After the dinner, Emily leaned closer to Loretta, her voice barely above a whisper. "Take Jane back to the hotel. I'll stay with Alex."
Loretta, sensing the underlying tension, nodded. "Jane, let me drop you off at the hotel," she said, her tone firm but friendly.
Jane, puzzled and slightly annoyed, glanced at Emily. "Aren't you coming?" she asked, expecting Emily to follow.
Emily shook her head, her expression calm. "I'll be right behind you," she assured, watching as Loretta and Jane left the restaurant. Once they were out of sight, she turned to Alex, who had been watching the exchange with curiosity.
"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?" Alex asked, sensing there was more to this than a simple after-dinner chat.
Emily took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto his. "I saw the disappointment on your face when you saw everyone at the table tonight. I thought we should have some quiet time alone," she said, her voice soft but earnest.
Alex raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her candor. "So, I'm giving you the opportunity to drop me at my hotel room," Emily added, her tone turning playful and flirtatious.
Alex chuckled, the tension easing a bit. "Should we take a stroll first?" he suggested, his smile genuine.
Emily nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Yes, let's."
As they walked down the dimly lit street, the cool night air was a welcome change from the restaurant's warmth. They strolled in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the town settling for the night creating a serene backdrop.
So, they walked down the street. After about twenty or thirty meters from the restaurant, they stumbled upon a mugging scene. A group of boys was engaged in a rough fight, and suddenly, one of the boys stabbed another, leaving him bleeding on the ground.
Emily, horrified, rushed to the injured boy's side despite Alex's attempt to pull her back.
"Emily, stop!" Alex shouted, trying to grab her arm. "It's dangerous!"
But Emily was already kneeling beside the boy, her hands hovering over the wound. "Call 911! We need an ambulance, now!" she cried, her voice shaking.
Alex hesitated for a moment, scanning the area for any more threats before pulling out his phone. "Emily, you can't just jump into a commotion like this. It's not safe," he said, his voice filled with concern as he dialed the emergency number.
"I can't just stand by and do nothing," Emily replied, pressing her hands against the boy's wound to slow the bleeding. "He's losing too much blood."
Alex, now on the phone with the emergency operator, relayed their location. "We need an ambulance immediately. There's been a stabbing," he said, glancing around to ensure they were safe.
The boy on the ground groaned in pain, his face pale. Emily looked at Alex, her eyes wide with fear but determined. "How long will it take for them to get here?" she asked urgently.
"They said a few minutes," Alex replied, hanging up. "But Emily, you need to be careful. This could be dangerous."
"I know, but I can't just walk away," Emily said, her voice trembling but resolute. She kept her hands pressed firmly on the wound, trying to maintain pressure.
Alex knelt beside her, his worry evident. "You're too kind-hearted for your own good," he muttered, looking around nervously.
Minutes felt like hours as they waited for the ambulance. Finally, the distant sound of sirens grew louder, and soon the flashing lights illuminated the street. Paramedics rushed over, taking over from Emily and quickly assessing the boy's condition.
Emily's hands were covered in blood as the paramedics took the injured boy away. Alex, looking deeply worried, reached out and held her hand. As he did, the touch triggered a flood of war memories, causing a sharp pang of anxiety. His grip on her hand tightened briefly before he stepped back, his face pale.
"What's wrong, Alex?" Emily asked, noticing the sudden change in his demeanor.
He took another step back, struggling to control his emotions, feeling the familiar but unwanted urge to transform. "I... I need a moment," he stammered, turning away from her.
Emily, concern etched across her face, walked towards him, her voice gentle but firm. "Are you alright, Alex?"
Alex kept walking, trying to distance himself from the overwhelming memories and the fear of losing control. "I just need some air," he muttered, his voice strained.
Emily didn't give up, following him closely. "Talk to me, Alex. What's going on?"
He stopped and turned to face her, his eyes haunted. "It's... it's the blood. It brings back memories I'd rather forget. The war, the violence... it's too much sometimes."
Emily moved closer to Alex, her hands still covered in blood, but as she did, she noticed Alex beginning to back away. His face twisted in distress, and she could see his nails becoming sharper, his muscles rippling as he struggled to control his transformation. His eyes glowed red with the strain.
"Leave now," Alex managed to say through gritted teeth, his voice rough and urgent. "Leave now!"
Emily, realizing what was happening, took a step back, her eyes wide with concern but not fear. "Okay, okay," she said soothingly, her hands held up in a gesture of peace. "I'm going."
As she retreated, Alex turned and ran, his clothing tearing as his body morphed. His muscles expanded, and his form shifted grotesquely, tearing through the fabric of his clothes. He bolted towards the nearby woods, desperate to hide his transformation.
Emily watched him go, understanding now the depth of his secret. She knew he was the same creature who had saved her life before, the monster she had seen in the city. She carefully wiped her hands on her dress, trying to calm her racing heart. She quickly flagged down a taxi and headed back to her hotel room, her mind swirling with the revelation.
As Alex stealthily made his way home under the cover of darkness, Nana's keen senses detected the presence of the protector in his true form. With a sense of urgency, she hastened to the staircase, her fingers deftly manipulating the hidden mechanism that concealed the passage to the ancient library below.
As the door swung open, Alex emerged, his form shrouded in shadow, his features twisted into a primal semblance of his true nature. Nana's heart sank at the sight, knowing the torment that raged within him, the struggle between man and beast that threatened to consume his very soul.
"What happened?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern and understanding. But Alex remained silent, his eyes betraying a mixture of pain and turmoil that he could not put into words.
Undeterred, Nana gestured for him to enter the passage, guiding him towards the safety of the ancient protector room hidden deep within the bowels of their home. With each step, the weight of their legacy hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the sacrifices they made to protect their family and their secrets.
As they descended into the depths of the island, Nana's voice echoed softly in the dimly lit passage. "Alex, take a deep breath. Calm your nerves," she urged, her tone gentle yet firm. "Why are you in your true form?"
Alex's voice was thick with emotion as he struggled to find the words. "Nana, I don't know," he confessed. "I saw blood, and I couldn't control myself. Memories of war flooded my mind, and I lost control."
Concern etched across her features, Nana pressed on. "Did anyone see you?" she inquired, her mind racing with the implications of Alex's transformation.
"I ran as fast as I could from Emily," Alex replied, his gaze averted in shame.
Suddenly, realization dawned on Nana as she remembered Alex's recent date with Emily, the CEO of Watson Corporation. "Oh, sorry," she murmured sympathetically. "I guess your date was ruined."
But Alex shook his head. "No, not really," he replied. "I don't think she suspects a thing."
As they spoke, Alex's form gradually began to shift, his monstrous visage giving way to the familiar features of a young man. Nana seized the opportunity to impart some wisdom to her protege.
"I think we know what triggers your transformation now," she said, her voice filled with reassurance. "But remember, the duty of the protector is to protect. Stay calm, and always be aware of what triggers your calmness."
With a renewed sense of purpose, Alex listened intently to Nana's guidance. Together, they emerged from the hidden passage, only to be met by the sight of Emily, Emily's eyes remained fixed on Alex, her mind racing with questions and fears as she tried to make sense of the strange scene unfolding before her, she ran up the stairs.
"Emily!" Nana called out, her voice a calming presence in the midst of chaos. "It's alright, dear. Everything's under control now."