Umbra Vernandi

It was early afternoon and had just started getting dark. I was out on the balcony enjoying a cigarette while Erik was in the shower.

I was admiring the beautiful pink sky over the city when I felt a surge of energy that made me jump in my seat.

“So, the two of you are dating?” Damion asked as he sat down across from me. He looked troubled.

I looked at him with wide eyes. I hadn’t seen him since Halloween and certainly hadn’t expected him to show up here. Still, something about him made me feel relieved.

“Yes, I thought you knew. I’m sorry to drag my feet, I wasn’t feeling myself yesterday,” I admitted, disposing of my cigarette.

“I could imagine. I heard about your disciplinary hearing from Aurora,” he said, still frowning.

“I was worried, but I thought it was better to send Erik so as not to cause a scene,” he muttered.

“Why were you worried?” I asked, confused, pulling out another cigarette.

He smiled, looking thoughtful. “Let’s just say that I have my reasons for wanting you to be the one to end Marcus,” he said cryptically.

“You mean like an assassination? Because there is no way the headquarters are going to let me join that mission,” I sighed before I lit the cigarette.

“No, I’ll persuade them to let you join, but there is something I want to show you first,” he replied calmly.

“Persuade them how?” I asked, frowning at him.

“I’ll see it done, don’t worry about the how,” he chuckled.

“Anyway, tell Erik to hurry up. We don’t have all that much time,” Damion said before he vanished into thin air.

I was definitely receiving some kind of special treatment. For some odd reason, I didn’t want to dig into it, as if I feared the answer.

When I went back inside, Erik was done in the shower. “Was Damion just here?” he asked.

“Yes, he told us to hurry up,” I said, walking past him to collect the bag with my clothes from his room.

“And just like that you’re suddenly in a rush,” Erik chuckled, following me.

“He said he has something to show me. I want to see what it is,” I giggled while he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Are you ready to leave?” I asked, leaning back against his chest.

“Always, but are you sure that you are? I might have to leave you there,” Erik said, hugging me tightly.

“The sooner we get it all over with, the better,” I replied.

“All right,” Erik replied right before I felt his energy increase. The next thing I knew, we were in the entrance hall at Nord Manor.

It still felt a little spooky to me, especially in the darkness, with no one around.

It didn’t take very long, though, before I heard someone rushing down the dark wooden stairs.

“Bella! You’re here already!” Aurora exclaimed before giving me a welcoming hug.

She wore a beautiful, flowy orange dress that didn’t at all suit the cold weather outside.

“Well, Damion said there was something he wanted to show me, and that we didn’t have much time,” I admitted, somewhat embarrassed.

“Let’s not waste any time then. I’ll just give you a quick tour, then I’ll take you to the library,” Aurora answered.

She turned to Erik. “Erik! Damion is waiting for you in his study.” Then she began dragging me away.

“So I’ll be reading something then?” I mumbled while getting dragged up the stairs by Aurora.

She pretty much just showed me to a guest room, with its own bathroom, so that I could drop off my bag. Then she showed me where the small dining room was, before she took me to the library.

It was a beautiful library. It looked old, and really had the smell of old books.

“You are of course free to read whatever you want, but Damion already took the liberty of finding the ones he thought would be of interest to you,” Aurora said and showed me to a desk with a stack of newer, leather-bound books.

“These books all look amazing,” I said as I studied the covers in awe.

“It’s a hobby Damion has, to restore and translate old books. You would probably not be able to read the originals,” Aurora said, amused.

“Or maybe you would?” she mumbled, mostly to herself.

She was probably right on the first guess. I probably wouldn’t be able to read the originals. Although, I was curious to know why she thought I might.

Wanting to have a closer look, I sat down and started investigating the books.

“I’ll just leave you to it now, when I can finally concentrate on decorating for Christmas. I’ll check in on you in a while,” Aurora said before she left me to read in peace.

The very top book I was looking at had the title ~Umbra Vernandi~. I wondered why Damion wanted to show it to me.

I had probably read one just like it.

I froze when I opened the book.

The very first page depicted a man with bat wings and horns, just like the demon from my dream.

I looked at it curiously before I began reading.

The first part of the book was not completely unknown to me, but it was different from the reality I knew and pulled me in instantly.

It spoke of a time long gone now—a time when spellcasters sought to rule the world.

In their war, they released more demons upon the world than its inhabitants could survive, and so the balance of the mortal realm was completely shattered.

In order to restore balance, the Devil sent one of his four armies, the Umbra Vernandi, to the mortal realm.

They were sent to return the demons to hell and punish the spellcasters responsible.

Heaven also sought to restore balance and sent an army of their own—an army of minor angels, the Lucis.

Their prime mission was to purify all the corrupted spirits tainted by demons and sins.

They tolerated each other while the hunt was on, but when balance was restored, the Umbra Vernandi wanted to stay in the mortal realm to keep balance.

This the Lucis could not accept, thinking it wrong for demons to live among mortals, and so the two species went to war against each other.

The mortal realm made both of the species mortal, and after a couple of generations, their homes were forgotten.

Tired of war, the umbra struck a peace treaty with the Lucis, and they agreed to be cleansed of their demonic side.

As the umbra were baptized and cleansed of their sins, they lost their wings and horns, and grew a great deal weaker, but it was a sacrifice they were ready to make in order to keep peace.

Even after the cleanse, their connection to hell could not be completely severed.

In order to keep their demonic blood at bay, they had to refrain from using magic, and when they had to, for the sake of balance, they needed to get cleansed.

***

The part about the war with the Lucis and the reason for the cleanse was new to me. It wasn’t something we had been taught.

We had also thought that we might be descendants of demons, not that we actually are demons. I had no idea we used to have wings and horns.

Maybe the blood was diluted, and we weren’t demons anymore? Or that was the very reason we still got the cleanse?

The war and peace treaty with the Lucis was not even mentioned in our history book. We just kind of stayed out of each other’s way.

“How is it going?” Aurora asked while I was digesting what I had read, once again feeling like my world had shattered.

She was carrying a tray with hot chocolate and toast. It was in the middle of the night.

“I’m not sure what to make of it. Do you think we’re demons?” I asked, rubbing my temples.

Aurora looked a little amused.

“I know you are demons, but your kind baptize you in holy water at birth,” she answered.

“But if we didn’t, we would get corrupted and do evil, wouldn’t we?” I asked, confused, feeling dizzy.

Aurora laughed and shook her head.

“Of course not. It’s what you are, not who you are. Your kind started doing it to keep peace. But I think you forgot the real reason with time, and started to think of it as something to be feared, as if you’d turn into a werewolf without control. At least all the working umbra. I’m not as sure about the council,” she explained.

“How do you know we wouldn’t turn evil?” I asked, feeling like I was headed toward an existential crisis.

“I don’t, but Damion does. He remembers what you umbras used to be like, before you made peace with the Lucis,” Aurora answered. She took my hand in hers and handed me the cocoa.

I looked at her with uncertainty. Damion must indeed be very old.

“I think you should drink your chocolate and go to sleep. You can continue your reading tomorrow,” she said and stifled a yawn.

She was probably right. I was very tired too.

“Where is Erik?” I asked her, sipping the chocolate. I wanted his comfort.

“Damion needed his help with something. He’ll probably be back tomorrow evening,” Aurora replied, drinking from her own cup.

“I see,” I muttered, feeling disappointed. At least Aurora was here, and I liked her company.

“Listen, Bella,” Aurora said with an oddly worried frown. “I know I shouldn’t interfere, but you should probably refrain from telling Erik that you understand the arcane language.”

“Why?” I asked, surprised. Of course Aurora already knew.

“Just trust me on this.” She smiled reassuringly.

“Fine, I won’t tell him for now.” I sighed.

The guest room was very nice. It was in a very classical style.

I changed into my pajamas and crawled under the blanket. The bed was very soft, and the pillows and blankets were fluffy.

Even though I had so many thoughts spinning, I somehow fell asleep almost instantly.

***

When I woke up, light was streaming through the windows. I looked at my phone; it was already afternoon.

I’d had a long and dreamless sleep. I went to get a shower before I got dressed.

I didn’t put any makeup on; I just put on a loose white shirt with beige paperbag pants. I then ventured out to find something to eat.

I was almost surprised to see a little life in the house now. They had housekeepers, who were busy cleaning and decorating for Christmas.

Just like in my parents’ home, they had a chef who was more than happy to fix something for me to eat. After I’d had coffee and breakfast, I went back to the library.

I jumped when I saw Damion sitting on the couch by the fireplace.

“You slept for quite some time,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, I know. I don’t even sleep that well at home. Have you been waiting for me?” I asked suspiciously.

“Yes, I have. I think I should tell you about how my mother died. Marcus’s actions are, after all, about her,” he said, and made a gesture toward me to take a seat.