Jasper gently placed Sophia on the bed. He took out the first aid from the drawer and gently applied the iodine to Sophia's injured head. Sophia winced in pain.
"I'm sorry," Jasper said, his gaze faltering.
Sophia sighed. "It's not your fault, I don't know what's wrong with them. They always do this, it makes me angry. But it's not your fault," Sophia replied.
Jasper smiled and placed the first aid box back in the drawer.
"How does the head feel now?" Jasper asked. Sophia nodded. "It feels okay now," Sophia replied.
"That's good," Jasper smiled. Sophia nodded.
#######
Atticus sat on the chair, his palms folded over each other. The lines on his forehead deepened, he was upset.
He let out a heavy sigh, his mind wandering to the thought of Sophia. The moment she closed her eyes after he kissed her neck replayed in his head, burning like a brand he couldn't erase.
Thomas burst into the room, panting, a book in his hands.
"Sir!" he called out, running to Atticus's desk.
Atticus raised his head, confusion written all over his face. "What is it?" he asked, his voice filled with tension.
"Sir," Thomas repeated as he slammed a book open on the table. "I just found out about an old tale, about a vampire who lost his immunity."
Atticus frowned. "But I thought you said there has never been a vampire who lost his immunity. That it's not possible."
Thomas shook his head. "Well, there has only been one, or at least, that's what this tale says. According to it, the man's name was Sir Raymond Quinton III. He was a very powerful vampire who ruled the western dominion of the vampire realm. He was a tyrant and a beast who imprisoned witches, forcing them to win battles against his enemies by granting him powers from the underworld. He made sure they never grew bold enough to rise against him."
Thomas flipped a page and continued, his tone darkening. "His rule was so bloody and terrifying that he brought imbalance to the world, making the vampires the most powerful creatures alive. He became so obsessed with power that he enslaved others to hunt and kill a dragon. When he drank its blood, he became the most powerful creature of all time."
Atticus leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
Thomas continued. "But then he fell in love with a woman, the Witch Queen; whose plan was to kill him. Yet there was no way to kill him; he was far too powerful. The only way to stop him was through a forbidden ritual, one that could transfer his immunity to another being weak enough to be killed. To perform it, the witches had to descend into the underworld and make a deal with Hades. He gave them the Scroll of Creation, an artifact with the power to undo creation itself. It could separate the physical from the spiritual, recreating the very fabric of existence."
Thomas took a deep breath. "They performed the ritual and transferred Raymond's immunity to a human. The ritual was called The Transmigration of Light. When the ritual was complete, they killed the human vessel. And Raymond… he was undone in creation, sent back to the Abyss of Uncreation, a place where even darkness fears to dwell."
Atticus stood up, pacing around the room.
"And the book?" Atticus asked.
"Lost," Thomas replied. "Never seen again. Some say it was destroyed, others claim the Witch Queen took it and hid it in a place no creature can reach."
"Oh, I see… How bad is this 'Abyss of Creation'?" Atticus asked.
"Well," Thomas said slowly, "it's said to be a place where no creation exists. It's worse than death. When humans die, they go to heaven or hell, but the Abyss of Creation is beyond that. You don't live, you don't die, you just are. You can't move, can't think, can't fade. You're trapped in nothingness forever."
Beads of sweat trickled down Atticus's face. "Oh my God, I'm sweating again," he muttered, quickly wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Well, Sophia isn't dead," Atticus sighed.
"Uh… something else," Thomas stammered.
"What?" Atticus frowned.
"Well, your immunity can't stay gone for long, it's part of you. Right now, you still have it, but it's like a phone battery. When charged, it works, but the moment it's unplugged, it starts draining. Once it's completely gone… you'll be lost in the Abyss."
Atticus blinked. "How do I know if I'm almost out of charge? And how do I recharge it?"
Thomas snorted. "Recharge? Like a battery?" he said, pointing at Atticus with a grin.
Atticus glared at him.
Thomas quickly cleared his throat. "Right. Um… I don't know. You'll have to figure that out. How exactly did you lose your immunity?"
"I don't know," Atticus said, rubbing his temples. "We jumped off the cliff, and when I opened my eyes, I saw my immunity flow into her."
"Nothing before that? Maybe something?" Thomas pressed, raising a brow.
"Yeah, yeah… we kissed—"
"You what?! You kissed her?" Thomas shouted.
"I know, I know! So that means to recharge myself, I have to kiss Sophia again," Atticus said, half annoyed.
"I can't believe it… so Miss Sophia and you already—"
"Thomas!" Atticus slammed his hand on the desk.
Thomas flinched, then chuckled awkwardly. "Right, right. Sorry. But yes, that's the only way. And you have to be fast."
"Why?" Atticus asked, raising a brow.
"Well…" Thomas's eyes widened. "Because you're disappearing."
"What?" Atticus frowned, following his gaze, Atticus looked down and froze. His right hand was turning translucent, flickering like smoke caught in the wind. The veins beneath his skin glowed faintly red before fading into ash. Tiny fragments began peeling away, floating upward like dust motes burning in light.
"What's happening to me?" Atticus gasped, his voice trembling. He held up his other hand—and that one, too, began to unravel, his fingers vanishing one by one into thin air.
"Thomas! Do something!" Atticus screamed.
"Thomas!" Atticus screamed again.
"I don't know what to do... wait!" Thomas grabbed the nearest bottle and splashed holy water all over him.
"Gaaah! It's cold!" Atticus yelled, shaking his sleeves.
Thomas winced. "Sorry! But hey, it worked!"
Atticus looked at his hands... the fading stopped. His hands reformed, color returning to his skin.
"What was that?" He asked in shock.
"It's said holy water can slow the process," Thomas replied. "But not for long. You need to find Miss Sophia now. This won't hold much longer."
Atticus nodded, still dripping holy water. "Fine. But if I catch a cold, I'm haunting you first."
Thomas smirked. "I'll get the garlic ready."
Atticus shot him a look and ran out of the room.