Dark Hunger

Elize was dressed in white pants and a white cowl neck cashmere sweater to go down to the restaurant where Auril was waiting for them.

She didn't know when, but Caleb had bought a few dresses for her from the hotel's shop. The man had simply tossed her old clothes in the fire saying, "As long as you are with me, you can't wear that!" She darted to the table where all her other things were placed. Nothing was missing… expect her old clothes. Seeing that everything else was in place and neatly stacked, she sighed in relief and then looked at Caleb to challenge his decision. But the look on his face was so dark that there was no room for argument. 

"I will appear like a fool over there," she said. These days even as she missed all the fine food, she couldn't stand the smell of it. Moreover, she thought it would be better to wait for Laurel in the room because Caleb had sent her to fetch blood. At this point of time, she was so hungry that a sip of animal blood would do. The way Caleb had nicked his skin, and tempted her to drink from him, she was afraid… afraid that she might get addicted to the man. She wasn't ready for it. 

"No, you won't. Laurel will come directly to the restaurant. Sit with us and I will order cranberry juice for you. When Laurel comes, we will simply replace the juice with blood," he said, as he walked to her and held her hand to pull her to the lift. He gave her the shades to wear on her eyes for he knew how sensitive her eyes were to the bright light. 

Elize resigned. She followed him reluctantly in the lift. The lift directly opened in the alley of the lobby. Two men were standing at the entrance. They looked at Elize and couldn't help giving her appreciative glances. Caleb immediately placed his hand on the small of her back, giving them dark glares and guided her out of the lift past the men, his muscles bulging, ready to pick a fight if they even smiled at her. "The restaurant is this way," he said and nudged her towards the left. 

As soon as they stepped in the lobby, his eyes went to four men and a woman who were staring right at… Elize. Tiny balls of unease took root in his stomach but he dismissed the odd sensation and walked to the restaurant which was down the brightly lit corridor. 

Caleb led her inside the restaurant, to the private space where Auril was waiting for them. Aroma of food and wine wafted in the air. People chatted in low voices. He had asked Auril to choose a place with dim lights and a private setting. He still couldn't shirk off the feel he sensed from the group on the outside. They stared at Elize harshly with dark and murderous looks. The feeling made his blood burn with unease. 

"I have ordered for all of us!" Auril said, drawing him out. He glanced at Elize, who just sat there with a sullen expression. He added, "Laurel will be coming any time soon." 

Elize bit her bottom lip and didn't reply. She only felt odd amongst them. She fidgeted with her hands in her lap and hoped that Laurel came as soon as possible. Several minutes lingered between them as an uncomfortable quiet settled upon them. The waiter came soon, thankfully enough to serve them with lamb steaks and vegetables and a vintage Dom Perignon. He opened the champagne for them and left after pouring the sparkling liquid for the men because Auril had requested cranberry juice for the girl. 

The men ate and talked about various things while Elize only looked at them with abandon, the cranberry juice untouched. She was now extremely hungry and thought as to when would Laurel come with her blood bag. Her mind was getting dizzy. 

Caleb cut a large slice of steak and plucked it from his fork. "Where do you want to go from the Highlands, Auril?" he asked. 

The druid king smiled and winked. "It's a secret." He sipped his warm liquid down his throat feeling relaxed. "I just hope that my mother doesn't find me here!" 

"Do you want to cloak your smell? I can help you with that," said Caleb. 

"Not a bad idea!" Auril remarked. 

--- 

On the outside, as soon as the group saw Elize, they started forming a plan to take her without creating a mess in the hotel for other visitors. The girl was exactly as described by Laurel. "She looks scary," said Mavis. "Very pale, almost marble-skinned. She was wearing dark shades. I think she is fooling the man with her. We have to take her down." She lowered her voice, scared as hell. "What if she is a vampire? You never know what is lurking in these parts of the forest." 

"Well, I say that we kill the girl and bury her in the deep forests," said Rory with a voice laced with hatred and dread. "We will be doing great service to our community." 

"You are right Rory," Sam agreed. "If she is a vampire, then our women and children are in grave danger. She is going to make them the target of her hunger. And I have heard that vampires turn others into vampires with their bite." 

The air became thick with terror and tension. "We need to take her out of the hotel," said Mavis, "but first—" she paused. 

"What?" asked Rory. 

She got up. "Wait for me over here for my signal." They nodded and Mavis left, her heart thundering at the mission. What if the vampire bit her? 

Just behind them, hidden by a thick column, the sorceress was sitting. She had already caught a bird and wrung its blood in a bag, but she took her time to come to the hotel. And when she came, she found the group talking. Too preoccupied, none of them noticed her. It was time to wait for the action.. A satisfied grin spread on her lips.