I stared at Lucian, my mind racing with a million questions. Where do I even start? I tried to speak, but my throat felt like the Sahara Desert - dry, parched, and utterly unforgiving. All that came out was a small, pitiful croak. I winced, feeling a bit embarrassed, and put my hands to my throat, trying to clear it. Lucian, seeming to sense my discomfort, stood up and walked over to a fridge I hadn't noticed earlier, tucked away discreetly by the side of the room. He opened the door, revealing a neatly stocked interior, and pulled out a bottle of water.
As he handed it to me, I eyed the water warily, my brow furrowing in suspicion. Lucian chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Don't worry, it's completely safe," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I wouldn't save you only to kill you immediately after." His words were laced with a hint of amusement, but there was an underlying seriousness to his tone that put me at ease.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to trust him. After all, he'd just rescued me from...whatever that was. I brought the water to my lips and took a tentative sip. The cool liquid slid down my throat, soothing the dryness and quenching my thirst. I gulped down several mouthfuls, feeling my parched tissues start to revive.
As I drank, Lucian watched me with an intent gaze, his eyes never leaving mine. When I finally brought the bottle away from my lips, I took a moment to clean my lips with the back of my hand. My voice, while still a bit rough, was noticeably better than before. Lucian smiled, seeming to approve of my improved tone. "I know you have a lot of questions," he said, his voice low and encouraging. "Fire away."
I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of trepidation mixed with curiosity. What did I want to ask first? The questions swirling in my mind were endless, but I knew I had to start somewhere. I looked up at Lucian, my eyes searching for answers. "Where am I?" I asked, my voice still a bit rough from the dryness.
Lucian's expression softened, and he sat back down in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're in a safe house," he replied, his voice calm and reassuring. "A place where you can be protected from...those who might harm you."
I frowned, trying to process this information. "Protected from who?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.
Lucian's gaze turned serious, and he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "From those who are after the pendant," he said, his voice low and measured. "And from others who might see you as a threat or a means to an end."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I processed his words. The pendant? What pendant? And what did he mean by "others"? I had so many questions, but before I could ask another, Lucian continued.
"Let's start with the basics," he said, his eyes locked on mine. "You need to know what's going on, and what you're up against." He took a deep breath, and I could see the gears turning in his mind as he prepared to explain. "The supernatural world is real, Eleanor. Vampires, witches, and other creatures exist. And you're caught up in it, whether you like it or not."
My eyes widened as I stared at him, my mind reeling with the implications. Supernatural world? Vampires? Witches? What was he talking about? I felt like I was living in a dream, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to wake up.
I stared at Lucian, my mind racing with questions. "So, vampires exist? Like the vampires in The Vampire Diaries?" I blurted out, my curiosity getting the better of me. And then, without pausing, I shot out a barrage of questions. "Can you walk under the sun on your own or do you need a special artifact for that? Are you allergic to garlic and holy water? Can a stake in the heart kill you? How old are you? How did you suddenly appear in the room?"
Lucian's eyes sparkled with amusement as he listened to my rapid-fire questions. He chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Okay, okay, hold your horses a little, love," he said with a grin. But instead of making me wait, he took a deep breath and launched into a detailed explanation.
"Pure-blood vampires like myself can walk under the sun naturally, without any need for artifacts or protection," he said. "Mixed-bloods, on the other hand, require special protection to venture out into the sunlight. As for garlic and holy water, they're more of a nuisance than a threat. We're not allergic to them, but they're not exactly pleasant either. A stake in the heart can be fatal, but only if it's made of a specific type of silver. Not just any metal will do the trick."
He paused for a moment, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "As for my age, I'm 27 in human years, but I've stopped counting my vampire years. Let's just say I'm seeing the eighth decade now." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I processed the enormity of what he was saying. Eighth decade? That meant he'd been a vampire for over 80 years.
Lucian's smile grew wider as he continued. "And as for how I appeared in the room, it's because of my ability. Pure-blood vampires each have a special ability unique to them, and it's more unique depending on your generation. I'm a second-generation vampire, which means my abilities are particularly rare and powerful. I can for one teleport, which allows me to move from one place to another instantly."
I stared at him, my mind reeling with the information he'd just dumped on me. Teleportation? Eighth decade? Pure-blood vampires? I felt like I was drowning in a sea of questions and answers, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to come up for air. But one thing was certain: my life was about to get a whole lot more interesting.