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Alice stood by the open window, the dense suburban air stirring her dark hair as her golden eyes swept over every shadow beneath the streetlights, every cracked street, every stain of moisture on the fractured sidewalks. The dim lights flickered, casting cold flashes across the asphalt.
Nate put on his shirt with measured movements, never taking his eyes off her. His shoulders were tense, his pulse steady, his jaw set with focus. There was no fear in his eyes, only a dark glint, a spark of irritation burning quietly, like an ember waiting to flare.
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, sharpening her hearing before leaping silently out the window, slipping between the shadows in a pale blur that vanished into the dimness of the street.
The room fell into a heavy silence. Nate moved toward the window, resting a hand on the frame as his gaze scanned the empty street, searching for any sign.
In the distance, the low rumble of a train could be heard, the hum of a passing car, the occasional creak of a branch in the wind.
Alice returned minutes later, landing on the windowsill with the precision of a predator. Her golden eyes met Nate's; her breathing was calm, but her hands opened and closed with tension.
"He's gone," she said in a low voice, heavy with frustration.
Nate frowned, his gaze fixed on her as he crossed his arms, his pulse steady, charged with annoyance.
"Was it the same one who broke into the house?" he asked firmly, without hesitation.
Alice shook her head slowly, pressing her lips together before glancing at the street and then back at him.
"I don't know. The scent in the house was very faint, just a trace, and this one was different, fresher... but he got too close before leaving."
Nate let out a sharp exhale, running a hand through his hair before looking back at the street with hard eyes.
"Perfect," he muttered, his voice edged and dry. "Now, on top of an intruder, we might have a prowler."
Alice watched him, reading the tension in his jaw, the restraint in his shoulders, and the lack of fear turned into controlled anger.
"I can't say for sure if it was the same one or not, or if he won't come back," she admitted more quietly, crossing her arms. "Maybe it was just someone passing by... someone who caught my scent and decided to leave once they realized I wasn't alone."
"So it could be a coincidence?" Nate replied, his brow furrowed.
"It's possible," Alice admitted, her gaze locked on his.
Nate inhaled deeply, filling his lungs as he restrained the urge to punch the wall.
"The smartest move would be to leave D.C. if there are vampires prowling around," he said calmly, each word firm, grounded in reason. "But I don't want to leave. Not now that we have a real lead."
Alice held his gaze, her golden eyes shining with determination as she nodded slowly.
"I don't want to leave either," she replied in a firm whisper.
Silence settled between them again, heavy, as if the room were holding both their breaths.
"At the very least, we could leave this house," Nate continued, his voice more controlled as his thoughts fell into place. "Move to a hotel for a couple of nights. If it was the same one who broke in before, he might come back, and you could track his scent better. If it was just someone passing through, we can come back calmly and continue here."
Alice glanced down at the street before lifting her gaze back to his.
"Are you okay with leaving the house alone and risking any clues that might still be here?" she asked, a heavy doubt in each word.
"No," Nate answered immediately, firmly, his eyes steady on hers. "But I won't risk our safety for clues that we don't even know exist. Besides, if they didn't find the journal when this house was empty, I doubt they'll find anything now."
Alice held his gaze, a flicker of acceptance and tension reflecting in her golden eyes.
"Then we'll go to a hotel," she murmured with a sigh that blended relief with frustration. "Just for a few nights."
Nate stepped closer, taking her cold hand firmly, his pulse steady, sure.
"We'll be back soon," he said quietly, conviction in his voice. "Besides, this place isn't exactly comfortable right now, and we'll be better off somewhere else while we plan our next move."
Alice nodded slowly, her hand clutching his as a flicker of relief crossed her eyes.
"Just a few nights," she repeated calmly, a determined glint in her gaze. "Then we'll come back."
The room fell into silence again, but it was not the silence of defeat.
It was the calm before a new step, the steady beat of something still moving forward.
...........:.....:......
Fortunately, they hadn't unpacked much. Within minutes, they gathered the few things they had taken out, packing with quiet efficiency while the air in the house remained heavy with the tension of what had just happened.
They didn't say much as they left, closing the door carefully before catching a cab at the corner. The engine vibrated softly as they drove through quiet streets, illuminated by streetlights that cast pale patches of light across the cracked asphalt.
Nate closed his eyes for most of the ride, feeling exhaustion build up after the adrenaline of the moment with Alice, the tension from the vampire's presence, and the sudden change of plans. Every muscle in his body reminded him just how human he still was, as he kept his father's journal pressed tightly against his side, his thumb unconsciously brushing the worn edge of the cover.
Alice, her short hair shifting in the breeze from the open window, noticed his exhaustion and took care of everything without him asking. When they arrived at the hotel—a well-kept building with a quiet lobby and warm lighting—she stepped ahead with confident strides, requesting a room and handing over her card with a polite smile that hid the calculating glint in her golden eyes.
Nate, holding his suitcase in one hand, remained silently by her side while Alice, managing her two suitcases, handled everything with calm efficiency.
They rode up in the elevator without speaking, their reflections blending on the polished steel doors as the lift ascended with a low hum.
Once inside the room, Alice set the suitcases aside with meticulous order while Nate sat on the edge of the bed, placing the journal nearby, exhaling with restrained frustration.
"It's a shame things aren't simpler," he murmured, running a hand over his face as he looked at her.
Alice shrugged off her jacket with a smooth motion before stepping closer, leaning down to meet his eyes.
"Sometimes that's just how it is," she said softly, her eyes holding his without judgment, only quiet acceptance. "But at least it doesn't seem like we're in immediate danger."
Nate took a deep breath, letting the tension in his shoulders ease just a fraction. Alice moved closer, climbing onto the bed on her knees, looking at him with that calm, unshakable intensity that reminded him he wasn't alone.
Gently, she brought a cold hand to Nate's cheek, brushing it with her thumb in an intimate gesture that drew a soft, involuntary sigh from him.
"Come here," she whispered before settling beside him, sliding down until her head rested against his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart fill the quiet space.
Nate hesitated for a moment before wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her carefully against him while his other hand settled on her waist, feeling the cold of her skin through the thin fabric. Alice closed her eyes, breathing calmly as she pressed closer, letting one of her legs brush against his, seeking the warmth she did not have.
"Rest," she murmured, her voice barely a breath against his neck. "I'll keep watch."
Nate looked down, meeting the faint glow of her eyes in the dim light. Gently, he tangled his fingers in her short hair, drawing her a little closer.
"Thank you," he whispered, sincerity thick in his voice before closing his eyes, letting the weight of fatigue slowly pull him under.
Alice remained silent, her ear pressed to the steady beat of his heart as she kept her gaze fixed on the door, alert, her golden eyes catching the faint glow of the streetlight filtering through the curtains.
Outside, the night continued, indifferent to their exhaustion.
But there, on that bed, even if only for a few hours, Alice would ensure he could let his guard down.
Just for a moment.
Just long enough for him to regain the strength to achieve whatever he set out to do.
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Author's notes: today will also be a triple chapter, it's the last time (they will be uploaded with 5 minutes of difference per chapter)
I want Powerstones!