Cillian could feel the stare from Julie, and he said, "You were busy with your exams. Seeing how you not remember most of the answers in the exam, I thought it was better not to bring it up. Studies always come first and then comes the rest."
"Ah, you saw me use the spell," said Julie with an awkward smile.
"I did, and it was smart."
Julie didn't have it in herself to reprimand Cillian because, in her mind, she was delighted to see that Griffin had spent time in the coffin without blood to consume. He deserved every single second of spending in the dark, company of cobwebs, and dusty coffin thought Julie in her mind.
She didn't forget the day when Griffin had sent Jackson to assault her. Thinking about that day sent her chills.
"Are you angry at me?" questioned Cillian and Julie smiled before shaking her head.
"No, you did the right thing. Hopefully he will learn to fix his ways at least now," replied Julie, and Cillian gave her a nod. "You could have told us, and we could have freed them without the Elder vampires knowing that you did it."
"I did think about it. But while I was around, I heard the blond vampire accusing you, and I thought it was better to let them know," replied Cillian, and Julie hummed. When she turned to look ahead of them, his eyes fell on her face, which was soft in features, and the air blew in the opposite direction of where they were headed, pushing her hair back. "Did your friends leave?"
"Yeah, a few minutes ago," replied Julie, and then she asked him, "How are you doing? I mean, do you sense any change in your body?"
Cillian brought his hand forward, pulling the glove he wore to reveal the stem-like fingers. He said, "The leather feels strange, and this is the second glove. The last one tore as it couldn't contain my sharp fingers."
"I don't understand. Why did your hand and leg turn back in the presence of the light that was emitting from me or the energy," she had a small frown on her forehead. "I mean you are a witch now, aren't you?"
"I am, but the dark magic has the ability to identify what is real and what is false. It would want me to return to my regular form."
"Do you want to?"
On hearing Julie's question, the Corvin replied, "I doubt it makes any difference right now. Things will still be the same as it is. My family is long gone, and the only one remaining is my descendant. Life would still be the same, Julianne."
"Maybe you can make it different," said Julie, and their eyes met for two seconds longer before he smiled.
"I doubt so. Your mother was brave, Julianne. But then she also loved your father dearly, that she didn't mind consummating her relationship with him once again," stated Cillian, their footsteps softly crumpling the leaves on the forest ground they stepped on. "No one can love a dead person. I am not a vampire, but a witch. A creature that doesn't exist or is not known by people, except a few."
"I am not talking about just love," replied Julie, and she paused her footsteps, and he did the same. They turned to each other, facing one another, and she said, "When I saw Natalie's dead body and my father standing next to it, I thought the same way. Everything was closed. Every window and door, and I didn't know what to do for a couple of days. I had no answers to why it happened, but knew things wouldn't be the same. I think it is wonderful that you decided to spend your time here as a detention professor, take it as your third life and live it for yourself. It doesn't have to be for me."
Julie knew that Cillian's only purpose since he had turned into a Corvin was to watch over her. To make sure she was safe, she was no more that girl who was a weak human.
"I think that would be hard to do," responded Cillian, looking at a piece of her hair moving in front of her eyes. His hand shot up before she could get it, and he pushed her hair to the side. "Allow me to look after you for a little longer, as it might take time for me to be able to shift my attention."
Julie offered him a bright smile and nodded. She knew Cillian wasn't a bad person. And knowing he was attached to her, she wasn't cruel enough to distance him after he had always tried to protect and keep her safe since she had arrived in this timeline with Natalie.
"Okay," she agreed, and Cillian only gave her a nod before they both walked towards the infirmary.
When they reached the building, most of the staff weren't on duty as there was no need for it. With the humans who had left for vacation and most of the vampires, who had left Veteris either early in the morning or in the noon to spend time away from this place, the staff too had taken up their vacation hours.
Stepping inside the building, they walked in the lonely corridor and heard a familiar voice coming from one of the rooms.
On reaching the front of the room, Julie took a peek and noticed Olivia standing in front of a bed with her hands placed on both sides of her waist.
"There is nothing wrong with you, Simon. Now if you will let me work before Elder Remy kicks you out for hindering our work," said Olivia while shaking her head.
"So cruel. Is this how you treat your patients, Livi?" questioned Simon, who was lying on the bed with his shoes on.
Feeling someone's presence outside the room, the vampiress turned and caught sight of Julie there with their new detention teacher.
Julie asked, "Is everything alright?"
Olivia offered a smile, "Everything is fine. Are you looking for Elder Remy? He's on the second floor and right corridor," she said.
"We are looking for blood bags for weak vampires," replied Cillian, and Olivia tilted her head to the side.
"Blood bags? Who are the weak vampires?" questioned Olivia.
"It is for Griffin and some of the guards," Julie answered, and Olivia's eyes slightly widened.
"Did they finally find him? Where was he that he requires blood for?" inquired the vampiress.
"Livi, stop helping that ass, and look at me instead. I am going to die!" came the dramatic words from Simon, and Julie leaned to her side to see Simon, who looked perfectly healthy.
Olivia waved her hand, "He's in a perfectly healthy condition. Once in a while Simon turns like this."
"Shush, I do not," replied Simon, sitting upright on the bed and turning around for his feet to touch the floor. "I feel very empty in here, and I can barely breathe right now. Like my body is not able to take in the oxygen.. I am going to die soon," came the solemn words from him.