Chapter 187 - Beautiful Monster

"Hey, you're not a monster," Alyssa told him sternly as she leaned up to gaze down at him. Her eyes were even narrowed.

"I know your family and your past is confusing, but I know who you are. You're strong, sweet, and caring. You look out for those you care about. You know how to get things done. You're mine. My beautiful monster."

Elias gazed up at her, letting her words sink in. They were exactly what he needed to hear.Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.comn, I love you," he sighed, feeling some tension fade away. He was still upset, but as long as he had Alyssa by his side, things wouldn't be as bad as they could be.

"I love you," Alyssa said. "Don't let all of this make you lose sight of who you are."

Elias knew that was the best advice that he could get. He needed to keep it in mind, especially as things started to develop more and more.

Secrets were being revealed, and his bloodline ran deeper than he ever could've imagined.

*************

Elias suddenly woke up to the smell of smoke. His senses were sharper than even most vampires, jolting him awake just at the hint of that scent. He sat up in his bed, looking around and wondering if he was just imagining things.

However, that smell still lingered, and it was growing stronger and stronger by the second. He reached out and shook Alyssa awake as she snoozed beside him. He didn't stop until she stirred, giving him a slightly annoyed look at the random wake-up call.

"Wake up. I smell smoke," he told her as he climbed out of bed.

"I don't smell anything," Alyssa said, giving him a confused look.

He narrowed his eyes, watching the fire slowly die down enough to clear a small path. "Go!"

Nora and Daniel hurried through the path and outside of the house.

Elias grunted as pain filled his head. He let go of the energy, letting the fire flare back up. The flames lashed out at him, burning his arms as he stumbled back.

He could feel the heat everywhere, and the smoke stung his eyes. He blinked back the tears forming in his eyes, trying to see so that he could figure a way out.

"Melinda, don't!" Tyler's voice sounded from outside of the house.

Suddenly, Melina ran into the foyer, facing the fire. She put her hand out toward the fire, making it die down again to create a hole for Elias to jump through.

"Come on!" she shouted at him, sounding like she was struggling as she kept the fire at bay for him.

Elias backed up before charging at the fire, jumping through the hole. The flames still lapped at his arms and legs, burning him slightly, but he made it out on the other side. He stumbled through the door after Melina, leaving the burning house behind him.

Tyler and Alyssa rushed forward to grab Melina and Elias, helping them away from the house and the smoke pouring from it. Nora and Daniel huddled together, watching their house give away to smoke and fire with a devastated look on their faces.

"Are you okay?" Alyssa asked Elias, grabbing the frame of his face to check on him. She could see black marks on his face and red burns on his arms.

Elias nodded, coughing slightly from the smoke in his lungs. He leaned against Alyssa, turning to watch the flames eat the house up steadily. His childhood home was being destroyed right in front of his eyes.

"Elias," Alyssa suddenly murmured, tugging at the sleeve of his shirt.

Elias turned, following her intense gaze to see a shadow across the street on the border of the nearby woods. He felt his heart stop, a dark feeling taking over his entire body. He blinked once, and then the figure was suddenly gone.

"Who was that?" Alyssa asked as she turned to give Elias a worried look.

Elias shook his head, unsure of how to even answer that question. He had a bad feeling about that figure across the street.

Who would be watching their house burn? Maybe they started the fire.. All that he knew for sure was that something bad was coming, and he had no idea how to prepare for it.