Caelia hurriedly arrived at the hospital in Virginia Beach, concerned for her sick aunt. The hospital's sterile corridors and the overwhelming scent of disinfectant greeted her senses as she made her way to her aunt's room. There, lying in the hospital bed, was her frail and dreadfully ill aunt, looking much weaker than she remembered. She was sleeping peacefully, she decided not to disturb her.
She had been working when she got the call. Her aunt had gone to see the doctor alone and something had happened to her, the hospital needed a family member present and Caelia was the only one Mrs Wright deemed necessary to release, despite her mother knowing more than her about her aunt's medical history.
Caelia had gone anyways, grateful for a reason to leave the Wrights mansion. Albeit a bad reason.
She felt a sense of irritation at the hospital, partly due to the strong smell that permeated the air.
Her emotions were running high as she spoke with the doctor. "I'm sorry, Ms Holland, but we need to conduct some tests, and your aunt will have to stay overnight," the doctor explained.
"Will she be able to leave tomorrow after the tests?!"
She asked in concern and the doctor shrugged.
"We can't say for now. The results of the tests will determine that."
Caelia's heart sank as she realized she would have to find a place to stay in the city for the night. She reluctantly started browsing nearby hotels, hoping to find a reasonable option. She found one that was a walkable distance from the hospital and she didn't hesitate in going to check it out.
Caelia's hopes were dashed when she arrived in front of the building. Even the name alone suggested that it would be too expensive. She stood there for a long time contemplating her options. It was late, she had to at least find somewhere to sleep.
Just as she was about to turn away, she collided with someone.
She started muttering a string of apologies.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..."
She looked up and saw that it was Damon. Her embarrassment turned into shock. What was he doing here?!
He looked just as dashing as ever, in a dark blue perfectly tailored suit and his hair slicked back. His eyes seemed to light up when they met hers.
Caelia felt self conscious. This was one of the few times he was seeing her without her uniform, she suddenly felt inadequate in the dark blue jeans and old navy T-shirt she was wearing.
"Damon?!"
She looked around. None of his family was with him.
His shock at seeing her quickly turned into excitement. "Caelia! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
"I.... I came here with my aunt. She's at the hospital I just came to check on her for a bit."
"Oh is she okay?"
He asked with concern and she nodded her head.
"Yes she's fine. They're just running some necessary tests."
"Oh why are you here?!"
She looked at the hotel again and shrugged.
"I was looking for a place to stay for the night, I wanted it to be close to the hospital but I don't think I can afford this place."
"Well I came up here for some business too. I just finished talking with a business partner. I'm about to have a drink with another then I'll get a suite here to stay for the night."
"Why don't you come on in?"
Caelia shook her head strongly.
"I already told you, I can't pay for this place."
Damon rolled his eyes.
"I'll settle everything. Don't you worry about that and follow me."
"I don't want to bother you..."
"You're not being a bother. Besides we're miles away from home now, what else could you possibly be scared of?"
Reluctantly, she agreed, and they made their way to the front desk.
"Good evening."
The woman said with a coy smile on her face, her eyes focused on Damon and Damon alone.
Caelia cleared her throat, even though Damon said he would help, she didn't want to put the burden on him.
"Yes I'd like to get a room."
The woman turned to Caelia and looked her up and down. Then she smiled again.
"We have our deluxe rooms available, no more single rooms I'm afraid. And I think our suites would be way out of your budget."
The attendant regretfully said and Caelia nodded with a downcast look on her face.
It wasn't like she could afford it in the first place.
"I'd like to get one of your suites. I usually stay in the Athena suite."
"Right away Mr Wright."
Damon turned to Caelia.
"I'm not going to be in my suite for a while, so you can go, get some rest. I won't mind."
"Damon I don't want to impose..."
Caelia started and Damon shut her down.
"You're not imposing. I insist."
After the attendant handed him his keycard, he gave it to Caelia, urging her to go and check out the suite by herself.
Despite her protests, Damon's persistence won out, and she made her way to the luxury diamond suite named Athena.
The suite was indeed lavish and elegant, with opulent furnishings and a stunning view.
It was beautiful. She felt her neck ache and decided she would like to take a relaxing bath, it had been a really long day.
..........
The dimly lit bar exuded an air of mystery, with its shadows playing tricks on the eyes. A soft, sultry jazz tune whispered through the space, mingling with the low hum of hushed conversations. The bartender, his face obscured by the flickering candlelight, mixed drinks at the bar, tossing the mixer several times in the air as if he was performing on a stage.
Amidst the ambiance, Damon leaned against the bar, he held a crystal tumbler filled with bourbon, his brooding eyes scanning the room. He had been more than surprised to run into Caelia, to be honest she was the last person he thought he could run into in the city. And he was slightly relieved that he had seen her at least and got her to stay in his suite. He sent someone to keep an eye on her, just to make sure that she was more than safe.
He looked at the time again, Alonso was at least ten minutes late.
After a while, a figure in a perfectly tailored suit approached, the dim light reflecting off his polished shoes. The newcomer, Alonso, settled onto the barstool next to Damon, with a smirk on his face.
With a nod to the bartender, Alonso ordered the same drink as Damon. He wasted no time, his voice a low murmur, "It's not every day a vampire Lord requires your assistance. I must say I was quite surprised when I got your call."
Damon shrugged.
"Not many vampire lords have peculiar problems like I do."
"Let's cut to the chase, Damon. What do you need?"
Damon's lips curled into a guarded smile, his voice matching the tone of the bar's shadows, "Samantha Dortmund."
Alonso's eyes flickered with recognition, his lips curling into a knowing grin.
"That does not ring a bell unfortunately. I would need you to give me more details."
Damon slipped him a small envelope.
"Everything you need to know about her is there. But she has been missing and I desperately need to find her."
Damon leaned in.
"I heard you have your ears to the ground and you know everything that goes on underground. I'm sure finding her would be quite an easy task."
Alonso opened the envelope and skimmed through it. Then he sighed.
"That's if she isn't under the Sandpiper's protection. If she is... then I wouldn't be able to help."
Damon raised his eyebrows.
"You're scared of a kid's bedtime story villain?"
He snorted. Alonso looked at him with a serious expression.
"The sandpiper is very real. And if she disappeared intentionally I have no doubt he has a hand in it."
"But then that would mean I wouldn't be able to help you because I don't go anywhere near Sandpiper's territory."
Alonso sounded serious and Damon tucked that bit of information away. Whatever it was, Alonso seemed scared of the Sandpiper. A five hundred year old vampire scared of a mystery supernatural vigilante? It sounded quite ironic.
Alonso took a sip out of his drink.
"Does this missing woman have something to do with your runaway bride?!"
Damon shot him a glare.
"And how do you know that?!"
Alonso grinned.
"Oh it's the new gossip now! And the whispers of your sire line growing weak. That's quite the tangled web you've found yourself in."
Damon's fingers tightened around his glass, his gaze locked onto Alonso's. "Keep your prying eyes away from my affairs, Alonso. You may have your ears to the ground, but remember whose territory you're stepping into."
A flicker of anger crossed Alonso's features, his tone laced with defiance. "You think your secrets remain hidden? The underground is abuzz with rumors, Damon. It's only a matter of time before your enemies come knocking at your door."
Damon's jaw clenched, the tension in the air palpable. Alonso rose from his seat, his words a parting shot, "I'll find Samantha Dortmund. You should hear word from me in three days."
"But remember, our world is a small one and whatever goes on in your coven doesn't stay quite as hidden as you think it does."
As Alonso's figure melted into the shadows, Damon exhaled a frustrated breath, his fingers flexing against the polished bar top.
Of course he expected word to get out, but not like this, not all the way to someone as slimy and snarky as Alonso. If he didn't fix things soon, who knows who else would crawl to his door using his own coven's weakness against him?