Meeting her gaze, he beheld the profound vulnerability she sought to conceal behind a facade of composure. Her confession unfolded like a fragile whisper amidst the silent chaos that enveloped them.
"I... I killed four of them. I—I didn't intend to. I never imagined my voice could unleash such devastation. Three of them met their end against the barrier, disintegrating on impact. But this one," she confessed, her voice faltering as she pointed to the maimed vampire before them, "I, I rendered him like this. I can't fathom that I'm capable of such an act. It feels... it feels like pure evil to inflict such harm," she stammered, her voice breaking under the weight of her words.
Damien's heart ached for her, witnessing the torment she felt.
In a quiet yet charged moment, Damien tenderly cupped the sides of Lauren's face, coaxing her to meet his gaze.
"Look at me," he implored, his voice a soothing balm in the midst of their surreal reality. "You should never have been left to confront this alone. I deeply regret not being at your side," he intoned with solemn sincerity. His proximity and the calm timbre of his voice sent Lauren's heart into a dizzying flurry of emotions.
"I assured the boys earlier, and I'll reiterate now—I promise to always be there, come what may, protecting you from every threat that may come your way. Even if your aunt is currently staring daggers at me" he added with a light-hearted quip, eliciting a chuckle from Lauren.
"Now, concerning the vampires, you must understand that they posed a grave threat. They were poised to harm you and your loved ones—a danger you decisively averted," he explained, searching her eyes for understanding. With a solemn nod, she indicated her comprehension.
"They got what they deserved, and you should harbor no guilt or compassion for them. They reveled in preying upon innocent humans. Your actions were right and just in ridding the world of their evil," he concluded with an air of conviction.
Upon hearing his words, a wave of relief washed over her, leaving her heart feeling unburdened and at peace. In that fleeting moment.
Though he grappled with the desire to confide in her regarding a particular vampire in his custody, Damien ultimately chose to withhold that information for the time being.
Tucking a stray wisp of hair that had escaped her tousled bun behind her ear, Damien gently withdrew his hands before casually adjusting his attire, his movements betraying a sense of underlying unease.
"It's crucial that you visit your father at the hospital," Damien suggested, his tone quiet yet resolute.
"Yes I should, but the disappearance of Director Shaw weighs heavily on my mind. We must find him," Lauren asserted.
"My team has already initiated a thorough sweep of the area, and Anderson is tirelessly poring over the CCTV footage. Any developments will be swiftly relayed to the NDI. Therefore, I implore you, go and see your father," Damien insisted, his gaze soft and unwavering as it lingered on her.
Amid this earnest exchange, a playful spark emerged as Lauren teased, "stop staring at me so intensely, unless you wish for me to presume that your feelings are same as mine." Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, the action unfolding almost instinctively.
"Your words mean a great deal," she murmured into his ears, her gesture catching him momentarily off guard. Yet, without hesitation, Damien reciprocated the embrace, drawing her into a comforting hold wherein they found solace for a fleeting moment.
"Let's go to the hospital to check on my father," Lauren declared to her attentive cousins, who had been discreetly observing the moments of subtle affection between her and Damien.
As they prepared to enter their respective vehicles, a shout erupted from one of the security operatives. "Captain, we've located Agent Stanley, and his condition is quite dire," he called out urgently, accompanied by another security operative bearing the wounded agent.
Realizing her inadvertent oversight, Lauren rushed towards them, her concern palpable. Placing her index finger before the nostrils of the injured agent, she let out a relieved sigh upon sensing his gentle breath, though it was evident that he had lost a significant amount of blood. Swiftly making the decision, they arranged to transport him to the hospital without delay.
"Gently, place him in the vehicle," she instructed firmly as the operatives carefully settled the injured agent into the back of the police SUV. Turning to her aunt, she implored them to hasten to the hospital in their own vehicle, as she intended to accompany Agent Stanley in the police SUV, ensuring his care until they reached the medical facility.
Shortly thereafter, the cars departed, leaving behind a contingent of agents and security operatives to thoroughly canvass the area and meticulously examine the scene.
"Well, duty calls, and I must depart. My patients require my immediate attention," Derek announced as soon as he concluded a hushed conversation on his phone. Damien quirked an eyebrow inquisitively, to which Derek playfully added, "In case you're wondering, the wounded agents and hostages are currently under my care at the hospital, particularly in concern for Lauren's father," the sly remark was just enough to warrant a reflexive eye roll from Damien.
"You may leave" Damien intoned with satire. He swiftly communicated with his men who had been in the shadows through telepathy, directing them to manipulate the CCTV footage before the authorities gained access, and to ensure that the agents at the scene were unaware of the true events that had transpired between Lauren and the vampires. "No loose ends. Is that understood?" he pressed.
"Yes, boss," they chorused in unison before swiftly dispersing to carry out his directive.
"I'll be heading to the hospital," Venessa announced, turning to leave.
"For what purpose?" Damon inquired with genuine curiosity.
"To offer Lauren moral support," she replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Wait for me, I need to check on Marcel," Serafina chimed in playfully as she followed in Venessa's wake.
"But he's a witch, and witches arent your type," Damon observed, a chuckle tingeing his voice as he shook his head.
"I don't know, there's just something about him," Serafina admitted, a sly smile dancing on her lips.
"But what if other witches prove hostile toward both of you?" Damon pressed, a note of concern entering his tone.
"I am not your typical vampire, Damon," Serafina declared matter-of-factly. "They wouldn't dare," Venessa concluded, their voices taking on a faint whisper that was carried away by the gentle night breeze as the two figures vanished into the darkness.
"So, where are we headed now?" Damon inquired of Damien, who was already striding towards his awaiting car.
As they entered the vehicle, Damon's accompanying driver initiated departure, followed by three additional convoys. "Lauren requires a change of attire," Damien explained simply, settling into the car seat with a deliberate air, resting his head against the headrest and closing his eyes.