"Trigger Warning: This chapter includes detailed descriptions of burns and bodily harm. Please be aware of your own sensitivities before continuing to read. I'll indicate to you by using (★) before the start and end of the content"
Luzella makes the girl realize she can't justify her actions outwardly, especially since she was attempting to kiss him. How can she tell she was attempting to kiss him? The girl gets frustrated and can't defend herself without admitting what she did, so she gives up and walks away.
Luzella turned towards Alaric, a bright smile spreading across her face as she asked, "Do you remember me, sir? I met you yesterday."
Alaric's gaze shifted from her face to their joined hands, his expression unreadable as he asked, "Little girl, how much longer do you plan on holding my hand?"
Luzella's face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly released his hand, apologizing profusely. "Oh!!! I'm sorry. It was completely unintentional. I just forgot for a moment," she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Alaric's expression remained stern, and without another word, he curtly ordered her to "LEAVE."
With a nod, Luzella turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into the distance as she disappeared from Alaric's line of sight.
The bold girl hastily returned to her friends, who breathed a collective sigh of relief, assuming nothing happened to her friend. One of the girls said to the bold girl "Don't be bummed that you missed out on a kiss and get angry at her but instead feel grateful she saved you from him."
"Do you know how he looked at you?" another friend asked, her voice laced with fear and nervousness.
The bold girl looked at her friends with a confused expression, "What do you mean?" she asked.
One of her friends replied, "He's way more intimidating than we thought. You're lucky that the girl intervened. Otherwise, Do you think you could have handled him on your own? If she hadn't stepped in, you might have ended up in a world of trouble."
The bold girl rolled her eyes at them for their exaggeration, her expression conveying a mix of amusement and annoyance at their over-the-top behavior and walked away from them.
After Luzella left Alaric, A handsome stranger with chiseled features and piercing eyes approached Alaric, his gaze intense as he said "There's no trace of him here. What should we do now?" His deep voice was laced with a sense of urgency and concern.
Alaric's eyes gleamed with a ruthless intensity as he said, "Then let's bait to lure him, Rowan" a smirk spreading across his face, his features sharpening into a look that was both captivating and unnervingly dangerous. The air around him seemed to vibrate with a potent mix of strategy and menace, as if every fiber of his being was now fixated on the hunt, his gaze burning with a fierce determination that left no doubt he would stop at nothing to succeed.
The man's eyes sparkled with amusement as he replied, "Looks like you already planned something," his voice laced with a hint of curiosity and anticipation, his gaze lingering on Alaric's face as if eager to witness the unfolding plan, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he seemed to savor the prospect of the drama about to unfold.
Alaric's gaze never wavered as he issued a crisp command to the man beside him, "Go and find out the details of Luzella, one of the volunteers in tonight's auction event." His voice was low and authoritative, won't tolerate any delay or question, as he seemed to expect immediate compliance from the man. The man's eyes flicked to Alaric's face, and without a word, he nodded and turned to depart, disappearing into the shadows as he set out to gather the information Alaric demanded.
Alaric set out to track down the girl who had dared to try and kiss him. His eyes seemed to gleam with a cold intensity as he sought out the girl, his movements precise and deliberate.
Alaric wasn't one to initiate conflict or cause harm without reason. However, if someone tried to step into his space without permission or cross the boundary around him, he would not let them off easily, ensuring they faced the full weight of the consequences of their actions, with no leniency given. They would reap what they sowed, facing the aftermath of their actions, and bid farewell to their own fates.
Alaric's eyes locked onto the girl as he found her standing alone in the room, her fingers delicately touching up her makeup. The room was quiet, with no one else in sight. He entered the room, the soft click of the door closing behind him echoing through the space. The girl looked up, her eyes widening in surprise as she met Alaric's gaze. With an air of casualness that seemed almost foreign to him, Alaric asked, "You want to kiss me?" His words hung in the air, his voice smooth but with a hint of sharpness beneath.
The girl's eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she assumed Alaric's question was an invitation to something more, her thoughts racing with the idea that he might be interested in her too. She stood where she was, her gaze locked on his, and batted her eyelashes, her smile slow and sultry. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, "Well, I suppose we could find out." Her movements were subtle, yet deliberate, as she let her body language speak for itself, her every gesture an attempt to weave a sensual spell around him.
Alaric's smile was a cold, calculated invitation, its gentle curve belied by an icy glint in his eyes that seemed to promise darkness and destruction, drawing her in with an otherworldly allure as he murmured, "Then why are you standing there?, come and kiss me."
The girl's eyes locked onto Alaric's, as his words hang in the air, his smile sending a shiver down her spine. Despite the unease, she felt an inexplicable pull towards him, her feet seeming to move of their own accord as she took a step closer. The air was thick with tension, and for a moment, it seemed like time itself had slowed down, waiting to see what would happen next. Alaric's eyes never left hers, his gaze piercing and intense, as he waited for her to make her move.
A few minutes later, Alaric stepped out of the room, his face a mask that revealed nothing of the moments before, the silence that followed him like a shadow, heavy with secrets and unspoken truths and he left from there.
After parting ways with Alaric, Luzella threw herself back into her volunteer role, warmly greeting guests, helping them navigate the auction, answering their queries, and assisting their needs with a bright smile.
The auction event came to a close with a final hammer strike, signaling the end of bidding. The room fell silent for a moment, before erupting into applause and cheers.
The fundraising efforts had paid off remarkably well, with the event raising a significant amount of funds that would go a long way in supporting the cause. The team was overjoyed, knowing that their hard work had made a significant impact.
As the excitement died down, Luzella and the other volunteers sprang into action, busy wrapping up the remaining tasks and escorting the guests out of the venue. They bid farewell to the attendees, thanking them for their support and generosity. With smiles and waves, the guests departed, leaving behind a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
At that moment, A loud yell pierced the air, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. A group of people rushed towards the source of the sound, their faces filled with concern. As they turned the corner, they were met with a shocking sight that left them stunned and speechless.
The scene before them was one of utter chaos, with the group of girls looking on in horror. Whatever had caused the commotion had clearly had a profound impact, leaving everyone in a state of shock and dismay.
★★★
The bold girl lay on the floor, her body badly burned. Her skin was black and blistered, her eyes were dry and open, frozen in a permanent stare. Her body was stiff and lifeless, drained of all moisture, leaving her skin parched and shriveled. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burnt flesh, a pungent odor that clung to everything.
The room was quiet and still, a stark contrast to the destruction that had occurred. The girl's beauty was lost, consumed by the intense heat that had ravaged her body. She was unrecognizable, a shell of her former self, her life extinguished in an instant.
The silence was heavy with the weight of what had happened. The girl's body was a grim reminder of the devastating power of the heat that had touched her, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death. The room seemed to echo with the aftermath, a haunting reminder of the fragility of life.
★★★
Earlier, the bold girl had dismissed her friends' concerns and stormed off, leaving them behind. They hadn't made an effort to follow her or reconcile. Now, the girl's father was frantically searching for her after the auction event, who wasn't even responding to his calls. So, he approached her friends and asked them about her daughter's whereabouts, they revealed she had already left their company. The father grew worried, knowing his daughter's tendency to cause him trouble. The friends, despite being rebuffed by the girl earlier, offered to help him search for her.
As they searched for the girl, they finally found her in the room, but the sight that greeted them was one of unimaginable horror. She was unrecognizable, her body bearing the devastating marks of the intense heat that had ravaged her. The friends and her father were met with a scene that would haunt them forever, a tragic end to the search that had begun with worry and concern.
The bold girl's father cried his heat out and collapsed to the ground, overcome with shock and grief as he gazed upon his daughter's lifeless body. The sight was too much for him to bear, and he fainted on the spot, his world shattered by the tragic loss.
Luzella's heart was shaken by the father's anguished cries as she heard them, and she stepped forward to see what was happening. But just as she was about to take in the scene, someone swiftly covered her eyes with their hands, shielding her from the horrific sight.
The person's grip was gentle yet firm as they guided Luzella away from the scene, the person's hands shielding her eyes from the horror that lay ahead. "It's not something you can look at, little girl," he said slowly, his deep, husky voice a low rumble against her ear. The sound sent shivers down her spine as the words seemed to wrap around her, the richness of his tone lingering in the air. The proximity of his mouth to her ear made the words feel intimate, the warmth of his breath a subtle contrast to the chill that ran down her spine.