chapter 5 : Red Eyes

It was a bright new day, a sunny one which humans loved, but the vampires hated the most. In order to avoid sunburns, Alexander wore his special ring, a ring designed for the vampires which protected them from sunlight like an invisible shield. Every registered vampire in the vampire realm would get that ring, which was known as Emerald because of the emerald stone encased in the ring. Alexander was at the restaurant outside his university, as instructed by Vanessa. He was waiting for Becca��s arrival. He still intended to ask her about the potion as soon as he met her. He wanted to complete his work sooner rather than later, after all. So, he waited quietly, sitting at a corner of the restaurant, not ordering any food even after the waitress came by for the second time. He curtly replied that he was waiting for his friends to arrive. Meanwhile, Becca was busy writing on her laptop. She loved reading and writing. She was working on her first novel, which contained a romance between a Lycan and a human. She loved writing fantasy and paranormal romance, the werewolf story being the first novel in a series she had plotted out over the summer. She was writing the last few ###chapters and looking forward to completing her first manuscript. She was an early riser because her father would scold her if she woke up late. So, she would wake up early, continue reading a book until her food turned cold, and then she would eat her breakfast. She followed the same routine in the dorm and was writing until it was time to get ready. Vanessa told her she would introduce Sebastian to Becca during lunch. Vanessa had been out since early that morning; she informed Becca that she would go and stay with Sebastian till lunch. Becca got up from the chair and opened her closet. She took out a royal blue off-shoulder jumpsuit. She hoped to make friends today because most of the students attending the university would hang out in that restaurant. At the thought of making new friends, a small smile formed over Becca��s face and she started to get ready after tying her hair in a fishtail braid. Vanessa was about to wear her denim blouse which she had worn earlier with a red pencil skirt, but a tanned hand stopped her from buttoning up her shirt. ��Seb, it is almost lunchtime. Alex and Becca are waiting for us,�� she informed her boyfriend who pulled her back to his chest by her waist. ��How do you always look stunning?�� Sebastian mumbled, dropping small kisses on Vanessa��s neck. She rolled her eyes. ��Stop. We just had sex a few minutes ago.�� Vanessa was in a hotel room that they typically stayed at when they wanted a little privacy, which was ten minutes away from the campus. ��So what? It doesn��t matter. Alex and Becca can wait,�� Sebastian replied, still trying to kiss her but she pulled back. ��Alex might directly ask Becca about the potion, Seb. I know him and he is very impatient.�� Vanessa looked at Sebastian with a worried look. ��He might put himself in danger due to his lack of patience.�� Sebastian Garrett had been Vanessa��s boyfriend since they met at a bookstore two years ago, and she was more in love with him now than she was even back then. Sebastian recently turned twenty and Vanessa had been twenty for a hundred years. Their love was so strong that it didn��t matter. A few months ago, Sebastian saw Vanessa drinking blood in a blood bank when he went there to donate for the university��s blood drive. Since then, he learned the truth about Vanessa��s little secret of being a vampire, but his love never lessened. He was scared at first, but he knew his love was strong and he told Vanessa that he wanted to stay with her forever. ��Then we have to make sure Alex and Becca don't spend much time alone until Alex promises not to ask Becca directly about the potion,�� Sebastian mumbled and freed Vanessa from his grip. ��Let��s get ready then.�� In the meantime, Becca reached the restaurant. She looked for Vanessa but didn��t find her. She also tried to look for Sebastian since Vanessa showed her a picture of the two of them together, but Becca failed to spot him as well. She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Vanessa. Becca: Ness, where are you? Becca started calling her ��Ness�� because she liked it and Vanessa didn��t have any objection. Rather Vanessa found it intriguing since no one else apart from Alexander called her ��Ness��. Vanessa replied to her text saying, ��Give me ten minutes.�� Sighing, Becca decided to sit at another corner in the restaurant. She could feel an unusual strong sensation dancing over her skin. Alexander noticed Becca sitting at the other corner. When he saw Vanessa hadn��t arrived yet, he got up from his seat. It was the perfect timing to ask Becca about the potion and if she didn��t know anything about it, Alexander would alter the reality. He was making his way to Becca until someone bumped into his hard shoulder. ��Oh, sorry,�� the guy mumbled and looked at Alexander with his caramel eyes. ��How are you, dude?�� As soon as Alexander glanced at the man who bumped into him, his fist clenched. ��What do you want?�� ��For you to stop asking Becca directly about the potion,�� the person replied. ��I am Lucas Kade, by the way, and judging by the vampire stink in the air, you must be Alexander Insworthe.�� He extended a hand to shake, smiling with his dimples popping out. ��Of course. A Lycan, I could sense your presence from a mile off,�� Alexander grunted, not shaking his hand. ��I never thought the Lycan king would send his son to stop me. But keep in mind. Come what may, I will take the potion and make my brother the vampire king.�� ��If your brother becomes the king, he will ruin the peace treaty between the Lycans and the vampires. Why are you thirsting for ruining our pack?�� Lucas questioned, his eyes piercing Alexander��s green eyes. ��My brother wants what��s best for everyone. I am sure what he will do is for the good of all. Don��t you fucking dare say anything against him,�� Alexander said sternly, his eyes starting to turn red slowly. Lucas�� eyes turned dark. ��I will not let you ruin the peace we have now. Stay away from Becca if your intention is to take the potion for your brother.�� ��What makes you think I will listen to you?�� Alexander let out a humorless chuckle. Lucas sighed, his eyes returning back to their shimmering caramel color. ��Well, then. Get used to seeing me around, because you will find me obstructing you every damn time. Don��t say I didn��t warn you.�� Vanessa and Sebastian entered the restaurant, only to find Alexander and Lucas glaring at each other in the middle. Vanessa instantly sensed the Lycan��s presence, and she told Sebastian, ��Go to Becca. I will handle Alex.�� Sebastian hummed in response and went to meet Becca. Vanessa took large steps towards her brother and cleared her throat, trying to look normal. ��If you want the peace of the world to be destroyed once again, you are free to expose yourself to the humans,�� she mumbled politely with a smile plastered on her face. ��A Lycan and a vampire fighting, it would be sizzling gossip for the people.�� Lucas ran a hand through his soft brown hair and chortled. ��See you soon, Alex.�� With that, he walked away. He knew that Alexander wouldn��t ask Becca about the potion directly now that Vanessa was here. ��Can you believe the nerve, Ness?�� Alexander started speaking, ��The Lycan king sent his son to stop me. Why are they all against Phil being the king? Don��t they know that he will be the best king ever.�� She shook her head in disbelief. ��You cannot see what others see, Alex.�� She looked in Becca��s direction, only to find her chatting with Sebastian. ��Let��s introduce you to Becca. Come.�� Alexander fixed his black coat, which he was wearing in the hot weather. For him it was normal, but he didn��t know that people nearby thought him to be crazy for wearing winter clothes in summer, which was about to end soon. They walked over to Becca��s table. ��Becca,�� Vanessa spoke up after taking a deep breath, ��Meet Sebastian��s best friend, and also a very close friend of mine. This is Alexander Insworthe.�� Becca stopped talking to Sebastian and looked at the person Vanessa was introducing her to. She saw the familiar brunette she met at the garden of her house the day before yesterday. She said with a smile, ��Oh, I know you. You were that weird guy I met outside the manor.�� ��Weird guy?�� Vanessa raised her brows in surprise. Becca nodded her head. ��I met him at the garden of my house the day before I moved into the dorm. I never thought we would meet again, but look at destiny.�� She motioned for Alexander to sit. Vanessa and Alexander both took a seat. Vanessa sat next to Becca, while Alexander sat beside Sebastian. ��I never got the chance to ask. Why were you hiding behind the bushes? Actually, why were you in the garden in the first place?�� Becca inquired, to which he fell silent. ��What did you do, you asshole?�� Vanessa questioned Alexander in her mind. Alexander glared at Vanessa. ��I didn��t know her house was in Atrickvic Street. Her blood called me after I stepped in the human world through the Bellmor jungle.�� ��Did you forget to use your powers to go invisible?�� she asked, and Alexander didn��t reply to her. He couldn��t answer that Becca saw him after using his power. Vanessa would mock him saying he couldn��t use his power properly. ��Uh�� is something wrong? Are you okay?�� Becca asked Alexander when he didn��t reply. ��He got lost,�� Vanessa responded on his behalf. ��He told us that he got lost. Remember, baby?�� She looked at Sebastian pointedly. ��Yes, he did,�� Sebastian agreed politely. ��Alright. Let��s order some food and get to know each other now.�� ��I am not hungry. You guys can eat though, I ate lunch while I was waiting to meet you,�� Alexander said to everyone. He couldn��t eat human food; it disgusted him because it was tasteless for him, even the most delicious cuisine tasted like someone heaped ashes in his mouth. Besides, he was controlling his urge to drink Becca��s blood. He was trapped in a place filled with humans, but no other blood attracted him as much as hers. He wondered how her blood would taste washing over his taste buds. He curved his fist into a ball, resisting his temptation to drink her blood. Vanessa noticed his tense countenance while ordering food. She had adapted to controlling her nature by living with the humans and she understood her brother��s struggle. However, she wanted him to learn self-control. Closing his eyes, Alexander inhaled the smell of Becca��s blood. As soon as he opened his eyes, they glowed red.