Chef Williams checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time, his brow furrowed with concern. Ten minutes had passed since Eleanor excused herself to use the restroom, and she was still nowhere to be seen. He scanned the crowded food mall, his eyes scouring every corner for a glimpse of her fiery red hair.
With growing unease, he made his way to the restroom, his long strides eating up the distance. Outside the door, he hesitated, unsure if he should intrude on the ladies' sanctuary. Instead, he approached a woman passing by and asked, "Excuse me, ma'am. Could you please check if a young lady named Eleanor is inside? She's got red hair, and I'm getting a bit worried."
The woman nodded kindly and entered the restroom. A few moments later, she emerged with a puzzled expression. "I'm sorry, I didn't see anyone by that name or description in there."
Chef Williams's anxiety spiked. He pushed open the restroom door and called out, "Hello? Eleanor?" The only response was the echo of his voice off the tile walls. He stepped inside, his eyes scanning the stalls before landing on a familiar purse lying on the floor beside the washbasin. Eleanor's purse.
As he picked it up, a faint, metallic scent wafted up, like ozone and smoke mingling in the air. It was a scent he'd encountered before – the unmistakable signature of a rogue vampire. His heart racing, he quickly exited the restroom, purse in hand.
With trembling fingers, he dialed a number on his phone, his voice barely above a whisper when Jerkins answered. "Jerkins, it's Chef Williams. I think something's happened to Eleanor. I'm at the food mall, and she's gone missing. I found her purse in the restroom, and there's a... a vampire's scent here. I need your help, now."
Chef Williams's eyes scanned the crowded mall, his senses on high alert as he desperately searched for Eleanor. He retraced his steps, re-sniffing the air, trying to pick up the faint trail of her scent or the rogue vampire's signature. But as he stepped out of the mall, the scents seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving him with nothing but the hum of the city and the weight of his worry.
As a mixed-blood vampire, he knew he couldn't match the tracking prowess of a pure-blooded vampire. Frustration and fear gnawed at him, rendering him momentarily helpless. He trudged back to his car, the shopping bags a poignant reminder of the ordinary outing that had turned into a nightmare.
He loaded the bags into the trunk, his movements mechanical, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The drive home was a blur, his eyes fixed on the road as his thoughts consumed him. When he arrived, he pulled into the driveway, the mansion's lights casting a warm glow that did little to ease his unease.
He parked the car and sat there for a moment, collecting his thoughts, before stepping out into the night. The silence of the mansion enveloped him as he entered, a stark contrast to the chaos brewing inside him.
As Chef Williams stepped out of the car, Jerkins emerged from the shadows, his expression grave. "Did you find her, Chef? Track her, at least?" Williams's nod was barely perceptible, his eyes downcast in disappointment.
Jerkins's face fell, and he nodded solemnly. "The only way now is to inform the young Master. He seems to have taken quite an interest in the young maid." Without another word, Jerkins turned and strode towards the mansion, Williams following closely behind.
They moved with lightning speed, covering the distance to Lucian's room in mere moments. Jerkins knocked on the door, and Lucian's voice called out, "Come in, Jerkins." The butler pushed open the door, and Williams followed, his face a mask of guilt.
Lucian looked up from his work, his eyes narrowing as he took in the somber expressions. "What is it?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of impatience.
Jerkins stepped forward, his voice measured. "Young Master, it seems like Eleanor has been abducted." Lucian's eyes locked onto Williams, and the chef felt a shiver run down his spine as the young Master's gaze seemed to bore into his very soul.
Lucian's eyes blazed with fury as he demanded, "Tell me exactly what happened." Williams recounted the events of the day, his voice shaking slightly as he relived the moments leading up to Eleanor's disappearance. Lucian's expression darkened with each passing word, his anger simmering like a pot about to boil over.
As Williams finished speaking, Lucian stood up, his movements fluid and menacing. Williams took a step back, cowering in fear, as he had never seen Lucian this enraged before. The young Master's eyes had transformed into a blazing shade of bright red, and his fangs were beginning to show.
Lucian's hand shot out, grasping Williams by the neck and lifting him off the ground. "You didn't deem it fit to inform me immediately?" he growled, his voice low and deadly. "If anything happens to her, you'll have hell to pay."
With a sudden motion, Lucian threw Williams aside, the chef crashing into the wall before slumping to the floor. Lucian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he reopened them, he was gone, vanished into thin air.
In the blink of an eye, Lucian materialized at the mall where Eleanor had disappeared. He stood frozen, his eyes scanning the area, reliving the moments that had transpired earlier. The scent of Eleanor and the rogue vampire still lingered, and Lucian's eyes narrowed as he began to track the trail, his determination to find Eleanor burning brighter than ever.
Lucian's eyes closed, and he focused his mind on Eleanor's image, trying to teleport to her location. But an invisible barrier seemed to block him, preventing him from sensing her exact whereabouts. Frustration etched on his face, he ran his hands through his hair, his fingers tangling in his locks.
Undeterred, he tried again, concentrating his energy and willpower. However, the result was the same – an unseen force blocking his connection to Eleanor. Lucian's eyes snapped open, and he muttered under his breath, "Dammit!!, Well, it seems like this is a very organized plan. Looks like the witches have been involved."