BXBX NOVEL Chapter 296: Avoiding him
"How are you today, come in," he continued as he swung open his door to give her access to the plush apartment. Diana walked in cautiously, taking in the look on Marcus\' face as she replied subconsciously. She noticed worry etched on Marcus\' face and called him out on it.
Concern filled her voice as she said, "You don\'t look well, Marcus. What is wrong? You know you can always talk to me." Marcus felt the genuine concern in her voice strike a chord within Marcus, stirring conflicting emotions within him.
He gently affirmed that he was fine but might need some rest due to being continuously stressed, knowing he couldn\'t burden her with the weight of his responsibilities. With a sigh, he reached out to touch her hand gently. "Thank you, Diana. I think I just need to have some rest."
Diana, ever perceptive, felt it might have been more than this but was unable to prod the words of Marcus no matter how she tried. Feeling resigned, she decides to express her support to him as she gently whispers to his ears after drawing him into a hug.
"I\'m here for you, and I\'ll do anything to ease your worries, and I really mean anything," she said with a solemn voice capable of bewitching the heart.
Seeing and smelling her up so close, Marcus felt a familiar bloodlust rising within him. Feeling the desire to sink his fangs into her tempting allure neck, Marcus fought against his primal instincts, reminding himself of his duty to protect her. Suppressing the hunger that threatened to consume him, he managed a small smile.
"I appreciate your understanding.I would make sure to be fine as soon as possible."
They walked out of his apartment to hers with small steps. After a few moments of small talk, Marcus walked Diana to her door. His gaze lingered on her, his desire for her blood momentarily suppressed but still ever-present. "Thank you, Diana," he said sincerely, his voice filled with gratitude. "Your presence alone brings me comfort. Take care of yourself, and I\'ll see you soon."
Diana smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting a deep sense of care. "You take care too, Marcus," she replied, her voice laced with sincerity. "Remember, I\'m just a phone call away if you ever need me."
Marcus closed his eyes, leaning against the door of his apartment. He could still feel the warmth of Diana\'s presence lingering in his thoughts. The conflicting emotions within him raged like a storm, battling against his innate desires. He longed to give in to his bloodlust, to indulge in the primal urge that coursed through his veins.
But he knew surrendering to those instincts would put Diana at risk, and he refused to let that happen.
"Control," he whispered to himself, a mantra to anchor his wavering will. "I must maintain control."
He paced back and forth in his dimly lit apartment, the weight of his responsibilities pressing upon him.
His mind raced with conflicting thoughts and desires as he returned to his apartment. The bloodlust within him simmered, a constant reminder of his true nature. He yearned for release, for a way to quiet the relentless hunger that gnawed at his core.
He had to find a way to snuff out his bloodlust, to channel his energy into something constructive. Hunting alone in the darkness would only offer temporary relief; he needed a greater purpose to sustain him.
He closed his eyes momentarily, attempting to gather his thoughts and find a semblance of calm. But the image of Diana lingered in his mind, her kindness, her unwavering support.
She had offered him solace, a different kind of solace that could not be found in the depths of the night. He opened the window in his room as he took off into the night, a predator who sought the solace of darkness and pumping blood to hold onto his sanity.
*******
The morning sun sprang into the wide sky early marking a beginning of the golden time on the first day of the week as Marcus made his way to the office.
He had hoped to catch Diana up together in going to the office, however a thirty minutes lateness seemed to tell him his couple walk possibility was not going to work this beautiful morning.
"Hello, good morning," Marcus greeted, exchanging pleasantries with his co-workers as he took the elevator to his floor. Wafting into his nostrils, the coffee held by his co-worker told him, humans need breakfast and Diana had most likely not gotten one since she had a very early head start.
Stopping at the nearest floor, he doubled back to the nearest coffee shop to get a morning smiling sip for his love. Seemingly unaware of her preferences but recognizing her sweet tooth, he diligently ordered all he could find and brought along with him, taking a delivery help from the shop.
After setting up and going through the day, Marcus realized that other than the general meeting in the morning, Diana seemed to have diligently avoided him even though their working spaces were shared and had directly opposite cubicles.
"Hey, Diana," Marcus called out, in a seemingly unhappy mood which sounded like an abandoned lover. "I have not seen you all day, you seem very busy. What have you been up to," he asked genuinely curious as he skipped over to her as she walked towards an adjacent cubicle before trying to hurry out again.
"Well, not really," she continued in an evasive manner as she tried to put some distance between which seemed to indicate she was rushing.
"I got to help others out in the best way I can," she calmly said as she walked away while trying to hide the redness in her face and neck.