Empty Mantle

Chapter Three - Exposed

"Revealing the true, objectionable nature of someone or something."

The brightness of his phone illuminated his face in the black SUV as the pair travelled with an accompaniment of similar vehicles which entered a district in a neighborhood that didn't look quite maintained, poor, a fraction of the meaning when it came to describe the sight that beheld before Aleks and Mikalov.

"You seem quite distracted." That low voice sounded from beside Aleks as he looked up and turned to face the man the voice came from.

"Not distracted, just catching up on recent updates that were sent to me from the report, it is easier to have it sent to my phone, rather than having to lug that stupid tablet around. Besides, this way I won't fall asleep, the brightness is almost as vibrant as the sun, and it stops me from having to look at you the whole time." He said with his usual flair, Aleksandr had a penchant for getting snarky without providence.

"I don't see how that is a bad thing. I mean, having to look at me. If it bothered you so much, why not ride in a different vehicle. We are meeting each other at the same destination." Mikalov stated, staring down Aleksandr as if he was digging for an answer from the other.

"Wow, vanity really does come easy to you guys, doesn't it?" Aleksandr shook his head whilst resting his phone on his lap and locking the screen.

"Not vanity, Aleks. It is the truth. Sometimes people cannot help but stare. It is common, at least it is for me. I would say you are the same. Who wouldn't be able to take their eyes off you?" He stated.

Aleksandr felt his cheeks heat at the comment he thought was a compliment. In fact, his hands begun to rub together and his fingers interlocking. His eyes drifted along Mikalov, and he was right. It was so easy to get lost in the sight of the man beside him and he didn't know if it was the fact that he was a vampire and that they were unnaturally beautiful or the fact that he himself was just attracted to Mikalov in a way that he couldn't explain – attraction to his boss, that was more than enough to spell out disaster.

As he continued to stare, it was broken by the sound of murmuring coming from outside of the car, followed by the brightness of flashing red and blue lights. The SUV came to a quiet stop as the two of them were fixated on the scene that was currently in the spotlight for almost all the side viewers to behold.

"I thought I explained that the area was meant to be sectioned off." A low grumble came from Mikalov's throat.

"Sir, there seems to have been a problem with the evacuation of the complex. We have a team on the roof with a civilian. There has been a casualty on the ground." The driver had come to a stop as he looked over the shoulder of the seat.

"Mikalov..." The sound of Aleks' voice had Mikalov's immediate attention.

He could feel that same heartbeat he had been listening to for years, hasten. As he looked upon that young man's face, he saw that his attention was fixated on the scene escalating outside. As he turned his head to look out of the window, he noticed the paramedics surrounding what looked to be like a body. He raised his hand to the driver and with a nod, the man in the front seat took them to the side of the street. Aleksandr was the first to get out of the car as Mikalov followed.

"Mikalov... We were too late." Aleks' voice could barely be heard, but it was that sound that made Mikalov lower his head for a moment and close his door.

The sound of his footsteps leading over towards the young man on the other side of the car had Aleks raise his head to the person approaching him. He looked up to see those very eyes graze over him as if he were looking for some sort opening, some sort of way to see if he was alright.