CHAPTER THIRTEEN

KAELEN

As I watched the sun rise from my bedroom window, an almost foreign feeling bubbled inside me – elation. It stemmed from last night with Eleanor, Ellie, as she preferred. The intoxicating scent of her still clung to my skin, a phantom touch I couldn't shake, and I found myself smiling, replaying every stolen moment.

An odd habit had taken root recently. I'd started filling my apartment with fresh lilies, hoping to recapture, or at least echo, her scent. It was a bizarre affectation for a 220-year-old vampire, I knew, but I couldn't seem to help myself. For centuries, I'd walked this earth alone, a predator draped in the guise of a man. But something about Ellie... she was a beacon, pulling me towards a light I'd long forgotten existed.

Hours evaporated as I lay in bed, replaying every detail. Her pouty lips, the soft swell of her breasts beneath her silk dress, the gentle curve of her hips as she moved – I couldn't get enough. I had even caught a whiff of her arousal earlier, a primal scent that had awakened a long-dormant hunger within me. It was a different kind of hunger, one that transcended the normal craving for blood. It was a hunger forher.

I had already secured a second date; a private concert by one of my favorite jazz bands, a small gesture to impress. I leaned on the thought that she would be impressed.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold, I made my way to the club. My heart, or what served as one, hammered with anticipation. The moment I saw her walk in, a radiant splash of red against the dim lighting, I couldn't suppress a smile. The dress clung to her curves with a brazen elegance, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders in loose, inviting waves.

"Ellie," I said, trying to keep my voice level as I approached her. "I'm so glad you could make it."

"Kaelen," she replied, her smile mirroring my own. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I took her hand, her skin warm and surprisingly soft against my cold touch, and led her towards the private room. Candles flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls, illuminating a table laden with flowers. The jazz band was already playing a slow, sensual melody in the corner. I watched as her eyes widened, taking it all in.

"This is amazing," she breathed, genuine awe in her voice.

"I wanted to do something special for you," I said, pulling out her chair with a flourish.

The evening unfolded in a blur of conversation and laughter. I found myself sharing memories, thoughts, and feelings I hadn't articulated in decades. It felt as though I'd known Ellie for lifetimes, a comfortable and exhilarating sensation all rolled into one.

As the night deepened, the pull towards her intensified. The urge to taste her blood, to feel her life force surge through me, became almost unbearable. But I knew I couldn't. Ellie was human, fragile. I couldn't risk hurting her, not even for a moment.

Saying goodbye felt like tearing a piece of myself away. The air crackled with unspoken possibilities, a silent question hanging between us. I didn't know what the future held, but all my focus was on the fact that I wanted to see her again. Desperately.

As I watched her car disappear into the city lights, a cocktail of excitement and apprehension churned within me. This was uncharted territory, a foreign landscape of feeling I hadn't navigated in over two centuries. But the truth was undeniable, Ellie made me feel alive.

Reluctantly, I turned and walked back inside. The night was still young, and the club was just beginning to pulse with energy. I made my way past the bar, where Dimitri, the head bartender, greeted me with a knowing smile and a shake of his head. The unspoken understanding was clear: he knew about Ellie.

Up in the VIP section, I found Lucian, as always, perched on one of the plush velvet couches. He was a constant in my life, my oldest confidant, and often, my most unwelcome voice of reason.

I knew what was coming, and held up a hand to forestall him. "I don't want to hear it, Lucian."

He ignored my warning, his voice laced with concern. "You know you can't continue this, Kaelen. It's dangerous. To her. To us."

I sighed, sinking into the seat beside him. I'd already wrestled with the morality and practicality of a relationship with Ellie. I had decided, perhaps foolishly, that the risk was worth it. At least for now.

"I know it's dangerous, Lucian," I said, my voice weary. "But there's something about her. I can't explain it. I feel… different when I'm with her. Alive."

Lucian raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Alive? You are alive, Kaelen. Undead, yes, but functioning quite well for the past two centuries. And you are aware of what happens when we get too close to humans. It never ends well."

I nodded, the ghosts of past mistakes swirling in my mind. He was right, of course. The history of vampires and humans was a tragedy riddled with broken promises and broken hearts. But I was stubborn, and perhaps incredibly naive.

"I know it's a risk," I countered, "But I have to see where this goes. I can't just… turn my back on her, Lucian."

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze intense, probing. "Is my companionship not enough anymore, Kaelen? Is this what you were missing this whole time?" Lucian asked carefully.

I looked at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. "No, that's not it at all, Lucian. What we have is important. You're my closest friend, my family. But Ellie... she offers something different. Something I didn't even know I craved, a connection to humanity I thought I'd lost. "

Lucian sighed and leaned back, the lines on his face etched deeper in the dim light. "I understand, Kaelen, but you have to be careful. Deception is a tool that cannot be over looked. For both of your sakes."

I nodded, knowing he was right. I couldn't let my feelings for Ellie put her in danger. But neither could I deny the undeniable pull I felt towards her.

"I will be careful," I said, meeting his gaze with a firm resolve. "I promise."

Lucian nodded once, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. We sat in silence for a few moments, the music swirling around us, the weight of my decision heavy in the air. I couldn't help but replay the night with Ellie, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, the soft curve of her hand in mine. I had never felt this way before, not in all my long, solitary existence.

"I'm going to head out," I said, finally breaking the silence. "I need to clear my head."

Lucian waved a dismissive hand. As I stepped out into the night, the cool air hitting my face, I felt a renewed sense of purpose, a strange cocktail of excitement and fear. I had no idea what the future held, but I was determined to see where things would go with Ellie.

And so, I walked again into the night, ready to face whatever came my way. I was ready to fight, to protect, to love, as long as I had the chance to be with her. The night was young, and I had all the time in the world to explore this new, exhilarating, and undeniably dangerous relationship.