Memories (I)

Destiny's bitter-sweet blood flowed into Luan's thirsty mouth, and the power within his core exploded. His senses started flooding with supernatural energy, which otherwise was suppressed by his unrelenting thirst.

Music that had been merely buzzing through the faded doors and walls of the club earlier started pounding loudly in his ears. His hands, which were grabbing Destiny's tiny waist, could feel every distinctive cell of her body through his touch.

He could sense her rapidly loosening muscles and heightened sense of ecstasy. The sweet lavender scent of her aroused body was wafting all too strongly in his nostrils.

Moreover, the presence of the earlier dim-seeming alley became startlingly clear to him. His ears started pricking at the scurrying sounds of the nearby rats and the dense sound of heavy footsteps passing some 15 feet away from the alley.

Everything was becoming too loud and clear, too much for Luan to handle. Plus, Destiny's loud moans were not helping his sensory extensions.

Unable to handle his vigorously intensifying senses, Luan closed his steel grey eyes and concentrated only on the exquisite taste of blood in his mouth. His one hand pulled the petite body of Destiny up, and the other hand smashed hard onto the red brick wall behind her.

But when he concentrated solely on satisfying his bloodlust and shut out every other distraction, the memories of the previous owner of his now-occupied body started flowing through his mind.

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There was nothing extraordinary about the original Luan.

He seemed like any regular 27-year-old guy who wanted to make a name for himself in this city called 'Grimwood'. He even started a cafe a couple of years ago to pursue this ambition. His business was doing well, yet he was unsatisfied. Luan did not care about anything other than expanding his business and bank account.

But Aurora's attention brought his lifelong plans to a complete halt...

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Three months back, a red-haired woman entered his cafe, Karma. The first thing Luan noticed about her was the pair of fiery-red eyes, which looked at him quite lustily. Even with her tiny frame, this dazzling woman was able to give him the creeps and make him feel shy.

Shaking off the foreboding feeling that had started to creep into his stomach, Luan smiled. "Good morning, mam. What would you like to have today?"

In response, she leaned over the counter to emphasise her well-shaped bosom. This strange woman did not seem to have any clear concept of space. She made a great show of looking at the extensive menu above the counter to flippantly comment, "Nothing here seems to catch my attention other than the person standing in front of me."

Luan's heart dropped straight into his stomach. Nobody had ever approached him so boldly, both because he never paid any attention to women and because he did not have time to pursue irrelevant romantic interests.

While Luan blushed furiously, the lady continued with a sly smile on her perfectly red-painted lips, "So why don't you go ahead and surprise me today."

He did what many other guys would have found very difficult in his position. Ignoring her unclear words and very clear intentions, Luan mumbled awkwardly, "Sure. Then I recommend you try our today's special Frappuccino."

"Call me Aurora," she said in a low and seductive voice, taking herself and her waist-length flowing red hair to the seat across the cash register.

Aurora stayed until the closing hour, nursing a drink in her small yet gorgeous hands without having a single sip the whole time.

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A few days later, she came back again. This time with a guy.

The guy accompanying her had the same set of fiery red intimidating eyes. But the similarity ended there. While the man was 6 ft tall and had a bulky build, the woman was 5'4 ft tall, carrying a deceptively innocent yet desirable face and body.

But to Luan, they were just another set of customers for the day. So, he did not give any importance to his previous encounter with Aurora. Especially now, after she had brought a guy with her.

"Hello, mam. We are happy to see you again," he politely greeted the strange couple. "What would you and sir like to have today?"

Her sly smile was already in place when she said, "I am still interested in the person before me. Can I have him?"

"Behave," the guy accompanying her commanded with a single word. Luan wondered if this guy was her brother or lover.

Managing a small nervous laugh, he uttered, "Thank you for flattering me, Aurora. But please don't tease me. Tell me what you would like to have today. It will be on the house."

"Oh, so you do remember my name!" the mischievous sparkle on the girl's face caught a new glimmer. This fact even caught Luan off-guard. He had not thought he would singularly remember a single customer from the throng of crowds he serves daily.

The shock might have shown on his face because the bulking figure next to the girl grimaced. Not noting the expression on her companion's face, Aurora said, "And don't worry, love. One day I will exactly tell you what I want and desire." Aurora gave him a flying kiss and turned around to leave.

Her statement sent shivers through Luan's spine. The bulky guy also sized him up for a few moments and left without uttering another word.

The whole incident made Luan extremely uncomfortable. For the first time in years, he wished he had a friend who could give him sound advice on handling such blatantly forthcoming women.

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"That's enough. I would advise you to leave her now, Luan," boomed the familiar male commanding voice from somewhere near.

Highly engrossed in fulfilling his bloodlust, Luan couldn't discern this voice from other sounds attacking his newly heightened senses. Neither could he bring himself to detach his bloody fangs from the delicately delicious neck of the almost-limp body of Destiny.

'Make me stop and see what happens.' That was the only coherent threat Luan's bloodlust-addled mind could muster.

"If you do not stop in the next 30 seconds, you will start burning in the inextinguishable flames of hell," the guy emphasized matter-of-factly while placing his heavy hand on Luan's shoulder.

This implicated threat and unwelcome touch finally got Luan's attention. Growling deeply in his throat, he retracted his fangs and turned instantly towards him, wearing a dangerous glare while still holding an unconscious Destiny hanging limply in his arms. His lips were red, and a stream of blood was dripping down his chin.

But there were two more stark changes in his appearance.

- His brown tousled hair changed to a sleet of shiny black hair.

- His eyes were no longer grey. Luan's right eye turned to an emerald green colour and another to a deep ocean blue.

These stark changes in his appearance made him look hypnotizing and formidable.