Bloodbound Hearts: A Tale of Eternal Love

Chapter 13: The Bait

The midday sun filtered through the leaves of the oak tree, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Laura and Alexis sat beneath it, the tension between them palpable.

"Yesterday was intense," Laura began, her eyes flickering with worry. "I'm still shaken by how close we came to a real fight."

Alexis, who had been listening intently, couldn't contain his concern any longer. "Laura," he interrupted, his voice low, "you mentioned before that my blood has a special essence that can attract vampires."

Laura nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Yes, it does. Why are you asking?"

Alexis took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto Laura's. "I have a plan to help us finish this hunt quickly."

Before he could elaborate, Laura's expression changed. "No, Alexis," she said firmly, shaking her head. "I know what you're thinking. I can read your mind, remember? And I won't allow you to put yourself in danger like that."

"But this is the only way to draw them out!" Alexis insisted. "If my blood is such a powerful lure, we can use it to trap them. It's the only way I can think of to really help."

Laura's eyes softened, but she remained resolute. "You don't understand how dangerous this is. You could get killed, or worse. Those vampires are ruthless. They won't hesitate to rip you apart."

"Please, Laura," Alexis pleaded, his voice breaking with desperation. "I want to help. I can't just sit here and do nothing while you and your family risk everything."

Laura's resolve faltered, her eyes filling with a mixture of fear and frustration. She shook her head again, trying to maintain her composure. "No, Alexis. It's too dangerous."

"Then what do you suggest?" Alexis asked, his tone rising in frustration. "We can't keep playing this game of cat and mouse forever. We need to end this."

Laura sighed, closing her eyes for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. "We need to have a family meeting about this," she finally said. "We'll discuss your idea, but I can't promise anything."

"Good," Alexis said, relieved that they were at least making progress. "I want to be there. I want to be part of the discussion."

Laura hesitated, unsure of what to say. "I'll talk to my parents. We'll see what they think."

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Alexis arrived at the Ashford house. He was greeted at the door by Vlad, who eyed him with a mixture of suspicion and annoyance. "What are you doing here?" Vlad demanded.

"I'm here to discuss something important with your family," Alexis replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Vlad grunted but stepped aside to let him in. The rest of the family was gathered in the living room, their expressions ranging from curiosity to concern.

"What's this about?" Richard Ashford asked, his gaze shifting from Laura to Alexis.

"Alexis has an idea," Laura began, looking at her father with a mixture of hope and dread. "He thinks he can help us catch the attackers."

Richard's eyes narrowed. "And how does he propose to do that?"

Alexis stepped forward, taking a deep breath. "My blood," he said simply. "Laura told me it has a special essence that can attract vampires. We can use it as bait to lure them out of hiding."

The room erupted in a chorus of protests. Vicky Ashford was the first to speak. "Absolutely not! It's too dangerous."

Vlad crossed his arms, glaring at Alexis. "You're insane if you think we're going to let you do that."

Cristoff, ever the voice of reason, looked thoughtful but skeptical. "It's a risky plan, but it might work. The question is, how do we ensure his safety?"

"Exactly," Brigette added. "We can't just use him as bait without a solid plan to protect him."

Selina nodded in agreement. "And what if it backfires? What if more vampires show up than we can handle?"

Alexis listened to their concerns, then spoke up again. "I know it's dangerous. But I'm willing to take the risk. We can set a trap, and I'll be surrounded by you guys the entire time. If things go wrong, you can step in and protect me."

Laura looked at her parents, her eyes pleading. "Please, Mom, Dad. We need to consider this. We can't keep running around in circles. Alexis is right. This could be our best chance to end this."

Richard and Vicky exchanged a long look, silently communicating their thoughts. Finally, Richard spoke. "We'll discuss it further, as a family. But Alexis, you need to understand the gravity of what you're proposing. If we do this, there's no turning back."

Alexis nodded, his expression serious. "I understand. And I'm ready."

The room fell silent as the Ashfords weighed their options. The stakes were high, and the risks were great. But with the threat looming over them, they knew they had to take decisive action.

"Alright," Richard said at last. "We'll come up with a plan. But know this, Alexis-your safety is our top priority. We won't let anything happen to you."

"Thank you," Alexis said, relief flooding through him. "I won't let you down."

The family spent the next few hours discussing their strategy, each member contributing their ideas and concerns. They knew the coming days would be filled with danger and uncertainty, but they were determined to face it together.

As the meeting drew to a close, Laura walked Alexis to the door. "Thank you for trusting us," she said softly. "I just hope we can keep you safe."

"I trust you, Laura," Alexis replied, squeezing her hand. "And I know we can do this."

With a final nod, Alexis left the Ashford house, his mind racing with the events of the day. He knew the road ahead would be perilous, but he also knew he was not alone. Together, they would face whatever came their way.