Chapter Text
Vera stood in the middle of the star and Paul lit all the candles around her. He took the bowl with grinded herbs and sprinkled them around the circle.
"Are you ready? Once we started this, there's no turning back. You can still back out if you want", he asked her.
"I need to figure out what really happened that night. I'm ready", she answered.
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A truck parked in front of Vera's house. Paul's guards approached the truck and found Hamish inside.
"You can't be here", one of the guards ordered him.
"Sure…if you'll go first", Hamish said with a smirk and the others attacked the guards.
Alyssa got out of the truck and handed robes to the others as soon as they shifted back to being human.
"This is Vera's house?" Lilith asked.
"If Edward Coventry wasn't lying, yes", Alyssa answered.
"Why did he know about her house?" Jack asked and the thought that came to their minds made them shook their heads.
"Let's go", Hamish said and they all stormed the house.
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Inside, they found Vera and Paul by the living room surrounded by candles and writing on the floor.
"Stop!" Hamish yelled and it surprised both Vera and Paul.
She looked at all of them in disbelief.
"What are you all doing here? How did you know where I live?" she asked.
Vera then met Alyssa's eyes and realized it was Edward who told her about her address.
"Who are these people, Vera?" Paul asked her.
"Couple of friends", she lied.
"Well then, if you want this to continue they need to leave", he said.
"We are not leaving", Jack said. Vera shot him a look which he ignored. "We are here to save her from you", he added.
It confused Vera right away. She knows they are reckless and careless with their decision making but she knows once they said someone needed saving they are serious about it.
"I am trying to help your Grand Magus. Magistrate please escort these people out", Paul said to Alyssa.
"Really? So performing Memoria Absentis is your way of helping the Grand Magus?" Alyssa asked.
Paul froze and so Vera by the revelation.
"What is she talking about?" Vera asked him.
"Don't listen to her. I already told you it's Memoria Restituet", Paul lied.
"Quit your lying, old man. We already know what you're trying to do. The incantations are identical to one another. So far it's not obvious because the two share the same symbols and ingredients but the spells are different. Alyssa and Jack saw your research in the reliquary. You're busted", Lilith intervened.
Paul took a step back.
"The question is why you would want to do this to your goddaughter", Hamish added.
Vera looked at Hamish's eyes and saw that he's telling the truth. All of a sudden, Paul threw black powder into the circle and Vera got trapped inside and the Knights were kept out from Paul and Vera.
"Vera!" Hamish called as he tried to break out the barrier but even with his werewolf strength, he cannot pass through.
Paul put the book down and looked at Vera who is in shock about his betrayal to her.
"What are you doing? Why do you want to erase my memories?" she asked in disbelief.
"So much power, so much potential you wasted on petty emotions of yours. You are the descendant of…" Paul started but was interrupted.
"…of Merlin? I have heard that bullshit before, Paul", Vera intervened.
"Let me finish! You think that alone made you powerful? You are the descendant of both Merlin and Nimue. That's right. You are the very personification of both good and evil magic. A lot of Order were dying to have you with them but your father was with the Hermetic Order of Blue Rose so lucky us. I tried to persuade them to let you join us but your father said no. He said you're too young and that you needed to be a child for a while, experience the world and all that shit, so I just need to find a way for them to let you go", Paul continued.
Tears fell from Vera's eyes as she started to figure it all out.
"It's not werewolves that killed them that night. They were slaughtered by a monster but it's not them. It was you. You killed my family and you knew I saw everything so you put a spell on me so you can turn me into your weapon", Vera concluded.
Paul shrugged his shoulders.
"Worked, didn't it? You destroyed our enemies without mercy. You were filled with so much hate. You were unstoppable. Everything was going great. We were the most revered Order in the world until you met Jonathan and then you became a mother. My strongest disciple became a soft and weak woman", he said.
Vera stopped feeling the air circulating her house. Her heart is beating faster than usual. She's guessing what he's about to say next but doesn't want to admit it. She heard nothing but the sound of her own heart which allowed her to focus and to dig in deep within her mind. Vera closed her eyes and allowed it all to come back to her. She opened her eyes, gasping for air as if she's running out of it.
"You made me think it was anaphylactic shock", she muttered.
"It's all coming back, eh?" Paul confirmed judging from the look on her face.
Vera looked at him.
"I was happy. I didn't become weak. I was just happy and for the first time, filled with love. You were there every step of the way. You held my hand in the hospital. You gave my daughter her second name…" Vera started rambling in her frustrations while Paul watches her coldly. "You killed Jonathan in cold blood because I fell in love with him and you poisoned my daughter to make my heart cold and hard. That was not enough for you. You made sure I will see the whole thing", she said with her voice frail and her hands shaking.
"Looked what happened, you unleashed everything", Paul said excitedly.
"…and killed those innocent people!" Vera exclaimed.
"Collateral damage I am willing to make so I can bring out the best in you and yet after I erased the part where I murdered your daughter and Jonathan in your brain, you asked me to bind your power so you will never ever be able to touch it again, such a waste for all those death so you can be a god!" Paul declared.
Still gasping for air, Vera turned and looked away from him simply because she cannot bear to see him one more second. Tears kept falling from her eyes due to so much pain.
"You are a monster!" Lilith yelled unable to control her anger. Her eyes turned blue.
"Well, said the one who eats their victims' hearts", Paul said.
"We never murder an innocent child!" Randall intervened.
Vera let them all banter. She focused on controlling herself. She doesn't want to explode again and kill all of her neighbors in the process. Then she catches a glimpse of her cabinet. She stopped gasping and slowly turned back to them.
"That was a brilliant plan, Paul. I have to commend you for that. You completely fooled me into thinking you're the best godfather in the world, always pushing me to be the best version of myself. Despite my protest about being the Temple Magus, you encouraged me to do my best. I never wanted to be the Guardian and it frustrates you so putting in my head that my daughter died because anaphylactic shock made me scoured the earth for the Vade Maecum forcing me to guard the last two portions of it. You successfully manipulated me all throughout but there's only one flaw in your plan, Paul", Vera said coldly.
"…and what is that, sweetie?" he asked.
"I told you everything even the part that I have the whole Vade Maecum and yet you never take the chance to take it away from me", Vera answered.
"I am not threatened with the Vade Maecum, Vera, because I know you have no intention bonding with the book. You have no ambition to be Edward Coventry", he explained.
Vera smirked.
"Why should I? When I can just take it all in like this?" she said and then reached out her hand towards the cabinet behind her and it opened revealing the Vade Maecum inside.
The book opened its pages and the writings on it transferred quickly from paper into Vera's body.
"What is she doing?" Jack asked.
"I have no idea", Alyssa answered in shock.
Soon, the book is nothing but pieces of paper. Vera breathes in deep and put her arm down. She turned to Paul and smiled. Vera then snapped her fingers and the barriers broke into pieces. Paul landed on the floor back first. The Knights were set free as well but unable to move due to shock. Vera looked at the Mark on her arm with such fascination.
"Marvelous!" Paul exclaimed. "This is who you are always meant to be, Vera! You are always meant to be a god!" he added.
Vera turned to him.
"Descendant of Merlin and Nimue…the very personification of both good and evil magic…am I making you proud?" she asked.
"Yes, sweetie. I am so proud of you", Paul answered.
"Good. Now you can die feeling that you just created the monster out of me", she said coldly and reached out her hand.
Paul went stiff and he slowly got back on his feet. Vera took two steps towards him and watched him closely.
"Is that fear in your eyes? I thought you're proud of me?" she asked.
She tightened her grip onto the air and Paul struggled to breathe.
"Vera stop this at once", he said while trying to catch some air.
"Oh, that is the problem with power, Paul. It just has its own hunger and it cannot be stop. No. I cannot stop. Isn't this how you like me to be? Unstoppable? I guess that's why they say be careful what you wished for. Say hi to my family for me, will you?" Vera responded and then opened her hand and Paul's body started to light in flames.
His scream rang loud in the Knights' ears and they can feel the pain. Vera watched coldly as her godfather is burning alive until she got tired of him screaming. She waved her hand and he turned into ashes. The candles died and the symbols on the floor slowly vanished. Things sort of went back to the way it was, well, except for Vera. She stared emotionless into Paul's ashes while Alyssa picked up the empty Vade Maecum.
Hamish tried to approach Vera but something stopped him.
"Vera, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked in concern.
"I'm fine, never been better", she replied coldly and then turned around to look at them.
They all backed off when they saw her eyes turned from blue to red. She ignored their reaction. In fact, she looked like she doesn't care at all.
"Grand Magus, I think you should come with us, something is not right", Jack said.
"Mr. Morton, everything is where it's supposed to be but you're right, you all should leave. You're all dismissed", Vera said and the waved her hand. The Knights disappeared including Alyssa which leaves Vera alone in her house.
The Knights are now back inside their house with Alyssa. Stunned, they looked around to really confirm they're in their den.
"How the hell did we get here?" Lilith asked.
"It's the Grand Magus. She sent us back here", Alyssa answered.
"We need to get back to her house. We can't leave her just like that", Hamish said and tried to go for the door but Randall stopped him.
"You know there's nothing you can do about this", he said.
"You don't know that", Hamish retorted.
"She sent us back here by just waving her hand. We can't go there without a plan", Randall reasoned with him.
Hamish knows he's right. He just doesn't like the idea of being useless when it comes to Vera.
"We need to find out what just happened back there", Jack suggested.
"No. We need to know who Vera really is and how in the world she did that to this book", Lilith disagreed and pointed to the Vade Maecum in Alyssa's hands.
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Meanwhile, Vera has returned to the temple. The fire grew brighter on every candle she passed by along the way. Finally, she reached her office. The door opened for her. Vera went inside her office and the door closed. She then went to her desk and sat on her throne. She gently rests her arms on the sides and took a deep breath, "Now, this is so much better."
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TO BE CONTINUED.....