Reylan's fist clenched, his eyes flickering with a hint of red. Blaze, sensing the impending outburst, was quick to intervene. He seized Reylan's arm, his plea for calm falling on deaf ears as Reylan advanced, prompting a resigned sigh from Blaze.
Christina, though she didn't meet his gaze, sensed Reylan's approach. She raised a hand in a silent command to halt. Reylan stared at her outstretched hand, and against his will, retreated a step, his fangs receding. What the hell was he doing?! He thought in realization. After all, it wasn't even confirmed that she was the one!
"Did you break up with him?!" Richard's voice echoed down the hospital corridor, drawing the attention of passersby.
"Let's not cause a scene in the hospital, Dad. I'm glad she's found someone better than me," Derrek retorted from behind, his words almost causing Christina to scoff aloud.
"You should consider acting, now that you're back on the streets," she quipped, jabbing at his pride over his recent dismissal from the company. But before Derrek could respond, another slap landed on Christina's face.
Blaze gasped, his face contorting into a scowl. He couldn't fathom how someone could harbor such hatred for their own flesh and blood. Reylan, meanwhile, held back, his inner beast stirring for reasons unknown.
"How can you be so selfish?" Richard spat, his voice seething with anger. Derrek informed him about the breakup, and their boss seemed interested in Christina so she left him behind.
"I can't help it, it runs in my blood," Christina retorted, her words igniting Richard's rage. She was calling him out for his selfish pursuit of business ventures when he should have been providing for his family. If not for their grandmother's restaurant back in their hometown, Christina was certain they would have been left homeless.
Before Richard could strike again, Reylan intervened, grabbing his wrist. He couldn't bear to see the hardships this little human had endured at the hands of her father.
"Use words," he warned, releasing Richard's hand. His intervention only served to fuel Richard's resentment towards his daughter.
"You're a disgrace to our family! How can you throw yourself at anyone just because they're rich?" Richard's glare shifted from Christina to Reylan, drawing more attention to their family drama. "Leave him and go back to Derrek! Don't lose a good man for this womanizer!"
"And what if I refuse?" Christina challenged, crossing her arms. She had given him enough leeway. If he was so keen on trusting Derrek over his daughter, she was ready to sever ties with him as well.
"You will be dead to me. I will forget I ever had a daughter." Richard's declaration hung in the air, a weapon that had always worked in his favor.
This time, however, Christina was not swayed. She drew a sharp breath and met her father's gaze. "Please do, Dad," she retorted, her voice steady and her eyes unyielding.
The smugness on Richard's face faded, replaced by shock. "I will even remove you from our family registry," he threatened, his words eliciting surprise from the onlooking vampires.
"Sure, I'll be entering a new family registry anyway," Christina replied, a small smile playing on her lips as she glanced at Reylan.
"What do you mean?" Richard asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. Even Derek was taken aback by the unexpected twist.
"I'm marrying this man in a few weeks, Dad," Christina announced, her statement leaving everyone in stunned silence. Blaze's initial surprise quickly morphed into a delighted squeal, while Derrek and Richard gaped at her in disbelief. Even Margaret, who had just returned from the restroom, couldn't believe her ears.
"If it's all clear," Christina said, linking her arm with Reylan's, "let's go." Blaze happily followed them, and as they left, he turned back to flash a triumphant middle finger at the shell-shocked Richard.
Derrek gritted his teeth, his hands clenched into fists. "This bitch," he muttered under his breath. Every time he thought he had the upper hand, Christina delivered a more devastating blow.
Once they reached an empty corridor, Christina let go of Reylan's arm. Blaze was the first to break the silence. "That was epic, Christina! And I can't believe you agreed to the deal."
Reylan, still processing the recent events, mumbled, "It's fine if you're still not sure and said it in the heat of the moment."
Blaze's eyes widened at his brother's chivalry. Where was that vampire wielding people's weakest point to his advantage? Even Reylan was surprised at his own words. It felt like his long-dormant human side was slowly awakening.
"No, I meant it," Christina assured him, shaking her head. "You've been helping me so much, and it only makes sense for me to do the same." Seeing his worried expression, she added, "I had already made up my mind this morning and approached you, but things went downhill."
Her reassurance prompted a nod from Reylan. "Let's focus on your mother first. We can discuss the contract later." With her agreement, he turned to Blaze. "John has arranged a room in the VVIP ward. Take her there. I'll be back soon."
As Blaze and Christina disappeared around the corner, Reylan turned to meet John. A silly smile spread across his face, a rare sight that didn't go unnoticed by the hospital staff.
Reaching a secluded area, Reylan snapped his fingers and teleported directly to John's office.
"Ah, you scared me," John exclaimed, leaning back in his chair. Despite living for nearly a century, he was still not used to Reylan's sudden appearances.
"Do you have any blood?" Reylan asked. The hospital environment was stirring his hunger, which had been triggered earlier when Richard had raised his hand against Christina.
"Plenty, Mr. Hungry Beast," John replied with a smirk. He quickly called his assistant to bring some O-positive blood packs, Reylan's preferred type.
"So, what did you want to discuss?" Reylan asked, settling onto the couch. John started a presentation on his computer, revealing some alarming findings.
"Her blood contains an element found in demon's blood," John began, causing Reylan to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"But weren't demons eradicated three decades ago by the Defenders and the Grim Reapers?" Reylan asked, recalling the devastating battle that had nearly destroyed their world.
"That's what makes this more pressing," John continued, displaying images from Christina's medical records. "My team is certain it's demon's blood. The only explanation we can think of is that it was introduced through a blood transfusion. She lost so much blood that day, that the hospital called for all available donors."
"So, you're saying you can't save her?" Reylan asked, well aware of the effects of demon energy on a human. "Report it to the Defenders. They specialize in situations involving supernatural threats."
John nodded but knew the situation was more serious than Reylan realized. "What I'm trying to say is, that this element is active and spreading rapidly in her blood. It's multiplying faster than any virus we've ever seen."
Reylan frowned, prompting John to continue, "This could mean the demon is still alive and breathing the same air as us. It might come for the patient, sensing her as a conduit to reclaim this world. And it might also come for Christina, as she's the next descendant of its blood carrier."
Reylan sighed heavily. As if he didn't have enough creatures lurking in the shadows, ready to strike. And now a demon was added to the list? This was bad news indeed.