Destiny has left its mark (Vampire Romance) +

12 ~ The other side

A wall-shattering, bloodcurdling brawl erupts between two powerful beings. The noise reaches my ears before I even step inside my home, which now looks like a war zone, with broken furniture and my belongings scattered everywhere. The air is thick with the scent of blood and splintered wood, mingling with the faint metallic tang of vampire energy. Neo hurls Elijah into a wall, causing the building to shake and leaving a deep dent. 

Elijah picks himself up, shaking his head, blood dripping from his face. A cut on his forehead heals in seconds, and he grins. "Come on, brother, is that the best you can do?" His voice drips with mockery as he approaches Neo, fangs bared, his eyes dark and menacing.

Neo appears worse, drenched in blood, a stark reminder that Elijah is the strongest vampire alive.

"Can you please take this somewhere else?" I interject, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration.

Both brothers turn to me, their eyes locking onto mine. The intensity in their gaze makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"Why are you fighting?" I frown, surveying the damage to my home. I kneel to pick up a broken photo frame of me, Ellie, and Abraham, inadvertently cutting my finger on the shattered glass. Goosebumps rise on my arms as I realize that bleeding in front of two enraged vampires is a bad idea.

The scent of my blood triggers different reactions. Neo's eyes turn a bloody red, and he clenches his fists, struggling to restrain himself. Elijah's eyes also darken as he moves swiftly to stand between me and Neo, who lunges toward me with his back turned. "Leave, brother. I won't let you drink from her," Elijah warns, his tone dangerous, his body tense like a coiled spring ready to snap.

Neo fights against Elijah to reach me. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way." His voice is that of a predator, not the brother I know, vibrating with barely contained rage.

Suddenly, I'm transported back in time, becoming Charlotte. The dusty road crunches under my feet as I walk toward my house, the heat of the sun baking the earth beneath me. A man in a black overcoat blocks my path. My heart races; instinct tells me he's dangerous and not human. I've heard horrifying tales of bloodsucking monsters from the townsfolk. "What do you want, sir?" My voice trembles, a bead of sweat trickling down my spine.

Neo smiles. "I want you." In an instant, he's beside me. "You and I are in love. I'm the only man you want, not my brother Elijah."

I feel as if my mind isn't my own, as if I'm under his spell. "Who's Elijah?"

Neo laughs briefly, then his expression turns serious. "He has feelings for you, Charlotte. But he'll never have you." He pulls me close and gazes into my eyes. "You will only love me, understand?" His breath is cold against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

Elijah's fist connects with Neo's jaw, sending him stumbling back. Neo sneers, his eyes returning to their normal colour. "She's not Charlotte. Why are you acting like this?"

"Get it together," Elijah replies, looking normal as he turns to me and wraps an arm around my waist. His touch is warm, grounding me in the present. I feel a shiver run down my spine, a mix of fear and something else I can't quite place. His scent is intoxicating, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him. "I'll send someone to fix everything."

Neo picks up his jacket from the floor, a flash of hurt in his eyes as he glances at us before walking out the front door. The tension between the brothers lingers in the air, thick and oppressive.

Elijah continues to hold me, his grip firm yet gentle. "Beverly is a traitor. Her brother was one of the vampire hunters we captured, so she went to break him out, leaving multiple dead vampires in her wake. She comes from a vampire hunter bloodline and used magic to hide it."

"But she's a vampire. How can she be a hunter?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I guess she's the first," he says with a smile that takes my breath away. I can feel my cheeks flush as his gaze lingers on me a moment too long. "Hungry?"

After washing the blood off in my compact bathroom, Elijah takes me to a bar. The dim lighting casts long shadows, creating an intimate atmosphere. I spot Ellie seated with a man, her back to me. The air is thick with the scent of alcohol and faint traces of blood. A waiter approaches for our order. Elijah orders blood for himself, while I choose a chicken salad and water.

Once the waiter leaves, he asks, "So what's going on between you and Neo?"

"We're friends."

"He wants more than that. What bothers me is that he couldn't stop himself from taking your blood." After a pause, he adds, "Did he drink from you before?"

"He was badly injured by vampire hunters." I can't help but notice his expression of jealousy, a flicker of something deeper in his eyes.

Elijah glances at the waiter as our order arrives. "Anything else, your Majesty?"

"No, that's all, thank you."

As the waiter leaves, I ask cautiously, "What was Neo's mission?"

"To infiltrate a group of vampire hunters and gather information so we can exterminate them."

"How would he manage that?"

"He volunteered."

"Sounds like Neo. How?"

"Magic. He realized Beverly used magic to conceal herself and tried it himself."

"Is that why you were fighting?"

"Partially." He sips from his cup, his eyes never leaving mine.

After a few bites of my salad and some water, I excuse myself to go to the ladies' room. The cool water on my hands feels refreshing, helping me collect my thoughts.

When I return, I see Abraham, surprised to find me there. He tells his friends he'll catch up with them later and approaches me. "Shouldn't you be somewhere else?"

"Elijah brought me here after he and Neo wrecked my home."

"I knew I should have insisted on watching over you. Did you get hurt?"

"I'm fine. I need to get back to Elijah, and you should enjoy your night out." I glance past him and see two women checking him out. "Get a girlfriend."

I turn to walk away from Abraham.

"Ouch, she's still rejecting me," I hear him call after me.