The Unholy Trinity

The Secret Room

Zoey’s POV

Joey and Marsden still went to the room after classes. 

They didn’t stay for as long as they usually did and we were relieved when Keene didn’t come to take their place. 

After dinner we made sure they went back to Marsden’s room before heading to the Celestial Tower. We looked around the way Joey and Marsden always did before walking up at the wall. Tate took a deep breath before feeling around for the secret door. His eyes widened. 

“Babe, it’s there! I can feel the doorknob!”

“Open it!” I hissed. 

I heard the door creak before falling open. Tate pulled himself inside before helping me in. I closed the door as Tate conjured balls of light so that we could actually see. 

The room looked nothing like what I thought it would. It was incredibly neat, had a bed and bunch of bookcases. There were also pictures and notes scattered all over the wall. All of the pictures were of Joey and Marsden and some even had Keene and Misty. 

They all looked so happy and carefree. 

“I’ll search the bookcase,” Tate stated as I looked around the walls. 

I noticed Joey’s handwriting. 

Hey Mars!

I know this is stressful all is, but I swear you can do it! I believe in you so much baby! You are the most amazing person I know and we can have the best life together if we do this. Anyway this is just a little note to remind you that I love you so much. Come back to the room and cuddle me in fairy light

Love,

Joey

Wow that’s really cute. Joey really did love Marsden so much. 

The note under it seemed to be a response to Joey’s note.

Joey my love,

You are the most beautiful person to ever grace this earth. I couldn’t function without you. My life was so empty before you came breezing in. Now I have all these thoughts about the future and ambitions and that’s because of you. You changed my life. I love you. I’m gonna kiss you so hard you see lightning the next time I see you.

All my love,

Marsden 

“That’s beautiful,” I whispered. 

“What?” Tate asked. 

“Tate I think…I think this really is just their hideaway. All these pictures and notes and the bed. 

“But why? They each have their own room, why have some secret romantic getaway?” Tate questioned. 

“I don’t know, babe, but I’m not seeing anything sinister here.” I admitted. 

“Keep looking, I’m sure we’ll find something,”

I continued perusing the wall. It was just note after sweet note. 

“I found something!” Tate said triumphantly. “I think this is a journal.”

“It’s not locked or enchanted or anything?” I asked, sitting next to him on the bed. 

Tate flipped through the empty pages. “It is but I think I can get past it…Revalsmente.”

My eyes widened as words started appearing on the page. 

Tate cleared his throat before reading. 

“Joey Rosaria…I don’t know what the f**k kind of magic girl that possesses. I’ve never met another girl like her. She’s so easy going and carefree. I want to be like that. I want to not worry the way she does. I don’t have that luxury. With the way my family is, all my life will be filled with worry and fear. I should probably just leave Joey alone. She deserves better than me. Unfortunately I never do what I’m supposed to.”

“Nothing too incriminating there,” I pointed out. 

“There must be something else…oh this one looks good,” Tate whispered. “I tried to break up with Joey yesterday and instead ended up having s*x with her and falling more in love with her. I’m so scared for her. I’ve got her so deep in this I don’t think there’s an actual way out. Every day I don’t succeed gets us closer to danger. I don't know why she stays with me. She’s much braver than me. I am so worried that loving me will…”

“What?” I asked. “What does it say?”

“I am so worried that loving me will…get her killed.”

Joey’s POV

For the first time since we’d been back at school Marsden seemed kind of happy.

He never told me what happened when he talked to Count Killoran. He merely said that they talked more about his task and that it had to be completed by the time we graduated.

Keene and I thought it was definitely possible to do that if all three of us continued to work together. 

“Joey, what happened during Vernal Break?” Keene asked me. “Marsden seems different.”

“He talked to Count Killoran but he didn’t say exactly what happened. He might have also talked to my father.”

“No way,”

“They were both in the room, but Marsden claims that my father didn’t speak.”

“Do you believe that?” He questioned. 

I sighed. “Marsden never lies to me, so I guess I do.”

“Guess I do too,”

“Keene are you…have you been turned?” I whispered. 

I always wondered, but never wanted to ask. But with all that was going on, I needed to know who in my life was a Dark Vampiric Warlock. 

“Um…I actually got turned before Marsden did. I was the one who turned him.” He admitted. 

“Why did you do it?”

“My mom made me do it. Mostly for protection. She thinks Count Killoran will finally take over and if that’s the case, me being a Dark Vampiric Warlock will keep her safe.”

“That’s horrible, I’m sorry, Keene.”

“It’s the same thing with Marsden. We both had to do horrible things for our family. Of course he’s got it worse.”

“Does Misty know?” I questioned. He shook his head. “You’re the only one Marsden and I trust.”

I smiled and hugged him tightly. 

“Um, should I be jealous?” We broke apart and saw Marsden. “What’s going on?”

Keene and I exchanged looks. “Nothing.”

--

Marsden was so f*****g romantic. 

His room was once again filled with fairy dust. Candles danced around us and the room was littered with Dragon Snap petals. Marsden had a whole set up on his floor. He said this was a recreation of our first date except we’d actually have s*x tonight. 

“You look happy,” I pointed out. 

“I am happy…with you.”

“It’s just since we’ve been back you’ve been kinda strange.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I was stuck in my head, I’m better now,” He assured me. “I’m focused on how much I love you.”

His words didn’t match his eyes. He was happy about tonight and this date, but something  was still plaguing his mind. 

I decided to let it go. I just wanted to enjoy the night. 

And I did. Marsden and I laughed more than we had in months. We shut everything else out. Marsden even made the ceiling transparent so that we could kiss under the stars. Though kissing was quickly turning into something more. 

Marsden was on top of me kissing me desperately. He slowly kissed my neck. I was shocked to feel his fangs. They never came out this early. 

“Joey?” He breathed.

“Hm?” I hummed. 

“Can I turn you into a Dark Vampiric Warlock?”

Chloey’s POV

Cade and Raina disgusted me. 

They were literally everywhere making out and dry humping. It made me want to puke. 

“Does it bother you that they’re together?”  I looked up and saw Tate sitting across from me. 

I don’t think we’d ever had a one-on-one conversation. I always thought that was kind of weird considering he’s dating my sister and I’m dating his best friend. I mean I’ve had plenty of one-on-one conversations with Marsden.

“Yes, but not because I’m jealous or anything. It’s just gross and very weird. What about you?”

“Same. Insanely weird. I guess I just never thought about Raina with anyone else.” Tate admitted. 

“How long were you two together?” I questioned. 

“Five years. Five insane years.” 

“So you met my sister and suddenly you wanted to throw away a five year relationship?”

“Things were already bad before Zoey showed up. And then I saw her and everything in my life suddenly made sense. Like she showed up at the right moment, right on time. I knew I needed her. Everything that I had ever wanted was staring me in the face. I never thought I’d get that.”

“And what was it that you wanted?”

“Someone who didn’t care that I was Tate Highmore. Who saw more than the legacy I had to uphold or my destiny. I wanted someone who saw me. Just me.” Tate explained. 

“That’s really sweet,” I smiled. “I’m glad you two found each other.”

Tate looked slightly surprised. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you have a favorite of your sisters’ boyfriends and it is not me.”

I scrunched my nose up. “I’m that obvious about it huh?”

“Oh definitely,”

“I’m sorry. I just…I think I see the side to Marsden that Joey sees and it makes me happy. She used to go through guys faster than a mermaid goes through shell bras and then she finds Marsden she becomes more mature and thoughtful. I think it’s beautiful.”

“And you don’t think he’s trouble?” Tate asked. 

“Tate, do you know what it’s like being a Dark Vampiric Warlock’s kid?” I asked. He shook his head. “It’s constantly being watched and judged. No matter what you’re going to be compared to your parent. They’re either expecting you to be the epitome of purity or turn out to be just like them. There’s no inbetween. That’s a lot of pressure and I know Marsden goes through that.”

“I guess I didn’t think about it like that,” 

“Joey feels it too and she finally found someone that fully understood her. I know Marsden is not the nicest person in the world, but he treats Joey like gold and he cares about me and Zoey. That’s what matters the most to me.”

“I get that…but don’t you worry about Joey and what she gets into with him?” He wondered. 

“Sometimes, but if anyone can handle themselves, it’s Joey. And when she can’t, she’ll come to us. But that’s the thing, she has to come to us, there’s no other way.” I stated. 

Tate nodded. “This was really nice, Chloey.”

“Yeah, it kind of was. Maybe we should do this more often.”

“Cade and Raina thought they we were going to break down about their relationship and look at us making new bonds.” 

Marsden stalked past us with Joey in tow. “Marsden, baby please! Just talk to me Mars! I’m not mad okay?!”

“Joey stop being so damn nice to me!” Marsden called over his shoulder. 

“What is going on there?” I looked after them. 

Tate had a slight smile on his face. “Actually, I think I have an idea what’s wrong with those two. But like you said, we’ll just have to wait for Joey to come to us.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“There you two are,” Zoey stated as she and Rune sat down. “What’s up?”

“Tate and I were just having a great conversation,” I smiled. 

“About what?” Rune asked. 

Tate grinned. “Life, Rune, life.”