I Need You (H.S Vampire)

Chapter 24:

Chapter 24:

(Harry's POV)

I fell into the memory like a trip over a curb, sudden and painful.

***

I was hunting. I knew my target. I had seen her a few times over the years, following her family, planning how I would do this. And tonight was the night. Tonight would be her last. I walked into the party with Liam and Louis at my side. Louis was always ready for the hunt, but Liam wanted to come and witness the fall of the witches first-hand.

"So, which one is she?" Louis asked, looking around, smiling as some brunettes walked past us. We were surrounded by teens who were all new to adulthood, surprising me as I remembered the last time I saw her briefly, she was coming out of school with her father. I looked down, and my slim black jeans and black t-shirt, and black Chelsea boots made me hide away within the crowds of people. This party was full of students drinking, dancing and chatting away. Scanning the party, I stopped when my eyes fell on her.

Her blonde and brunette hair was in long curls covering her shoulders. She was wearing a red skimpy strappy top and black skinny jeans with black strappy heels. She was a woman, and she was a ruby amongst the clay. A boy also her age was leaning his arm on the wall above her, his gaze completely besotted with her as she leaned on the wall, looking up at him, laughing at whatever he was saying. I took a step towards her, feeling a defensiveness come over me. Who was that guy?

"There she is," Louis stated as he took a step in her direction. I put my arm out to stop him from going past me and felt myself turn.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked, glancing over him. I could see he too was now in the hunt, and there was no way I was letting him have this prey.

"I thought we were here to drink." He said, cooly looking at Liam smiling as Liams attention was completely on her. What was with everyone wanting what was mine?

"Not her," I stated strongly. I looked towards Liam, who could sense I wasn't playing around. They looked at each other again as I turned around and began walking towards her. The stranger was still leaning on the wall, hovering over her as she looked down into her drink, playing with the straw. She looked up as I approached them, her eyes connecting with mine.

"Hi," I said, smiling as I introduced myself, her attention consuming me.

"Hi." She said, smiling in return.

"Hi?" He asked, looking between us.

"Having fun?" I asked, finding myself not able to lose our eye contact.

"A blast." She said, looking between my eyes, her straw and the stranger to her right. I let out a low laugh as our eyes reconnected. I didn't feel awkward, but I could see my presence was intimidating her friend, and I enjoyed it.

"Do you know this guy?" He asked her, looking annoyed by my presence.

"The name is Harry."

"Ellie." She said, shaking my hand, holding it longer than she needed to.

"So you don't know this guy?" The stranger asked as she let my hand go. He moved so he could cross his arms and stood slightly in front of her, trying to protect her.

"Now I do."  She said, smiling. Her smile was infectious, lighting up her entire face and captivating me in a way I hadn't expected. As I stood there, I felt my own grin stretch wider, a mixture of happiness and confusion swirling inside me. What was happening? The thrill of the hunt, that sharp focus that usually fuelled my drive, was beginning to slip away, replaced by a warmth that left me feeling uneasy. Flirting had always felt like a playful game, but now, it was becoming a distraction. The pull of her presence was so strong that it threatened to overshadow what I was sent here to do.