FRUSTRATED BY OVER-PROTECTIVENESS

EVA'S POV

“Why didn’t Alex come with us?” I asked as soon as we reached home.

“He has some work,” Aaron said vaguely.

I tried calling Alex but he didn’t pick up the call. I tried to distract myself by talking to Aunt Linda but my thoughts kept going back to Alex.

I wondered where he might have gone. Until a while ago, he was behaving as if he wouldn’t leave my side even for a moment. Then what happened to him suddenly?

The key lying on the table caught my attention. I had picked it up when Aaron dropped it accidentally in the hospital. Was it possible that he had gone to Dixonville?

The more I thought about it, the more probable it seemed. I decided to go and check myself.

“ Aaron, I am going to Dixonville,” I called out walking towards the door.

Before I could step outside Aaron jumped in front of me and blocked my way, “You can’t go anywhere alone.”

“And why is that?” My eyebrows furrowed as I asked that.

“Umm…It is not safe outside.”

“I am not going for a party Aaron. I know it’s not safe outside and that is the reason I am going to look for Alex.” I said shoving him to the side.

I trotted outside before Aaron could try to stop me again. I drove quickly to Dixonville.

I felt nostalgic as I saw Dixonville. This was the place I had lived as a vampire. I felt as if that was lives ago. I had never thought I would come back here again but I often feel that we are mere puppets in the hands of fate.

I had to tread carefully among the overgrown path. I felt a pang of regret. I had decided to not come here but I should at least take care of the property. I made a mental note to get this place cleaned as soon as possible.

I had been right. I found Alex standing in front of the door searching for the key. I went closer to hand him over the key but he turned at the same moment and we dashed into each other.

His eyes turned a bit red and his eyebrows furrowed as he said, “What are you doing here?”

I was taken aback by his furious expression and was unable to reply.

He pressed me against the wall and gritted out through his teeth, “ Why do you always try to test my patience. I leave you safely at home and you turn up at the hospital. I send you safely to Aaron’s home and here you are again to worry me.”

I felt an intense pain shoot through me at his furious voice. Tears welled in my eyes and flowed down my cheeks. But soon it was replaced by anger.

“Leave my hands right now,” I commanded in a flat tone.

He was taken aback by my tone and left my hands immediately. Hurt flashed in his eyes which made me feel a bit guilty. But, I couldn’t let him continue with his overprotective behavior, could I?

I rubbed my hands to get the blood flow back to them and tried to talk some sense into him.

“ I know that you are worried about me. I can understand that you want to protect me. But You can’t expect me to stay quietly within the walls of a house while my friends are dying. You might have forgotten the love and support they gave us when we had nothing, but I can’t.

Do you think I will be safe if I stay at home? You know it in your heart that the killings are not due to any virus. No virus can make a human being drink blood.”

“I was just trying to protect you!” He countered.

“ And I am trying to protect my… no…. our friends. If anyone stands a chance to find what is going on, it’s me. You know it well too”

“But…..”

“No, if’s and But’s Alex. I am going to try and find out the one behind all of this. You can stand by me or you can become an obstacle in my path. The choice is yours.”

Alex was quiet for a few moments and then he said, “ I will support you but on one condition…..”

“I won’t agree to it if it is an unreasonable one,” I said cutting in.

“ Please, listen to me once.”

“Okay….shoot.”

“ You have to promise me to wear Alexart at all times.” He said and looked at me expectantly.

I would have insisted on Alex wearing the Alexart but then I remembered my baby. I had to protect him too. My hands automatically moved to my belly as I thought about him.

Luckily Alex hadn’t noticed else he would have locked me up in a room.

“Come let’s go get the Alexart,” I said opening the door. I switched on the light to find the hall full of cobwebs and spiders. Alex took the cloth off the sofa and brushed the cobwebs out of the way as we walked towards Eric’s room.

“This looks like a perfect vampire abode, doesn't it?” I said in an attempt to break the tension that had developed between us. But Alex just glared at me. It was evident that he didn’t find it funny.

Luckily Eric’s bedroom was in better condition. I took out the Alexart from the box. Putting it around my neck I said, “Happy.” But he didn’t reply.

“Alex, how long are you going to mop about this? You never know how many moments of life we have left. Do you want to spend them quarreling…...”

He placed his hands on my mouth and said, “Please, don’t say like that Eva. I love you. I can’t imagine life without you.”

His voice cracked towards the end and he gathered me into his arms. I felt all my worries melt away as I rested my head on his broad chest.

“I love you too, Alex.” I felt a bit guilty but what could I do? How could I achieve anything if he was mopping the whole time?

“Your phone is ringing.” I said sensing the vibrations from his pocket. No wonder he hadn’t picked up my calls. The phone I gave him was on vibrate mode.

He took out the phone and put it on speaker.

“Alex, Eva went outside. I tried to stop her. I honestly did but she didn’t listen to me. I have no clue where she has gone. I am sorry buddy.” Aaron’s anxious voice sounded from the speaker.

“ It’s okay Aaron. She is with me. We will return together in a while.” Alex said and disconnected the call.

“So, is this why Aaron was stopping me?” I asked placing my hands on my hips.

“Hmmm….” He said sheepishly.

I decided to let it slide for the moment. I had a lot of work at hand. I started rummaging through the wardrobe.

“What are you searching for? I can help.” He said after a while. He must have got irritated by my to and fro movement.

“I am looking for ancient parchments that contain the prophecies. It’s written in Polaris language. Look for papers that look and have something written in a language you don’t understand.” I tried to explain as best as I could.

Within a few minutes we had turned the whole room inside out yet we couldn’t find anything.

“Gosh! Where in the hell did Eric keep it.” I said holding my head.

“No problem, Eva. We can come back tomorrow and look for it. We should really leave now.” Alex said looking ar his watch.

I looked at the watch too. It was already 6:30. The sun would set any moment. Alex was right. It was risky to stay here any longer.

We locked the main door and started walking towards the main gate. Right at that moment I sensed a presence in the shadows. I could hear my heart beat faster as I walked towards the shadow. I saw a movement but it was too quick for my human eyes to perceive. So much so that I wasn’t sure I had seen something.

“Alex, did you see that?” I called out but I got no response. I returned to the spot where I had left him. He was standing still like a statue.

My heart skipped a beat. Why was Alex standing so motionless.