Dear Journal,
                      One of the few things that could never be taken away from me in this is new life is the ability to learn.

                                                    - 𝓔. 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓮
(1605)

Elias was frozen in place. His back was braced against the door and his mouth was slightly agape as he stared at Odelina.

Her once matted and tangled head of hair was replaced by jet black curls and her decayed teeth were now perfect. She wore a simple gray dress as she sat on his bed barefoot, her left foot draped across her right and her hands folded in her lap. Her image had changed but he could never forget her face.

"Will you be silent all day?" She asked the dazed Elias.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" He stammered as he regained his voice.

"Am I not allowed to visit you?" She asked amusedly.

"Odelina" Elias warned, his voice stern.

"Elias" she said back, matching his seriousness before breaking into laugh.

"You have been very busy, young spirit. Tell me, has this new life been kind to you?" She asked as she made her way over to him.

He watched as she used her right hand to lightly run her clawed fingernails up and down his bare chest, looking up at him before giving him a smile. She then walked away to stand infront of his window, staring at the outdoors through the stained glass.

He noticed her reflection was exactly like his, dead and decayed. She, however, did not anger at the sight of her dead skin and hollow eyes. She relished in it, infact, she adored it.

"You have told me next to nothing" Elias said finally.

"The best way to learn is to teach yourself" she told him simply, her hands folded behind her.

"Do not toy with me witch" Elias retorted.

"Anger suits you" She said to him as she turned around.

When he didn't answer, she spoke again.

"What have they told you, young spirit? Did they speak of my wickedness? Did they make me out to be wretched? Did they sound as if they feared me?" She said approaching him suddenly. Grabbing on to the lapels of his jacket, she scanned every inch of his face as if they held the answers to her questions.

When he didn't answer, she stepped away from him, watching as he clenched his jaws irritably.

"Did you send that werewolf to destroy the castle?" Elias finally asked.

"Me? Oh no. That was Selvalley and their new ruler. Did your royal friends tell you that I did?" Odelina asked mockingly.

"How did you get Genevieve's necklace?" He asked as he ignored her taunting.

"She gave it to me" she regaled.

"I told you, do not toy with me!" Elias exclaimed as he sped infront of her.

She stared at him, her eyes dark and mischievous. They held each other's gaze before she spoke.

"Kneel" she said simply and Elias fell to his knees.

It had caught him by surprise but he knew that even if he had expected it, he could not stop it because he did not kneel voluntarily, his legs did it for him.

"Bow" she instructed again and he fell forwards before her.

It felt scary to Elias. It was as if he had no control over his own body. His entire being only acted for one sole purpose, to follow her commands. He could not stand up not matter how hard he tried and it terrified him, an emotion he had never even experienced as a human.

"Stand" she said again and he flew up from the ground, facing her once more.

"Watch yourself, young spirit" she threatened.

"What did you do?" Elias asked, his voice slightly laced with panic.

"I gave you commands and you followed them. That is what children do. They obey" she told him as she sat on his bed once more.

"Did you come here to patronize me?" Elias questioned.

"No. Actually, I came to talk to you. I gave your lover that necklace to garner your attention only to see your little banquet crashed by a monster. The rich, tuh" she scoffed. "They are like common dogs. Always fighting amongst one another"

"She is not my lover and if you did not have a hand in the beast's arrival, you could have helped me, yes?" Elias asked, raising his eyebrows at her.

"You did not need it. Am I not right?" She responded, her eyebrows shooting up as well.

Something was different about her. She was no longer the wild, eccentric mad woman he had met in the cemetery. Now, she seemed wordly and in control. Her attire was neat and her skin was far from decayed and rotting, despite her reflection. Is this what she was like before whatever madness took place in her life? Before they placed her in a box within the earth?

"Something happened lastnight. I... I did something" Elias said, desperate to speak to someone about what he had experienced.

He did not exactly remember the details of the transformation but he did remember not feeling like himself. Odelina was the perfect person to discuss it with since she created him.

"I know. You exhibited some form of extraordinary power. Powers only the most blessed of the ancient Vylisians had ever demonstrated" Odelina told him.

"What was it?" Elias asked.

"Even I am not sure. I must do some research. Just be careful, you wouldn't want to get out of control and kill those that you hold dear" she said without interest.

"You know Odelina, you do seem to be a feared person in this castle. They say everyone who is anyone knows your name. Tell me, why is that?" Elias asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Well I suppose if they buried one of the most talented magic users alive in a dusty wooden box in an unmarked grave located in the peasant's cemetery, I would definitely acquire some form of fame or embarrassment. I use to live here afterall" she said matter of factly.

"What?" Elias asked incredulously.

"Yes yes, I lived here once. Then the humans came and took it. It is what they do Elias, they take things. Castles, futures....lives" she said as she stood up, walking around his chambers and running a finger over the dusty surface of his bed side table.

"I did not know" Elias said lowly.

"Ofcourse you do not know. You're vampire ancestors only existed when I was Odelina the Gifted and not Odelina the Dreaded. With that being said, I have a few things to say to you" she said as she strolled over to face him.

"War is coming. I trust they told you that much. Your enemies are both human and supernatural. Do not underestimate any of them. As of now, you are much too weak to fight anyone"

"Wait one moment, weak?" Elias interrupted, clearly offended by her daring inference.

"Yes, weak. The ancient Vylisians could fly. Can you fly, young spirit? You have the blood of a very talented and well known fae coursing through your veins and I know for a fact that you cannot even cast a simple spell to create a fire!" Odelina fussed.

"Blood of a fae. Your blood...Wait, you are a fae as well? Like Baltazaar and Emma?" Elias queried.

"Goddesses no! They are barely half faes. Trickled down half breeds with mediocre powers and tainted blood. I, young spirit, am the real deal. Watch me" she said smirking before snapping her fingers.

Immediately, Elias was transported to the bedroom of a small castle. A window was left open behind him and the room was decorated with opulent furniture. A scream made Elias turn his head in the direction of a young girl lying on a canopied bed.

She wore a long, white, cotton dress and her face was slick with sweat as her legs were parted. It was obvious she was in the middle of giving birth.

A woman kneeled before her open legs, a midwife Elias assumed. She reassured her that she was doing well as she held up material from the girl's dress for a better view.

There was also an old woman kneeling on the left side of the girl, holding her hand. A man resembling Elias was on her right, whispering words of adoration and encouragement into her ear. The young girl groaned loudly as the midwife instructed her to push.

"What is this?" Elias asked in a stupor, watching the young, strained face of his father holding onto a pain-stricken young girl's hand.

"It is a memory. Your birth to be exact" Odelina said, her eyes never leaving him.

She wanted to take in his reaction and try to imagine the exact emotions he was experiencing. His body language, the way he was breathing heavily even though he no longer needed to, the way his face twitched with disbelief and sadness. She wanted to understand it for she had not understood all those years ago in the past.

"My birth" he said breathlessly as the sound of a child crying rang throughout the room.

The young girl, whom was actually Elias's mother laughed and cried as his father kissed her forehead lovingly.

"You did so well" his father assured her.

"It is a boy" the midwife told them both.

"A boy" Elias's mother said breathlessly.

The midwife then handed her the baby as it bellowed loudly.

"Shh shh, my Elias. Do not worry. Your mother is here, she will always be here" she cooed at the child, point a finger at his heart. This made baby Elias go quiet as he stared into her eyes.

A lone tear fell from Elias's right eye as he watched the interaction. Odelina snapped her fingers again and they were back in his chambers. She watched him with interest as he continued to stare at his bed as if his mother had laid there.

"Young spirit.." Odelina finally called at him.

"Why.. why did you make us come back?" He asked, not looking at her.

"The beautiful moment ended shortly after" Odelina said hesitantly.

"She died" Elias said without any emotion.

Odelina did not answer him so the room was quiet for a moment before he spoke again.

"Please leave" he said lowly.

"I have not told you..." she started to say.

"GET OUT!" He screamed as he sped over to face her, his eyes flashing between gold and red.

For the first time in a hundred years, Odelina was frightened. Though she had gotten what she wanted in seeing his reaction, the alternating eye colors troubled her. His spirit energy fluctuated as it tried to find a balance in pressure and emittance. She could tell that he was trying to calm himself.

It was the second time experiencing this unfamiliar and overbearing power, the first was at the banquet lastnight. If this was how he was while fighting the werewolf, then she was glad that she had turned herself into particles to watch rather than watch in her human form. She was sure it would have disrupted the very core of her magic.

"Your weakness is the sun for it will burn you to ash without your enchanted ring" she began to say.

"Silver burns your skin and might mortally wound and/or restrain you but you will not die. In time, you will understand how to create more of you. Also, only you can do this. The next vampire you create will be your second. The rest are like foot soldiers but they will all be loyal to you. Be wary of Baltazaar and as such, his sister as well. A werewolf bite can severely injure you but you are faster and stronger than them, use that to your advantage. And lastly..." she said stepping away from him to open the window.

Elias stepped back as the sunlight streamed into his room.

"Do not be fooled Elias. You were a very smart man but you are an even smarter vampire. History will not repeat itself. You will come out triumphant for you are more. That is why fate chose you" she said as she stared into his golden eyes.

"Goodbye, young spirit. Until we meet again" She said finally, fading into nothing. He watched as the particles that once made up her body get swept away by the wind of the day time.

When he was finally alone, he let out the breath of frustration that he had voluntarily held in, for he did not need to breathe. He was undead after all but it seemed like the normal thing to do given what he had just seen.

He could not forget the look of adoration his mother had given him and the promise she had failed to keep as she stared into his eyes. Now, he could only imagine her lifeless body after she bled out on the bed, dying as she left him alone in this cruel world against her own will.

He kicked the chest at the foot of his bed, sending it flying into the wall and shattering into pieces, its contents spilling out onto the floor.

He wished he had not seen his own birth but he did. It was now apart of him like his fangs were.

Slowly, he sat down on the floor at the foot of his bed. He stared for what seemed like hours at the unlit fire place before a knock rang at his door.

He could smell the scent of the young girl from beyond the wooden structure. Perfect, he thought. Something, if only for a moment, to get his mind off of everything.

As the sunset, Baltazaar and King Koren decided to head out. Their destination, the woods located behind the castle.

Four knights accompanied them as they headed into the eerie collection of trees with their swords sitting in their scabbards and their torches blazing in their hands. Unbeknownst to them, Elias was hot on their trail.

He had decided to take his mind off of the memory of his birth for a moment to focus on the task ahead.

They walked for a while until they arrived at a well built wooden shack located in the centre of a small clearing. Elias could not help but think how vast the castle grounds were to contain their own forest.

Hiding behind a tree located a lengthy distance away, Elias watched the king and prince greet a cloaked figure standing at the front door of the shack. Light could be seen through the windows of the shack which told Elias that someone was inside. Thanks to his sharp hearing, he was able to hear their conversation and ultimately discern that the cloaked figure was a woman.

"How is he?" Koren asked her.

"He is fine. What is it? Why so sudden a visit?" The woman questioned.

"The castle was attacked lastnight, by another werewolf, one of my men actually. He was different however, no recollection of his humanity. It killed King Evans" he heard Baltazaar say.

"Dear goddesses! Why did you not send for me?" She asked angrily.

"The vampire handled it. Though, we lost alot of men. He told us that Odelina made an appearance" Koren said.

"She did?" The woman asked a little too enraptured. "I mean really? Do you think she had a hand in it?" She asked after, changing her tone.

"It is likely that she is aiding Selvalley in their revolution, yes. They say they now have a new ruler but we have no information on this" Koren said, his voice grave.

"With that being said, we need Damien to begin creating his pack immediately" Baltazaar told her.

"That is not possible as it is much too soon. He cannot shift without the full moon and furthermore, he would need to mate and have pups. Which will take several months. Creating more like him from scratch would be faster but we could end up creating a beast exactly like the one that killed the king" she told them seriously.

"I DO NOT CARE ZELDA!" Baltazaar shouted loudly. "We are running out of time" he then said as he lowered his tone.

"Fine. I will do it" the woman called Zelda agreed. "You will be the ones to face the consequences. You must speak with Damien about creating his pack. Also, you need to befriend that vampire. Creating more like him can only be done by him but it is much easier than this" she told them.

"I am working on it" Baltazaar told her.

"Also, did you find out where he came from? Vampires have been extinct for centuries and from the description you had given me, he does not sound like the ones in the stories I had been told as a child. If Odelina created him, then he his even more dangerous"

"We did not get to ask but I will the next time I see him. Excuse us, Zelda" Baltazaar said hurriedly as he and King Koren along with the knights entered the shack.

Elias shifted his feet and ended up stepping on a dry twig which caused a very loud snap in the silent night.

"Who goes there?" Zelda questioned as she stared into the forest.

"Gandalwell de arboribus, ostende mihi faciem hostibus meis" he heard her chant.

(Trees of Gandalwell, show me my enemies)

Suddenly, the tree closest to him began to unnaturally bend outwards, giving up the location he hid in.

He sped off to the front of the forest but stopped abruptly as he came to face the woman. He hid his shocked reaction due to her being able to match his speed by standing firm on his feet and towering over her as an act of intimidation.

"Eli, is it?" The woman known as Zelda asked. "I have heard so much about you" she said cattily.

"That is funny, because I have not heard anything about you" he said matching her attitude.

Night had fallen but Elias could see her face perfectly in dark. She dropped her hood so he could see her ash gray hair filled with curls, her eyes as blue as the sky.

"You really are handsome" she smirked.

"Is that why you chased me down?" Elias asked her.

"No, but I'm glad I did. Tell me vampire, What are you doing lurking in the woods at this hour?" She questioned as she began to circle him.

It eerily reminded him of the time Odelina had skipped around him in the graveyard after their revival.

"Are you joking? The night has just begun. This is the perfect time for the creatures of the dark to crawl out of their stygian hiding places" Elias told her as he followed her eyes while she circled him.

"Is that so?" She said raising an eyebrow.

"It is. Women like you ought to be careful. There are monsters in this kingdom" Elias said.

He realized she was watching his fangs and as he spoke.

"I know" she agreed, finally facing him once more. "I help to create them"

"Who are you?" Elias finally asked her.

"Grizelda the maker, witch and supernatural extraordinaire" she said bowing before him, then raising her head.

"A witch?" Elias asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "I know a witch.."

"That you do" she said as she regarded him from head to toe. "That Odelina... she really did something" Zelda said smiling slightly.

They stood in dark, staring at each other before Zelda spoke again.

"You have the eyes of a beast" she said after a moment of silence. "I like that" she said getting closer to him.

"Listen up , Eli. If I catch you in my forest again, I will turn you into a toad. Do you understand?" She asked him seriously.

"Do not threaten me witch" Elias said, matching her tenacity.

"I wouldn't dare" she told him, one of her eyebrows arching as she spoke.

"However, I said what I said. You can try me if you would like. I can see Odelina did nothing to tame her mutt" she spat.

"Say it again" Elias threatened, as he sped over to her, looking down at her petite frame.

"Stay. Out. Of. My. Woods" she sounded out. "Or else..." she smirked, bumping his shoulder as she walked pass him.

Elias frowned as he watched her disappear into the trees. He experienced a strange feeling of familiarity when he spoke with her but he thought it was because she reminded him of Odelina.

He did not know how to feel as he looked towards the castle. He was certain however, that he would not stay out of her woods.

He smirked as he headed walked away imagining himself be the cause of her screams as he ripped her body apart.

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