CHAPTER 4: LUNCH DATE

 Alice shook her head, "No. You know what you did to me? You betrayed me, and you broke my trust. "

She didn’t wait for Black Lotus’ reply and went on her way, carrying the folder containing the information about Elijah.

"What was that about?" She was welcomed with a question from Carl. Alice doesn’t even know why the man was still here when they were dismissed ages ago.

Alice rolled her eyes and went on her way, but the man blocked her way.

"An answer would be nice. Was it because of our mission earlier? "

"No. It’s none of your business. Now let me get through, or I’ll break a bone or two in your body. " One glare was enough for her teammate to make way. She went straight to her car and drove like hell back to her house.

The night was still young, and it was rare for her to go back this early because she usually joined in other departments' hunts, just for the chance to see and kill the vampire she was finding.

She flipped through the papers to try and find the man’s current whereabouts, but all she saw were old records the organization managed to dig up about Elijah.

"Damn it!" She threw the papers away in frustration. Her hands were trembling, and tears started to flow from her eyes. Alice had already trained herself to not show vulnerability, even to herself. It was her way of coping with everything that she had been through, both in her current and past lives.

Her past lives might just be memories, but they felt real. Every fear and every pain that she has been through in her past lives is real to her. They all happened, and she had to avenge them no matter what.

Alice cried her heart out. She cried for all of them who were killed without remorse, with nothing but fear in their minds.

The sound of her phone ringing woke her up. She groaned and almost threw her phone, but figured that it might be important since no one dared call her at this time without a life and death reason unless they wanted a proper beating.

She didn’t even look at the caller ID when she answered the phone, "Unless it’s important, drop this call or I will kill you." Alice’s voice is still groggy, probably because she cried herself to sleep. She can’t remember the last time she cried, but Alice is sure that she wouldn’t do it again.

"I heard you were looking for me."

Alice’s eyes widened, then became fierce and lifeless. She was gritting her teeth unconsciously. Her mood plummeting right after she woke up was the last thing she needed today.

"How did you get this number?" It was her first question. The only people who were supposed to know about her cellphone number were selected people in her organization. The information could be stolen or purposely leaked.

The laughter from the other line made Alice let out a sharp sigh. She was very close to killing him. If only she hadn’t hesitated on abandoning the mission, then she would have been happily waking up today with no fear that she'd get killed soon.

"Oh, don’t worry. Your organization is pretty loyal to you. Although, you need to remind those children to always bring that pesky flower with them. It was easy, very easy to manipulate their minds." Alice wasn’t surprised by what he said, but she was surprised by how worried she was right now.

This is why she prefers to be alone. Damn Black Lotus for giving her more worries than she already has in her fucked up life.

"I’ll make your death more painful than I already intend to if you hurt them." She threatened and was already thinking of more ways to end the vampire. Alice shouldn’t be saying this given that she was acting like she didn’t know the vampire, but her emotions are getting in the way.

She heard the vampire chuckle again, "You’re still the same, I see. Don’t worry, they all went back home safely, tucked in their blankets, and probably dreaming of slaying more of my kind. "

"And why would a vampire call a hunter at 7 a.m.? Unless they have a death wish, " She still feigned ignorance. No one in her team knows about her past life issues. The vampire surely didn’t get a lot of information from the other hunters, even if he tried to look into all of their memories.

There was a moment of silence from the other line, then a roar of laughter. Alice groaned and ended the call. She might want the vampire to be killed and it might be very anti-climatic, but she just can’t hear any of his voice early in the morning.

The vampire called again, but she put her phone in silent mode and went to eat breakfast before she combusted in anger.

--

"What the actual hell?" She exclaimed after seeing almost a hundred missed calls on her phone, all coming from the vampire that didn’t stop calling her till now. The phone vibrated again, flashing an unknown number on the screen.

She bit her lower lip in frustration. How she wanted to drive a bullet right into his brain, let him heal, then kill him over and over again, just like what he did to her.

"How dare you drop the call?!" The vampire exclaimed, sounding like a child sulking when it wasn’t even endearing to hear.

Alice rolled her eyes. She already imagined all possible scenarios before she killed him, but this... she never imagined this.

"And what makes you think that you have the right to yell at me?!" She exclaimed with the same intensity. Somehow, she prefers the image of the vampire in her memories of her past lives.

The woman heard mumbling from the other line. She couldn’t figure out the words, but she is already annoyed with it.

He sighed, "I was supposed to invite you out, but you dropped the call. That was rude. " Elijah complained.

Alice was simply flabbergasted with what she was hearing. She didn’t know if this was a tactic to distract her or if she was just fearing the wrong vampire.

"I can still hear you breathe, you know. I assume you already ate, so... how about lunch? You’re probably busy later, hunting vampires and all. " He sounded bright and hopeful. It creeps her out more than Karina admitting to her that she has a crush on Art.

By his words, he seemed to be a day walker. There is truth to the tale that vampires cannot walk under the sun. Most vampires can’t without bursting into flames. They are, but older vampires with purer blood could withstand the sun. It was the most vexing aspect of vampires; they grew more powerful as they aged. That is why hunters do everything they can to eliminate the new ones while slowly killing the older ones, who have been roaming the earth for far too long.

"And what makes you think that I would come with you?" She finally spoke. Alice didn’t expect this kind of conversation with a vampire, but here she is, riding on for the chance to kill him.

He hummed, "Well, you’re a vampire hunter, and I’m a vampire. It’s a perfect combination. "

Alice didn’t know what got into her, but the vampire made her agree to have lunch with him. She wasn’t expecting much, given that he probably meant Alice as his lunch, but the man gave him the address of a famous 5-star restaurant.