The Wicked Ones: Destiny of a Vampire

The beggining of the end

What do you want?" Arius asked bluntly, stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind him with a firm click.

"Aren't you going to have a drink with your brother?" Zaidh asked, pursing his lips.

Arius had already anticipated why Zaidh was there. He likely wanted to point out the obvious—that something was developing between him and Keira. Zaidh and Keira had been growing closer, their bond deepening into something far more than friendship. Arius knew it all too well but wasn't in the mood for Zaidh's explanations.

"I'm busy," Arius muttered, his voice laced with irritation. "Cassius might be in the mood for a drink."

"Busy with what?" Zaidh pushed past Arius, wandering into the apartment.

He wasn't expecting to find Anastasia lying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. She quickly sat up when she noticed him standing there.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Well, this just got interesting," Zaidh chuckled, raising his eyebrows. He nodded to Anastasia before turning back to Arius. "At least have the decency to talk to her before jumping into a new partnership."

"She's my friend, Zaidh. We are just hanging out, like friends do," Arius said, narrowing his eyes. "Mind your own business."

"Well, my business is kind of your business," Zaidh shot back, sarcasm lacing his voice.

Arius's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing further. "Don't you dare lay a hand on her," he hissed.

"Feel free to stop me," Zaidh replied with a smirk.

Before Arius could respond, Zaidh stormed out of the apartment, heading to Keira's place. He felt a surge of irritation thinking about Arius spending time with Anastasia while Keira was drowning in depression. Was Arius acting this way on purpose, or had he truly become that oblivious since becoming human again?

When Zaidh arrived at Keira's door, he knocked. After a few moments, she opened it, her expression deflating into a sigh when she saw him.

"Not what you expected?" Zaidh grinned, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

"Don't you have anything better to do than annoy me?" Keira shrugged, heading to the kitchen with Zaidh trailing behind her.

Keira opened the fridge and glanced back at Zaidh. "A drink?"

"Of course," he nodded, taking a seat near the dining table.

"Of course," Keira muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.

She handed him a glass of blood, raising an eyebrow at his skeptical expression. Despite his hesitation, Zaidh accepted it. Keira, without breaking eye contact, took a sip and waited for his reaction. Zaidh despised bottled blood more than anything, but his expression remained unreadable.

"Since when do you drink bottled blood?" Keira scoffed.

"Since you handed it to me," Zaidh replied with a sarcastic grin. "I don't want to be rude."

"I never imagined you being so sweet," Keira said mockingly. "Anyway, do you need something, or are you just here to bother me?"

"Should I leave you alone?" Zaidh's tone shifted, almost offended. In truth, he had come to check on her, sensing she'd been overwhelmed since returning to the hotel.

"Why are you being so dramatic?" Keira crossed her arms and blocked his path. "I only asked what you want."

"Me? Dramatic?" Zaidh smirked, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing. "I just wanted to check on you before you did something reckless without me."