The Beautiful Monster

Alyssa ran her hand up his shirt, stroking his side.

"Everything might not change. You might be worrying too much," she pointed out.

Of course, Alyssa could read him easily. She was one of the only people that was able to do that with him.

He put a wall up when it came to most people, but she could usually see right over it. Not that he minded.

"I just wanted us to finally start our lives together. I wanted to go on dates and show you off to my work friends,"

Elias said with a sad smile. He knew that those things were small compared to the big picture, but they meant a lot to him.

They brought him even closer to the normal life that he wished that he could live.

He didn't care to live a life full of vampires, demons and witches. He was happy just being himself and building a life around the people he cared about and the work that he enjoyed doing.

However, he knew that he couldn't fully ignore his nature. There was at times that he wanted to see blood. The thought of killing someone excited him but he always managed his bloodlust. Like eight years ago when he saw Alyssa bleeding. Seeing the blood has sparked the bloodlust inside of him.

He was stronger and faster than humans, so he had to be mindful of his motions. He would never be human, but he could act like one.

"We can do that once all of this is settled. There's always an end to these issues," Alyssa told him. "They never last forever."

Some of those issues felt like they lasted forever, though. He had to be without Alyssa for years, and he didn't want another problem of his to last that long.

At some point, he had to be able to enjoy his life. He couldn't jump bounce from problem to problem. Life couldn't possibly be like that.

"I know. I'm just tired of waiting. I have what I want in my arms, but I can't enjoy it like I want to," Elias replied, watching her lean her head up to peer down at him.

He reached up to push her hair behind her ear. "Instead of going to my parents' place, I just want to stay in this bedroom with you."

Alyssa smiled down at him, tilting her head to lean her cheek against his palm. She then turned her head to kiss his hand.

"We can get to that when we get back," she told him with a playful wink.

Elias chuckled softly, feeling the tension in his body fade away slightly. Even if it was only for a few seconds, Alyssa was the only person that was able to make him feel at least a little better about what was going on. She was the perfect distraction for his wrecked mind.

"What a tease," he murmured as he cupped her face. His thumb caressed the curve of her bottom lip. He wanted to kiss her and indulge in her so badly again, but he knew that now wasn't the time.

"You have no idea," Alyssa laughed softly before pecking him on the lips. She then leaned down to curl up against him again, sighing softly into the air as he held her close. "Everything is going to be okay, Elias."

Elias wanted to believe her. He didn't want to always be pessimistic when bad things happened in his life. He had to see past the darkness where the sunshine finally broke through. Alyssa could help him see that.

"As long as I have you," he told her. He needed her, whether he was going through a good time or a bad time in his life.

She kept him steady and focused on his next step, and he had no idea what awaited him tomorrow. The future was daunting, but it was coming, whether he was ready for it or not.

**********

"I'm not ready."

Alyssa glanced over at Elias, frowning slightly when she heard him speak. She moved closer to him, wrapping her hand around his bicep as they stood in front of his parents' house. They were waiting for the others to arrive before they went inside.

"I know, but you need to know the truth," Alyssa told him.

Elias looked down into her big eyes, sinking down into their comforting hue. She was right. He needed to know the truth, no matter how nervous he was to hear it.

He kissed her on the forehead just as he heard a car drive up behind him. He turned to see Scott, Melina, and Tyler climbing out of a black jeep, prompting him to draw in a steadying breath. It was showtime.

"Good. We all made it here okay," Melina said with a small smile. She tended to be the one sliver of sunlight through this hazy situation.

Elias merely nodded before glancing at the large house. It seemed to loom over him even more than it usually did.

"Let's go," he said, wanting to get this over with. He led everyone up the walkway to the porch, lifting his hand to knock his knuckles against the front door.

After a few moments, the door unlocked and swung open. His mom peeked through the doorway, spotting Elias and Alyssa first.

"Oh! What a nice…" She trailed of once her eyes shifted over to land on Melina, Tyler, and Scott.

Elias glanced between his mother and Melina feeling a sinking sensation fill him. It didn't look like two strangers were seeing each other for the first time. They recognized each other.

"We need to talk," he said before walking inside of the house. An almost numb sensation was spreading throughout his body, making his fingertips tingle as he sat down on the couch. He didn't trust himself to remain standing, and he hardly felt Alyssa as she sat down beside him.

"Lei Zhao!" His mom called her husband not bothering to call him by his English name. They was no point in lying now.

Melina, Tyler, and Scott spread out throughout the living room, sitting on the other couch or standing along the outskirts of the room. Melina looked at Elias in an anxious manner, leaning into Tyler's side as he put his arm around her shoulders.

Lei Zhao headed out of his office and to the living room. His look of curiosity soon turned into one of shock when he saw his full slate of guests.

"Oh, boy," he sighed as he looked at his wife.. "I knew this day would come eventually."

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