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"Alexei," she whispered, a mix of fear and relief in her voice before succumbing to unconsciousness. My arms enveloped her fragile form, lifting her weight effortlessly as I carried her away from the scene. One thing was sure: she had seen me in my raw form take down the other man. I only hoped she didn't remember when she woke up.
I took Agent Evelyn back to my place because I knew the hotel would not be safe enough for her, at least not now. For her to be attacked on her way there meant whoever sent her attacker knew exactly where to find her. It was time to take this whole thing even more seriously. Now they were coming for the investigators too. I shook my head incredulously and tried not to let myself think of what could have happened if I hadn't been there in time to save Agent Evelyn.
Upon reaching my home, I gently laid her on a comfortable bed and pulled the covers up to her chest. She looked stressed, and I wondered what could be going on in that little head of hers. She has risked so much of her life trying to get justice for the people who have been murdered. One trait I admired about her was her resilience.
I stood in thecorner of the room, watching her in case she woke up. It would be better to explain where she was, so she didn't think her attacker was able to grab her successfully.
As Agent Evelyn stirred, regaining consciousness, a surge of relief washed over me. At least she was fine, and the choking didn't affect her physically too badly.
"Agent Evelyn, are you all right?" I inquired in a low voice, and she took a moment to stare at me. As if she was trying to process all that had happened here.
"That man, he was choking me. He was going to kill me," she whispered, touching her neck, and I nodded.
"I dealt with him already. You are safe. He will never disturb you or anyone again." I replied, and she nodded again, this time as if she was reliving the events. I was desperate to hear her next words; I needed to know what she saw.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You're safe now," I assured her, and she nodded before returning to sleep. I sighed in relief. At least she didn't mention me beating the man or tearing out his throat.
I sent a quick text to Sheriff Callum, telling him about Agent Evelyn's attack and how he should take care of the body before people wake up to see it. We would be talking in detail by morning when we saw each other. I closed the door of the guest room gently as I left. I also needed to go to sleep.
***
I was up early, so I fixed a quick breakfast for Agent Evelyn. I hadn't heard her move since I got up. I assumed that she was still sleeping.I finished breakfast, and I knocked loudly on the door. It was almost nine in the morning, and she couldn't still be asleep.
"Please come in," she called from the other end of the door, and I pushed the door open with my free hand. I dropped the breakfast on the edge of the bed, and she smiled at me.
"You saved my life," she expressed, a mixture of gratitude and curiosity coloring her words. "But there's something I need to know."
I nodded. I knew it was only a matter of time before she brought up what she had seen last night. So, I waited for the questions to roll in. I already decided I was going to tell her the truth last night; it would be easier if we wanted this whole madness to end. She may be upset or afraid to learn these secrets, but I was confident she would learn to live with it. I was doing it with her best interest at heart. We needed Agent Evelyn's expertise in finding whatever it was that was killing us.
"You have fangs," she pointed out, her gaze fixed on me. It wasn't an accusation but rather an acknowledgment of what she saw last night. I could have manipulated her, erased whatever happened from her mind yesterday but it wouldn’t make any sense to do, especially since we need her expertise to find the main killer.
Taking a measured breath, I chose to be transparent. "Yes, I'm a vampire, the same as over five hundred people that live in Harmony Grove. None of us, unlike the novels and movies depict, kill humans for their blood but we do drink blood as sustenance. "
Her expression shifted, processing the revelation. The room held a charged atmosphere as the weight of the unknown settled, and I could sense the delicate balance hanging in the air.
Harmony Grove concealed more than its fair share of secrets, and now Agent Evelyn grappled with a truth that transcended the boundaries of her familiar reality.
Sitting beside her, my demeanor remained calm as I started explaining the intricacies of our coexistence with humans in this town. The unspoken understanding that vampires, like any other residents, played their part in maintaining the town's equilibrium.
"We couldn't declare a curfew because Harmony Grove is home to vampires as well," I clarified. "We are an integral part of this community, and a curfew would adversely affect our way of life. Vampires are nightcrawlers, and they function best at night. Aside from that, it would infringe on their right of movement, and it would also send the wrong messages to the other supernaturals."
Agent Evelyn absorbed the information with a thoughtful nod, her gaze reflecting a blend of acceptance and lingering wariness. The world she was in now was far more complicated than anything she had ever known, and I would understand if she walked away from all of this, considering that she had become a target herself.
The man I killed yesterday was too weak to be the mastermind of the whole killings, that man couldn't be responsible for the eleven dead vampires in Harmony grove, they would have overpowered him. It made me realize we are dealing with a higher power play here.
She didn't say much, but I wished she would. I could see the wheels spinning in her head, and I hoped she would ask me the questions and not make assumptions about the whole situation. I hoped she didn't see me as someone she couldn't trust either, especially since I hadn't been overly forthcoming with important information. Obviously, with Agent Evelyn being unaware of the delicate political dance I had to do with the vampire Council, that was the stance she was likely to take.
While she ate, I observed her with a guarded concern. Her acceptance of the situation, while relieving, did little to ease the deeperworries gnawing at my thoughts. Would she be able to handle all of this?
Once breakfast concluded, I broached the lingering topic—the previous night's events.
"How are you feeling?" I inquired, my tone gentle. The aftermath of a traumatic encounter requires both physical and emotional recovery.
Meeting my gaze, Agent Evelyn looked tired. I could see it deep in those orbs. "Physically, I'm fine. Emotionally... I'm still processing."
I nodded in understanding, acknowledging the weight of my disclosure. It would take some time for her to come to terms with the new information I just shared about Harmony Grove. I only hope that I wasn’t making the worst decision of my life by telling her this.
