A/N: I would like to first and foremost explain that the characters introduced in this chapter, are mostly a sort of cameo and a cool way to introduce a new element to the story, as of yet I have little to no plans of involving them in the future of the story. I could do it if you guys enjoy them and want to see more of them.
Good reading everyone!
[Blood Diary Entry]
"Divine…" I muttered.
I took a deep breath. The air was filled with the sweet smell. It almost made me dizzy
My hands couldn't stop shaking, my throat was dry and raspy like never before.
I was on the verge of losing myself to this overwhelming thirst.
Then Rebekah walked over to me, her steps calm. She placed a hand on my arm… and pulled.
My shoulder dislocated with a sickening pop.
The pain snapped me awake, and I regained my senses and some clarity.
The scent was still there, inviting me like the devil's whisper, but now I could at least try to ignore it.
I looked over towards Rebekah. She was perfectly calm; not an ounce of this painful thirst could be seen in her expression.
"Thank you," I said gratefully, though Mother wasn't so thrilled about Rebekah's gesture. Even if any damage done had already healed by the time Rebekah's hands left my arm.
"Don't mention it," she said nonchalantly.
I looked at her curiously. "Why are you so calm? Shouldn't you be feeling the same as me, if not more?"
She flinched. "N-Not really… no. I'm not all that drawn towards it. I've…" She paused, unsure of what to say. "Never mind."
"What is it?" I asked. "What were you going to say?"
She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it." She said vehemently.
Seeing the resolve in her eyes and hearing it in her tone, I relented and chose to let the matter rest—for now.
"What is this smell?" I asked her.
"I'm unsure… I have come across similar scents over the centuries, but all came from different sources. So, I won't be able to tell you what it is, unless we go see it personally."
"What are the two of you talking about?" Mother asked.
"It's just that there is blood close by. And I almost lost myself to the thirst." I answered.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
I nodded. "I'm fine. My mind just got a bit overwhelmed by it. That's all."
She looked at me strangely. "I'm pretty sure you've been around blood before. One way or another. So, why are you acting like this?"
"Because this blood smells different."
"How so?"
"It's just… Like I'm smelling a well-cooked steak after getting used to just smelling raw meat." I scratched the back of my head. "At least that's the best way I can explain it to you."
"So, what are you going to do?" Mother asked.
"I want to go and see what's giving off this scent."
"Isn't that risky? What if you lose control? What if you hurt someone innocent?"
I paused. "I… Uhm."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Rebekah assured my mother.
"I want to go with you." Mother crossed her arms.
"No," Rebekah said plainly. "While I will do my best to stop the situation from derailing too badly, if things go sideways, I would rather Darian hurt whatever it is we are smelling than for him to end up hurting you."
"Then isn't it better for him to just ignore it?" Mother said.
Rebekah shook her head. "No."
"Why not?" Mother asked.
"Mother. I'm going." I stepped in. "Fill up the gas, please. We will not take long."
Before she could refute or argue, I was already walking away. Rebekah followed me closely. Always ready to intervene should things go sideways.
As we pursued the scent, we walked in silence.
Rebekah noticed how tense I was. How my eyes pulsed softly. How I swallowed dryly, again and again, with barely contained hunger.
We kept walking, making twists and turns around streets and alleyways alike.
If I weren't so bloody focused on following this goddamn trail, I would find this situation amusing.
Because a few months ago, doing almost the same thing as I was doing now, led to the worst night of my life.
I remembered Mother and me, walking hurriedly along the streets of Seattle, until we stumbled into a vampire. I remembered how Mother had almost died, and the pain and anger I felt upon my transformation.
I looked discreetly at Rebekah, then I felt the absurd power resting inside my body.
'I suppose not all outcomes of that night were bad after all.' I said to myself.
Though what happened that night shall never be repeated.
I clenched my hands so tightly that they popped and cracked.
Rebekah had sensed the tension and irritation I was emanating as she placed a hand on my back. I felt all of that wash away, and my focus came back.
Even the scent was now somewhat more bearable.
We walked a bit more, and finally we found the place the trail was leading us to.
An abandoned building. Scaffolds and tarps everywhere. Metal pipes and steel rebars were tossed around the ground.
I'm not sure if this was to be a commercial or residential building. Though that hardly mattered…
Now that we were so close, the scent became far more potent. It was so sweet and entrancing that it started to irritate me.
I growled in anger and annoyance.
Rebekah placed a hand on my shoulder and gave a soft squeeze.
I rolled my shoulders and entered the abandoned building.
As we walked, I could see—what I could only assume—were traces of battle. As there were deep gashes and cuts on the concrete.
A few blood drops stained the grey floor.
My eyes glowed a fierce red.
With all my willpower, I resisted the urge to taste the spilled blood.
I turned my attention towards the stairs. The scent led upwards, so that's where I will go.
After climbing an ungodly amount of steps, I finally heard something other than my own blood thrumming in my eardrums.
Voices.
"Talia, we can't stay here for long. More will come. There is always more of them." A young, masculine voice echoed in the empty building.
"I know that, Luke. But I'm tired. I can barely move. That pack of fucking hellhounds took all I had." This one belonged to a young woman, who apparently was called Talia. "I'm covered in scratches, and you're not in a better condition yourself. So, why don't you shut your trap and let me rest for once?" She said in annoyance and anger.
"Guys… can you stop fighting? Please?" Another feminine voice. This one was much younger than the other two. I would daresay probably even younger than myself.
"Now look at what you've done, Luke. You scared Annabeth!"
The voices grew louder and clearer, and as we turned around a corner, I could finally see their sources.
A male teenager, roughly around thirteen to fifteen years old. His hair was blonde, almost the color of sand, his eyes were as blue as the sky, and he had an overall handsome face.
The second one I noticed was the older girl. She had a punk hairstyle that I could only describe as spiky. Her hair was as dark as my mother's. And her eyes were blue, like the boy's, though hers were more of a thunder blue—if that is even an apt description.
My gaze finally went to the youngest of the trio. A girl, probably six or seven years old. She was cute as a button. Her hair was golden, like Rebekah's, flowing like a river of fluid gold. Though what caught my attention was her violet, gleaming eyes.
"Demigods…" Rebekah muttered.
And the room immediately became tense.