Socializing had lost its appeal. With a silent nod to those awake, I excused myself and started to make my way back downstairs. The thrill of the earlier antics had faded, replaced by a simmering unease. Had I been too careless? Had I revealed too much? As I slipped out of the crowded venue and into the cool night air, The party was winding down, the music a notch lower, conversations lulled by cheap beer and laughter. As I rose to head back inside, a hand clamped down on my shoulder. Viktor's grip was surprisingly strong, fueled by several rounds of alcohol and heaven knows what. His eyes, bloodshot and glazed, held a nasty glint. "Leaving so soon?" he slurred, a sneer twisting his lips. "You haven't even said goodbye to Ivan." I had been wondering which on of them was Ivan. He owed me a thank you. Behind him, his hulking goon he gestured at, Ivan, cracked his knuckles, introducing himself, with pop of his oversized fists in the quiet night. Well, there he was. His minions started getting up one after the other, in a dramatic fashion, a funny attempt to appear intimidating. I was both amused and bored. I suppressed a sigh. Honestly, the whole thing was tiresome.
"Hello, Ivan," I said, my voice calm. "Thank you for having me tonight." He popped another knuckled and I smirked. "You don't seem too pleased. Didn't you like the car?"
Viktor stepped way to close to me, his voice laced with malice, His breath like rotten meat. "Verity likes men who can handle themselves," he said, his words thick. "Not some..." he trailed off, his gaze sweeping dismissively over me.
This again? Honestly, by Jove, what was this? Without waiting for him to figure out how to make complete sentences, I said. "Verity can make her own choices, Viktor." Meeting his gaze evenly, I continued, "And frankly, none of you are exactly bastions of masculinity tonight."
My words seemed to spark something in him. His face reddened, and with the furiousness of a raging bull, he lunged for me. It was a clumsy, predictable attack, easily dodged. I sidestepped him with a sigh, the movement more annoyance than exertion. Then on a second thought, I took the first punch for myself, like I've been itching to do all night, and knocked him into the ground.
Ivan, emboldened despite Viktor's failed attempt, lumbered towards me. He was big, all bulging muscles and scowling face, but slow. The fight, if you could call it that, was a joke. I wasn't wasting techniques here. A well-placed slap sent him stumbling back, falling off the roof, flailing at the air. Dammit! Too hard. Most times, it took immense concentration to control my own strength. Hope he is still able to drive that car. Viktor, feeling pressured to be the brave one, tried to join in, but ended up tripping over his own feet, landing in a heap on the rooftop floor. Wow.
The whole thing was pathetic. I stood there, arms crossed, waiting for them to get their act together. Finally, I knelt beside Viktor, his face flushed with humiliation or alcohol. I couldn't tell.
"Listen, Viktor," I said, my voice low. "I don't want to fight you. I might not agree with everything about you but you're a..." I searched the right words, "...respected colleague. Let's put this - whatever this is - behind us. Let's be better alright?" He mumbled something incoherent, I wasn't interested in a drunken apology, as he grabbed my stand to stand up, too embarrassed to lift his face up. I then, turned to leave but I heard him mutter something. "What the fuck are you?"
I half turned to look at him. "I am consequences of your actions, Vik And I being very lenient with you right now. I won't be as benevolent next time." I said with a smile. Silly children. With a final shake of my head, I left them sprawled on the rooftop, in the haze of cheap liquor and bruised egos.
Azure Estate Mansion
Four years ago
Walking into my home, I sighed, the night's events replaying in my mind. Verity's laughter echoed in my thoughts, replacing the less pleasant memories of this evening. A smile tugged at my lips as I recalled her easy grace throughout the evening, the way she effortlessly drew people in with her warmth. I suddenly detected a strange yet familiar scent coming from my bedroom before I opened the door. The sight that greeted me sent a jolt through me.
Perched on the edge of my bed, bathed in the moonlight that spilled through the window, bathing the room in an ethereal glow, was Verity like a fallen angel. She always wore white well, wearing a robe opened and draped, over the edge of the bed like liquid silver. Under the white robe half off her body, she was clad in lingerie, a whisper of silken lace that clung to her curves like a second skin. The moonlight seemed to play on the fabric, highlighting the strategic gaps that hinted at creamy skin and the promise of more. Opalescent skin that shimmered in the moonlight, accentuated the fiery vibrancy of her hair, which tumbled down her back in a cascade of untamed red. Her usual emerald eyes, however, were different tonight. The moonlight seemed to have ignited a deeper fire within them, their gaze flickering with an invitation that sent a jolt straight to my core. The air itself crackled with a silent energy, a potent mix of unspoken desires and silent promises.
My voice came out a husky rasp. "What are you doing here, Verity?" It was a stupid question, lost in the haze of her allure.
She uncrossed her legs, the movement sending the crimson fabric rippling against her thigh. "Just wanted to see you," she murmured, her voice like velvet scraping against silk. "Alone."
She rose from the bed, her movements slow and deliberate, each step a silent invitation. The hem of her dress danced around her ankles as she approached, stopping just out of reach. The air between us hummed with electricity.
"People are fools." she said, her voice a mere whisper, her eyes glittering with something akin to challenge. "Trying to keep us away from what we want." I cleared my throat, the sound rough in the charged silence. "And what exactly do I want, Verity?"
A slow smile spread across her face, a triumphant arc that sent a tremor through me. She leaned in, close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from her body, the scent of her perfume a heady mix of floral and spice.
"Don't you know?" she breathed, her voice a mere thread of sound. Then, before I could say anything else, she closed the distance between us, her lips meeting mine in a kiss that was both soft and searing hot. The kiss was a dam breaking within me, a torrent of desires I hadn't felt in a long time. She broke the kiss and stared into my eyes for at least three beats, running her hand through my hair then sighed. "You glorious creature." and kissed me again whatever the hell that meant. Verity's lips were soft, yielding at first, then turning insistent, mirroring the pull that flared in my gut. Her hands, cool against my heated skin, slid up my chest, sending tremors through my body. I wrapped my arms around her, the fiery red cascade of her hair brushing against my cheek, the scent of it intoxicating. One of her hands tangled in my hair, the other fumbled with the buttons of my shirt. I met her halfway, shrugging the garment off, my heightened senses reveling in the cool air against my bare skin. The moonlight filtering through the window cast long, sinuous shadows on the wall as we devoured each other, mouths locked in a heated battle of give and take.
Her robe, that white whisper of a garment, seemed to melt away under my touch. One moment it was there, clinging to her curves, the next it was pooling at her feet, leaving her standing before me bathed in the moonlight, her body a flawless sculpture like it was sculpted by my desire.
Every inch of her was a revelation to my touch. Her skin was smooth, warm silk against my fingertips, and her body, though slender, held a hidden strength that surprised me. We moved together in a dance as old as time, fueled by a hunger neither of us could deny.
I explored every curve, every valley, my touch both reverent and urgent. She gasped, a mixture of surprise and delight escaping her lips, her own hands roaming my bare back, leaving fiery trails across my skin. The centuries seemed to melt away, the weight of my past dissolving into the urgency of the present.
Verity was unlike any woman I'd ever known. There was a need in her emerald eyes that mirrored the one burning in me, a hunger that both scared and exhilarated me. She wasn't a coy maiden, easily seduced by whispered words and stolen kisses. She was a force of nature, demanding and passionate, a woman who took what she wanted. And she wanted control. That wasn't something I gave up easily. Not tonight, love. I grabbed both her wrists and pinned them above her head. I swallowed her protests in a kiss. I slipped my free hand further down to the center of her desires. I felt her gasp on my mouth, her hips twitch on my palm. With a second finger slipped in and a busy thumb on the right spot, I got to work. She convulsed under me within minutes. And in that moment, all I wanted was her. I slid into her sleek entrance and almost felt my soul leave my body. Verity was very vocal right now. Cursing in a language I couldn't yet place. As our desires reached a fever pitch, the world around us faded away. There was only the moonlight casting an ethereal glow on our intertwined forms, the frantic rhythm of our breaths, and the intoxicating blend of our desires playing out in a silent symphony.
In the aftermath, as we lay tangled in the sheets, her head resting on my chest, a strange sense of anxiety settled over me. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a very long time. I brushed it off. I choose to no longer fear making connections. I won't be the enemy of my own happiness. Whether it was love, or something else entirely, I didn't know.
The next day, I spent the entire day with her. The mansion was mostly empty because I'd given them the day off to spend with their families. I told her everything about who I was, where I came from, what I could do. Even experiences that were hard for me to share, moments I felt weak, moments I was strong. How I'd slept for 4000 years, awaking a few times in between, because I had nothing to live for, and humanity, nothing to offer me. She listened without interruptions except to ask to know more about me. She was siren song, a melody I yearned even though I had never heard it before and she was mine. We spent the day over food, making love, lazing around, talking about anything and everything. It felt like this was the peace I had been searching for in a long time.
I was about to have dinner in my room when I heard something off. Verity had left the evening before. My staff were back, some asleep, some moving about. But there were more heartbeats than they should be in my mansion, following cautious, stealthy boot steps. Viktor must've sold me out, suspecting me of being supernaturally powered and reporting his suspicions to the authorities as petty revenge. It is amusing how humans hold grudges against people for sins they committed themselves against the person.
Everything in here would make terrible weapons. My eyes moved through my options; from the slightly heavy nightstand, coffee table with. I was rather surprised I wasn't more panicked. Perhaps, I'd been dreading this moment for so long I guess I've been expecting it. Maybe I had accepted it. There hasn't really been a reason worth living for so long, I sighed. I will however only go down fighting. I took one last mournful look at my dinner and then I made my escape through the window, I wasn't taking my chances with the door. I opted for sneaking out. I'd rather the inevitable fight for my life happens as far as possible from here. My heart raced as I slipped out of the open window, careful to make as little noise as possible. The night enveloped me like a velvet cloak, its darkness broken only by the soft glow of streetlights casting gentle pools of light on the cobblestone alley below. A cool breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient oak tree that stood sentinel beside the mansion, its branches reaching out like gnarled fingers against the starlit sky. The scent of jasmine and distant sea salt hung in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from my kitchen downstairs, I wonder what my chefs are up to. Sighs. I really believed I'd found a home here. Still making my quiet escape, I landed noiselessly on the moss-covered ground, stealthily as any other feline. Shadows danced around me, playing tricks on my senses as I navigated the paths of the garden, dodging moonlit statues frozen in timeless poses. The mansion loomed behind me, its grandeur softened by the veil of night. I glanced back once, a moment of grief for the life I was leaving behind, before turning my gaze forward with determination. Ahead, the wrought iron gates of the estate beckoned like a portal to freedom. Almost there. Moonbeams danced on the ornate scrollwork, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on the worn cobblestones of the deserted street beyond. As I reached the gates, I paused, my hand resting lightly on the cold metal. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the journey ahead, then optimism gave way to common sense. I hadn't seen a single soldier this whole time. I opened my sense to the areas around me. Their stealth was nothing compared to mine yet somehow, they had managed to surround me. I was off my game, indulging in comforts for too long.
Shadows converge swiftly from all directions, blocking my path forward. This was truly terrible timing. I was stronger during the day. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, my senses sharpening as my leonine instincts kick in. I let the beast inside take half of the control and let out a roar that echoed through the stillness of the night. That bought me a little time thanks to its paralytic effect stunning my adversaries into momentary stillness, their instincts overridden by a deep-rooted fear of the powerful predator in their midst. Time to tap into strength I haven't used in a while. My muscles ripple beneath my skin, sinews strengthened by the power of my inner beast. My golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight, promising death to the first person that comes forward. I still had enough control to notice no shot has been fired. Their orders must be to capture not kill. The latter was a more merciful fate. No one has read me any rights so they apparently, weren't playing by the rules. Well, then, their deaths would cost me no sleep.
My assailants eventually recover and it's all the time I need. I launch myself forward. My claws extend and I swipe at the closest soldier with a controlled fury, ripping out his throat, not pausing, formed a fist and punched the helmet of the next one. Bones crunch beneath my powerful blows, and a growl reverberates from deep within my chest.
Amidst the chaos, I maneuver with a grace that was unnatural to them. I dodge incoming attacks, using my enhanced senses to anticipate each move. With calculated strikes, I incapacitate my opponents one after the other in a blur of motion.
Then they made a smart decision to surround me on all fronts, all at once. It wouldn't do them much good though. I pounded into a helmet, snapped a gun into two, then an arm, broke a ribcage through the armored vest, slashed at an exposed aorta all while keeping them off my person with my other arm, using a discarded shield.
The air fills with the scent of sweat and blood, mingling with the metallic tang of fear. My heart is pounding in sync with the rhythm of the battle.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity of struggle, I emerged out of their midst. My adversaries lay defeated at my feet. I moved from amidst the aftermath, there were definitely more. I had to leave.
With a deep breath, I retracted my claws and returned to my human form, the golden glow fading from my eyes. I gaze around at the scene, the gravity of my actions sinking in. 4000 years asleep, 294 years of fighting and hiding, 17 years of truly living uprooted in one night. No idea what comes after. But I am Gabriel Leo, and I will forge his path forward, no matter the challenges that lie ahead.