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Chapter 7

I made my way to the office, determined not to let Anna leave me behind. As I entered, I searched for her and found her packing up her belongings.

"Anna?" I called out. She snapped at me, clearly annoyed. "What do you want?"

"I'm sorry," I apologized, feeling guilty.

"No! You always do this," she exclaimed. "You find excuses to avoid dates, and it's frustrating. I just want what's best for you. Don't you understand? You need to move on."

"I truly am sorry," I pleaded. "This time, I really wanted to go, but something unexpected came up. How could I explain that there was a vampire attack? I would sound crazy. She doesn't know anything about the supernatural world."

"By what, Eloise?" she questioned, crossing her arms.

"By our boss. He specifically sent me," I explained. "You know I can't disclose any details about it."

"Fine," she relented. "I'm sorry. I was upset because I thought this was the right person for you. You know how I am."

"Oh, please," I retorted playfully. "You think everyone is the right one for me."

"Well, maybe I have a good eye for good things," she said, winking at me. We joked around, got into the car, and she dropped me off at home.

"See you tomorrow?" she asked as I stepped out of the car in my driveway.

"Nah, I think I'll take the week off. It's been a long day," I replied.

"Is it really that bad?" she asked with a sympathetic look.

Everyone knew that our boss was difficult to work with, especially when dealing with him directly. He was a terrible person.

"Trust me, you don't know the half of it," I sighed, waving goodbye as I entered my house.

Finally, I took a deep breath, savoring the familiar and comforting scent of home. "Mom, I'm back," I called out, taking off my shoes.

The house was unusually quiet, except for the humming sound of the old fridge that desperately needed replacing. My mom seemed to have some sentimental attachment to it.

Entering the kitchen, I noticed a note on the fridge that read:

"Date night. Don't stay up too late. There's some food in the microwave for you. Love, Mom and Dad."

I rolled my eyes at the message. My parents always seemed to be stuck in the honeymoon stage, which could be nauseating at times. But I had grown accustomed to it.

Folding the note and placing it on the table, I headed towards my room. Knowing my parents, they would return tomorrow afternoon or night. I decided to save the food for breakfast since I wasn't skilled in the kitchen.

As I was leaving the kitchen, a strange feeling crept up my spine, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand. It was an unsettling sensation that I couldn't shake off. Suddenly, I had a blurry vision.

In the vision, there was a fire, and chaos surrounded me. Amidst the panic, a man stood still, unaffected by the mayhem. It was as if he was waiting.

"I'm coming for you. I'm coming for war," a voice echoed in my mind during the vision.

Startled, I snapped out of it. It had been a while since I had a vision related to war, ever since I turned fifteen. The chills ran down my spine.

"It's just a vision, nothing out of the ordinary," I reassured myself, although I knew my visions weren't always accurate.

"Hello, pretty," a voice spoke from behind me. My heart raced, and I turned around, expecting to see someone I knew. To my surprise, there was no one there.

"You know, I thought you would be braver tonight," the voice continued, getting closer each time, but still no one was visible.

"Enough with the games! Show yourself!" I demanded, growing frustrated.

"Are you sure you want me to appear? I wouldn't want you to be scared," the voice taunted, aggravating me even further.

"Fucking show yourself, you coward!" I exclaimed, scanning my surroundings.

"Very well then," a man said, stepping out from the shadows. I tried to stifle my gasp, keeping my reaction in check.

"Hello, Eloise," he greeted me, flashing a set of perfectly white teeth. It was the man from my vision earlier.

"Who the fuck are you?" I asked, filled with confusion and curiosity.

"Apologies for my lack of manners," he smirked. "I go by Loi, although not many call me that."

"What do you want from me?" I asked bluntly, feeling a surge of anger. He was responsible for the attack on us.

"Nothing much, I assure you," he replied with feigned innocence.

"You're not welcome here. It's best if you leave," I asserted, my anger building up inside me.

"Now, now, don't be so hasty. I heard you were the kind-hearted one," he said, giving me a fake smile. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

"I'm here to propose an alliance. You possess something we need, so if you're willing, do us a favor," he said, making himself comfortable on the counter.

"Why would I help you?" I challenged, gaining some courage. If he intended to harm me, he would have done so already.

"Loise, you see..." he began, attempting to address me by a nickname. I was about to object, but he continued.

"Your mother tried to shield you from this life, but it was futile. You hold the key to a better future, and trust me, there's no escaping it for you. The reason you might want to assist me is that your mother isn't as strong as she used to be without her magic. And as for your father..." he scoffed, clearly mocking him. "They owe me a favor," he grinned.

A sinking feeling told me I didn't want to know what that favor was.

"Regardless, I've spent more time here than I would have liked," he said, pulling something out of his pocket and sliding it across the counter.

They were photographs.

Pictures of my parents, taken earlier that evening. My mother was wearing a dress she had recently purchased, eagerly waiting for an occasion to wear it.

"Why involve them if you have an issue with me?" I grew increasingly agitated, my emotions spiraling out of control.

"Oh, dear, agitation is an understatement. You must be willing to give us what we want, or your parents may not have much time left with you," he warned, before abruptly leaving.

Left in a state of fear, confusion, and sheer terror, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by what had just transpired.

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