He took Noah to his mansion.
The ride to Elias's mansion was silent, the car's engine purring softly as it cut through the darkened streets. The world outside seemed so far away, and Noah couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in something far bigger than himself. He had been running from his demons for so long — the heartache, the betrayal, the darkness that had consumed him. But nothing compared to this. Nothing compared to the man who had saved him from death, the man who now loomed in the shadows of his mind, a figure both alluring and terrifying.
The mansion loomed ahead, an imposing structure of cold stone and glass, a sharp contrast to the warmth and familiarity Noah had once known. As the gates opened and the car passed through, Noah couldn't help but wonder what kind of life Elias Blackthorne led — what kind of monster he truly was. The grandeur of the estate didn't comfort him. It only heightened the sense that he was stepping into a world that was foreign to him, a world of darkness, danger, and secrets.
Elias didn't speak during the drive, nor did he offer any explanation for his actions. But the atmosphere between them was thick with something else something unspoken, a connection neither could deny. Even though Noah was grateful for the vampire's protection, a strange unease settled in his chest. He felt like an intruder in a world he didn't belong to, and yet, a part of him longed to stay.
Because he has given up in life and has nothing to fear.
As they entered the mansion, Elias led him through the grand foyer, past towering columns and sleek, modern decor that clashed with the eerie, timeless energy of the house. Every step seemed to echo in the vast emptiness, a constant reminder of how alone they both were.
Noah was led to a large, opulent room with a fireplace crackling softly, casting a warm glow on the leather furniture and velvet curtains. It was the kind of place that seemed both beautiful and alien, a place meant for someone who didn't belong to the world Noah had once known. It was a place made for a vampire.
Elias turned to him, his amber eyes sharp and calculating, yet soft with something Noah couldn't quite identify. "This is your room. You'll be safe here," Elias said, his voice steady, but there was a certain darkness to it — an edge that warned Noah to be cautious.
Noah hesitated before stepping inside, his gaze lingering on Elias for a moment longer. Despite the warmth of the fire, he felt chilled. The truth was, he didn't know if he could trust Elias, but there was a magnetic pull he couldn't fight. It terrified him.
"I don't need your charity," Noah finally said, his voice breaking the silence. The words felt hollow, a reflex against the vulnerability creeping in. "I didn't ask for your protection."
Elias's lips twitched, almost in amusement, but there was something else beneath the surface — a flicker of pain, of loneliness. "You don't need to ask. But you will owe me."
Noah swallowed, refusing to let his guard down, but a part of him couldn't ignore the strange feeling that had begun to stir within him. The attraction was undeniable. But it wasn't just physical. There was something deeper, something that felt like fate had tied them together in ways neither could escape.
As the night stretched on, the tension between them simmered. Every glance, every word, every movement felt charged with something dangerous, something inevitable.
They didn't speak much. Noah was still processing everything that had happened — the vampire, the attack, Elias's intervention — and the more he thought about it, the more questions flooded his mind.
He eventually found himself seated by the fireplace, staring into the flames, trying to make sense of everything. Elias stood across the room, his back turned to Noah, his posture tense. For a long while, neither of them spoke.
But then Noah broke the silence, unable to resist. "Why are you doing this?" he asked softly, his voice filled with curiosity and doubt. "Why protect me?"
Elias's shoulders stiffened at the question, and when he finally turned around, his eyes seemed darker than before. "I'm not doing this for you," he said, his voice low and dangerous, though it was clear there was more beneath the surface. "I'm doing this because it's the price I have to pay for my own existence."
Noah's heart skipped. He couldn't understand. "What do you mean? What do you have to pay for?"
Elias paused, and for the first time, Noah saw the full weight of the centuries that had passed on his face — the curse, the loneliness, the burden of immortality. His eyes darkened with something ancient, something weary. "I am cursed to live forever, to watch everyone I love die while I remain unchanged. No matter how many times I try to walk away, I am bound to this cursed existence. And now, you're tangled in it."
Noah's chest tightened. "You're... lonely?"
And how am I tangled to it?
Elias looked away, but Noah could see the rawness in his gaze. "I've forgotten what it feels like to be anything but a monster."
Noah's heart ached at the vulnerability in Elias's words. Despite his instincts screaming at him to stay away, he felt drawn to the vampire in a way he couldn't explain.
Elias's next words were quieter, almost to himself. "And now I have to protect you, because keeping you alive is the only way to keep my own demons at bay."
Noah took a step toward him. "You're not a monster," and everything you are saying now is confusing me more, he said, his voice gentle, despite the fear still gnawing at him.
Elias met his gaze, his eyes searching Noah's face as if looking for something — some kind of answer, some kind of release. But there was only silence between them.
Then, with a sigh, Elias turned away, his voice colder. "You don't know what you're saying, Noah. You can't know. This life… it's not what you think. If you stay here, if you stay with me, your life will never be the same. I will destroy you. You'll never be free of me."
Noah's heart hammered in his chest, and for a moment, he considered walking away. But then he felt the weight of the decision settle on him. He was already ruined. He had already lost everything that mattered. Maybe this was just another step into the abyss.
He reached forward, his fingers trembling as they brushed against Elias's chest, just over his heart. "I'm already ruined," he whispered. "Why not embrace it?"
Elias stiffened under his touch, and for a long, agonizing moment, Noah thought he would pull away, push him out of the mansion, out of his life. But instead, Elias closed his eyes, his breath hitching as if struggling to keep his composure.
Then, without warning, a noise shattered the fragile moment. A loud, metallic clang echoed through the mansion — a sound that immediately sent Elias into a state of alert. His eyes snapped open, and in an instant, he was at Noah's side, his hand gripping his wrist with a force that felt almost inhuman.
Noah froze, his pulse racing. "What is it?"
Elias's gaze darkened. "Someone is here."
The hairs on the back of Noah's neck stood on end as Elias's eyes shifted to a terrifying amber glow. The sound of footsteps, harsh and purposeful, approached from the hallway.
Elias didn't say another word, but the tension in the room thickened. Someone was coming for Noah. The enemies Elias had tried to protect him from had learned of his existence. And they weren't here to negotiate.
The air seemed to hum with the promise of danger as the door to the mansion creaked open. Elias's voice was a low growl as he whispered, "Stay close."
Noah asked why are they after me?, maybe they fol
lowed us?
A shadow moved at the threshold of the doorway. Elias's enemies had arrived, and
Noah was now caught in the deadly web Elias had warned him about.