Chapter 3~ Bloody Red Eyes

AURELIA 

10 years later! 

"Aurelia, open the door."

My sleep broke when I heard a frantic knock on the door and my mom's anxious voice calling for me. I stood up from the bed walking to the door cautiously opening it to find my mom drenched in blood. 

"Mom, are you ok? What happened?" 

Mom came inside the room locking the door in a hurry. Her hands shaking from fear and her legs wobbling. 

"You need to run, Aurelia. He is here to take you." 

I frowned. 

"Who, mom?" 

I asked confusingly. 

She gulped down her fear. Her face morphed into a scared shadow. 

"Erix, Erix Drystan." 

*A Week Before* 

Dead bodies. Again dead bodies. For a week now, everywhere our eyes go we see only dead bodies. Dead bodies of the warriors patrolling at night. The whole pack is in a terror. It wasn't like this ever. But recently it all seems like a bad dream coming true. 

"Dad!" 

I knocked on the door asking permission to enter. I heard a gruff voice and entered the office. The office is in a nutshell. Papers here and there. Dad and his Beta are busy discussing something. There is also a third person. The person whom I expected but still couldn't believe my eyes.  

Reagan Darius

Dad and mom said I had identified Reagan as my mate when I was 7 years old. He also found out I'm his mate. But that was one day. After that I never felt any connection towards him. Now I'm 17, I still don't smell him as my mate. Alpha King Darius and dad said it's maybe because I'm a prophesied child. Now or later on I will find my mate. But I want Reagan as my mate. Like every girl in the pack, I have a crush on him. Who wouldn't have? He is handsome, caring, respectful and a badass fighter. He is the future Alpha King. And the fact that he has eyes only for me, makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. He has been helping me in everything ever since our first meeting. 

He never forced himself on me as his mate. He is waiting and he promised he will always wait. And these mere things are making me fall in love with him. I hope I'll soon feel him as my mate. 

Sensing my presence, he turned his head towards me and gave me a smile. I tried to smile back but it was nearly impossible for me, realizing the condition of my pack. 

I walked towards dad, 

"Dad, a few more bodies were found near the river."

Dad ceased the crease in between his eyebrows and looked at his Beta. 

"Get someone to identify the bodies."

Once he was gone, Dad turned towards me completely. He looks old nowadays. His gray hair appeared and his face tired and sleep deprived. 

"Dad, did you find anything?" 

"We did."

I turned towards Reagan who answered instead of dad. 

"What did you find?" 

Both shared a look before Dad decided to answer this time.

"Erix, Erix Drystan is his name."

"His?" 

Dad's eyes held hatred. Such hatred, I never saw in my whole life. 

"The Vampire King. Erix Drystan. He is the one behind the deaths of our people. He is killing off people while searching for someone."

Someone? Who is he looking for? 

"Dad, who is he looking for?" 

He gulped down a lump of hesitation before saying something which shook my entire world. 

"He is looking for you."

He is looking for me!!! Why is he looking for me? I don't even know him. Hell, I never saw him. My heart started thumping loudly. 

"Dad, it's illogical. Why will he look for me? I never saw him and I'm sure neither did he too. I have never been outside of the pack. And I'm always secured in the pack. Why would he want me?" 

"We don't know anything for now, Aurelia. It's just a thought, a prediction. You are a gifted child, Aurelia. And none of us know what your gift is. I think he is after your gift. He is evil, Aurelia. No one can be more evil than him. He kills for fun. He destroys packs for momentary pleasure. He is a demon in white skin. He doesn't have a heart. He is made of stone and no humanity. He has been alive for 300 years now. And nothing can kill him. He is immortal and dangerous for every creature on this earth."

I shuddered visibly. Why is he looking for me? Goddess why?? 

"I'm employing royal guards around you. And I'll personally be with you when you attend the annual ball." 

He fisted his hand before saying, 

"If it wasn't for the royal duties, I would have personally guarded you but…"

"It's fine. Your duties come first. Dad, I don't need guards. I can take care of myself."

I tried to justify. Two broody guards are enough on my plate. I don't want more. 

Dad shook his head as if reprimanding me. 

"You are not understanding, Aurelia. The danger is hovering over you. And it's our duty to protect you. We don't even know about your power which could have come in handy."

Dad's last line hit me like a truck. It isn't my fault that I don't know about my power. It's not my fault that I don't know why I'm a prophesied child. I don't know why, just why I'm born. Dad noticed my teary eyes and before he could say anything I turned around and left the room. I heard footsteps following behind me. I know it's Reagan but I didn't turn back and kept on walking or can say running. I walked straight to my favorite spot. The lake. 

"Aurelia…."

"Please, not now Reagan. Leave me alone for sometime.". 

I turned my attention towards the lake and tried to avoid me. But it's difficult with how strong his presence is. Wherever Reagan goes, he carries a strong aura. A aura which forces your face towards him, forces your attention to be on him. 

"Look at me." 

I turned around and found his eyes making holes on my face. He stepped forward. One by one and reached near me. He was invading my personal space and I was letting him. He cupped my cheeks and I felt a shudder run through my body. 

"I won't let anyone take you away from me. You will be here, in front of my eyes. I'll see you everyday until you realize I'm your mate and I mark you as mine forever." 

I felt my heart expanding. It's too much. He took a sniff off my scent and growled. 

"I so want to you mark you and show that fucking low creature that you are mine."

Fear engulfed me and he realized it. He rubbed his thumb across my jaw line. 

"But I won't do it. I will never force you, Aurelia. The Moon Goddess gave you to me and she will make you realize that I'm the one written on your fate."

I hope that day comes soon. 

*Present* 

That day never came. But he came. To take me away from everyone. Mom pushed me through the small tunnel which was made for emergency escape. I was barefooted, running through the small tunnel. I saw mom at the very start of the tunnel looking at me with tearful eyes. Soon she was far away from my sight. I ran out of the tunnel into the green land. 

What I saw made vomit crawl up my throat. Piles of dead bodies. One on another. My dad, Reagan and other warriors fighting. 

Fighting to save me. 

My feets backend. I couldn't keep myself steady. I turned around and was about to run when I hit a solid surface. 

Earth, cinnamon and manly scent. So intoxicating, so enchanting. I tried to look up but before that I was knocked out by something. The last thing I remembered was red eyes. 

BLOODY RED EYES.