," Leyla said.

"Right.... Soooooo... about that IOU..."

~
Belmont wasn't the only one being accosted by visions, but Dimitri didn't know that. Or at least, his suspicions left him to indulge in his wine while pretending he wasnt terribly jealous that Lucian could read minds and he couldn't.

Especially.

Now.

"I have another question to ask you," Dimitri began. His glass was empty. "May I?"

Lucian accepted the wine glass and reached once again for the bottle-

"Who returned you to yourself?" Dimitri asked.

With avian precision, the head of the night boys honed in on every pulse in Lucian's fingers as he slowly filled his glass with wine, the same morbid shade as his eyes. His reflection in the glass was distorted by the unforgiving liquid. Where would Lucian's eyes flee? Would he spill even a drop of wine?

Lucian's focus was unwaveringly on the pour. Slowly, the glassy reflection of Dimitri was replaced by his own, swimming in a pool of red.

"Is this satisfactory?" He held the glass up to Dimitri, golden streaks dancing in the red.

The boy gently took it from him, secretly feeling for any noticable change in body temperature.

"I don't think it's anyone we know, luckily," Lucian said. "I would prefer not to relive it- you know I'm guilty enough over-"

"You don't think it's anyone we know?" Dimitri asked. "Where exactly did this happen?"

"A few days ago, I was weaker than I'd ever been. If it weren't for the consequences of my self-righteousness finally coming to collect their dues, I would have died," Lucian began.

Dimitri thought of the possible timeframe when Lucian could have bitten a student. It was highly likely to be someone nearby given that Lucian's state confined him to the school, or even more likely, his personal areas.

"I managed to leave the dorm... patrol hadn't started yet and it was risky but the sun was still out... I wish I could say I was brought back to health by someone else's supply or forced by Roman, but- and he will confirm this- I bit a male student I'd never seen before, unlucky enough to be sneaking around outside our dorm."

Dimitri took a long, long swig from his glass.

"Bel and Roman knew about it before you did, because while you were off, Bel happened to be on his way out, and helped me just in time to erase the student's memory."

"Bel was able to control himself around blood like that?" Dimitri asked.

"He was. He's been trying very hard."

"You bit them on the neck?" Dimitri asked.

"Yes, and he was already wearing a scarf due to the cold. He didn't require any additional help, and the memory alteration was enough. Though I feel terrible it was a student. At least nobody knew anything, unlike recent incidents."

"It was lucky we were clever enough to have a quick cover-up."

Lucian instinctively took a sip of his wine, perhaps forgetting how rancid it was, but slowly choked it down. Dimitri watched the center of Lucian's neck oscillate with each gulp.

"And lucky for you that Bel was there, and on unusually good behavior. Cadere will be happy to hear that... although you may want to consider being more forthcoming with the truth."

"I have no reason to lie."

"You have no reason to lie, yet, I can tell you aren't being one hundred percent honest with me. Why is that?" Dimitri walked over to the desk Lucian stood behind, and leaned ever so slightly over it.

"I appreciate you being so thorough... but you don't give the others this hard a time, why are you being like this? Is it because Cadere isn't here?"

Dimitri winced at the mention of Cadere, and hoped Lucian didn't notice.

"Just be careful, not everyone will look out for you like I will," Dimitri threatened. "Cadere might love you, but he's rid himself of people he couldn't trust before. Drinking from day students is not allowed, especially during patrol... we don't want a repeat of-"

"I did no such thing and I don't know why you're insisting so," Lucian countered. "Especially considering your reputation." He stood up, hoping to walk to the door. Dimitri stopped him by holding up a hand. The dark haired boy took a deep breath.

The fact he didn't have proof it was Y/n both relieved and infuriated him. Dimitri was hungry for resolve, but he could see he wasn't getting anywhere with Lucian. It must be her blood flowing through him. Dimitri thought of Y/n, and her smile in Delwood, their departure fondly remembered. That smile was something that every day he wanted more and more of for himself.

"Continue setting a fine example for the night class, by staying honest and avoiding day students," Dimitri said softly. "I am happy you are well, but it's still for the best you continue your nourishment... beyond the threshold of our punishment. It's best we all avoid fraternizing with the day students."

Dimitri set the glass down on Lucian's desk, and veered past him towards the exit.

Dimitri barely had time to react as Lucian's arm shot to the door with a thud, thick palm indenting the wood. He began, of all things, to laugh.

"Should I tell Cadere you've been going with Y/n to Delwood?"

"What?"

"Or could that result in Cadere disowning someone he can't trust?"

Dimitri violently roped in his mortification. No will to lie his way out of this one, he let his back rest on the door he was cornered against. And then, caught in the way he so desperately wanted to catch Lucian, finally felt a smile emerge from the corners of his lips.

You, clearly drank from someone with exceptional blood. Welcome back Lucian.
~

It would be two days before Y/n could use the weekend to visit Jack's, and the girl had a plan. That, and anxiety about telling Simone the mountain of secrets that had been exponentially crushing her spirits since starting the year at Arcadia Academy. Eleanor reassured Y/n that they could tell her together, and Theodore briefly mentioned that Simone would likely be much more mad at him, for actually hiding his true self from her. For over a year.

On her way back to the night dorm, frosty wind pushing her along, she worried about patrol, and how she'd continue searching for the kitsunebi with less time in the dorm.

As if trapped in an old medieval torture device, Y/n felt her limbs pulling in all directions: saving Theo, confessing to Simone, finding the kitsunebi, learning more about whatever Maurice said was going on with her. It was a lot. And staying in school with passing grades kinnnnd of mattered too.

She recalled one of her last conversations with Jack, when Maurice was out shopping for ingredients that weren't the magical ones upstairs.

The boy'd been letting his hair grow, and it suited him as the oldest. She wondered if he would have a beard by the weekend.

"You're awfully brave," he'd said to his seated patron. Jack stood at his basement bar where the Creature's Almanac sat on the counter, closed.

"Me? I'm just helping a friend- friends, really... in a situation I didn't exactly choose. Wouldn't you do the same?"

Jack pulled his long brown hair away from his broad shoulders, messy thoughts reflected in a distant gaze. He pressed his palms together, jewellery clacking.

"I did." He nodded. "Years ago."

"Do... do you regret it?"

"Oof, you like to ask tough questions..." he answered. Jack used his whole body to talk. "I don't know if there's time to regret anything for too long. To some people everything's an exchange, ya know? I pride myself on being honest, but... it's like you said, you can't really control the situation, but you can choose to fight or flight... flee- shit."

You had encouraged the friend of Theo and Maurice to open up more, expecting him to be as personal as he was loud, but when it was just you two, he had less to say. And when asked about his time at Arcadia, expecting him to be cheerful, Jack was the opposite.

"I... you should enjoy your time at Arcadia. I feel sorry for you that you're wasting- sorry, not wasting... well... spending so much time putting others before yourself."

Something tugged at you, impossible to name. The question slipped your mouth before you could think.

"Why did Roman have the almanac in his room if it belonged to you, anyway? And why did Theo need it back?"

"Didn't anyone tell you? Maurice gave- lent it to him, I guess..."

"Why?"

"Well... Roman's always had a bit of an issue with his memory? You probably know, but he doesn't remember any of his life as a human. Pretty sad," Jack sighed. "Guess Maury thought he could look through the book to see if there was anything to do with memory... mechanics. I dunno."

Realization hit you like a train.

"Could the kioku plums help Roman get his memories back then?"

"I don't know for sure," Jack said. "We're not exactly experts- the tree in my store was planted years ago. Never even really knew what the plums did because every time I ate one, I'd forget."

"Maybe I could get Roman to reveal his memories without biting me," you said with enthusiasm.

"He needs to be linked to one of the seeds so we can plant it. Maybe if he took one of your pills, that could work, but I wouldn't tell Roman anything about the plums or what we're doing. I'd focus more on someone like Avery. Keep Eleanor with ya too, for safety. Who knows, maybe we can help Roman with his rage inducing amnesia after all this mess?"

"Why didn't Maurice just go through the almanac himself though if it was his? Shouldn't he know what's in it? He said he wrote it." You glanced at the Almanac that was at least a thousand pages thick.

Jack shook his head.

"He wrote a few parts. It actually belonged to someone before Maurice. It belonged to me."

"Wow... I had no idea. Where did you get it?"

"Before that, it belonged to someone else."

"Who?"

"Cadere."

Warm light beamed from the top of the stairs as the door opened and black shoes descended its steps. Paper crinkled.

"Would it kill you to help me with these bags?" Maurice asked. "It's not happy hour yet."

"It actually might kill me, what food did ya get? I'm allergic to anything full price."

Instinctively, you trod up the steps to help the boy, who insisted you needn't do a thing. Jacked mocked you both from below.

"Aw look at that, she's so helpful! You're adorable. We'll talk more, later."

The girl hoped her next visit with Jack would be even more illuminating. And after his conversation with you about Roman trying for years to find out who he used to be, you were eager to talk with him. Because you had an idea.

And who knew- maybe you'd finally found a way to prove Simone wasn't in the infirmary by her own volition.
~

Roman was not nearly as pleased to see Y/n as she looked to see him. He was being held hostage by the others over Y/n's tissue that somehow Avery noticed in his room, and as a result of the night dorm attitudes, Roman was subject to be on his best behavior. For everyone.

But what Ebony said to him earlier that day, really ticked him off.

"You're sick," the normally quiet girl said while he walked past her in the hallway.

"Excuse me?"

"Dating Y/n after all that b*tching and complaining about women?"

Roman's eyes reddened with shock.

"I'm not dating anyone. Who told you that?"

"It's all anybody's talking about, especially the day students." Ebony took out a nail file and shaping her long nails.

"If- what- I'm not dating anyone and if I hear you or anybody else spread those rumors, they're dead."

"Whoop-dee-doo."

Prematurely glaring at Y/n now, Roman flared out his jacket and strode toward the doors. Anger simmered inside.

"Where are you off to?" Y/n asked.

"None of your business," he said pushing open the doors. Luckily it was getting darker outside.

"Hey!" Y/n called out to him. She tried not to sound disappointed that he was back to his old bitter self after showing her kindness on the bridge.

Roman kept walking down it as Y/n's little legs pattered up to him.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to... see how you were doing," she replied.

"Well, I'd be doing a lot better if you weren't blocking my way," he said.

Roman stepped to the right, as Y/n did. Then he shimmied left, only for Y/n to mirror that too. Their stupid little dance was somehow already the last straw for Roman as a group of day girls started walking along the bridge, staring.

With a vengeful breath, Roman grabbed Y/n by the wrist and dragged her towards the dorm. Used to being rag-dolled, she complied, but even this was a bit aggressive for Roman.

"What'd you do that for?" She asked, rubbing her wrist. Roman craned his neck towards the dorm windows, then jerked the girl towards the forest.
~

"What were you doing with Y/n?" Lucian asked Dimitri. His tone was that of a parent making the empty promise not to punish their child as long as they were honest.

"Y/n was curious about our history, my history, and she clearly needed a break from the castle."

"So when I'm on the verge of death, I can't sustain myself in the way everyone (including you!) has been pushing me to this whole time, but you're allowed to take Y/n to Delwood and kiss her!?"

Dimitri froze.

"I didn't kiss anyone."

"-you just hand out forehead kisses to everyone?"

"No, I just- wanted to learn more about her, for our benefit. And her safety."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you already drank her blood-"

"How dare-"

"Or worse."

"I'm doing everything in my power to protect us while you invade my private thoughts and accuse me-"

"What will Cadere say if he finds out about your romance?"

Dimitri paced towards Lucian, reversing their stance.

"Cadere won't find out, because you're not going to tell him," Dimitri threatened through gritted teeth.

"And if I do?" Lucian leaned forward. Dimitri could feel the freshly charged Lavendale power radiating from here. He looked down. Paused.

"I'll tell Cadere.... no." Dimitri raised his eyes to equal Lucian's ravenous stare. His next words paralyzed Lucian

"I'll tell Y/n what you did to your siblings."

Oxygen slowly replaced the anger, rationality returning, causing Lucian to sway ever so slightly.

"That's a bit far, don't you think?"

"I..." It was Dimitri's turn to breathe. "I'm sorry for accusing you of targetting someone you didn't. I see now, how you felt. And I'm sorry it took this conversation to make me realize it," Dimitri apologized, and took a step back. "Neither of us had the right to make such accusations, even in the heat of the moment."

Lucian crossed his arms.

"I didn't mean to read your mind," he said. "Please accept my apology. This has been the first time I've drank blood in... a very long time. I know we both want to... protect Arcadia and the people in it."

"Lucian."

The boy paused.

"I won't tell Cadere you drank from Y/n if you don't tell him I did."

Lucian's eyes widened. His heart raced, pulsing more and more loudly in his head.

"I... I'm not going to say anything about any more of this..."

Dimitri, hiding a smile, affectionately rubbed Lucian's arm.

"Good. Then there is nothing more for us to discuss." Dimitri stopped by the door, took the wine glass he set down earlier and swiftly finished it. "As long as it's just us... we can handle anything. And as long as no one else bites her, there won't be any problems."

Stepping out of the day library, sun setting, Dimitri finally flashed the smirk he'd been holding in all along. Not even Jack- hell, not even Cadere could have executed that so flawlessly.

Not only did Dimitri confirm Lucian drank from Y/n, he got permission to do it as well. After all, you can't be tried for a crime after doing the time in advance... Still smiling, Dimitri let his cloak dance in the breeze, more eager now than ever to reunite with Y/n and commit the sins he'd just confessed to.

~

"What the hell is this!" You cried. "You've got some nerve."

"Just- just shut it, okay!?" Roman snapped. The wind whistled hollow through the pines and autumn leaves. "Why the hell have you been going around telling people we're dating!?"

You stared at him dumbfounded.

"I haven't said anything like that! What are you talking about?"

Roman paced back and forth with pre-emptive guilt.

"I'm going to get in so much trouble, and I didn't even do anything!"

You assured him you didn't tell anyone anything and that you were equally surprised, but his power-walk was unmoved.

"This is why I don't hang around with you people." He jabbed a finger in your direction.

"Gee, thanks."

"I just want to live my life, and not disturb the peace. Even when I'm doing that, somehow everything is my fault!" He plunked himself down on a thick rock.

Ignoring his anger at you, you stepped closer. "I'm sorry Roman."

He buried his head in his hands and pushed his bangs all the way back, exposing his forehead.

"It's not your fault," he said staring at the ground. "I just don't know why I'm always punished for trying to do the right thing!"

"Well don't worry," you said. "I'll set the record straight with anyone who thinks otherwise."

"Who could have even started that? It's not like we did a damn thing!"
~

Avery frolicked down the bridge like a Christmas elf. Life without Cadere was a magical, magical thing. Or at least, life without Cadere's version of Cadere.

Just that day, Avery found Trinity playing cards with Leyla. He found them not because he planned to, but because their game of speed was so supernaturally fast that the cards  sounded like pages being flipped at lightning speed. When the game ended and Leyla won, Avery heard the conversation soften in volume. Tied up in their victory (and defeat), they didn't hear him listening in.

"Lucian is gonna get rewarded for his bad behavior," the girl mumbled.

"That's how it works around here," Trinity said. "What are you gonna do about Bel?"

Avery's ears perked up.

"Part of me wants him to pay for all the shit he put me through... like... he deserves it for all the lies and for going into that girl's room..." Leyla sighed.

"Although I think it was the others who lied about that-"

"Either way-"

"Bel was out of it."

"I don't care, I'm the one who had to suffer for it."

"Hey, I got in trouble too!" Leyla glared at her. Trinity's tiny house of cards fell down as she tried to place them, and began to slowly build a house again.

"Don't compare apples and oranges," Leyla said. "But Julianne's right. These boys can't be trusted."

"Are you going to do anything?"

"Although having Cadere punish Bel, especially if we can prove he's bitten someone, would be very satisfying, using Bel in the future in exchange for not telling Cadere would be much more useful long term."

"That's the problem, it never ends," Trinity thought aloud. "I know exactly how you're feeling. Literally. It's all I'm good for. But that's the problem."

Trinity's blue bangs hid most of her face as she lowered her head, trying to get the third pair of cards on top of the house.

"In this place, everyone has dirt on everyone else, but keeps it to themselves for their own benefit until it becomes useful. Everyone just uses eachother. And even if you don't want to play the game, you're forced to, because as long as there's one selfish person, the terms of the game aren't fair. The winning conditions are rigged. You can't win a strong, honest game against a cheater. So it becomes who can cheat better... who can lie better."

Leyla floated a pair of cards over to Trinity's card house and expanded the second floor.

"The thing is, this lack of trust is completely unstable," Trinity continued. "Eventually, secrets get revealed whether we like it or not... as soon as it benefits someone to snitch or pivot blame, it sets off a chain reaction. One selfish traitor is all it takes."

The cards fell to the carpet as a bottom card collapsed.

"Maybe you should just do what you think is right, but dont hold on to that anger," Trinity said. "I can feel it from here. It's annoying."

"Did you just hear something?" Leyla asked, putting the cards back in their flimsy coffin.

Cadere materialized from the shadows. The girls immediately stood up, Leyla practically jumping.

"You're here early," Trinity said. "Uh, welcome back."

"Thank you. If you could be so considerate, please enlighten me as to why you've been disobeying my rules in my absence. You were told to go to the library."

"The library?" Leyla questioned. "Nobody told us to go anywhere. Why do we need to go there?"

"What did we do?" Trinity asked, her freckles pale.

"You are both in severe trouble for ignoring my directions- I've been waiting over half an hour to discuss your problematic behavior and for your insolence you must come to the library where we will drink all of Lucian's liquor now that he doesn't need it any more."

The girls noticed Cadere's purple ring.

"You've proven yourself harlots of the highest degree for vapidly wasting your time playing cards without me. Ow!"

Avery was still Cadere as the cards shot at him like shuriken using Leyla's telekinesis. Instantly, the cards weren't stuck to Cadere's black cloak, but rather, Avery's uniform.

"Idiot!" Leyla yelled.

"This is why we don't invite you to do things with us," Trinity said in a monotone voice.

Avery's amusement at himself hadn't left, and his smile remained as he found himself now at Arcadia plaza. The sun was ready to sleep, the castle walls glowing orange around their edges. The glasswork of the clock tower was adorned with amber haze.

Avery sat at the fountain, listening to the idle chatter of day students heading back from class. Sadly, Y/n was not among them. Shame. He still had her weird coin in his pocket.

His acting skills really belonged on a bigger stage, Avery thought to himself. Maybe he could ditch Arcadia, take Y/n with him. His skills were underappreciated here.

One of the girls exited a classroom and Avery recognized her right away. When she met up with her two other friends, he recognized them too. Watching their vocal hiccups, eccentric mannerisms, posture, gait, and even how they looked when they did nothing at all, Avery knew he'd done a perfect impression. Again.

Y/n dating Roman was sure to make front page news. And it wasn't all fake- every news story needs a little embellishment.

The girls were griping about Y/n and Roman walking together on the bridge. Or something. Avery only cared that they were together. Knowing Roman, it was just a coincidence taken too far, or, not far enough in this case. And driving a wedge between Y/n and the others was just something Avery felt deliriously compelled to do. Deep down, he was sure they intended to do the same.

Where was Y/n anyway? She'd be heading back to their dorm by now, for what could be her last night there. That would be annoying. He took the coin out of his pocket and studied it again, debating whether or not to return it.

There was no knowing where the coin was from. He'd already shifted into a greasy day student feigning interest in coin collecting at the library. It could be some out of print currency from somewhere he'd never been. It didn't have any numbers on it, just a silver border of what vaguely resembled horns, and a hilly scene layered with trees and a little cottage. The other side had the same border with a city that looked kind of like Delwood, two of the buildings recognizable by their roofs, but there was a building in the center that didn't exist in real life. The layers were small and difficult to distinguish, even for Avery.

Like a magician, he flipped it in his fingers, watching the fading sunlight flash with each twist.
~

The sun was all but gone now,  the last of its life a burning red.

"I said... I think I can help you get your memories back."

Only crickets filled the silence that followed.

"How?" Roman asker after he stood up and dusted off his legs.

"I'm glad we're here, because..." You whispered, "I really think I might be able to help."

"Why should I trust you?" He asked. There was a certain energy to his voice, hope rattling in a cage. "And you didn't answer."

"You like Theo, right?"

Roman raised a brow. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer."

"Yeah, sure I do. I was disappointed when he quit patrol."

"Okay..." you began. "I think there might be some kind of... magical way to help with your memories."

Roman tore himself away and looked out at the trees, hands in his pockets.

"I already tried that," he said. "What could you possibly know? I'm over a hundred years old. Believe me, I tried everything I thought could work. You should have seen how long I slaved over books and almanacs and people who couldn't do a thing. I even sold my blood."

Your head jerked back in revulsion.

"The only one who can fix me is the one who made me this way, and that's Helena," Roman continued. "Evil witch made sure I couldn't remember anything but her name. She wanted me to know it was her. And she doomed me to this miserable life of endless suffering."

Just as he did for you on the bridge, you placed a delicate hand on his tense shoulder to let him know he wasn't alone. His jacket was heating up.

Should I tell him about the plums? You thought to yourself. No way. Can I help him get his memories back without going into details? I don't think Roman has the kitsunebi but if Theo took the Almanac back when it wasn't his... maybe this was retribution.

Still... the mission demanded his memories anyway, and he desperately needed to know who he was. Roman had helped you before- surely, he would return the favor.

Roman turned around to face you, and far from angry, Roman was a statue of sadness.

Truthfully, you felt the same compulsion as you did with Lucian. Helping one desperate friend to help another desperate friend.

"I feel sorry for you that you're wasting- sorry, not wasting... well... spending so much time putting others before yourself," Jack's words echoed in your mind.

If he didn't regret helping his friends, then neither would you.

"I want to help," you said. "I think I have something that can, but I don't know for sure."

"What are you, a witch or something?" His laugh was bitter, hollow. "The last time someone said that to me, it left me worse off than I was before."

You reassured him it was nothing like that.

"What do you want in return?" He asked cautiously.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

You shook your head.

"I just want you to be happy."

No time to move and nowhere to run, Roman embraced you in his arms. His touch was soft, tender, and warm like a perfect summer day. His hands pulled your head in to his chest, his thumb stroking your hair. You swore you heard his heart beat, but it was actually yours.

"If you help me," he said, freeing you from the hug but still squeezing your shoulders, "I promise to do whatever you want. I'll help you in any way I can."

Even his self-contained smile radiated joy. You'd never seen him smile with his teeth like this, and it was your first time noticing his sharp fangs.

"I can't make any promises, but I'll do my best," you said as he let go. You glanced up at the sky, now a dark indigo. Fog poured in across the red forest floor, moonlight transforming the orange leaves into blue.

Taking the hint, Roman offered to walk you back.

"Maybe we shouldn't go together, what with the whole... dating rumor thing," you said.

"Y/n, I couldn't give less of a damn."

You rolled your eyes at his remarkable change of attitude. You weren't too deep in the forest, though the fog was making it difficult to see. The silhouettes of trees became shadows of men and the ground was blanketed in ghostly vapor that stirred with your steps. Leaves crunched beneath your feet, and you raised a leg to step over what looked like a log you'd barely noticed.

"We might be late for patrol, that's my fault," Roman said.

"No, that's okay, I-"

Roman was too late to save you from the fall as you barrelled down the hollow entrance to the lair and landed with a painful shriek.

"Y/n!" Roman lit a flame and saw you propping yourself up on the cold wet floor. He hastily slid down the ladder and kneeled low, flame illuminating his face.

"Y/n, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I- I think I'm fine. Just a few scrapes," you coughed, starting to stand up. "I didn't realize that's where we were... I haven't been here since the first week of school. What about you Roman?"

...

"Roman?"

But he was staring at the crimson bleeding through the fabric across your uniform tights.

~
Fan here! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it's the longest one yet and I probably could have broken it up, but I wanted to give you a fat treat before the new year. I think every single night boy gets a crazy amount of screen time here!! That's why it's probably my favourite chapter so far, but let me know what you think and thanks again for reading!

Now that you are getting to know more about the boys, and will continue to, has your favourited changed? And who are they?

Lastly, your comments, likes and follows mean A LOT to me and I cherish every one! I also usually reply to comments and follow you guys back so don't be a stranger. We're all friends here ; )

In the event we don't meet until then, Happy New Year!! Success, love and happiness to all of you!!

Love always,
~ Your Number One Fan