HUNTED

Chapter 225 - The King's Blood

Following Aila and Finn's return, she stayed with Damon in their bedroom for a few days until her strength returned and her mental state was better. Damon took care of her, revealing an even gentler side to him that made her love him that much more. He never pushed her to talk about what happened, and he followed her lead if their kissing became passionate, which it always did. 

Aila felt complete again, especially with the return of Malia and the effects of wolfsbane out of her system. Most of her cuts had healed now except for the hunter's emblem on her chest. The bond was no longer blocked, and Aila could feel a wave of emotions crash into her from Damon, which immediately followed with their lovemaking to help soothe each other.

In the days she had spent in the bedroom, Damon had sought Gabriel to help quicken Aila's recovery with his blood, but he was nowhere to be found. Much to his annoyance, but Aila did not mind. She was happy spending her time with only Damon until they were needed to return to normality. 

But, once she felt ready to leave her room, Aila couldn't help but stare at the last remaining scar on her chest in disgust. She threw on some new black jeans and a cami top and pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

Even though she was disgusted before, she would not cover up her remaining scar. Now she had to leave the bedroom with her head held high and show that such a man and organisation would not keep her down. Without another word, she marched out of the room, followed by Damon in search of Gabriel.

Or any vampire that could give her some blood to rid her of such a mark. However, due to the sunlight, they couldn't find any vampires in the penthouse. But Gabriel was the king and first of his kind, he did not have such a weakness, and so Aila narrowed her eyes and started going directly to his study.

"If he is not there, then we should see the others. They have been eager to see you." Damon caught up to her, lacing his fingers with hers, his thumb caressing her skin ultimately to soothe her. She did feel a little chaotic, but thanks to her Alpha, she slowed her pace and took a deep breath in before relaxing her muscles further and knocking on Gabriel's door.

"It will be good to see the others. I can feel their anxiousness," Aila murmured as they waited. She heard the sounds of movements on the other side of the door before the angelic sound of Gabriel's voice floated through her mind.

"Come in."

Aila turned the doorknob slowly and walked into the study. The place that Gabriel liked his privacy the most, yet he did not turn them away. It made her curious, but her questioning gaze was answered when the vampire's eyes landed on the hunter's scar below her chest. His demeanor became frosty as he gestured for them to take a seat in the two leather seats before his desk.

Gabriel was leaning back in his chair, his ankle across his knee, his hands clasped together as he stared across at them sternly.

"I know why you are here, and yes, I have been avoiding you and this situation." The vampire began, almost immediately causing Damon's face to darken and his silver eyes to glow in anger. Aila tilted her head to the side. She knew Gabriel had his reasoning, and he would explain now.

She touched Damon's arm bringing his attention back to her, and the fire burning behind his eyes diminished at her serenity. "Why do you not wish to give me your blood? I know it is a big deal. You are the King, but you've helped others before me," She asked quietly as she redirected her gaze to the vampire staring at her grimly. He smiled, yet it did not reach his eyes.

"I COULD give you my blood, but the cost in doing so.. Is not something you would want," Gabriel replied cryptically. 

"He sounds like that damn seer," Malia piped up with a slight growl. She still did not quite like him; though her judgment of him had changed, it seemed her natural feelings towards a vampire would not change.

Gabriel chuckled. "What is the cost? Speak normally, or you will hear my wolf grumbling some more." Aila tapped the armrest with her fingers, her thoughts jumping back to the damn scar on her chest. A scar that would forever remind her of her time with Clint and the Hunter's Association, who are constantly after her.

"Aila.." Damon touched her hand gently, bringing her darkened gaze back to the present. She stared into his molten silver orbs and felt her worries dissipate. Her gaze flickered back to Gabriel, who stared at her in concern.

He cleared his throat, uncrossing his legs and leaning forwards, so his elbows rested on the desk as he stared back at her. "If I give you my blood, then you will awaken your vampire side.. Your need for blood might consume you as it does for most newborns. Though your circumstances may be different.."

Aila blinked at this new revelation. She knew she was part vampire, but she did not think much more would change. Aila had ripped into human's flesh before (yes, she had become quite the animal since Malia showed up-)

"Hey!"

Aila ignored Malia's interruption to her thoughts. As she was thinking.. She had ripped into human flesh before without feeling the need to drink their blood. Was this because of what Gabriel said? She had not fully awakened. Yet, her speed was that of a vampire's; she was sure of it.

"Yes. The Cross family has always been quicker and stronger than most werewolves hence making them royalty. It usually shows in brute strength, but you seem to show vampiric speed more than strength. Anyway, the Cross lineage have always had their vampire powers and need for blood dormant-"

"What if another vampire gave me their blood? Would this still be an issue? How do you even know any of this?" Aila enquired, ignoring the glare she received from him for her interruption. She didn't usually have bad manners, but the scar on her chest was making her agitated and impatient. 

"I know this because your dearest ancestor, Amelia, also experimented on her son. She brought him to Cassius, who fed him his blood after her blood failed in awakening the vampire in him. Once he had Cassius' blood, he was like a newborn on steroids. But I am not sure if this was because he was only 14." Gabriel unclasped his hands and stood up from his seat, turning to graze his hands along the many books in his large bookcase against the far wall.

"How do you know this? Did Cassius tell you?" Aila asked, her gaze following his hand. He hummed in response and smiled over his shoulder. "You were close enough for him to tell you?" She was not convinced. After his storytelling, it was clear they were not as close as they used to be, especially with the whole love triangle, stabbing his brother and putting him in a coffin thing.

Gabriel chuckled and stopped searching the bookcase, his gaze locking with hers. "Cassius swore to me he would not look for her. But she sought him out while he was traveling and I on the throne. He returned with many tales. But this one was to relieve himself of his guilt from seeing her and abiding by her wishes. Though I do believe it is also from his mere curiosity. If our roles were reversed, I would have done the same, then probably killed her.."

The smile on his face made Aila shiver. Would they ever get over Amelia? She hoped so; it was not good for Gabriel to hold on to such things. Especially because he can live forever. His smile turned into a smirk before his attention went back to the bookcase.

Gabriel's hand landed on a thick leatherback book and placed it gently atop the desk. Aila and Damon leaned forwards, observing the state it was in. "What happened to her son? Was it ever documented that he was half vampire, half werewolf?" Damon asked while Aila carefully grabbed the book. She opened the old pages and immediately looked at Gabriel in surprise after reading the first line in what appeared to be a diary.

"Many knew Amelia was a vampire, so it was no secret their children were half-breeds. But they did not document it. The only documentation there is about her son is in that book. It was his diary. Maybe you should read it before requesting my blood again."

"How did you come about this diary? It should have been with the others.." Damon asked accusatorily.

Aila merely listened to Damon and Gabriel while she skimmed over some of Davian Cross' handwriting. She already knew that werewolves received their wolves at an earlier age in the 16th Century, so it was not surprising that Amelia made her son take vampire blood after he made his first shift. From what she could see, he wrote from the age of 14 to 18, describing his experience of being both wolf and vampire.

"I took it after I killed Matthias. It seems Davien left it in the study. Stop glaring Damon, the deed is done now." Gabriel turned away to stare out of the window, almost as if to dismiss them.

Aila stood up, the book in hand, "Thank you. I will read it." She began turning to leave and halted at Gabriel's voice in her mind.

"I am sorry I could not protect you."

Aila turned her head to see the vampire looking at her, guilt-stricken and full of worry.

"It was nobody's fault," She whispered and turned her back on him before his eyes could land on her mark again. If vampire blood was not an option she was willing to take, then she would just burn the damn mark.

"That is your only option. Would you really want to be a crazed vampire? Sinking fangs into people?" Malia asked in disgust. Aila sighed and leaned into Damon, who put his arm over her shoulder once they left the study.

"No, even for this scar. I would not risk becoming an out-of-control vampire."