Chapter 17

"The bleeding stopped," Helen spoke, wiping the last drop of her blood away. Thankfully the cut wasn't too bad, it just stung when she first squeezed the drink opener. "I should've been paying attention," she said, placing the blood-filled napkin in a nearby trash can.

"It can't be helped if you were in a trance looking at me. I have that effect on a lot of people," Eli stated with the intention of teasing Helen. He had felt her strong gaze on him right before she got cut. He couldn't help but push her buttons just to see Helen flare-up.

Helen sighed annoyed at the mere fact she had been caught and even worse, she had cut herself in the process. "Get over yourself," She muttered in denial. Helen decided to tune out Eli and just focus on the movie. She couldn't embarrass herself if she just watched the movie and remain silent.

"Cat got your tongue? What happened to your normal sheer honesty?" Eli asked, enjoying Helen trying to ignore his words.

"I wasn't looking at you," She paused for a moment to think of a lie. "I was looking at the snacks you have at the bar. I wanted to pick another one."

"Is that so?" He replied, figuring out a new trait about Helen. "I am a little disappointed Helen. I truly admired how honest you seemed before but now you're in denial and lying. You don't have to be ashamed for thinking about me."

Helen bit her bottom lip to refrain from answering Eli. He should really stop provoking her. One of these days he'll get a reaction he surely wouldn't like. She tried to concentrate on what was happening in the movie but she hadn't been paying attention. Helen had just been staring at the screen zoned out. What the hell was even happening?

"We didn't even need the three dates, it only took one to make you like me. Tell me, Helen, how does it feel to have fallen for me?" He questioned.

"I have not fallen for you! What are you, delusional?" Helen denied yet again. "Don't think so highly of yourself. I said I was charmed but that did not mean any sort of falling. In my eyes, I think you're the one falling for someone."

"And what's so bad about it?" Eli questioned watching her facial expression change from anger to confusion. She opened and closed her mouth seemingly lost for words. A shame. He wanted to hear her argue with him some more.

Helen subconsciously licked her lips and was taken aback about him actually admitting to falling for her. She had barely come to terms with the idea that he might've genuinely taken an interest in her but to hear him hint to it was another thing. "We don't know anything about each other."

"Then we'll get to know each other. Simple," He retorted. "I believe that's what people do on dates. Was I supposed to magically know everything about you? Oh right, I was supposed to do a background check because for some reason it's something you believed I would've done."

"I don't do serious relationships," She responded.

"And I am not one to get attached to people," He replied. Being a vampire, he had said goodbye to a handful of humans he would actually consider friends. It was the reason why he didn't get emotionally attached to other creatures who wouldn't live as long as he would. Goodbyes were painful. "But here we are right now. Relax Helen, it's not like I'm asking you to marry me. I'm having fun and I'm pretty sure you're having fun. No need to think of it too seriously."

"Saying you've fallen for me-"

"No no," He immediately interrupted Helen who was ready to ramble off. "I never said I had fallen for you."

"You said what's so bad about it in regards to falling for me," She reminded him of his previous words.

"That wasn't me confessing to you. All I was saying hypothetically, why would it be so bad if I liked you. You're jumping to conclusions again Helen and that's the problem. Just have fun at the moment and see where it leads us," He recommended taking up a bottle of beer to take a sip. He needed a drink to calm him down but this would be nowhere near enough. Eli needed some blood wine or just blood by itself.

This didn't stop Helen's suspicions but it was true he technically didn't say he had fallen for her. The man was just annoying her by saying she had fallen for him which was not true. She wasn't the type to just fall in love after two days. Just two freaking days. What was this, a movie? If so, someone needed to pause it right now.

"I'm also not looking for a serious relationship, Helen, just one to enjoy while it lasts."

'Because you'll die eventually and I won't,' He thought while taking another sip of the bitter beer. He liked Helen but a serious relationship wouldn't work out for the both of them.

Helen would continuously age day by day while he would remain the same as he was right now. Not to mention he would disappear when his life as Eli King would come to an end and he would take a new identity. The only way there could be a serious relationship was if he exposed her to his world. Helen would need to have a lot of tough skin to survive the dangers of his world. Not that she needed much more tough skin because of how ruthless her mouth currently is.

But this was an issue for another day. Right now they were just strangers slightly interested in the other.

"Well isn't this just perfect for me," Helen said in reference to her dating life. It was perfect not getting too attached to someone. Enjoy the feelings while they last and move on when those feelings diminish.

"It's funny to me. Anyone else in your position would be looking to have a serious relationship with me right now even though they hardly know me. I could be a murderer or a psycho for all they know," Eli started thinking of all the dates his mother had been sneakingly setting up for him.

Each and every one of them was so focused on having riches and power which came with being a 'king' that they would agree to every single thing he said or did. He didn't need a slave, he wanted a partner. For vampires to be so driven on staying married to their chosen partner for life, they were picking their partners foolishly. His mother was a prime example of this.

Being almost immortal was never a blessing given to vampires, it was a curse. But not too many vampires opened their eyes to this fact. A lot of vampires set up themselves for a lifetime of pain and agony.

"Well I'm different from most people," He heard Helen speak. "If I plan to one day be in a serious relationship I want it to last forever. I've been hurt by a lot of people in my past. When I settle down I want to be happy. I know I deserve to be happy. But for right now I am content with how I live my life."

"As I said before Eli, I am charmed by you. I want to enjoy the fun with you while it lasts. No more arguing, just fun times?" She suggested taking up her own bottle for them to cheer for.

"Just fun times," Eli responded, clinking his bottle against her own

Two and a half hours passed by and the date had ended with both Helen and Eli on better terms than they were two days ago or even at the start of the first date. Eli safely returned Helen to her apartment building and surprisingly Helen had told him she was looking forward to what his next date or move would be.