Eldora's heart raced in her chest as her gaze locked onto Alaric's. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the rest of the world faded away. It was as though destiny itself had orchestrated their meeting, and she couldn't tear her eyes away.
But before Alaric could react, Eldora moved with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared from her spot and reappeared right in front of him. With a powerful grip, she seized the collar of his shirt, her supernatural strength leaving him breathless as she propelled him into the room and locked the door behind them.
Alaric's violet eyes widened in astonishment, struggling to comprehend how someone so seemingly petite could overpower him so effortlessly. In the next instant, the room crackled with energy as Alaric and Eldora, both formidable vampires, faced each other. Their movements blurred, defying the limits of human perception.
Eldora lunged forward, her fiery red hair streaming behind her like a banner of flames. Her fist moved like a blur, aimed at Alaric's midsection. But he was swifter. With almost casual ease, he sidestepped her attack, her fist punching through the wall, sending debris scattering.
Alaric countered with a lightning-quick kick, directed at Eldora's side. She twisted gracefully, narrowly evading the blow. Her leg swung out in a sweeping arc, but Alaric leaped backward, his movements fluid and elegant.
Amidst their lightning-fast duel, Daxon's urgent voice echoed in Alaric's ears, "Alaric, she's a friend! Try to subdue her gently!" Ignoring the plea, Alaric snarled, "Fuck off!"
Their battle continued with astonishing speed and precision. Eldora's strikes were like whips of wind, each one deadly and exact. Alaric's defenses were unbreakable, his supernatural reflexes enabling him to gracefully evade every attack, akin to a seasoned dancer.
Not to be outmatched, Eldora harnessed her vampire speed. She vanished from Alaric's sight, then reappeared behind him, aiming to deliver a powerful blow to his back. Yet Alaric, his senses honed to perfection, anticipated her move. He spun around, seizing her wrist mid-air.
Their eyes locked, breaths mingling in the close quarters. Eldora's golden eyes blazed with determination, while Alaric's violet gaze held a glimmer of respect for her formidable skills.
With a swift, fluid motion, Alaric twisted Eldora's arm behind her back, forcing her to bend forward. Her back pressed against his chest, and he secured her in a hold that temporarily immobilized her.
Leaning closer to her ear, he whispered, "Love, tone it down! I don't want to hurt you." Eldora struggled against his unyielding grip, her muscles straining as she fought to break free. She managed to twist her body, her free hand clawing at Alaric's arm. Yet he held firm, his strength unwavering. Their faces were mere inches apart, and the intensity of their gaze remained unbroken.
"Who the hell are you?" Eldora demanded, her voice dripping with anger and suspicion. Her fingers tightened on his shirt, her claws pressing into his arm. Her golden amber eyes locked onto his violet ones, a fierce intensity in her gaze. With her fiery red hair, highlighted like a radiant sunset, framing her face like a halo, she looked almost divine.
Caught in the enchantment of her gaze, Alaric struggled to find his words. "Whoever I am, I'm not your enemy," he finally managed, his husky voice strained. "In fact, I could be of great assistance in your current predicament." He gently tried to free his arm from her vice-like grip.
Eldora, still wary but sensing a hint of truth in his eyes, slowly relaxed her hold on his shirt. "Tell me who you are, and I won't resist," she said, her guard still up as she studied him closely.
Before she could delve deeper into her questioning, Serena, who had been observing the exchange with a surprising air of composure, couldn't contain herself any longer. "He's the famous Alaric Castellano, El."
Alaric, never breaking eye contact with Eldora, decided to take a calculated risk. In one swift motion, he deftly flipped Eldora within his embrace, pinning her against the wall, and shot a glare at her. His voice was low and intense as he responded to Serena's comment. "Your friend seems to recognize me. Just as my friend, who knows both of you, recognized you." He glanced at Serena, who appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the exchange between the two of them. "Daxon sends his regards."
Serena's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh! Now I understand why you're here. Daxon mentioned he was traveling to Milan for your meeting. It all makes sense now." She paused for a moment, then addressed Alaric again. "But, dear Castellano, why are you here?"
Eldora's eyes flickered with a mixture of astonishment and indignation as she jumped back into the conversation. "Serena, what are you talking about? Who is he again? How do you know him? And how in the hell does Daxon know him?!" Alaric's grip on her had eased as he now placed his hands on either side of her, still keeping her pinned to the wall.
He glanced at her coat, where her name was embroidered – "Dr. Leeuwen," then locked eyes with her. "I'm here to investigate the case you were just discussing with your friend," he explained, leaning back and moving towards Serena. "It appears you're affiliated with Commissioner Hensley, so there's no need to be wary of me."
Serena, rising from her seat, joined Eldora, who was still befuddled. "El, let's go find Daxon!" She turned back to Alaric. "I assume he should be nearby, right?"
Alaric smirked. "Indeed, you're right. I might return later, after I've dropped you two off in his care."
Eldora, her confusion growing, voiced her concerns. "Serena, how can you trust him so easily? He could easily harm both of us!"
"Dear, he's Don Castellano," Serena replied, exasperation in her tone. "He leads the renowned Castellano mafia clan, a dominant force in the European vampire community. I know why he's here; he's searching for his missing cousin."
Eldora's eyes widened. "How do you know that?" Alaric's warning voice echoed as he materialized behind Serena. "That's confidential information, woman!"
Serena remained composed. "Don't worry, sir. I'm simply good at my job. Daxon can vouch for me. I suggest you bring us to him so we can discuss this matter thoroughly."
"Call Daxon," Eldora insisted, holding her ground. "I'll go with him only if Daxon assures me of his intentions."
Alaric removed his earpiece and handed it to Eldora. She placed it in her ear and heard Daxon's voice. "Eldora, go with him. I'm in the alley behind the hospital. You can trust him."
Eldora nodded in understanding. "Okay. Give me two minutes to grab my things."
As Eldora rushed to collect her belongings, Alaric turned to Serena, his violet eyes harboring a concealed intensity. "You have a lot of explaining to do," he said, his voice low and filled with intrigue. Serena met his gaze head-on, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Believe me," she replied, "you're in for quite the story."