#19: Slightly Different

****Luan's P. O. V****

It was weird. Totally weird. From the moment I got called, 'Daddy' by a small boy, I knew it was weird. No, before that, a young girl of around 18-20 years and stumbled upon me. She was human, through and through. Her complexion did tell me that. Her long black hair was different too, Her eyes we're black and red... I couldn't clearly see. It was like, she had both the eye colors. Her appearance was clearly different from the one I was searching the world for, Amber. But, she carried a certain air around her, as if she was Amber. But it can't be possible.

All the conditions were met.. A young blonde and handsome boy, golden eyes, accompanying a young female. Of around 18 years, with long hair. Just the color was different. Her face too was similar. Just a slight change, which I couldn't guess. Her nose? mouth? lip shape? eyebrow shape? I don't know. I almost ignored her as a random stranger, but..The second we saw each other, her mouth uttered, 'Leo. ', And I knew it, this was Amber. But Why wasn't she shocked? I had appeared like this before... When I attacked her.

Is she acting? But no, all her actions never said she was suspicious of me. Just calm and composed. A bit too composed that it annoyed me.

I was overwhelmed with a strong desire to just take her into my arms before... before she disappears. I had a strange fear, that she might disappear, if I don't hold her right away. I wanted to hold her close enough to listen her heart beat, to remind me that she was here. Alive and with me.

I hugged her. And... I even kissed her, even though just for a second, I did so.. and lost my first kiss like that. I had always thought I would be true to my mate and give her/him all of my firsts and not touch another one before. But I couldn't help myself.

Her scent was also same as Amber. Amber was supposed to be an enemy of mine? But what is this? I don't even know why I am finding this slight resemblance to Amber as endearing. But it did feel dangerous as though I was standing on a tip of ice which could melt anytime and throw me into the depths. Wow... a mariana trench pun.

But I couldn't help it, she looked so beautiful in that dress, like a sweet dream of mine. Her eyes looked at me with the same trust as she showed at Leo... I felt a strange desire in me, maybe it was cause I never really let my desires run free, that this intense desire to make her mine right then and there almost overrun my logical mind.

After she went towards Mr.Storm, I came back to normal, with the embarrassment of my actions dawning over me. Vane on the other hand clearly had some connection to Mr. Storm but was unwilling to share any other info. He came stomping towards me, unlike his usual appearance of a cold secretary.

"Are you thinking I don't have enough work already??? Why are you assaulting young women in a party?? ", He screamed at me after pulling me aside to a balcony.

" It wasn't assault, a kiss is more of a soft touch... and I didn't go too far. it was just a peck. ", I said.

" Still!!! The news is gonna be all over the tabloids, papers and all the... oh ... the removal of this is gonna cost a lot!!! ", he screamed.

" Come on... You didn't recognize her? She is Amber. ", I said.

" What? Did going to the desert remove your intelligence? ", He asked

" No! it did not! I am saying the truth, the second she saw me, she called me... Leo! ", I said

" But, Those both had no magic at all. The kid had a suspicious aura, like that of a spirit medium or something. It was hard to identify, but the girl, I am a hundred.. no a thousand percent sure. She is a human. ", He said.

" Well, think about it, the weird scent which attracted us to attack a certain mansion? And it turned out to be Mr. Storm's property. Guess what? These kids were staying there. ", I said

" So?... How is it related? ", He asked.

" Well, their identities are all a mess. A partner for Mr. Storm after all these years? He would always get his secretary with him. But this time! a young girl and I know that he isn't a pedo... is he? ", I asked.

" He isn't. ", Vane confirmed

" See... And during the time the forest appeared in the Sahara, I am sure it was the day Mr. Storm went to the Sahara for a conference nearby and had witnessed it. He could have taken in Amber and... the crown prince! ", I said.

" Do you realize that the hypothesis of yours sounds like a romance story like the 'CEO and Me'?

Those cringey romance stuff? ", He said looking at me with a really annoying expression.

"Ugh... Really! I mean... ugh... Just leave it. I can't explain it to you. Just keep an eye on her. Time will tell you the truth. ", I said.

" Yes, but it seems I got a proof supporting my side of the debate. ", he said.

" Side of the debate? What do you mean? ",

" That she is not the vampire Amber, but human Amber. Look she is touching the silver cross of Mr. Storm's tie. ", He said pointing towards a corner.

" Oh... But how can we say it's real silver or not", I asked.

"It is pure silver from our mines itself. I should know, after all I was the one who had given it to him. ", he said. Clenching his fist as he saw her replace the cross with a moon brooch.

" Well, I guess I must confirm it once again. ', I said and took out my pen. The pen of my brother, Atlas, it was made completely of silver. It is not meant for writing purposes, just a decorative pen, it can write. But it would be hard to.

"How you gonna do that? ", he asked.

" By an apology", I said and followed her to the hotel. All the guests get their rooms booked to a single hotel so I did meet her there and could get her to sign the paper with her name. Her handwriting was slightly different from her precious ones but the main thing, she could touch the pen.

I apologized for my rude behaviour before and I did spend a while with her. I put a tracker on her, by giving her the clothes the perfume on the clothes was a slight tracking magic. Slight but powerful.And I had gotten an urgent message from my brother. So, I had to leave immediately. But I was very happy, in all of these years of running and hiding in other person's name, Amber recognizing me. Left me with a sense of satisfaction and fear that my disguise wasn't enough.

*****

"So, What's the emergency matter brother? ", I asked through the video call. Not the actual kind, a magic kind.

" The Vampires have received news of the disappearance of Amber Rune ", He said.

" Ohh? Let me guess a search party is being sent here? ", I asked

" Yes, a total of 1000 vampires to each continent. ", He said.

" A thousand??? ... That means they are mobilising 1/16th of their military for finding her? ", I asked. 1/16th may not seem much, but the mission was really something To send these many of their military into human world is really suspicious. Why would they go so far for a single princess?

" Yes, Amber may not just be a simple princess after all, That's why find her before they do and I think it solved our other query. ", He said.

" Our other query? ", I asked.

" That the portal in the other nations are working or not. It appears so, that it too is similar to ours. Slowly shrinking away. ", He said

" Right.. So. I have a lead, but it may not be accurate. ', I said.

"Just trust your instincts, they will guide you well. ", He said.

" Yes. I will brother ", I said.

I had to roam a lot many places in order to regulate our wolves working here and inform them of the arrival of Vampire forces in search of a princess, all were just as baffled as I was. The vampires were never so kind, they would never do this much for a Royal. Something really was suspicious. Like some dark scheme going on in the background.....

I spent a while two days just travelling. Again. I crashed into the bed as soon as I arrived at home. But in less than an hour or so, Vane came running..

"Sir!!! Help! ", He shouted.

" What is it? ", I complained.

" We have lost track of Amber the human!!! ", He screamed

" What? Aren't our trackers magic ones? Won't they even track in space? What happened? ", I asked

" Yes, it's impossible to lose it unless... ", he said.

" Unless.. the person has entered a powerful magic area. An area powerful enough to sheild all magic. ", I continued.

" Yes the problem lies here, currently our power should be the highest the most powerful But since our very magic disappeared it means, it a fearsome foe. ", He said.

" Prepare a jet, we are going to the Storm's place. Now! ", I said.

Amber... what have you gotten yourself into? Where are you? Just be safe.. please..