FRACTURED CONTROL

Karl carried Mia inside his apartment, her limp body cradled in his arms. As he entered the living room, he was met with the surprised gazes of Ophelia and Kaliya, who were conversing on the couch. Their eyes widened in unison as they took in the sight of Mia's unconscious form and her intensifying scent, her human scent was heavenly. They inhaled deeply before trying to hold their breath.

A human has never been brought to the house. Considering the fact that one was cradled in Karl's hands. It was a ...profoundly shocking sight, one that sent a ripple of unease through the room.

"Karl, what's going on?" Ophelia asked, her voice laced with concern as she quickly rose from the couch.

Kaliya followed suit, her eyes fixed intently on Mia. "Is she okay?"

Karl nodded, his expression serious. "She's fine. Just had a bit too much to drink, I think."

Ophelia's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you brought her here?"

Karl expression remained serious. He knew where Ophelia was headed. He didn't want to explain the reason why he brought her to his mansion but he had no choice. "I couldn't take her to her dorm, and I didn't want to leave her alone in a hotel room. This was the closest place I could think of. It is also the safest."

Ophelia's eyes narrowed further, her voice taking on a hint of disapproval. "Karl, you know better than to bring a human into our home. It's not safe for her, or for us."

Kaliya's expression was equally displeased, her brow furrowed in concern. "What if she discovers what we are? What if she tells someone?"

Karl's expression turned cold and unyielding, his eyes glinting with a hint of pride and defiance. He gazed at Ophelia and Kaliya, his silence a clear indication that he refused to engage in further discussion. He wasn't going to explain himself, he didn't want to bring Mia here but he couldn't help himself.

Ophelia's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she knew better than to push Karl when he was in this mood. Kaliya, too, seemed to sense the shift in Karl's demeanor and took a step back, her expression cautious.

Without a word, Karl turned and carried Mia towards the hallway, his long strides eating up the distance. Ophelia and Kaliya exchanged a uneasy glance, before Ophelia spoke up.

"Karl, wait!" Ophelia called out, her voice firm but measured. "What do you expect us to do?"

Karl halted in the doorway, his back still turned to them. "Nothing," he said curtly, his voice dripping with authority. "She'll be staying here tonight and it's final."

Just as Karl finished issuing his orders, a low, smooth voice echoed from the hallway, "Who's sleeping here tonight?"

Zarek's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to Ophelia and Kaliya, who were watching the exchange with interest. His eyes landed on Mia cradled in Karl's hands and his mouth opened in surprise, he was dumbfounded as he stared at the innocent sleeping figure. "A human?" Zarek asked, his voice laced with skepticism. He couldn't deny the intensive scent that emitted from the human cradled in Karl's arms, it was intensifying. "Karl, what are you thinking?" He tried to hold his breath.

Karl's expression remained unyielding as he gazed at Zarek, his eyes flashing with a hint of defiance. For a moment, it seemed like he would respond to Zarek's inquiry, but instead, he chose to ignore it.

Without a word, Karl walked past Zarek, carrying Mia's limp form with him. His long strides devoured the distance, leaving Zarek staring after him in confusion.

Zarek's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Karl's retreating back. He couldn't believe Karl's audacity. Bringing a human into their home was reckless, and Zarek couldn't help but wonder what Karl was thinking.

But Karl's silence was deafening, and Zarek knew better than to push him when he was in this mood. He turned to Ophelia and Kaliya, who were watching the exchange with interest.

"What's going on?" Zarek asked, his voice low and measured. "What is Karl doing?"

Ophelia's expression was cautious, her eyes darting towards the hallway where Karl had disappeared. "I don't know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "He is being reckless."

Zarek lips curved into a teasing smile.

Kaliya turned thoughtful before asking. "Isn't that the human from school? Mia?" She asked.

Ophelia's eyes snapped towards Kaliya, her expression surprised. "That's correct. Isn't she the one that was grouped with Karl?" she started to ask, but Kaliya just shrugged.

"Yes," Kaliya replied, her eyes thoughtful. "But I never thought Karl would..."

Zarek's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying. "There's something more to this," he said, his voice low and measured. "Karl wouldn't just bring a human into our home without a reason."

Ophelia's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes darting towards the hallway where Karl had disappeared. "You're right," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Karl's not one to act impulsively. There must be something about this girl... Mia."

Kaliya's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her brow furrowed in concern. "Do you think it has something to do with their project?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "I mean, they were paired together..."

Zarek's eyes flashed with amusement, his lips curling into a wry smile. "And Karl's not the type to get distracted by a pretty face," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "There must be more to it."

Ophelia's expression turned serious, her eyes narrowing in concern. "Whatever the reason, we need to be careful," she said, her voice firm. "We can't let our guard down around humans. It's not safe. And I expected Karl to know better."

Kaliya's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned to Ophelia and Zarek. "Do you think Karl has feelings for her?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ophelia raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful before she laughed. "Feelings? Karl? I don't know, Kaliya. He's not exactly the emotional type."

Zarek snorted, his eyes rolling in amusement. "That's an understatement. Karl's about as emotional as a rock."

Kaliya's eyes sparkled with interest, but she pressed on. "I know, but there's something about the way he looked at her... I don't know, it just seemed different."

Ophelia's expression turned skeptical. "Different? Karl's always been a bit of a mystery, but I've never seen him show interest in a human before. Especially not one who's... fragile. He literally hasn't shown interest in anyone asides Ember."

Zarek's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying. "When you say fragile? You mean vulnerable?"

Kaliya nodded, her eyes serious. "Yes, exactly. Mia seems like the type of person who could get hurt easily. And Karl's... well, he's not exactly known for his gentle nature."

Ophelia's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What about Ember? If she finds out that Karl brought her here, she will flame up..."

Zarek's eyes widened, his face pale. "Don't even think about it. Ember would lose her mind."

Kaliya shuddered, her eyes darting nervously towards the hallway. "We can't let her find out. At least, not yet."

Ophelia's expression turned serious. "We need to make sure Karl knows what he's getting himself into. Ember's not going to take this lying down."

Zarek nodded, his eyes grim. He smiled widely before saying. "Did you see the way he carried her in his arms? So tender..."

Kaliya's eyes sparkled with amusement at Zarek's comment, and she playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, Zarek, you're such a romantic."

Zarek's smile didn't falter. "I've never seen Karl so tender with anyone...not even Ember." He said, his voice low at the end of the sentence.

As Zarek finished his sentence, Kaliya and Zarek exchanged a knowing glance, their faces breaking into wide smiles. Kaliya playfully teased, "Looks like Karl's got a soft spot after all."

Zarek chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Yeah, who would have thought?"

But Ophelia's expression remained serious, her eyes clouding with concern. "I don't know, guys. I have a bad feeling about this. Even if he was to have a soft spot for anyone, definitely not her, not Mia."

Kaliya's smile faltered, her brow furrowing in concern. "What's wrong, Ophelia?"

Ophelia's eyes darted towards the hallway where Karl had disappeared. "I just think that Karl bringing a human into our home is a recipe for disaster. What if she discovers what we are?"

Zarek waved his hand dismissively. "Come on, Ophelia. Don't be such a worrier. Karl's got this under control."

Kaliya nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Ophelia. Chill out. We'll make sure Mia doesn't find out what we are."

Ophelia's expression remained skeptical, but she didn't press the issue further. Instead, she shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're all impossible."

Karl's footsteps echoed softly down the hallway as he carried Mia to his designated room. He pushed open the door with his elbow, revealing a spacious chamber with a plush, king-sized bed at its center. With a gentle care that belied his usual stoic demeanor, Karl laid Mia down on the bed, her head sinking into the soft pillows.

As he stepped back to gaze at her, Mia's eyelids fluttered open, but only for a brief moment. She stared up at Karl, her eyes unfocused and dreamy, before they drifted shut once more. Karl's eyes lingered on her face, taking in the peaceful expression that softened her features.

Mia's chest rose and fell with each slow breath, and Karl found himself mesmerized by the gentle rhythm. He stood there for a moment, frozen in time, as he watched her sleep. His gaze roamed over her face, drinking in the delicate curves of her cheeks, the small nose, and the full lips that parted slightly as she exhaled.

Without thinking, Karl reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from Mia's forehead. His fingers grazed her skin, sending a spark of electricity through his body. He felt a sudden jolt of awareness, as if he had crossed an invisible threshold.

Karl's eyes snapped back to Mia's face, his heart pounding in his chest. What was he doing? He shouldn't be touching her, shouldn't be feeling this way. But as he gazed at Mia's peaceful form, he couldn't help but feel drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

With a quiet sigh, Karl turned away from the bed, his eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. He knew he needed to leave, to put some distance between himself and the sleeping human. But as he reached the door, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was leaving a part of himself behind.

Karl stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes fixed on the floor as he let out a deep breath. What was wrong with him? He couldn't believe he had brought a human into their home, and worse still, he couldn't shake off the feeling of attraction he felt towards her.

"Idiot," Karl muttered to himself, his voice low and laced with self-disgust. "What were you thinking?"

Karl's actions had become increasingly impulsive, driven by a force he couldn't quite explain. It was as if he had lost all rational thought, his decisions guided solely by his emotions. And at the center of it all was Mia.

He couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her. It was like an invisible thread, drawing him in with an otherworldly force. Every time he thought about her, his mind went blank, his thoughts consumed by the memory of her bright smile, her sparkling eyes, and her infectious laugh.

Karl's usual self-control had deserted him, leaving him feeling reckless and impulsive. He found himself making decisions without thinking them through, decisions that put not just himself, but also those around him, at risk.

Like bringing Mia to his home. It was a reckless move, one that could have far-reaching consequences. But he hadn't been able to help himself. He had acted on instinct, driven by a desire to protect her, to keep her safe.

As he stood there, lost in thought, Karl realized that he was in trouble. He was losing himself, his sense of identity, his very self. And it was all because of Mia.

He didn't know how to stop it, how to regain control. All he knew was that he couldn't keep going on like this. He needed to find a way to break free from Mia's spell, to reclaim his sense of self. But as he thought about it, he knew it wouldn't be easy. Mia had gotten under his skin, and he wasn't sure if he could ever get her out.

He pushed off from the doorframe and began to pace down the hallway, his long strides eating up the distance. He couldn't believe he had let his emotions get the better of him. Karl was always in control, always the one who kept his emotions in check. But one look at Mia's peaceful face, and he had lost all sense of reason.

"This is insane," Karl growled to himself, his fists clenched at his sides. "You can't let yourself feel this way. She's human, Karl. Human."

He stopped pacing and stood still, his eyes fixed on some point in front of him. He knew he had to get a grip on himself, to push aside these feelings and remember who he was. Karl was a creature of the night, a being of power and strength. He couldn't let himself be swayed by human emotions.

With a deep breath, Karl turned and made his way back to the living room, his expression calm and composed. He would deal with this situation, and he would do it without letting his emotions get the better of him.