A few days had passed since Professor Anderson was arrested for the series of murders. It was all the rage and had dominated the news. Selene  glanced at the newspaper, folded neatly on the nightstand, and read the headline, “Serial Killer Linked to Another Murder, East Coast.” It would seem what the demon king, Paz, had said would come to pass.

Selene then turned her attention to a naked Zea who was sleeping peacefully on the bed next to her. Even in this state, bald, the vampire was still beautiful. She thanked the Moon Goddess for leading her to such a kind being for she hadn’t expected Zea to ever talk to her again for causing the vampire to lose all of her hair.

The vampire laughed it off even though she was near tears. Selene had assured Zea that this was just temporary, an unfortunate side effect because they waited too long to administer the solution after the vampire’s ugly flower bloomed. She had told the vampire the hair would grow back and until then, the vampire could wear a wig. That made it a little better.

Selene grinned, barely containing her laughter with these memories she would cherish to the grave. However, she let out a quiet sigh. The Moon Goddess didn’t just lead her to the vampire.

The witch quietly got out of bed and moved to the window, pretending to adjust the sun blocking curtains. She wanted to test if Zea was truly asleep and also to see out the window. Under the city lights, a white raven had perched itself on the window still. The raven’s red eyes looked at Selene as if accusing her of something.

Selene pursed her lips before backing away from the window. She looked over to the bald, sleeping Zea. Next to the vampire, under a white cloak with an obscure face, was a spirit of sorts placing a translucent hand on the vampire’s head.

Selene nodded at the spirit, acknowledging what it had done. Zea would not be waking to see her gone for a short moment. She exited the room, taking Zea’s denim jacket that was draped over a couch in the living room and put it on as she headed out of the house. 

Once outside of the house, Selene only had to walk a couple of feet before she was viewing a boardwalk where a yacht was docked at the end. Also at the end of the boardwalk, was someone waiting for her.

Selene went to the boardwalk and walked along it. As she got closer, she could make out the person more clearly. It was an elderly woman with rings of white braids wrapped around her head. Her dark skin matched Selene’s but her eyes were grey. She wore a purple tunic robe and had golden bangles.

“Hello, daughter,” said the elderly woman. She smiled warmly at Selene.

“Mother Aylin,” nodded Selene in acknowledgement. “I have it. The hunter did not suspect that I made a copy of those stolen pages from the Grand Grimoire.” She started to draw a rune in the air. Right after she finished, ancient writings floated from where she had drawn in the air and floated to Aylin’s open palms.

Aylin nodded in approval. “Those rotten Order have held what is rightfully ours for far too long.”

Selene sighed. “The Key of Solomon but this is only a few pages. What’s the point?” She purposely left out that she had seen the result of the summoning and she was not impressed.

Aylin rubbed her hands, the ancient writings sucked away into the bangles she wore. “We only needed these parts.” She observed Selene. “When you’re done playing with that vampire, come home.”

Selene didn’t get to say a response as Aylin faded away. She looked up at the moon for a few moments before turning around and headed back to the house.

Once inside, Selene draped Zea’s jacket in the same place she took it from and went back into the bedroom. The spirit was gone which was no surprise to her. She smiled. Zea was still peacefully asleep.

Selene got into bed and placed an arm over Zea. She nuzzled the vampire’s neck. A melodic voice whispered across the room. She was not alarmed as she knew only she could hear it and it said:

You cannot change her fate.