Chapter 6

Melissa was stunned, like a lighting had struck her. She couldn't believe that he was standing right in front of her, like a mirage, and she was thirsty in a hot and vast desert. The water droplets on his onyx hair made him look like a moist and juicy forbidden fruit that she had all the intentions to devour one day, no matter the consequences. No matter if she ended up living in sin for the rest of her life.

"Hello," said Melissa. Still debating if the image in front of her was real, or if it was result of some kind of delirium, some kind of twisted trick that her mind was playing on her. "How do you know my name?" She continued without giving him time to answer, "What are you doing here?" Not really believing that he was actually in front of her. Bone and flesh just at her arms reach. "Am I dreaming again?" She asked herself to think seriously about pinching herself. 

            She needed to make sense of her thoughts, what had happened? What was happening right now? Something told her that maybe all the answers to her questions were right in front of her, that this beautiful creature in front of her had all the answers to her questions. 

            But for her to be beholding this, to be beholding him, his intoxicating masculine scent mixed with the rain and the wet soil scent it was too much, too strong, numbing her senses, making her feel almost uncomfortable and vulnerable in front of him.

"My name is Adelrick Night." He finally said, his voice low and velvety. "Let's say I've known you for quite some time now. That is how I know your name". "By now"... he continued while walking towards her, slowly, swaying waltzing towards her. His wet coat following him, flowing, moving like water matching his movements. Getting closer every step he took, testing the waters, testing her reaction towards him. 

            Was she scared of him? Will she believe him? Will she accept everything coming her way, and the part she had to play in this upcoming war? "By now" He repeated, while stopping just inches away from her. His hot breath mixing with the coldness and the mist of the light rain. Sending puffs of breaths, every breath he took, every word he voiced. "I assume that you have a lot of questions, and I'm here to answer them the best I can".

            Melissa stood her ground; she didn't want him to notice that she was trembling right at that moment with him approaching. With every step he took. She could feel the invisible magnet pulling her towards him with such a strong force. Somehow, she wanted to be close to him, have his gaze intertwined with hers, his breath in her face. She could see him magnificently coming at her and she was struggling to compose herself. "What was happening?" she asked herself as she was more and more confused.

"Like I said. I know a lot about you, more that you know about yourself… until some extent. So, I'm here to answer any questions that you may have. I needed to find you and you called me. You let me in, that's why I'm here." 

            She called him. What did he mean by that? He appeared from nowhere with his amber eyes and all his mighty perfection. He was the one lurking near her, assessing, waiting. And now he was there, standing in front of her. But how exactly did she had called him?

"How did I call you?" Melissa finally asked, "I don't even know you" Something inside her was feeling different from her words. Her treacherous heart was aching, screaming otherwise... "I don't know how to feel about you and I still don't trust you, even though you save me from whatever those things were. I haven't thanked you for saving me and bringing me safe here... was it you right?" she was hoping she wasn't mistaken it will be both embarrassing and a deception if wasn't him that saved her. "What happened"? she finally asked brushing the last though away.

            The rain started to get heavier, and he was drenching under the weather. She saw him getting soaked by the minute, but he didn't seem to care. His face was almost expressionless, but she saw something in his face, a strange mix of emotion. A collage of pain and happiness that she couldn't quite understand. 

"Please I will like for you to explain what you are?" She said, rain dripping down her black umbrella. "Because I know that you are not human. What do you have to do with me? Why have you appeared in front of me and what sorcery are you using to drawn myself towards you?" Thinking hard about this last question. How could she be that obvious and open to the being that was in front of her. She still didn't know his intentions, was she crazy? But on the other hand, she had to be direct with her words, she knew that something was definitely going on.

"You are right. As you could tell from the previous incidents, I'm not ...human." His words cautious. "I've been around for quite some time now looking for you. I'm something like your protector. That is the whole point of my existence, to protect you and serve you until my last breath or until you release me from this bond. I showed myself to you because you made that happened".

            What was he talking about?" she asked internally. Realizing now that the rain was just too heavy. "Let's go inside the house, we can talk on the back porch. I'm not rude enough to have you standing here. Getting soaked under the rain". And she started to walk. 

"I can get us much faster that walking," he said, a small devious tone on his voice. "Is it ok if I carry you?". Was he asking for permission? just like had happened back on the train? she questioned herself. The rain was much heavier now. The grey sky above was mixed with the fog on the forest and the woods extending into the horizon. The only color were the blue flowers and the green grass adorning her backyard as drops of paint on a dark and gloomy canvas. 

"I'll give you permission to carry me…" she answered, hesitating a little. He didn't give her time to finish her sentence, he had already picked her up on his arms and swooshed trough the flower beds getting to the back of the house in no time. Putting her down on her feet while looking at her with his piercing eyes.

            Melissa felt dizzy for a moment. When she glanced towards him, heat flushed her face. He was looking at her like he was staring into her soul. Melissa was in awe of how handsome he looked from up close. "Is it ok if I take off my coat?" lowering her down until her feet were placed on the floor, still holding her tightly with his left arm. Like he didn't want to let her go.

            He felt cold, against her skin, she learned. Way cooler than a regular human. Maybe because of the rain, she wondered. After he placed her on the floor, she said "yes you can take off your coat. I can put it to dry for you". It was then when he let her go completely. Lowering his arm from her waist. 

"There's no need for that, thank you. I've been bothering you enough just by being here, but I really wanted to see you". He said 'Wanted' not, need it. Like it was something that he was expecting, hoping for. Melissa couldn't understand this man, he looked so omnipotent but at the same time he acted like a dog with a very short leash around her. 

"Can I have a seat?" There he was asking for permission again. 

"Yes, please have a seat" she said quietly. He then proceeded to sit right in front of her. His luxurious black hair unruled, hinting his amber eyes. He sat down and rested his back on the chair, crossing an ankle on the contrary knee, his left hand placed on his left tight leaning towards the armrest of the chair resting his face on his right fist. "He was just too perfect". She tough sighting internally.

"Aren't your feet wet?" Melissa asked thinking of what Anastasia will said if she saw the drenched man in front of her. 

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine". His caressing velvety voice made Melissa feel more interestly drawn towards him.

"Now tell me what's going on?" asked Melissa, closing the umbrella and grabbing a chair that she placed across to him. Leaving the umbrella leaning on the wall to drain. "You said that you weren't human. I thought this was a normal world". She added and then she continued. "What do you mean by that?". 

"What do you think the answer is?" He asked implying that she answer her own question. 

"Well, I can think of a lot of things that aren't human, but..." She stopped to think a little more. "What comes to mind are witches, werewolves...vampires..." she started laughing shaking her head at the thought. 'Nonsense!' She said thinking of all the creatures that came to her mind. Suddenly she stooped, frozen in time when she looked at his face, an expressionless face, no emotions again, serious and calculating. That made her realize how correct she was.

"Yesterday's events happened in the real world, even though you are the only one that can see and sense our power and abilities. Vampires, werewolves, witches, and all supernatural creatures are indeed living among humans since the beginning of time. We look, and sometimes act like humans. But behind closed doors we are no humans at all. Everything you have heard about the impossible and the supernatural is real" he said without taking his intense gaze off her. 

            Melissa though for a moment adverting her eyes "so that makes you..." the thought of it gave Melissa chills, her head started pounding and she grabbed her temples. She heard the car approaching. Anastasia and Flavio were home already, she needed to know what was going on, but she didn't want Anastasia to see him.

            Knowing what Melissa was thinking he added. "Tonight, I will come to see you. But I will need your permission to enter your house". He said while grabbing his coat from the chair, his gaze still fixed on hers. "Melissa you are the only daughter of Eve and Lycano, 'the originals' you are the last and only hybrid in this world". He said leaving his words lingering for Melissa to swallow them, to understand them. As he disappeared on thin air.

"Mel are you ok?" Anastasia said walking towards her, stooping at door frame and looking at the wet chair, eyebrows raised. 

"I'm ok Annie," Melissa said eyes absent "Did you get everything for lunch?" trying to change the conversation. 

"Yes, I did" answered Anastasia while getting back to the topic and looking at Melissa's pale face. "Were you talking to someone?"

"I don't know if it was someone … or something" Melissa responded, in a thoughtful tone, looking at the now soaked and empty chair.

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Hello there: Did you know that my story is competing for the Webnovel Spirit Awards 2021. It will mean a world to me if you vote for this novel. As always thank you for your support. 

JAlmodovar