Maya arrived in front of their dorm room, contemplating how to share the news with Elena.

She knocked softly on the door, announcing, "I'm coming in!" before entering.

The sun had just set, and there was still some light, so Maya proceeded cautiously. She had skipped school today entirely because of this.

Maya entered the room slowly, allowing Elena time to take cover in case she hadn't heard the knock. After shutting the door, Elena emerged from the bathroom—her temporary sanctuary from the light—looking visibly agitated.

"What's wrong?"

"You weren't the one trying to enter the room earlier today, right?"

"No. Was someone here?"

Elena looked away, squeezing her arm. "…They had a key."

"They got in?!" Maya was alarmed.

"No. I… held the door." Elena's recurring tone was still quite flat.

Maya was glad Elena had prevented a stranger's entry, but still pondered. "Maybe it was the housekeeper coming to check on the room. Or us. The Headmistress was already weird about our unresolved absences. Maybe she sent someone."

Elena remained silent, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. She had already turned over all these considerations in her mind, but none of them brought her any comfort.

"Anyways, I have actually made a breakthrough," Maya said, clasping her palms together with a spark of excitement.

Elena instinctively leaned back, recoiling from Maya's sudden enthusiasm.

"You're kidding?" she muttered, suspicious. She found it hard to believe—Maya looked far too eager for this to be anything good.

"You won't like it," Maya admitted, pulling a small, crusted bottle from her coat pocket.

"What is it?"

"I'm not certain… but according to the dragon—"

Before she could finish, Elena snatched the bottle from her hands. She held it up to the lamplight, peering through the age-old grime to see the contents inside. Her nose wrinkled.

"What the hell is that?" she asked, curling her lip in revulsion. "What are we supposed to do with it?"

"Drink it, I would guess."

Elena turned to stare at her, incredulous.

"You'd guess?" Elena scoffed. "Why's a dragon helping me?"

"I can't say for certain," Maya said carefully. "But you should know—there are risks. It could be lethal."

"Throw it onto the pile," Elena muttered, waving a dismissive hand. "Right alongside the million other new things that can kill me at this moment."

She grabbed a corkscrew from the nearby table and twisted it into the top. The moment she pulled the cork free, a horrid stench flooded the room. Elena gagged and hastily shoved the cork back.

"Havens! It reeks like death," Maya said, fanning the air.

Elena scowled, holding the bottle at arm's length. "Whatever this is, it's long past its expiration date."

"It's a few centuries old," Maya admitted under her breath.

Elena stared at her. "Maya, why does a dragon have a cure for vampires?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I don't think it's a cure."

"You know what I mean," Elena pressed, arms crossing tightly over her chest.

"It didn't belong to him. It belongs to Anastasia."

"And why did she have it?"

"How should I know?" Maya threw her hands up. "Surprises about her just keep popping up."

"Then why don't you ask her?"

"I can't. I can't talk to her whenever I want." Maya crossed her arms now too, mirroring Elena. "The most reliable things I can find out from her are in this book."

"The book contains no information about this." Elena gave the bottle a shake for emphasis.

Maya stepped forward and plucked the bottle from her hand.

"Hey!" Elena protested.

"No playing with it until I figure out how it works."

Elena huffed and dropped into a nearby chair. "It says it on the inside of the cork**,"** she muttered, resting her chin on one hand. **"**Digest and purify… by sun? It could be fire, or… molten gold. But I think the sun's more likely."

Maya froze mid-motion. "Since when do you know how to read alchemy symbols?"

Elena rolled her eyes. "Since you promoted me to your lead translator for the old witchy manuscripts."

Maya blinked, then glanced at the bottle again. "Are you sure? Or are you just lying to me to give it back?"

"I swear." Elena extended her hand, calm but insistent. "Just give it to me. If it kills me, so be it. Nothing will change—things will simply return to their natural order."

Since her words weren't persuasive enough, she met Maya's gaze without flinching.

"I can't live in shadows like a monster… You have no idea what it's like to fear… the sun…" As she spoke, Elena somehow looked small. "I… I need to walk up to Keith and show him I'm not what he thinks I am." Her voice cracked just slightly, but she recovered fast.

Maya held the bottle a moment longer, fingers tightening around the glass. Her eyes searched Elena's face for hesitation—but there was only steady resolve, brittle as glass.

'Purify by sun…' Those words concerned Maya the most.

Reluctantly, Maya handed Elena the cure.

🜺🜺🜺🜺

Throughout the night, they engaged in deep conversation—or at least Maya did. Now, at least, she had a chance to open to Elena.

She shared the thoughts and feelings that had gone unspoken—the ones that haunted her during those endless hours in the basement watching over Elena's lifeless body, refusing to accept she was gone. Words previously trapped inside now found their voice. This time, she held nothing back.

Despite being chaotic, Maya deeply cherished their relationship. Through all the ups and downs, Elena had become like family to her. Both orphaned, they could find only the family they chose for themselves here, and Maya hoped she had come to represent something similar for Elena.

Maya felt a pang of disappointment when, after pouring her heart out, Elena's affect was only flat. Though Elena listened and seemed to understand, Maya's words appeared to simply bounce off her.

'She's been through a lot lately,' Maya's thoughts gave excuses.

But Elena was like that. She rarely displayed her emotions openly, but Maya knew she was terrified about this situation. Confusion clouded her mind too. Maya couldn't fathom what Elena was experiencing—having died and returned as the very creature she despised most, and without any choice in the matter.

The contents of the bottle were too thick, they wouldn't even pour out. Elena mixed it with alcohol. It diluted in it but didn't turn any more appetizing.

Just before dawn, it was time. She could feel Elena's anxiety.

Maya had doubts as well. What if it kills her? What if she watches her best friend die, again? She wouldn't be able to survive that. Especially because it would be as if she killed her, now.

Then again, what if nothing happens?

Elena took a deep breath to calm herself. "Tell Keith that I'm sorry and that I forgive him." Her gaze avoided Maya's.

"I will," Maya nodded.

"And…" Elena began but gave up on whatever she meant to say.

Through nervous laughter, she steeled herself before swigging the contents down.

Elena was an experienced drinker, but even she couldn't fight her gag reflex when the foul liquid hit her tongue. She immediately washed it down with plenty of vodka, then took a deep breath and looked at Maya. Her face contorted as the concoction clearly caused intense discomfort in her stomach.

"I swear… If this was just some kind of a prank to make me drink a dead rat cocktail…"

"You know I would never do something like that."

Suddenly, Elena's body language betrayed intense discomfort. She gripped her arms, clenched her teeth, and began twisting her body in agony.

"Ugh. This is not fun at all."

Soon she began stretching her face and pulling at her hair, then frantically scratching her hands, shoulders, and back. She became a restless ball of agitation.

"Are you okay? Do you need me to get you something?" Maya asked, struggling to mask her terror. There was no turning back now.

"Oh, holy hell. Oh, shit. Oh, fuck," Elena was lining up curses. "I think I need to set myself on fire, now."

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