Chapter 45

Eli waved goodbye to Helen as she drove out his gates to head over to her business. Now that she was gone he could get down to some business of his own. Noah had already located the person who was taking pictures of Helen arriving at his home thanks to some connections who worked quickly. They also found out this person had been following Helen outside of her visits to his home.

It didn't take long for Noah to secretly pull the man from his home and take him to a certain location. 

Eli closed the doors after Helen left and first went to his bar area in search of something to drink to calm down the irritated feeling that was slowly building. Upon reaching the bar, he went to a secret compartment hidden away from Helen which contained a special drink.

Alcohol mixed with blood. 

Blood-infused drinks were hot on a secret market for vampires, demons, and other creatures. It was the right mixture to settle his emotions right now. The strong alcohol mixed with the rich blood was nothing but intoxicating like a drug.

Eli freely allowed his fangs to come out of hiding but kept his eye color the same. He had to admit, it was relaxing to have his fangs out rather than having to hide them. Before, putting his fangs away wouldn't bother him but with everyone around him acting as they please, he just wanted to let loose and go on a rampage. 

At least today he could release his frustration on one person. 

Hearing footsteps approaching he didn't bother to look around as he already knew it was a maid. He didn't have to worry about them seeing what he was. They were all under a spell by a witch who worked for his family. The moment they enter this house they were all under a trance working as if everything was normal. 

Eli poured himself a glass of the alcohol and drowned it one go, feeling it burn as it went down his throat. He ran his tongue along his lips, slightly touching his fangs but fortunately did not cut himself as he removed any traces of the drink from his mouth.

He placed the bottle back in its place so Helen would never accidentally drink it when she came over. She wouldn't take it too kindly learning that she drunk blood. He pictured her attempting to strangle him to death if he ever accidentally let her drink blood.

He smiled at the thought and placed the empty glass down on the bar countertop. Strangely enough, he now understood why his kind found it thrilling to be "killed" by someone as a love confession. The idea of Helen attempting to harm him always amused him because he knew with her personality it'll be quite the chase to tackle him down.

Eli knew when Helen told him don't test her, she truly meant it.

Eli's smile widened even more when he realized the weird relationship he found himself in. Helen was like his own little drug he couldn't get enough of. In these few months, he had gotten more addicted to the woman.

He rested his hands in pockets, reminiscing the peaceful times he had with Helen now that her life will get flipped turned upside down. 

The honking of a car led him outside to where Noah was waiting for him.

"Target acquired and is being held at a safe location," Noah informed Eli and opened the car door for him. 

"You're getting faster at carrying out orders Noah. Well done," Eli praised his friend for his quick execution. This was not one of those times where he would want the person still enjoying life much longer. They didn't get that kindness today.

"Thank you," Noah practically beamed receiving the compliment. He couldn't remember the last time he received one from Eli. He closed the car door for Eli once he was seated and then got into the driver's seat. 

Starting the car, Noah looked at the rearview mirror and saw Eli with his eyes closed leaning back against the leather seat.

On the outside, anyone might think Eli was normal but Noah knew the man so well to know the truth. Eli was actually pissed off but didn't let it show. It was evident when Eli walked out of the house with his fangs still visible. Thankfully the neighborhood houses weren't tight against each other and the neighbors had a secret to hide too.

This was why Eli always scared Noah. To not be able to read a person's emotions on their face was freaking terrifying in Noah's opinion. The fact that someone was following Helen had only awakened a sleeping beast inside of Eli.

Noah proceeded to take Eli on a long drive out of the city to an abandoned warehouse owned by Eli for his more secret meetings. 

"It's always a warehouse," Noah said getting out of the car and viewing the warehouse. At least it wasn't one of the old broken-down creepy ones. He went to open the car door for Eli but he didn't need to.

Eli could hardly wait to meet the person who had been taking the pictures. He slammed the car door shut and walked into the warehouse where some of his men were waiting for him.

The yelling of a man could be heard on the inside as they entered. 

"Let me go you bastards. Do you have any idea who I am?"

"Do you have any idea whose house you were taking pictures of Vincent?" Eli questioned upon hearing the man's words.

"Eli. Was there really a need to kidnap me?"  Vincent asked. Truthfully he was shaking on the inside at being caught and by none other than Eli. He should've known Eli would soon know someone was following that woman. 

Vincent slipped up not being more cautious. 

Eli ignored the man's questioned and instead looked at the weapons laid out for him. Today he was more interested in doing the job himself than relying on a gun to inflict the pain. He chose a bat with spikes for today's main event.

"You're not going to hurt your kind all for some woman right? No, you appear too calm for it to be about that woman. Have I offended you in some way?" Vincent asked wanting to know exactly why he had been taken here. Surely Eli couldn't be that upset he was looking around at the woman he was sneaking around with. 

It was expected anyone from their circle would dig around to find out who the woman was or more importantly, what she was. 

"Come on man! There's plenty of women out there for you to play around with. From what I gathered, it appears she's human. You know how fragile they are-"

Vincent's words were cut off the moment Eli swung the bat and connected with his head. Eli moved the bat around in the man's skull in an attempt to lodge the spikes from the skin.

Eli removed the bat from Vincent's skull and said, "You're wrong about something. I'm not calm, I'm pissed off."

He swung the bat once more connecting to Vincent's head and without Eli's control, his eyes had turned red.