The Unexpected Mate

Chapter 8 : Seeking help

The three men in camouflage jackets stood there waiting for Elinor to speak. Elinor was busy panicking for her cousin and friend. She wasn't ready to accept that she had gotten out of something dangerous but Ginny and Ross did not!

"I asked you something," the man stood with his hands crossed in a strict way. His body language was oppressing. Elinor leaned back slightly to get away but Gia was right behind him.

Elinor tried to hide the fact that she was intimidated by him and said politely, "Um, we woke up in a strange place and started looking for our missing friends. Can you help us find a way out of the woods? Our friends may be waiting for us by the camping site."

Elinor conveniently ignored what he said earlier about helping campers from bloodsuckers. She wanted to believe it wasn't about them and that Ginny and Ross were just waiting by the tents.

The three looked at each other and whispered something. The man with scars was just listening to the inaudible whisper. The other two were talking for the most part. The one who spoke about the bloodsuckers had the lead, as if he was explaining something to them. Once they were done discussing, the scarred guy came forward and gave judgement.

"I will send someone to show you the route out of the woods, but let me warn you, it's very dangerous out here. The fence is put up for a reason. Your friends are already gone, so don't go betting on your life like this. If you are caught again, you won't be lucky enough to find another one of us to save you."

The first half was fine, but when he said 'your friends are already gone', Elinor's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes were inexplicably hot and her chest started to hurt.

"W-What do you mean our friends are gone?" Leo finally came to his senses and asked.

Gia clutched Elinor's clothes tightly. Elinor offered a hand to her and Gia immediately latched onto it for dear life. Her hand was cold with fear. At this moment Elinor knew she couldn't show her own fear or Gia wouldn't be able to hold on.

"Gone as in taken away. Assume they were eaten by animals," the scarred man said bluntly. Gia whimpered and immediately started sobbing. She hid completely behind Elinor and broke down.

"Please don't say that!" Elinor said resolutely, "I am sure they are fine..."

Although her words implied it, her tone was far from sure.

"Girl," the other man who spoke about helping them last night finally spoke up, "Listen. I did not see what happened last night but I was there to shift the three of you to a safe place. Harrison was on his way back and he saw them being taken. He could only help you three. Be grateful for your life being saved and leave as soon as you can. You have their scent on you, they will track you down sooner or later if you stay there. It's better to go home, take a shower and mingle among your peers as much as you can."

He said it in a calm manner, much better than the scarred man. But it did not help Elinor and her friends. Elinor's fingers were stiff from the cold. She gulped down her emotions and wiped her eyes with the free hand. The other hand squeezed Gia's hand in comfort.

"Who are the bloodsuckers? The way you talk about them, you must know about them, right? Is there a chance my friends can be saved?" Leo asked seriously. It was a rare sight to see Leo out of his fun element. He was half the size of the scarred man, but that did not stop him from putting up possibilities.

"Bloodsuckers. It's a common term for Vampires. You know the one that drinks blood. Chances of saving your friends are slim, and I advise you not to think in that direction. It's not easy to get away from them if they catch you," the man with slightly better manners said.

Leo and Elinor were taken aback. Vampires. Vampires were not real. How could this man say it so easily as if talking about his neighbour? But right now it did not matter what he said. Elinor didn't care what kind of people took Ginny and Ross, she just wanted them back!

The scarred man added, "Maybe your friends are already juiced out. They don't wait, you know."

Elinor decided to ignore the scarred man and plead with the other one who was much better at talking.

"Sir, please help us. You said that we were saved, right? That means you can save our friends too? Please help us save them!" Elinor said with pleading eyes. Her eyes were red with unshed tears and her lips were trembling. She wanted to cry as much as Gia but she couldn't at that moment. She has to remain strong and make these people help them.

The man who was addressed as Sir by Elinor was shocked by her request. He just wanted to help them get out of here and give a little advice. He did not expect her to ask for help in getting them back.

"Miss, you must have misunderstood," the man said, "We can't help you find them. Even if we were willing, there are two reasons we can't - first, our leader is against it. We absolutely do not interfere with the other party unless they directly clash with us. Second, the possibility of your friends being alive is depressingly low. Our efforts will be wasted."

The other man, who was silent all this time, said, "There have been missing cases all across the city for the past few days. I think there were thirty within twenty days. I am sure the police will do something if you file a complaint. Make sure to take away your tent and other stuff from the other side though. Or you will be fined for not following orders. That's all we can do to help you."

Leo exclaimed, "Please. Even if there is the slightest chance to save them, we have to try! It's a matter of life and death!"

"We are not allowed to do that kid! We have strict rules!" The scarred man growled through his teeth. He looked so scared that Elinor wanted to turn around and run. But she had to stay and persuade them for Ginny and Ross' sake.

"Is there any way you can help us? We don't know anything. If we have to save them, we will need your help..." Elinor asked.

She completely disregarded the fact that they said their enemy was a group of vampires. And at this time she wondered who exactly those people were who could go against the vampires?

They accepted the concept of vampires a bit too easily. Maybe because Elinor was more concerned about Ginny and Ross' safety than the things threatening their lives. Elinor absolutely had to get these people to help them.

The three men with a gun on their waist stared them down intimidatingly to have them back down. But Elinor and Leo were not the type to give up easily. Elinor had been working in that hellish company for years without losing her cool and Leo was stubborn to the point the school gave up on him back then.

Elinor suggested a way, "Can we talk to your leader? We will ask him. If he agrees, then can you help us?"

The scarred man scoffed, "Is our leader someone you can meet? Appointments are made to meet our leader. You can't meet him."

Leo came forward, "Then make an appointment."

"You are stubborn," the other man frowned, "Just let it go. People die every day. Is it so important to save them? At the cost of your own life?"

"You were saved, so go back home and pray you never come across such a situation again. This time, Harrison saved you three. Next time you won't be so lucky. Don't get ahead of yourself."

Elinor was slowly beginning to give up. These people were not ready to listen at all. What could she do if they weren't willing? It wasn't like she could force them to come along.

"Please! Please let us meet him once! Just once!" Gia cried loudly and left Elinor's shadow. She fell on the ground on her knees and cried loudly. Her tears soaked the ground as she cried.

"Please help us! Ross and Ginny, it was all my fault! I shouldn't have planned this trip.... I suggested camping outside. It was all my fault. I won't be able to live if something happens to them.... Please. I beg you! Please help us!"

Gia's cries only got louder and more miserable. Her words were muddled together, some hiccups in between. Elinor's ears buzzed from her cries. For a while, it was all she could hear. All eyes were on Gia, watching her crying and begging for help.

"Sir, please. We don't have anyone else to help us. You saved us before and we are endlessly thankful for that. We will repay you in any way possible. Please help us one more time. Even if we are too late to save them, we'll know that we tried. I don't want to give up without trying...." Elinor's voice broke at last. A few years fell down her cheeks as she spoke, "Ginny came to me yesterday to spend her holiday. I took her out to have fun, not to fall prey to something dangerous. I should have been careful. If only we had planned the trip, maybe we could have avoided all this. But we can't change that. If you help us, we may be able to rectify our mistakes."

The three men looked uncomfortable in front of two crying women. Even the man with scars frowned and looked away. Leo hung his head and stood there silently. He did not have anything to add, so he saved his words.

"Don't cry! The scarred man snapped, "Can crying bring your friends back? Is it any good to cry for no reason? You'll fall sick! Get up! I said get up! I will ask for an appointment with Alpha ...."

Elinor looked up in shock. She did not expect the scarred man to be the one to give in. Out of all three, he looked the most heartless. With her tear-stained eyes, Elinor smiled and nodded.

"Thank you so much!"

"But it's just an appointment! We won't help if he doesn't agree!" The man scoffed and left with long strides. The other two watched him go and snickered.

"You are lucky, Ivan is a softy."

Elinor wouldn't have believed this if she hadn't seen him agree. She let go of all her contempt towards the scarred man and expressed her thanks. The two asked Elinor and her friends to follow them inside.

Elinor helped Gia up from the ground and held her in a hug to comfort her.

"It's going to be okay. We'll get them back," Elinor said to comfort her. They walked together inside the huge metal gates. Leo was right behind them, following closely.

Elinor was holding Gia's trembling figure. She would have explored the area inside the gates if it was any other time. But they are going through a crisis now. Exploring wasn't on her list right now.

"Elinor, did he say Alpha?" Leo went up next to her and whispered to her.

Elinor recalled the scarred man - Ivan, saying that word. She wasn't a stranger to the term Alpha. It was used in many ways, but the most popular one was the pack leader in werewolf fantasy novels.

Suddenly Elinor felt sick in her stomach. The reality of their situation came crashing down on her. Vampires had kidnapped Ginny and Ross, and they were seeking help from the werewolves.