Chasing the storm

11

"I'm feeling an overwhelming sense of regret inviting Scarlett to this event" Elijah gulped "I can feel that something is going to go incredibly wrong, whether it be Tristan turning up, or just her being surrounded by hundreds of blood-thirsty vampires"

Freya walked from the space she was standing to the desk and perched on the end. "I know you regret it, brother" she sympathised with him "but I don't believe those reasons"

He was currently looking in the mirror, slightly adjusting his tie as Freya watched. As soon as he processed the words she had said, Elijah paused, turned around and looked strangely at her.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked her

"I don't need to explain, do I Elijah?" She raised one eyebrow "but if you insist, the only reason you are regretting this is because you don't want to see Alex and Scarlett together"

"Nonsense"'Elijah refused after a pause and turned back around so Freya couldn't see through him. "Alex is one of my oldest and most loyal of friends, it pleases me to see him happy"

"I know" Freya agreed "but feelings are inevitable, you can't help who you get feelings for"

"feelings or no, I'm not going to act on them" Elijah sighed as he knew that Freya now knew and there was no point in denying it.

"You don't have to" Freya smiled, tasting what it is like to win over a sibling in denial "maybe she will"

"Wait" Elijah turned back around to face Freya, who now was walking out of the door

"Not now, brother, we have guests downstairs"

Elijah looked down at his watch, realising that most of the party-goers would have arrived over 30 minutes ago.

So he quickly pulled down his sleeve and walked to greet them.

As soon as he had emerged on to the balcony, he swiftly locked gaze with Scarlett, who was stood at the gates as if she had just arrived.

She was alone. But not for long, as soon as she gave a simple smile to Elijah and as Elijah went to step forward to accompany her, Alex walked up and kissed her on the cheek, holding out his arm for hers to snake through.

Her gaze changed from focussing on Elijah, to Alex and then to the floor. She wanted to go and see Elijah.

"Come on" Alex pulled her along "we'll get you a drink and then I'm all yours" he smiled, spinning her around and ending up behind her with his arms around her waist. His chin rested on her neck and unbeknownst to her, his fangs extended and his face transitioned into something inhuman.

But he didn't bite her, he was exercising every muscle in resistance and it was working, until Elijah caught sight of his fangs only centimetres from her neck.

"Alex" Elijah stepped in front of them as they walked, his eyes fixated on the man who's teeth were now returning to normality.

"Elijah" Scarlett concealed her excitement to see him, partially, tying to loosen Alex's grip on her "hi"

Elijah flashed a look at Alex as if to say 'what on earth are you doing?' And Alex replied by raising an eyebrow with a half smile on his lips to say 'what are you going to do about it?'

Elijah smiled gently towards her, whilst keeping Alex within his line of sight. "Hi" he replied to her

"Well we'd love to stick around and chat, but the bartender is just screaming our name" Alex didn't even wait for Elijah to get another word out before he pushed Scarlett away

"That was rude" Elijah heard her exclaim "and I think you've had enough alcohol for the week, why do we need alcohol?"

"Fine" Alex replied, glancing behind at Elijah and then back "you can have an apple juice and I'll have a man's drink"