In the heart of a thick forest,huge trees towered the sky like sentinels and the air was thick with mystery. Dorian paced up and down angrily whiles Elara leaned leaned on the tree, trying to heal her wounds.
Dorain paused , his eyes suddenly moving to the grave in front of him. The stone was cracked and overgrown with thick vines. This was no ordinary grave. His beloved was trapped in there. His beloved who held dark secrets that had plagued their realms for centuries.
Dorian's eyes burned with fury as he stared at the grave. "I can't believe I let her slip away," he growled.
"If you didn't let you thirst for revenge take it's toll over you, all this would not have happened," Elara said, pulling out a piece of glass that was lodged in her arm. She hissed in pain but Dorian rolled his eyes.
"I want Lyra to be free as well, but it doesn't mean we should go around and make stupid mistakes," Elara added.
"I'm not going to spare Lysander. I'll make him pay for every single thing he has done to me. I'll make him pay. I'll slit that human's throat right him and drink her blood."
Dorian clenched his fists in anger as those words left his mouth.
****************
"Is everything alright?" Lysander asked, his voice filled with concern that made her eyes water. Mia quickly shook her head and blinked back her tears.
"I thought you said something," Lysander said and Mia blushed before shaking her head.
Lysander pulled her into his arms, letting her head rest on his chest. He placed his chin in her head and gently stroked her arm.
Mia smiled as she listened to the sound of his hearbeat, a sound both soothing and exhilarating.
"I love you."
Lysander's hand that was stroking Mia's arm froze. Time seemed to freeze. Lysander's heart swelled with joy and confusion. Could it be real? Yes, it was. Her voice was barely a whisper but he heard it clearly because of his heightened sense. He was a vampire after all, no sound escapes his ear.
"What did you say?" Lysander asked, lifting her chin to meet her gaze.
"I said thank you."
Lysander frowned, realizing she had change her statement.
Didn't she say she loved him ? Why was she now saying this?
He let out a frustrated sigh and left the room.
*************
Mia sighed when she heard the door close with a soft click l. The room suddenly felt empty and she misses his presence.
He was here, the man who had unknowingly captured her heart without her even realizing it. He saved her. He even held her in his arms and she felt safe.
"I love you."
A surge of panic surged through her as soon as the confession left her mouth. When he looked at her, surprise etched her face, she felt the weight of her emotions crash her down. Without thinking, she quickly retracted her statement, claiming she said "thank you"
She saw how disappointed he looked when she said that. Did she hurt his feelings? Was that why she left?
Now alone in her room, Mia couldn't shake off the feeling of regret. She meant it, every syllable but fear had taken hold.
Why did she let her insecurities dictate the truth?
The loneliness wrapped around her and she wondered if she just pushed him away. Had she pushed the one person who could fill the emptiness in her heart away.
Lost in thoughts, Mia felt her eyelids get heavy. Too tired from all that has been happening, she welcomed sleep.
************
Alaric was just finished taking a bath when the door opened, revealing Lysander.
"Geez man, what happened to knocking?" Alaric asked, as he dried his hair.
"I need your help," Lysander said and Alaric looked at him with that shocked expression Lysander was getting used to.
"You? Lysander, needs my help? Well, this means there's something I actually great at." Alaric grinned as Lysander walked in.
"Mia loves me," Lysander said, looking at Alaric with an unreadable expression.
"What? Are you sure?"
Lysander nodded.
"But she doesn't want to admit it. I heard her say the words but she changed her statement."
There was a brief pause, before Alaric spoke.
"But what makes so sure that's what you heard?"
"Such a fool," Lysander said, in a low voice.
"Hey I heard that," Alaric shot an accusing glare at Lysander.
"So if you heard I said when I barely spoke out, I guess you would care to explain what your previous question was about."
Alaraic rolled his eyes as he put in his boxers.
"So what do you need my help with?"
"You've had numerous human girlfriends, right?"
Alaric nodded.
"And they all never had a clue about who you really are?"
Alaric nodded, his eyes slowly widened in shock as a wide smile crept up his lips, finally catching on to what Lysander was saying.
"You're seeking help with a woman," Alaric said in his usual mocking tone.
"You, the ice king of the night, wants to win a mortal's heart? This is a twist I never expected."
Lysander's gaze hardened slightly at Alaric making him stop his teasing.
Alaric cleared his throat and moved to sit beside Lysander.
"Look Lysander, I the human world, things at different. In our world, woman throw themselves at you based on your rank and power but in the human world, you have to woo them. You have to find a way into their heart. A human can love you and still keep her feelings to herself. She can love you and still reject you Lysander."
"So what do I do?" The idea of rejecting her rejecting him didn't sit well with him.
"Do something romantic."
"Something romantic?! Alaric, I'm a vampire. Romantic gestures aren't my style. What do I even know about romance?!"
The thought of him engaging in something whimsical as candlelit dinners and love letters sounded ridiculous.
"Like they say, when in Rome…do what the Romans do. You're in the human world Lysander, you chose to fall to in love with a human so you have to woo her the human way," Alaric said, ending with a loud yawn.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to sleep."
"Wait!"
Alaric was was about to wrap the thick blanket paused and stared at the source of the voice.
"How do I do something romantic?"
Alaric struggled not to laugh. Lysander was asking him questions like he was a teenager who had just fallen in love.
"First things first Lysander, I suggest you change you outfit. You look so ancient. You have look modern for love."
He paused, looking as Lysander, waiting for him to say something but when Lysander didn't speak, he continued.
"Then you ask her out. Don't worry, I'll plan the date at one of Lucian's hotel. I'll also take you shopping tomorrow."
Hearing this, Lysander turned to leave when Alaric stopped him.
"One more thing…..take things slow. Give her time, don't rush her."
With that, he shoved Lysander out of his room.
*************
Lysander walked into the room silently. He was holding a tray of food for Mia but she was fast asleep so he placed it on the table in the room.
As he walked towards the bed, he noticed something was off. Mia's brows were furrowed as she muttered something under her breath. The peaceful expression she had when she was asleep was replaced with distress. Lysander realized she was having a nightmare.
"Tesoro wake up, it's just a dream,"he urged, his voice laced with concern. He climbed onto the bed and sat beside her. Taking her delicate fingers in his palms, he gently planted kisses on her knuckles before rubbing her palm in an attempt to wake her.
"I'm right here , you're safe,"
Suddenly she jolted awake,her eyes wide with fear.
She gasped for breath, her body was trembling as she looked around the room.
"He was here, he was right there. He came to take me away," she said in a trembling voice,pointing to the corner of the room.
"No one is here, it's just us," Lysander reassured her, stroking her arm gently.
"No one will take you. I won't let them."
Even thought it was just a nightmare, she needed to be reassured.
As the two sat on the bed with a tight embrace, an invisible figure stood in the room with a wide grin.
"Nightmare?" He thought his smile never leaving his face.
'This invisibility potion Istole from Elara worked more than I anticipated. Even with his heightened senses and sharp ear, he couldn't sniff me.'
"He was here. It wasn't a dream. I saw him. He came to take me away, he came to take me back with him," Mia said, tears blurring her vision.
Dorian watched Lysander comfort Mia.
'This is just the beginning,' He thought before jumping out of the window.
"There was an unwelcomed guest here," Lysander who knew what was going on for the start told Lucian through mind-link.