CHAPTER 18 — KIDNAPPED

Elsa shrieked in horror and moved backwards, Dale holding and supporting her from behind. He was only trying to look unfazed for her, but he was scared out of his wits.

"What do you want from us?" Dale tried hard to not let his voice shake and mirror the tremendous fear he felt inside.

Karl smiled. The same sweet smile. Now that the other vampires in his body had gone, he actually had blue eyes. Eyes that carried a glint of supremacy, one not necessarily gotten by vote. "I want the girl."

Dale pulled Elsa who was now too weak, as it seemed like their presence was draining her or poisoning her. "You'll have to deal with me."

Karl nodded. "No human in his right senses would love a vampire, knowing her true identity. So, are you the mate?"

Dale nodded and covered her. The other three vampires of the room stared at each other then burst into mocking laughter. Amusement danced in Karl's eyes too. "So, she IS the hybrid."

He gave a low laugh. The others had a bone chilling look of satisfaction in their eyes.

"Don't do anything to her. I won't let you."

Karl nodded. "You don't have to let me." He turned to the others. “Are you not hungry? Don’t you need fresh human blood to re energize you?" He gave Dale a knowing look and a wicked smirk. Elsa was on her feet now, all the weakness she felt was gone.

"No. No, no. Don't. Please don’t."

Dale held her back. "What are you doing?"

"They'll kill you. I can’t let that happen. I'll do whatever you want, I promise."

Karl smiled. "If only your parents had been this obedient the other time. Things would have been much...easier." He closed his eyes dramatically and looked up, as of he was enjoying the rays of the sum on hos skin or so.

“You...you actually knew my parents?"

He smiled brightly. "Of course, I did. I am really old, I'm case my beauty doesn't give it away." He winked and stood up. “Now, to business." He knelt to her level where she had dropped at the mention of her parents. He lifted her chin up with one middle finger. “I need your blood. I would have just taken all of it now, but I think it would be more effective when its fresh."

"What did you do to my parents?"

He smiled and stood up, walked a little in front, so neither she nor Dale expected in when he turned violently, slapping Dale hard on the cheek. He shook his wrist satisfactorily as Dale fell to the floor, blood starting to ooze out of the corner of his lips. Elsa tried to rush to him, but someone whose face she couldn't see, held her back by her arm, pressing her body to him and holding her tight.

"Aww, that's cute. You act the same way your mother did when we came for your father."

Her struggles died down as she stopped, then turned to Karl, her eyes wide. "You took my father?"

He laughed, and the other three, including the one holding her mirrored it. "What did you think, Elsa love? He found out she was a werewolf, then fed on her and went out of control?" He scoffed at it. "He always knew she was a werewolf. We are vampires, love. We can smell anything." He was twirling his fingers in the air, walking round the house. "Vampires are faster, stronger, we have far better senses than humans, or even werewolves." He knelt in front of Dale and caressed his neck with a long nail. "Have you ever imagined what that would do?" He stood up again and faced Elsa. "All you and your parents want to do is make us extinct. Like a naive, stupid breed." He laughed. "You are a hybrid. You will still do. Its even better, actually. You are faster than the average vampire and that's so sexy on you." He caressed the side of her face and smiled again.

She tried to protest, but the man behind her was a bit too strong. She saw Dale stand feebly, then pushed Karl away from her.

"Get away from her."

Karl had lost his balance but was already on his feet. "The human." He sounded bored. "Let me explain something to you. This will happen. Whether you want it to or not."

Dale stood between Karl and Elsa and his back gave her some sort of comfort.

"Kill the human, then. Since he wants to be an obstacle."

"No." Elsa's voice rang through and they all knew she wasn't human anymore. "Let him go, and I'll come with you." Karl gave her a look.

"Why do I have to bargain for something that's already mine?" He cocked his head to the side and batted his eyelashes prettily.

She pushed away from the man holding her. "I will come with you. Let him be."

Karl seemed to think about it for a while. "You love him that much? Enough to give yourself for him? Do you think he would do the same for you if he was the one in your place?"

Tears streamed down her face, and she swallowed. "It doesn’t matter, and it doesn't concern you." Her face looked resolute, and Karl shrugged.

"Let's go." One man dragged her, and she flipped him off, then without looking at Dale, walked out the door with Karl.

It took Dale some time to regain his senses and realized what had happened. He ran out, and seeing their convoy, ran up to catch up. "Elsa! Elsa! Please, don't!"

Karl rolled his eyes. "Let's leave." He started to walk faster away, before one of them stopped him. He leaned in close to Karl's ear and whispered. Karl's eyes widened and he nodded. "Go bring him, then."

"Why are you bringing him? He is only human." Elsa said, her body tensed.

He nodded. "I know. But now I want the both of you, not one. Any problem?" He said and smiled.