It had been months since then.
His days passed in relative boredom. As the news played in the background as he moved aimlessly across the house, he heard the name of his university once in a while. Drug rings, students involved in distribution… It went high up and the Dean's name came up as well. Ladislas sighed.
The man died with a nasty personality. He was lucky that no one had pointed back to him. With social media, remaining immortal was difficult. He couldn't die, but people could make his life even more miserable than it already was.
- - - - -
Ladislas didn't feel cold too often, but he was feeling cold right then. He reminded himself that he only had a few blocks left. And then he could get under a warm blanket and some hot chocolate to satiate his human side.
He was trying to make his way home in the blizzard of the century. It was an overstatement, but he could hardly see where he was going. Snow was pouring from the sky, blinding his vision almost completely as he stumbled through the deserted streets.
"Why did you come to work on your day off in this weather?" A staff member from the university had asked. He had shrugged.
He wanted to get away from the thoughts of Anna Dunn and where she went. He wanted things that were more interesting than her.
He hadn't told anyone that for good reason, but now he wished he had. The truth was, he could use the information on the girl. She had disappeared without a trace and if anyone knew where she was, he would reward them handsomely.
He pulled his scarf up around his face and wrapped his arms around his torso, wishing he could make it home soon. He had taken a route home that he had never before. It was at least a few miles longer. His coat was already soaked through, and his feet were numb from walking the distance from the university to his home. He still had half an hour of a walk left to go. Which was not much for him. But he was uncomfortable.
He heard someone groan from a distance away.
He stopped in his tracks and looked around, feeling confused about why he suddenly needed to. He had seen a lot of people in dire condition, but something about the voice made him stop. It was oddly familiar.
Had he imagined that?
He brought his hand up to shield his eyes and by the side of the building, he saw something huddled on the ground. It was hardly visible, almost completely covered in snow.
A human?
He squinted and took a step closer to the unmoving shape which was pressed against the wall.
"Are you alright?" he asked uncertainly.
Of course, it was freezing outside. This human was not in good shape.
Another groan.
It was low and pleading and his breath hitched in his throat. It was female and she was obviously in trouble.
She would die out here in the cold.
He gritted his teeth and looked around for someone else on the street. But only two people were foolish enough to be out in this weather. He turned his attention to the woman on the ground again.
She was lying on her side, facing the building, all curled up in a ball with her arms covering her head in a failed effort to stay warm. Her clothes were worn and completely soaked through.
Why wasn't this girl in the shelter? He couldn't get a scent off her because of the winds.
He couldn't linger there for long. He was growing exceedingly uncomfortable.
And then as he closed in on her, the scent of lemons hit. He knew this scent very well. He craved it for the past few months.
He dropped down in front of her in a hurry. "Can you walk?" he asked and placed his gloved hand over her shoulder.
She recoiled instantly and pressed herself against the wall.
Ladislas realized right then, Anna was afraid of him!
"Hey, Anna. It's me. I won't hurt you. Let me take you inside," he said, pulling on her arm.
'Inside? Inside where? Your house?' Anna thought in a panic. She shook her head. 'It is a bad idea.'
Ladislas refused to take her protests. He could not leave her fragile body out in this fatal cold.
Anna struggled for a few minutes before she gave in.
What else could she do? She couldn't just stay out in the cold and die.
Seeing her resignation, Ladislas lowered his arms and started to help her up from the ground. He saw that she was shielding a backpack between the wall and her body.
She almost slipped on her way up because her body was shaking so much.
Anna gulped. She hadn't thought too deeply about who was helping her before. But now that she looked up into his eyes, she knew who it was instantly. Those purple eyes were unmistakably his.
Holy shit. How tall was he? How had she forgotten that?
He was a dangerous man who had asked her to come home with him. Alone. And she was supposed to be just a homeless stranger. How had he recognized her in this state? She couldn't help but feel fear. As lovely as it was to see him again, she had just not known he passed by this side of the city.
This was a really bad idea.
Ladislas, on the other hand, shivered in his warm clothes. He couldn't imagine how much pain she must be in after having laid on the frosty ground for god knew how long. Anna finally found her footing and stood up next to him.
Anna shuddered violently next to him and almost dropped to her knees. Before he knew what he was doing, he had his arm wrapped around her waist.
Anna's eyes widened in shock and she shriveled up. He took her arm and slung it over his shoulder for support. Finally, she was leaning on him and found her bearings again.