MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 391: It can't be him, right?!!

Atop the highest floor of the Red Zone, Elena stood on the expansive rooftop terrace, her silhouette a stark contrast against the city's twinkling lights. The opulent space, adorned with sleek outdoor furniture and lush potted plants, was a testament to her power and influence. Yet, as she gazed out at the skyline, her mind was far from the luxury surrounding her.

Elena's reflection in a nearby glass partition revealed a woman dressed to kill and impress. Her gown, a deep crimson that seemed to shimmer with every movement, hugged her curves before cascading to the floor. A slit ran up to her thigh, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of pale skin. Diamonds glittered at her throat and wrists, catching the light with every subtle shift of her body.

Her raven hair was swept up in an intricate updo, exposing the graceful line of her neck.

But despite her immaculate appearance, worry lines creased her forehead as she pondered the meeting she had orchestrated between Damien and Duncan. The sky was beginning to lighten, the first hints of dawn threatening to break through the night's hold, and still, there was no word.

"What could be taking so long?" Elena murmured, her perfectly manicured nails tapping an impatient rhythm on the glass railing. 'If that fool Damien has said something to anger Duncan...' The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

She turned from the edge, pacing the length of the rooftop. Her heels clicked against the polished stone tiles, the sound sharp in the pre-dawn quiet. "This was supposed to be my triumph," she said to the empty air, frustration coloring her tone. "My chance to prove my worth to Duncan, to cement my position."

'But what if it backfires?' The traitorous thought slithered through her mind. 'What if bringing Damien into the fold means losing my place at Duncan's side?'

Elena paused by a decorative water feature, studying her reflection in the still surface. She adjusted a stray lock of hair, her movements precise and controlled, even as her mind raced.

"No," she said firmly, meeting her own gaze in the water. "I've worked too hard, sacrificed too much to be cast aside now." Her lips curled into a smirk. "Damien may think he can waltz back into power, but he has no idea what he's up against."

She resumed her pacing, her mind working through various scenarios. 'If Duncan does bring Damien on board, I'll need to be careful. Watch every move, anticipate every play.' A cruel smile played on her lips. 'And if necessary, remind Damien exactly why he needed my help in the first place.'

The sound of the rooftop access door opening caught her attention, and Elena whirled to face it, her body tensing in anticipation. But it was only one of her underlings, a young vampire named Marcus.

"My lady," he said, bowing low. "There's been no word yet from Lord Duncan or... our guest."

Elena waved him away impatiently. "Keep me informed of any developments. And make sure everything is running smoothly downstairs. We can't afford any... distractions tonight."

As Marcus retreated, Elena turned back to the cityscape. The sky was definitely lighter now, the stars fading as the new day approached.

"What are you playing at, Duncan?" she murmured, her fingers tracing abstract patterns on the cool metal railing. 'Am I still your favored lieutenant? Or am I about to be replaced by a fallen prince?'

The uncertainty gnawed at her, a feeling she was unaccustomed to and despised. For centuries, Elena had clawed her way up from nothing, using every tool at her disposal - her beauty, her cunning, her ruthlessness. She had outmaneuvered rivals, outlasted enemies, and now stood at the right hand of a god.

'And I'll be damned if I let Damien Durello take that from me,' she thought, her eyes flashing with determination.

As the first rays of sunlight began to pierce the horizon, Elena squared her shoulders, a mask of cool confidence settling over her features. Whatever the outcome of this night, she would be ready. After all, she hadn't survived this long by being unprepared.

"Let them come," she said softly, a dangerous edge to her voice. "I'll show them both why I'm not to be underestimated."

As Elena stood at the edge of the rooftop, her eyes fixed on the distant cityscape, two dark circles began to travel up the exterior wall of the building behind her. These strange, shadowy portals moved with an eerie silence, their progress barely perceptible against the stark surface of the structure.

As they reached the top, the air around them began to shimmer and distort, like a television screen struggling to maintain its signal.

From these dark gateways, Randal and Reggie materialized, their forms cloaked in shadow. Their eyes glowed fiercely in the pre-dawn light, fixed intently on Elena's back. Yet, despite their imposing presence, Elena ignored them, her attention captured by something far more compelling in the distance.

'I sense two vampires behind me. Their aura feels familiar and it's nothing to really worry about,'

Her fingers tensed on the railing as she spotted a figure sauntering towards the brothel. Long black and grey hair swayed gently in the breeze, a trench coat billowing around the man's legs. Elena's eyes narrowed, her mind racing as she analyzed every detail of the approaching stranger.

'Those strides... that gait...' Her thoughts tumbled over one another. 'It can't be...'

A slight tremor ran through her body, imperceptible to anyone but the most observant. Elena's grip on the railing tightened, her knuckles whitening as she struggled to process what she was seeing.

'The jawline, the set of those shoulders...' Her mind continued its frantic assessment. 'But it's not possible. Blake was shorter, wasn't he?'

The figure drew closer, and with each step, Elena felt a growing sense of unease. There was something off about this man, something that didn't align with her memories or expectations. An aura of power radiated from him, palpable even at this distance, sending shivers down her spine.

'What is this?' Elena thought, her inner voice tinged with a mix of fascination and fear. 'This aura... I have only felt something like this once before...on the island, the day Duncan awakened,'

Her heart raced, its rhythm a stark contrast to her outwardly calm demeanor. Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to reconcile the familiar aspects of the approaching figure with the overwhelming sense of otherness that accompanied him.

Behind her, Reggie and Randal stood motionless, their glowing eyes fixed on Elena's back. But she paid them no heed, her entire being focused on the enigma striding towards the brothel.

'It can't be Blake,' she thought, her mind grasping for explanations. 'But if not him, then who? Who could possess such power?'

A bead of sweat formed on her brow, threatening to mar her perfect makeup. Elena didn't dare move to wipe it away, afraid that even the slightest motion might break her concentration or alert the approaching figure to her presence.

'Could Damien have...?' The thought trailed off, too terrifying to complete. 'No, even he Wouldn't....'

As the figure drew ever closer, Elena felt her carefully constructed world teetering on the brink of chaos. Everything she thought she knew, every plan she had meticulously crafted, seemed to be unraveling in the face of this unexpected development.

Her mind raced through possibilities, each more unlikely than the last. 'A shapeshifter? Damien sent mimic? No, mimic isn't near the level of a lord just yet. That aura, it eclipses even that of a lord. Could it truly be...?'

Elena's body trembled slightly, a mix of anticipation and dread coursing through her veins. Whatever was approaching, whatever power was about to enter her domain, she knew there was a high chance that there would be hell to pay.