6. Fateful Meeting
Fateful Meeting
Eliza
E liza wasn’t sure who’d welcomed the damn vampire in, but it appeared the man had no intention of leaving. He sat on the sofa across from her. She’d nearly had a heart attack when she’d awoken to find the men in her living room.
Okay, not her living room, but he’d been in the apartment, and she knew for a fact he wasn’t supposed to be there. When he’d first appeared, she hadn’t even seen him yet; she’d been lying across Malcolm’s bed reading from one of the books he’d piled on her bed. Two classics and the rest romance.
When she’d looked at him in surprise when he’d handed them to her. He’d looked away from her. “I don’t have much time for thick books, something quick and easy to read is good enough.”
She’d covered her mouth to keep from smiling at his embarrassment. “There's nothing bad about reading romance; at least you like to read,” she said, turning her attention to the books and sifting through them. “And it would seem you have good taste.”
He cleared his throat drawing her eyes back to his face, and she found him flushing at her words. 6’4 with chocolate hair, and he looked like he could bench press her, and the man was flushing at her teasing words.
That had been a pleasant start to her day, but now she was staring at a silvery-eyed vampire braiding his long platinum-blond hair into a ponytail.
“I will assume that your presence means that Malcolm has chosen you as his mate,” he said, his voice holding a slight accent that couldn’t be placed. She wanted to say Russian, but it was softer. “If that is true, then it explains his eagerness to take you to his motherland.”
She frowned, hearing this for the first time. “I think you’re misunderstanding something here. I’m not his mate. He saved me and let me stay with him for my safety. Nothing else.” She didn’t need to add that she was using him for her own plans.
The vampire gave her a condescending smile that made her want to leap across the space between them and punch him in the face, but she didn’t. She curled her fingers into her thighs instead. “Yes, well. If that is what you want to believe, then you may. At my age, I’m not too interested in the overly complicated relationships of others.”
“Then why did you come here instead of minding your own business?” she angrily snapped.
He tilted his head, removed his hand from his braid, and crossed his arms. “I don’t know. Maybe it stems from my interest in a certain witch…” he trailed off, a warm expression coming to his face. “She doesn’t much enjoy my company, but with her, I feel centuries less than my age.”
Eliza scoffed. “Are you saying you have a crush on a witch?”
“If a vampire takes an interest in someone, it’s far more than a crush,” he said, the tone of voice turned intense with a thread of madness.
Eliza swallowed; she prayed that whoever had garnered the attention of the male across from her was prepared. If his expression was anything to go by, a simple ‘no’ wouldn’t dissuade him. She’d never had a problem with the beings who’d come to the shade to enjoy the club or the wares on the higher floors, but vampires always had this edge of cruelty that turned her off.
Just as she was thinking of leaving her unwanted guest alone in the living room, the apartment door opened, and Malcolm stormed in. His eyes immediately went to her, and the worry in his eyes comforted her as she stood and walked over to him.
He met her halfway, immediately pulling her to his side. He glared at the vampire across from her. “Alek, what the hell, man? We’ve talked about this.”
“We have indeed, but I never agreed. You’ve just been too boring over these many years for me to bother to invade your space.” She turned her head so she could see this Alek person standing from the sofa. His movements were elegant and smooth.
The hand she had pressed on Malcolm's chest vibrated as he growled at Alek. “Enough. What are you planning? You wouldn’t invade my space for such a superficial reason.”
Alek shrugged; Eliza felt the man wasn’t the type to share his thoughts. “Nothing, really. I just wanted to ask you for a simple favor.”
“Nothing’s ever simple with you, Alek, out with it,” Malcolm nearly barked.
Alek smiled slowly; it stretched across his handsome features, turning malevolent as he straightened. “I have four sons, as you know, and one of them is interested in trading with the Wolven Territories. I, too, would enjoy seeing the family business grow, and it has come to my attention that if your people have no leader, then it would only be logical for my dear friend to take over.”
Eliza frowned. “Are you trying to use my presence here for blackmail?” She pulled away from Malcolm, glaring at Alek. “What makes you think I’ll let you?” she felt the buzz of the goddess under her skin.
He quirked a brow, looking from her to Malcolm. “Because if you don’t, it's nothing for me to alert Lanias that you’re here.”
Hearing that familiar name made Eliza flinch. “Wha—How do you know her?”
“Did I not explain it clearly enough,” he pursed his lips, “or maybe you’re not quick when it comes to these things. The witch I have an interest in is Lanias, and she’s been awfully invested in finding you, my dear. Well, not only her but all of them have been trying to find you.”
“Eliza?”
Malcolm called her name, but she was too in her head to hear him.
Lanias was looking for her?
Why?
She wasn’t anyone special; sure, she considered Sabina, her close friend, and she’d always felt welcomed by the Shade.
As friendships went, she’d felt Lanias was more an acquaintance than a close friend. “They don’t have any reason to be looking for me,” she said aloud before realizing what she said from how the men both looked at her. “I-I mean, I know Madame always looks out for witches in general, but I-I can’t go to them even if I want to. I’d only put them in danger, wouldn’t I?”
Alek shrugged, “Depends on which way the wind blows; you were in the lab of an enemy that we haven’t been able to pin down, so it isn’t completely impossible for them to attempt to regain you. Currently—” He sent a weighted look at Malcolm. “He’s the person that can take you out of Veil city, so that you don’t get caught.”
Malcolm scoffed. “I was going to do that, with or without my current assignment.” He narrowed his eyes on Alex, “Still, it doesn’t mean your threat will move me to act. I once fought for a status that didn’t belong to me; now, here we are. I was banished, lost my honor and my place in my pack.” He shook his head. “Even if the elders welcome me back to investigate the disappearances, they won’t allow me to challenge anyone.”
Alek hummed. “You never know, pup; they just might not have any choice. Rumor has it that the current Alpha in charge of your territory has been seen with a human. And you’re people have a very clear view of human and werewolf relations.” He brushed imaginary lint from his sleeve. “And with the way your fight disrupted your clan, it’s time they had not five but one clear leader. Don’t you think Malcolm?”
Malcolm frowned at his words.
“You don’t have to do anything for me,” Eliza said; she wouldn’t let him sacrifice himself to this degree for her. She knew she was being a hypocrite, but her search for the item tied to the goddess differed from what this piece of vampire waste was trying to do.
Malcolm looked down at her, and she sank into his gaze. Every time she looked into his eyes, she thought of the dark woods that used to line the estate of her family’s lands when she was a child. She’d always enjoyed exploring it, feeling like she was entering a magical plain filled with different creatures. And when they darkened like they did now, she could only imagine the color of grass when the sky grew grey. The neon green filled her head with dreams of moving to the woods just to see greener depths.
He lifted a hand and placed it gently on her shoulder. “It’s fine. His request isn’t wholly bad,” he said, turning towards Alek. “I cannot promise you I’ll be allowed to compete, but if they offer it, I won’t turn it away.”
Alek nodded, “I can agree to that. Now, is there anything I can do for you?” he asked, almost as if he already knew what he would ask him.
Malcolm looked back down at Eliza, who looked back up at him in confusion, “Transport, she needs to return to her apartment and get a few things.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, not wanting to be the reason he drew suspicion. “We can go to the human world; I have money to buy myself new things.” It galled her to use her father’s money, but she didn’t really have much of a choice in the situation.
He gave a shake of the head. “It’s fine.”
She sighed. Giving a nod she looked at Alek. “I want to ask you something.”
He lifted a single brow, but his eyes said he was listening.
“Can you not tell anyone from the Shade where I am?” she asked.
A part of her wanted to run back to the familiar club and the people there. But she was on another path. She had to avenge the witches who’d been murdered in cold blood for some megalomaniac's own ego. She’d been lucky so far no one had questioned her about her experience, she much rather not tell them.
“I don’t want them to be pulled into this situation, especially if someone is searching for me.”
Malcolm and Alek shared a glance over her head before the vampire looked back at her and gave a short nod. “I will tell no one of your existence.”
She released the breath she’d been holding and offered him a smile. “Thank you.”
He smiled back. “No problem.” A red mist rose and slowly started surrounding his body; Eliza released a yelp when the same dense red fog swallowed her. “Now, let’s get you your things.”
“Eliza,” she heard Malcom call; he sounded frantic.
“I’m fine,” she cried out as she felt the cold chill of wood at her feet.
When the cloud dissipated, she was standing in her bedroom; nothing had changed. Her books were still stacked under the computer, and her dirty laundry was still piled on her bed from when she’d been sure she’d come back to clean it. She released a shuddering breath; it was like she had never left.
“Hurry, my dear. I can feel a magical alarm has been set off in this room.” The vampire's voice pulled her from her reminiscing.
“Y-Yes,” quickly wiping the tears from her face, she got to work. Running to her closet, she jerked it open and grabbed her empty duffel bag. Grabbing the clothes that were hung up, she started stuffing them into the bag. When it was full, she reached up and grabbed another bag, moved over to her drawers, and pulled pants and necessities from it. Leaving it on the floor, she ran into her bathroom and took her cleaning items.
It took her 10 minutes, but she’d stuffed her two duffels with everything, even her passport. She’d grabbed both bags just as the red mist swallowed her again. The posters of Lauryn Hill and Harlequin disappeared from the site, and she felt her heart rip open once more. But she’d hold her tears back; she was doing this for the others.
She could deal with not being okay for a little longer; once she fulfilled her purpose, she’d return to her old world. She would, she promised herself.
Malcolm
The minute Eliza disappeared Malcolm felt his anxiety stir, and panic pressed on his chest like an anvil. He knew that she was fine with Alek, and he knew that the damn vampire wouldn’t let anything happen to her. But the minute she’d left he’d felt the wolf in him stir to life and lash at his consciousness. He pressed his fingers to his temple; it had been a long time since his wolf had reacted in such a way.
Since his banishment, he’d been living as half of himself. His strength and sharp senses remained, but when he normally would have changed, he didn’t. His wolf refused to show itself; then again, wolves were known for their pride, and he’d had his stepped all over.
In an effort to refocus his attention, he walked into the bedroom. Going to his closet, he pulled the doors open and, bending slightly, he reached for a small box that was hidden in the back corner of it. He’d been honest with Castian when he’d said he refused to live his life like it had no meaning. At least that’s how he’d wanted to live, but it had been hard fighting day by day to not lose his hope for a better life.
Staring at the closed box, he shook his head and returned to the closet, grabbing the bag from the corner. He began to pack his clothes and other items into it. He couldn’t yet accept that he had lucked out; he was afraid that at any minute, everything that was happening to him would be proven to be nothing more than a dream.
After finishing packing things, he glanced back at the little box on the bed. Part of him said to leave it, but the other part of him, the part of him who wanted to take bold strides towards the better future that Eliza’s existence promised, reached for the box and placed it in his bag.
Zipping it, he set the bag on the bed and made his way to the kitchen. His stomach was rumbling, just as he entered the kitchen he found Eliza walking towards him. Two duffel bags looped over both shoulders; she was breathing heavily and looking a bit frazzled.
Worried, he went to her side. “Are you okay?”
She smiled, and he reached out without thinking, brushing her hair from her face. “I’m fine,” she said, shrugging her right shoulder. I had only 10 minutes to pack everything. I hope I got as much as I could. Unfortunately, my apartment now looks like someone tore it apart.”
Reaching out, he grabbed one of the straps and pulled it from her. “Here, I’ll take this.”
She nodded. “Thanks.” Walking into his bedroom, he followed her, setting the bag on the floor.
She tossed her on the bed. “Is that all you are taking?” she asked suddenly.
He looked at where she was pointing to see his bag and grinned. “Yes, that is everything.”
“I feel weird having so many bags,” she frowned.
“Don’t feel weird, I have fewer things than most—most of us who live here in these apartments do. The one who has the most now is Raijin, but that’s because his fiancée and stepdaughter live with him now. Sabina filled it with furniture and had her sister magic more rooms.”
“What?” Eliza said, whipping around in shock. “Sabina is with one of your guys?”
He nodded, smiling at her shocked expression. “Yes, they seem to get along well.”
Eliza's jaw dropped before she seemed to catch herself and abruptly shut it, her teeth clicking together. “Well, it seems like everyone was super busy while I was away.”
He frowned.
Seeing his expression, she shook her head, giving him a sad smile. “I’m sorry, did that come out a little too bitter?” She sighed. “I don’t mean it to. I just thought it’s kind of fucked up how life keeps going even when someone's world is falling apart.” She glanced at him. “Surely you understand; it feels like I was just slapped with how cruel time can be.”
He remembered when he realized he would never return to his homeland. “I understand more than you know.” He turned away from her, not wanting her to see him upset. “If you’re hungry, I am going to cook something.”
There was a beat of silence. “Yeah, I could use something to eat.”
He left the bedroom, needing to put space between himself and Eliza. He could control himself as long as he felt no strong emotions, but seeing her sad made him want to reach out and comfort her. But he could do only so much before he told her the truth of what she meant to him.
For right now, he’d make something for them to eat while she got herself together for them leaving in the morning.