CHAPTER TWO
1705 Words
Lisa p.o.v
The week went by faster than I expected. Now it was Friday, but for some unknown reason, I couldn't shake this feeling of unease. It had been with me ever since the night I met that strange guy. His face, his blood-red eyes, were burned into my mind. I'd even told Caro about it, and she just got a serious look on her face. She warned me to be more careful, reminding me about the old rumors of vampires and werewolves in the city. Her concern only made the feeling worse, making the hairs on my arms stand up every time I was alone.
After finishing my house chores, I felt too drained to eat. The moody feeling from the morning had stuck with me all day, so I just grabbed a big T-shirt and some comfortable shorts and went to the mall to wait for Caro.
When she arrived, she took one look at me and frowned. "You look like you're about to fall asleep. What's wrong?" I explained how uneasy I'd been all week, and she gave me a look of deep concern.
"You're not going to just sit around and mope," she declared, pulling me to my feet. "What you need is to get out and forget about it. We're going clubbing."
Against my better judgment, I agreed. Soon, we were at her place, getting ready. She wore a stunning, short white gown with a spaghetti strap top and paired it with some strappy white heels. When I came out of the bathroom, I was wearing a black crop top that revealed my entire back, a matching black mini-skirt, and black heels. My hair was finally free, falling in waves around my shoulders. The change was shocking. I barely recognized the girl in the mirror.
As soon as we stepped into the club, I could feel all eyes on us. The blare of the music, the flashing lights, and the press of the crowd made me feel even more shy and uneasy. We went straight to the bar. While Caro was busy ordering our drinks, I felt it again: that same intense gaze from the other night. This time, I turned to look.
In the VIP section, I saw him. He was in a black suit that fit him perfectly, and he looked even more handsome than I remembered. He was surrounded by five other men and at least seven girls, all of them laughing and touching his arm. He met my eyes from across the club and a slow, knowing smirk spread across his face.
"Lisa!" Caro's voice cut through the noise, snapping my attention back to her. She was saying something, but I couldn't focus. I could still feel his gaze on me, a heavy, burning weight. I took the drink she handed me and gulped it down. Then I took another, and another, until I lost count.
We finally moved to the dance floor, and I let the music carry me away, losing myself in the rhythm. After about an hour, Caro leaned in and shouted over the music that she had to go to the restroom. I kept dancing alone, letting the beat drown out my thoughts.
Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands on my waist. I danced with the person for a moment, not really paying attention, until another hand pulled me firmly toward a quieter part of the club. I looked up to see him—Mr. Handsome. The way his eyes lingered on me made me feel a deep, cold fear, but I refused to let it show. I raised my chin and looked at him defiantly.
Darius's P.O.V.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" I asked, a low smirk playing on my lips as I watched her try to pull away from my grasp. Her wide blue eyes darted around, and the scent of her fear mixed with that intoxicating, unique perfume of hers was almost too much to bear.
"Of course... n-not, Mr. Handsome," she stammered, her cheeks flushing a light shade of pink.
The name caught me off guard, and I had to stifle a laugh. "Mr. Handsome?"
"No! No, no," she practically begged, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Please don't tell anyone I called you that."
I just stared at her, an amused smile on my face. A human, trying to look tough and defiant one moment, and then getting flustered over a simple nickname. This girl was truly a puzzle. No human had ever reacted to me like this. Her fear was there, but beneath it was a fascinating spark of defiance and a vulnerability that was so... endearing. I still couldn't read her mind, and it only made me more intrigued. She was right in front of me, and still an enigma. I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a low purr. "Tell me, what's a 'Mr. Handsome' going to do to you?"
Lisa's P.O.V.
"Nothing, of course," I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, but my heart was pounding a rhythm against my ribs.
"Fine," he said, the amusement gone from his voice. "Go home. I won't tell anyone you called me that."
"What?" I said, my confusion pushing past my fear. "I just got here." I hadn't even had a chance to enjoy the club, and the idea of this stranger telling me to leave was infuriating.
"Hmm," he said, stepping closer. The air between us crackled with a new kind of tension, and I stood my ground. "I'm not going anywhere."
Darius's P.O.V.
I had given her a direct order. A simple command. And she had said no.
No one had ever said no to me. Not my guards, not my council, not even my parents—the King and Queen of the vampires. A wave of pure, unfiltered rage, a hot red mist, clouded my vision. This human girl, with her defiant eyes and intoxicating scent, had just told me no.
Without another thought, I grabbed her, throwing her over my shoulder as she began to protest. Her kicks and shouts were nothing more than a minor annoyance. I pushed through the crowd, my path clearing instantly as others saw my face. The human patrons of the club were a blur as I made my way to my SUV and threw her into the passenger seat.
I started the engine, the low rumble of the car's powerful engine filling the silence. I stared at her, the red in my eyes burning hotter with every passing second. "Where do you live?" I snarled, my voice low and menacing.
"No," she said, her voice shaking but still defiant. She fumbled with the door handle, trying to open it. "We can't go without Caro."
"Yes, we can," I retorted, locking the door with a click. "And we are."
She glared at me, her blue eyes flashing with fury. "Fine. Then feel free to leave without me."
I stared at her, baffled by her sheer audacity. What the hell have I gotten myself into? No one, not even the most foolish human, had ever been so stubborn. I let out a frustrated growl, pulling out my phone. This was more complicated than I had anticipated. I couldn't just leave her friend stranded. I called my second-in-command, my frustration bleeding into my tone.
"Find her damn friend," I barked into the phone. "Carolina Eddie. Now. Get her home safe."
A voice replied with a simple, "Yes, boss." I hung up and threw the phone onto the passenger seat.
I looked at her again, the anger in my chest warring with a strange sense of amusement. "Happy?"
She sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. The fight seemed to drain out of her all at once. "After Park Lea Street," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Number 15, at the Brighton building."
The other side of town?" I muttered to myself, a frustrated growl rumbling in my chest. "Is this girl crazy?"
I slammed my foot on the accelerator, the powerful engine of my SUV roaring as we sped down the highway. I had no time to lose. The sky was still a pitch black, but it wouldn't be for long. How was I supposed to get back to my own side of town before dawn? My body was already starting to feel the telltale signs of the coming sunrise.
I glanced over at her and was surprised to see she was already fast asleep, her head tilted to the side, completely at ease. I was left with my thoughts, and the questions kept coming back to her. Why couldn't I read her thoughts? Why did she smell so intoxicating? And why, despite my frustration, did a part of me feel a strange sense of contentment just having her here, in my car, vulnerable and trusting?I know being a vampire has its perks, and I'm not complaining. I'm the vampire king, governing the largest, richest, and most powerful vampire kingdom in all of existence. But it comes with a downside. We drink blood; it's the only thing that keeps us from turning rogue and losing our sanity. The sun is a death sentence, silver burns like acid, and we can't enter a place unless we are invited in. But despite those weaknesses, we are creatures of the night, powerful and immortal.
In the human world, I've used my immortality to become a business tycoon, a billionaire many times over. I've lived for three hundred years, and I stopped aging at twenty-five, though I still look no older than twenty-three. I've had more than enough time to make my fortune, but now I'm in a race against time for a different reason. I’m searching for my soulmate. If I don't find her soon, my life—my very existence—will begin to fade.
And somehow, this defiant, breathtaking human girl sleeping in my car is the first person in decades who has shown me a flicker of hope.
- Writer
