Ronald's eye widened, but he barely had a moment to process before the elf attacked. Their blades clashed, the force sending shockwaves through the alley. The dark elf was strong, stronger than any vampire Ron had faced in years. Each strike was calculated, precise, and unrelenting.
Ronald was losing ground fast.
Then the elf landed a hit. A deep cut across Ronald's side. He staggered back, gripping the wound as blood seeped through his shirt. The dark elf took advantage, grabbing Ronald by the throat and slamming him into the pavement.
"Stay down, vampire," the elf spat. "She doesn't belong with you."
Ronald coughed, struggling against the weight pinning him. He could feel his strength waning. But he wasn't bothered about that, his senses were telling him that something far worse was about to occur. And it would come from the girl they had gotten oblivious too, the same one they were fighting for.
An incredible amount of energy had built up inside Triss, her chest glowing with a bright blue light. It was an ethereal sight but it was also a ticking bomb, literally. The elf knew it too, and he tried to take cover, but it was too late.
And then...
BOOM!
The world erupted.
A massive surge of energy burst from Triss, raw and untamed. A bright, blinding wave of force exploded outward, shaking the very foundation of the alley. Ron barely had time to conjure a protective shield before the force sent debris flying, shattering windows and knocking over dumpsters.
The dark elf was thrown back, crashing into a nearby car. For the first time, a flicker of alarm crossed his face.
Ronald stayed behind his shield, feeling the energy roll over him like a storm. When it finally subsided, the air was thick with the scent of scorched stone and electricity.
Triss swayed, her breathing ragged. Her eyes glowed faintly before she collapsed.
Ronald moved instantly, catching her before she hit the ground. She was out cold, her body limp in his arms.
The dark elf groaned, pushing himself up. His eyes burned with frustration, but he didn't make another move. He was still stunned from the explosion.
Ronald didn't wait. With Triss in his arms, he disappeared into the night, leaving the dark elf scowling in the wreckage of his failed attempt to get Triss.
....
I woke up gasping.
For a moment, I couldn't move... couldn't think. My body felt heavy, my head pounded, and my breath came in short, panicked bursts. The air smelled unfamiliar, and the silence was deafening.
This wasn't my room.
Panic surged through me as I sat up too fast, my vision swimming. My fingers clutched at the rough fabric beneath me—a couch. I was on a couch. Where? How?
Then I heard it. Footsteps.
Every muscle in my body tensed. My eyes darted to the source of the sound, and I froze.
A man stood near the window, his back to me, his figure illuminated by the dim city lights outside. The storm had passed, leaving behind an eerie quiet, the kind that made the air feel too thick to breathe.
He turned...
Red eyes...
A sharp, cold terror shot through me, and before I could stop myself, I scrambled back, my spine hitting the armrest of the couch.
I grunted and my gaze was distracted by the slight pain in my back. But when I raised my head back to the window, he was no longer there.
Panic set in immediately, and my instincts kicked in. I had to leave that very instant. I turned to the where the door was, but before I could even take a step, he suddenly reappeared in my front.
"Relax," he said, his voice calm. Too calm. "You're safe."
Safe? SAFE!?
Flashes of memory slammed into me all at once; glowing swords, a vampire lunging for my throat, creatures that belonged in nightmares and fairytales coming to life. And him.
This man. The red-haired hero who had swooped in to safe me. But I could no longer trust him–Not like I even trusted him before.
I had seen what he could do. The way he moved, the way he fought—like a monster himself. There was no doubt that he was the same as the first man who tried to attack me. A vampire.
And now he was here, watching me. And unlike when we first met at the cafe, he seemed serious and carried this uptight aura. It made me wonder what happened to the guy who couldn't stop staring and smiling at me earlier. His character had completely changed.
But right now I had much more things to be worried about. My breathing was too fast, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Where... where am I?"
"A secure location." His voice gave nothing away. His hands slipped into the pockets of his long coat, his posture relaxed, but there was something about him—something coiled, like he was always ready to strike. "You passed out. I brought you here."
I swallowed hard and glanced around. The place was sleek and modern, but empty, like no one really lived here. My pulse hadn't slowed.
"Who... who are you?" My voice came out unsteady, but I didn't care.
He tilted his head slightly, considering me. Then, in a tone so casual it sent a chill down my spine, he said, "Ronald."
That told me nothing.
My mind raced, trying to piece everything together. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real. Vampires? Elves? And me, what had happened back there? The power that had exploded out of me, the way that elf had looked at me like I was something else.
I shuddered.
Ronald was watching me. Unblinking. Studying.
"You have questions," he said.
I let out a short, sharp laugh, more out of disbelief than anything. "Oh, you think?"
He didn't react.
I gritted my teeth, my fear warring with frustration. "You were fighting them. Like it was nothing. What the hell are you?"
He didn't hesitate. "Not your concern."
Not my...
I clenched my fists, my breathing uneven. "Not my concern?! I just saw things that shouldn't exist. I almost died! And you... you expect me to just sit here and accept this?"
He exhaled through his nose, like he was already bored of this conversation. "Yes."
I stared at him, disbelief turning into something sharper. I can't believe I almost fell for him... Or did I? Crap! Is that why all this is happening to me? Curse your stupid tarot reading, Carol.
But Ronald remained silent, he didn't care. He wasn't acting like some kind of savior. He wasn't even pretending to. He was just there, detached, treating me like...
Like a merchandise.
The realization hit like ice in my veins.
"You knew." My voice was barely more than a whisper, but I saw the way his shoulders stiffened. "You knew about them. About me."
Silence.
My stomach twisted.
"Why?" My voice was raw, edged with something dangerously close to anger. "Why were you even there? What do you all want from me?"
I asked in annoyance, coming to a realization that he was never even attracted to me from the start. The conversation, the glances, the smiles. They were all an act so he could monitor me. How foolish of me to actually think an hot guy was going to fall for me.
He met my eyes, his expression unreadable.
"That," he said, "is classified."
A chill ran down my spine.
This wasn't over. Not even close. I wasn't going to let it
"No, no no no," I stood up and confronted him. "You can't keep doing that. I have to know what's going on, and where the hell I am!"
He sighed and stared at me with an unfazed expression. "You seem to be taking all these quite well for an ordinary human. Suddenly witnessing the elements of the supernatural usually put most humans in shock, with some even losing their minds,"
I shook my head. "Yes, it is a lot to take in. And I would probably have been in shock if I was just an 'Ordinary' human who found out some other way that didn't involve almost being killed!"
"But no, I'm not. So I have other things to be in shock about. Like, what did they want from me and why did you save me? Why did the other vampire want me dead? And why me? And please, I'd love if you would begin answering my questions with the very first I asked. Where are we?
I poured out my whole mind without even thinking about the consequences, not like I cared much about it anyway.
But Ronald remained calm, he was staring at me like I was some child throwing a tantrum. And this meant he wasn't going to start talking anytime soon.
I couldn't have that, no. I was losing it here
"If you're not going to tell me anything then let me go, if not I'll call the police and have you arrested," I threatened, before taking out my phone. I pretended to dail, hoping it would cause a sense of panic in him. Though I couldn't really dial even if I wanted to. There was strangely no service. None at all.
But it was all pointless in the end. He didn't seem fazed by my threats, infact he was smiling. How odd.
"Oh, he smiles," I muttered softly, but he didn't respond. He just kept smiling.
"And I have to admit, he smile was really breathtaking and... Damn it, Triss! Pull yourself together, he's a bloodsucker for God's sake. Wait! does this mean God doesn't exist?" I thought to myself but his voice snapped me out of it.
"You do realise that I'm a vampire, right?" he said
I scoffed. "So? That doesn't make you invincible. Let me go now and nobody gets hurt,"
I pushed my threats further, silently praying to the sweet Lord that he would show even a flicker of intimidation and just let me leave.
But instead, he suddenly burst into laughter, rubbing a hand over his face as if I had just told the funniest joke in existence. My stomach twisted. That was not the reaction I had hoped for. And just like that, I knew... my prayers weren't going to be answered. In fact, I might be the one in danger here.
Then, he did something unexpected.
"Okay," he said.
I blinked. "Huh?"
With a sigh, he gestured toward the door. "You may leave. I won't stop you."
I hesitated, my gut screaming that this had to be some kind of trick. But his face... so calm, so composed. There was no trace of deception, no indication of a hidden agenda.
Still, I remained on guard as I took a cautious step forward. He's a vampire. A creature of the night. Trusting him would be stupid.
Yet, he didn't move. The same infuriating smile stayed plastered on his face.
"Go on," he encouraged.
I swallowed hard and continued toward the door, glancing at him every few steps to make sure he wasn't suddenly about to pounce.
Reaching the door, I placed my hand on the knob and hesitated. Something about this felt... off. I didn't understand why he was letting me go so easily. Maybe it was just paranoia, or maybe, just maybe I wasn't ready to walk away from this whole supernatural mess just yet. After all, it's not everyday you get to meet a vampire.
I turned to face him again. "So, you're just letting me leave? Just like that?"
He nodded. "Just like that. And let's be clear, I never forced you to stay. I simply saved you and brought you here."
A quiet sigh of relief escaped me. He had a point. He hadn't actually kidnapped me. Maybe I had misjudged him after all.
I cast him one last look before stepping out the door.
As I stepped outside, the air felt heavier than I expected.
Instead of the city streets I had hoped for, I found myself surrounded by towering trees, their dark silhouettes stretching endlessly in every direction. A thick mist curled around the trunks, weaving through the branches like ghostly fingers. The only sound was the whisper of leaves rustling in the wind.
A forest.
I frowned. That didn't make sense.
Had I really been unconscious long enough for him to drag me all the way to some isolated woods? There was no way. I would've woken up. Unless...
I shook my head. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
I needed to find a road.
Pulling my sweater tighter around me, I picked a direction at random and started walking, my boots crunching against the damp earth. The cold bit at my skin, but I ignored it, focusing on my next steps. Once I found a road, I'd call an Uber, get back home, and pretend tonight had never happened.
Easy plan.
Or at least, that's what I thought, not until I reached the tree line.
The second I stepped forward, I slammed into something.
Hard.
I stumbled back, blinking in shock. My hands reached out, expecting to feel a tree or a wall, but there was nothing there. Just empty air.
"What the.. ?" I mumbled
I took another step forward.
And hit it again.
Like an invisible barrier.
A chill crept up my spine.
Slowly, I turned, heart pounding. I took a few steps in a different direction and tried again. Same thing. I couldn't get past a certain point, no matter where I turned.
I spun back toward the house, a sick realization washing over me.
Ronald had let me leave. Because he knew I couldn't.
He had tricked me.
A slow, bitter anger began to burn inside me. My fists clenched, my breath coming faster.
I wasn't free.
I was still his prisoner.
I whirled around, my fists clenching at my sides. My heart pounded against my ribs as the realization settled in... I was trapped.
And Ronald had known the entire time.
A slow creak sounded behind me, followed by the soft click of a door shutting.
I didn't have to turn to know who it was.
Leaning lazily against the doorframe, he stood with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me with that infuriating smirk. The dim light from inside cast sharp shadows on his face, making his crimson eyes glow even brighter against the darkness.
"What's the matter? Can't get through?" he drawled, tilting his head slightly.