The sun was already setting, but Zeke and Alicia were still on the road.
They had been travelling the entire day and Alicia could no longer help but ask him if everything was alright. No matter how Ezekiel tried to keep his calm, Alicia could feel that something was really wrong.
She had tried to talk to him a few times throughout the day. She had asked about that man who gave them the gun and clothes. Alicia asked if that man was one of his loyal men. But Ezekiel said that it was because that caretaker knew nothing about what he was planning to do, that was why he was still obedient to his orders. He told her that once that vampire caretaker found out about his secret, he too would go against him.
Alicia had thought of starting to ask more questions, not wanting to waste time but Ezekiel had put her to sleep for hours instead.
And now, the sun was already setting.
“Ezekiel… are we there yet? Or are you not stopping because we’re being pursued right now?” Alicia finally asked. She had a feeling she had hit the nail on the head. Perhaps, he had changed course again because he knew they were being pursued.
“Yes.” He replied and Alicia whipped her head to their rear. There was no car following them, but she realized that they were currently going along a road far from any human settlement.
Her head turned to her side and her heartbeat raced at the thought that their pursuers were running in the woods that ran on both their sides. No matter how fast their car was, if the vampires were already close, they would definitely catch up in no time. Cars could not compete with vampires who were supernatural beings – especially if they were the ones specially sent out to hunt for Ezekiel. Why? Why did he head to such a place where vampires could easily outrun them? If he had headed into the city instead…
Alicia’s eyes widened a little at the realization that dawned on her. No. Ezekiel chose to head here because he would never want to risk the vampires being seen by the humans while they chased after them! That was why he could only head here! She could only marvel within herself. Even at this point when they were pursuing him so determinedly, he still kept their wellbeing in his mind and wanted to protect them from being discovered by the humans.
Alicia gripped her gun hard in her hand. She also realized that even if they did head into the populated areas with humans, they might get caught faster due to traffic. And with the way they were being pursued, she was quite sure that the vampires would not bother concealing themselves. They most likely would just reveal themselves just so they could capture both her and Ezekiel. So she realised that Ezekiel’s decision was truly the best in the circumstances that they were in.
When she returned her gaze to Ezekiel, she noticed that sweat was beading along his temple. That was… a bad sign. He was not alright. He was definitely not feeling alright! No matter how he masks his exterior, and no matter how he tried to force himself to stay calm just to hide his inner turmoil from her, Alicia could still feel it. The link that existed between them somehow allowed her to sense that from him.
Something was immensely troubling him right now. And she believed it was not purely just the matter of their pursuers.
Suddenly, he slammed his feet on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt by the roadside. Alicia could smell the burned rubber of their tyres skidding on the asphalt. And in the blink of an eye, the vampires appeared, surrounding them on all sides.
Ezekiel pushed the car’s door open and pulled Alicia along with him, covering her behind him.
He swept his eyes towards the masked vampires before him. She could feel his whole frame tighten as he stared at them, and they stared back at the both of them.
“Your Highness.” One of them spoke. “We need you to let go of the witch. We don’t want to take advantage of your current state right now and we don’t want to fight against you. So please let go of her.” though they were at their highest concentration in surrounding them, they still offered Ezekiel the respect he deserved as the crown prince of the vampires.
Ezekiel did not speak. Alicia could feel his body tensing up, as if he was trying to do something but could not.
“Your Highness… if you don’t let go of her in three counts, we will come at you and force her out of your reach.” The vampire who spoke earlier who seemed to be the leader gave him an ultimatum.
The atmosphere immediately became heavy and intense from that threat. Alicia could feel it. The vampires were determined to carry out their mission. Whatever it took, they were determined to succeed.
She could not help but tighten her grip on their intertwined hands. Because for some reason, Alicia felt that Ezekiel was acting even more strange right now. Something was terribly wrong, and she could not feel his usual, suffocating power lingering invisibly around him.
It was like Ezekiel’s demonic power had left him. Why? What had happened? Had Ezekiel weakened even more throughout their trip?
Alicia held her gun tightly. Her heartbeat was racing even faster. Harder.
And the vampires came at them the next time she blinked.
Ezekiel pulled her tightly into his embrace, protecting her with his body. As if he was making sure that no one could snatch her from his hands.
Alicia felt his heartbeat thudding damned hard within his chest. And it was then that she realized Ezekiel was… he suddenly felt so weak… his breathing was already so shallow, and his body was… he felt as though all his strength had left him.
Shock and disbelief flooded her entire being for a moment. Was this a bad dream? How could Ezekiel be reduced to this state? What had happened? Could it be that his hunger had finally gotten the better of him? It had been a while since he had drunk blood.
The next thing she knew, a hit landed on him, and they both fell to the ground. Ezekiel was on his knees, but he still could remember to cover her with his body. His breathing was scarily uneven.
“Ezekiel… you…” Alicia could no longer stop herself from having an all-out panic attack about him.
“We need to separate them now!” A male voice thundered. “Pull her off him now!”
