Adriel’s Point of View:
“Holy moly, she looks like the angel of darkness and light!” I was in awe, as I murmured under my breath. My eyes were widened and I couldn’t help but admire the woman from afar. Her beauty swept me off my feet, and if I had a heart, I swear it would be beating fast.
I had just come out of the party hall, to welcome our guests, and I was shocked to see a woman who looked exactly like Annabella and my late lover.
At first, I thought I was hallucinating because I missed her, but when she slipped, I knew at once that she was the one, and I felt somehow excited.
I quickly ran to her side to catch her before she could fall, and we both stared at each other in the eyes. I was confused because I could smell my blood on her, but she looked more surprised to see me.
“General Adriel Lupa? What are you doing here?” She asked with arched brows, her eyes staring into mine. Her hands were wrapped around my shoulders, and I felt happy to see her. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew that somehow, she was connected to my late lover.
“Annabella ….” I mumbled thoughtfully, ignoring her question. A smirk settled on my face, and before I could reply to her, Logan’s hoarse voice echoed in my ears.
“What are you doing, Adriel?” Logan asked me, he sounded jealous, and his voice was filled with envy.
I furrowed my brows, and Annabella quickly removed her arms which were around my neck, feeling embarrassed. Some people were staring at us, while the rest entered the hall.
“What am I doing here?” I was surprised by his question, and I scowled at him. “This is my house, I can be anywhere I choose to be. But Logan, what is your connection with this lady?” I asked him curiously, and stood in front of her like a warrior.
I don’t know why I was protective of her, but I know that I didn’t want to see her together with Logan.
“My connection to her?” Logan asked with a sarcastic voice and scoffed at me. “Come on! She is my guest. I invited her to this party.” He continued, nearly going berserk, and I looked at her face for confirmation, my eyes blinking with surprise.
“Is this true?” I asked her with a cracking voice. I can’t explain it, but it felt like my precious jewel was snatched away from my hand by my childhood rival, and I felt cheated once again.
“Humm, Logan… I didn’t know you were connected to Adriel Lupa,” Annabella replied, her expression confused, as she ignored my question. Meanwhile, Logan pushed me out of the way and walked to her side.
I stood still, wondering what was going on between the two of them. I don’t know why I felt jealous, but I knew I wanted her in my arms at that moment.
Logan placed his hands on her cheeks, gently caressing it. “Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” He asked Annabella as his eyes scanned her body, probably looking for a scar.
I scoffed at his protective behavior and hissed, “Why in the world would I hurt her?” I asked, my voice laced with anger and annoyance at being perceived as a monster capable of harming a woman.
“Who knows? Maybe because it is in your blood. Do you still remember the way you killed your ex?” Logan questioned with a menacing voice, trying to paint me as the bad guy, and Annabella’s eyes widened in horror.
I was shocked, I didn’t expect him to bring up something so personal to me in front of a woman I was trying to impress. But more than anything, I was hurt. I was hurt because he had no right to talk about my late lover.
I couldn’t reply to him, I just nodded my head at him, my eyes burning in fury. My fists clenched, and my jaws tightened. I would have beaten the hell out of him, if it wasn’t for Lola’s timely appearance.
“Brother Adriel, mother has been searching for you.” Lola informed me the moment she reached where I was.
I cleared my throat, and looked at the guests who were staring at me. On noticing that I was looking at them, they quickly turned their faces away and entered the hall.
I looked at Logan one last time, and without looking at Annabella, I left the scene.
As I walked away from the scene, accompanied by Lola’s concerned glances, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that my world had just been turned upside down.
Annabella’s presence had awakened a part of me that I thought was long buried. My heart, though non-beating, felt like it was racing with a mix of emotions – excitement, fear, and a hint of hope.
“Adriel, what just happened? Who is that woman?” Lola’s voice broke the silence.
I was surprised that Lola asked me a question because we weren’t very close to each other.
“Humm, it’s fine if you don’t want to talk. I am just curious.” She quickly added, not wanting to be seen as a pervert.
I knew if I didn’t tell her a little about Annabella, she would try and search for clues about her without my knowledge.
So I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Lola’s curiosity was palpable, but I knew I had to tread carefully. The last thing I needed was her to get entangled in my complicated emotions or telling my mom about my conversation with a stranger.
“She’s one of Liam’s friends, Lola,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But my sister’s knowing gaze told me she wasn’t buying it. I changed the subject, asking her about our mother’s whereabouts, hoping to divert her attention.
As we entered the grand hall, I couldn’t help but scan the room for Annabella. The birthday’s decoration was straight out of a luxury dream. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting rainbow colors everywhere. Gold patterns on the walls shimmered in the light, and the marble floor was so polished it looked like a mirror.
Everyone was dressed in expensive – designer clothes, sparkling jewelry and breathtaking shoes. The room smelled like a high-end perfume store, and a live string quartet played softly in the background.
There was a huge buffet with crazy-good food – caviar, steaks, finger sandwiches, you name it. Servers in white gloves and tailcoats floated around, refilling champagne glasses and handing out hors d’oeuvres.
At the far end of the hall, this insane cake towered over everything. It was like a work of art, with sugar flowers and gold leaf.
And next to it, a blood ice sculpture that looked like it belonged in a museum.
I knew my mother must have spent a fortune on this grand celebration, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the point of it all, considering she was a thousand years old, yet the guests believed her to be only fifty.
“Adriel, darling, where have you been?” My mother’s soft voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned to look at her, a mischievous smile on my face.
“Wow! A thousand years of mischief and mayhem? You’re an inspiration to us all! Wishing you more centuries of plotting and scheming. Cheers to many more!” I whispered to her with a mischief filled voice, and my mother burst into laughter as she hugged me.
“Don’t worry, we’ll celebrate yours very soon.” She whispered back into my ears, and without asking for my permission, she dragged me to the dance floor.
While dancing, I could see Philious and Liam acting awkwardly to each other, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening between them.
Suddenly, my eyes locked onto Annabella’s, and I felt that jolt again. She was laughing with Logan, her smile radiant, and my heart… well, it didn’t beat, but it felt like it was being squeezed.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling of suffocation as I stood there, trapped in a boring conversation with my mother.
I don’t know why I was feeling jealous, and I wish I could control it. So I quickly grabbed a glass of wine which a waiting server was holding and gulped down the content.
The words blurred together, and I felt my mind numb. I needed an escape, a breath of fresh air, so I excused myself, almost rudely, and rushed to the balcony.
As I stood there, trying to calm my racing thoughts, I heard the door creak open behind me. I turned to see Annabella, her eyes wild and her skin pale. She looked like she was running from something, or someone. My heart skipped a beat as she approached the rails, her movements frantic.
And then, in a split second, her hand brushed against the wall, and a faint scratch appeared. Blood trickled out, like a tiny river of crimson.
The scent of her blood filled my nostrils, intoxicating me. I felt my thirst awaken. My eyes locked onto the blood, and I couldn’t look away.
A muffled cry sounded from Annabella’s throat. And my eyes widened as my fang came out. My heart pounded in my chest, and my senses came alive. I was no longer in control; my thirst had taken over.