A True Lifestory: Part 2 A Demon’s Obsession

Chapter 19 Vlad

[..]

Vlad’s phone started to ring, so he quickly picked it up.

“Right now is not the right time to call, Chase!” Vlad stated lowly, as he was observing his surroundings.

“I just needed to know if there is any news. Did you find it?” Chase asked.

“I’ve already told you that I would call you when I know more, so let me work!” He hissed in frustration, before he ended the call and let out a heavy sigh. Finding Stella had been more difficult than he had first imagined it. The town was big, and the security system was tight. He couldn’t just run in and beat the answers out of every demon he came across, because if there was one thing he knew from working with demons in all those years, he did. It was that they did not care if they were being threatened or beaten, they never ratted their own kind out, even if their life depended on it. He had to approach it from another angle.

He walked into a club named El Diablo, where the music was ear-deafening, before he even had a foot in the door. He headed to the bar, and ordered a glass of whisky, and began to observe his surroundings. Women were dancing at tables. Some men were observing them from afar, while others weren’t shy about approaching the women. There had to be someone in the club who knew something, just anything, and he was going to figure it out one way or another.

At the other end of the club, there was a big lounge room, where a group of men were playing poker, but getting in there would be close to impossible, at least when he didn’t want to draw attention to himself.

While he was still observing his surroundings, he felt someone approach him, and then the person poked him on his shoulder.

As he turned, he was met by a woman who was wearing a dress so short and transparent, that she might as well could have gone without anything at all.

She smiled at him, as his eyes found hers, and with a glass in her hand, she made herself comfortable.

“Hello daddy! Are you new here? What is a handsome guy like you doing here?” She purred, as he fought himself not to send her a look of disgust.

“Waiting for someone.” Vlad stated dismissively, as he felt her place her hand on his, which he immediately removed.

“Do you need company until your friend arrives? I could surely lighten that mood of yours.” She asked as she moved closer to him, but he stepped back.

“I doubt that! Unless you know who there can help me find someone named Armaros, I think our paths go their separate ways from here.” He stated plainly, as he removed himself from the bar and started walking away.

“You mean Mortem?” She asked, as Vlad stopped in his tracks, clenching his fists when he was reminded of that name.

“What did you say?” He asked as he turned his head towards the woman, as she took a sip from her glass.

“Armaros Mortem, it’s him you are looking for, right?” She repeated, as Vlad felt the growing anger inside of him, when he realized who this person he had been searching for was.

“Yes.. Got any idea where to find him?” Vlad questioned, turning back to her.

“No, he is not the kind of person who hangs out at places like this,” she retorted, as Vlad exhaled in frustration, before he turned to leave, not wanting to waste any more time.

“.. But a lot of his men do!” She added, making Vlad pause in his steps, as he turned around once again, walking over to her.

“Who do I need to look for?” He asked her, as she looked at him, and she pulled her hand forward, he rolled his eyes as he placed some cash in her hand, and a smile erupted on her lips.

“You see that brown-haired goodie over there?” She spoke as she pointed across the room, and sure enough, a man in a suit, brown hair and a tattoo on his right hand was talking to someone from the lounge, as he handed him something, and shook hands.

“Great! Thanks for the help.” Vlad stated, as the woman put the money down her bra, and gave him a wink.

“No sweat, sugar! You’re always welcome back if you change your mind and want some company..” She spoke, giving him a playful smile, but Vlad didn’t reply and just headed towards the direction that the person headed.

When he left the club, Vlad followed him, until he jumped into a car. It was parked a few blocks from the club.

From there, it proceeded to drive towards the top of a hill and shortly after, it parked outside a big mansion, and the brown-haired demon jumped back out and headed back into the building.

Vlad then picked up his phone, and a few rings later, he heard someone pick it up.

“Yeah!” The voice replied.

“Carl! I’ll send you my location, tell Chase I think I got the right spot!” Vlad stated before he ended the call.

[Stella’s POV]

I put my book down, as I gave a loud sigh, making Shax look at me.

“Shax.. When does Armaros return? He had been gone half the day now.” I asked.

“I’m not sure, cupcakes, but hopefully, it won’t be long now..” he replied, when suddenly we both heard a lot of yelling outside, which made Shax raise from his seat and run to the window.

“What’s happening out there?” I asked.

“Shít, I can’t see anything.. Don’t worry, you just stay here, I’ll go check it out.” Shax stated, as he opened the door and ran downstairs.

I knew he wanted me to stay put, but I needed to know what was going on, so I stepped out of the door, and tip-toed down the hall, to listen in to what they were saying.

“What the hell’s going on out there, Dagon!” Shax asked, as I proceeded to step closer to the stairs.

“Some vampire has shown up, he is threatening to kill Armaros if he doesn’t get the wolf-girl.” Dagon. And I didn’t doubt who it was, so I proceeded to run down the stairs and towards the door. But Shax took hold of my arm.

“What the hell are you doing, Stella?” Shax asked as he knitted his eyebrows.

“I have to help, the vampire you are referring to, it’s my uncle and I have to stop him before he hurts Armaros.” I begged, as Shax looked at me, clearly torn.

[..]

“What have you done to Stella!” Vlad fired as he had Armaros pushed against the wall.

“Who the hell are you?” Armaros growled, as he grabbed for his gun, but Vlad took it before he had a chance to use it.

“It doesn’t matter who I am, you have someone important to me, and I am the one warning you, either you let her go, or I, personally, kill you right here and now.” He threatened as he kept a firm grasp on Armaros’ neck. Five of Armaros’ men ran towards them, as they immediately pulled out their guns, but Vlad just looked at them, with no care.

“Let go of him!” Baal yelled, but then Vlad knocked them all out, as he once again took hold of Armaros.

“I’ll ask you one last time - where. Is. She?” Vlad growled as he pushed him harshly against the wall, as he made a groan in pain, but he still didn’t answer.

Vlad then raised his fisted hand, but when he was just about to hit Armaros in the face, Stella came running towards them, and grabbed hold of Vlad’s arm, which made him jerk his head towards her in shock.

“Vlad, please don’t hurt him, I’m right here, okay!” Stella yelled as she stepped in between Vlad and Armaros, as he looked at her in disbelief.

“Stella what.. Why are you defending him? After everything he has done?” Vlad asked, as he knitted his eyebrows.

“I know what he did was wrong, but I love him and I can’t let you do anything to hurt him.” Stella sobbed, as she turned to face Armaros, who proceeded to hug her.

“Don’t cry, babygirl, it’s fine.” Armaros reassured her, as he looked at her with so much care in his eyes, while he proceeded to dry her tears away. That moment, Vlad was in a personal battle with himself, as he started to doubt if what he was doing right there, was even the right thing. But he knew what would be the most reasonable thing to do. His eyes turned towards Armaros, as he was still hugging Stella.

“If you really care for her, you should let her go home to her family - not keep her imprisoned here!” Vlad spoke to Armaros, as he turned to look at him with a hard stare, but after a moment his stare softened, as Vlad clearly saw pain in his eyes, then Armaros proceeded to look at Stella again.

“He’s right Stella, I have been selfish - to keep you away from everyone you care about, and who truly cares about you too..” Armaros spoke, and a heavy sigh left his lips.

“.. I know it was wrong, but letting you leave didn’t seem like an option.. But I guess it’s true when they say that: if you love someone, you have to let them go.” He continued, as he gave her a sad smile.

“Because I really do, Stella.. I love you with all of my heart.. Or at least what is left of it.” He stated, as tears ran down her cheeks.

“I love you too, Armaros!” Stella cried out as she kissed him, until some of her father’s men pulled them apart.

“Please take her home to her parents.” Vlad said to them, as they nodded and followed her to the car. Armaros felt like his heart was ripped out of his chest, as he saw them drive away with Stella, and what hurt the most, was that he couldn’t do anything to change it.

[..]

“I don’t know what’s keeping you in this kind of life, but I’m telling you.. I’ve been where you are, and there is a chance of a better life if you are willing to fight for it and get your shít together.” Vlad stated, as Armaros looked at him with skepticism.

“How would you know? Your life is perfect, and what can I ever offer her, except from pain and suffering?” He asked.

“I've spent almost 400 years hating everyone for the pain I was creating for myself. I used to work with your father, doing all the things you have done as well, but then I met Stella’s mother, and she made me realize that all this was not what I wanted to spend my life on and, because of her, I have a loving wife and two kids I love to pieces - so I’m telling you it is possible all she wants from you is just - that you love her.” Vlad spoke. He looked at Armaros, who seemed to be thinking. Then Vlad’s phone started ringing, and he picked it up, as he saw it was Chase.

“Hello?”

“Where the hell are they? It’s already been over an hour since you called me last time!” Chase growled at Vlad through the phone.

“Aren’t they there yet? They drove a long time ago, so I have no idea.” Vlad spoke as he knitted his eyebrows. Earning the attention of Armaros.

“Have you tried calling Carl?” Vlad then asked.

“Of course I have, I’ve also called both Kyle and Hunter and none of them are picking up their phones!” He hissed.

“I’ll come back immediately, then we’ll figure out what to do, bye!” Vlad stated as a frustrated sigh left his lips.

“What’s going on?” Armaros asked, as he took a step towards Vlad.

“Stella and the others are missing, they haven’t returned after they drove off from here.” He responded, as Armaros' jaw immediately tensed.

“Then what are we standing here for? I’ll help find her!” Armaros spoke, as Vlad looked at him.

“I doubt that would be such a good idea..” He began, but Armaros didn’t listen and just walked to his car.

“We don’t have all fücking day. If anything happens to her, I’ll personally kill everyone who has something to do with it.” Armaros growled, as Vlad then agreed.

“Fine! Then follow me!” He added, as they both jumped into their cars and drove off at high speed.

As they arrived at the forest close to the tribe, Vlad saw Chase, Drake, Charlie, and Peter waiting for them. As they all stared in surprise as Armaros walked out of the car behind Vlad’s.

“Any news?” Vlad asked, as they came closer.

“No, but who the hell thought it would be a good idea to bring him!” Peter asked in disbelief.

“Calm down, I know how it looks, but he really cares for Stella, so maybe he just needs a chance to prove it - and I’m sure Cathrine would agree with me.” Vlad defended, as Chase glared at him.

“Don’t you dare bring her in to this!” He snapped, before he turned towards Armaros.

“I know who you are from just looking at your face - you are that fücking piece of shít, Damon’s son. Do you have something to do with this?” Chase growled, as they all looked at Armaros.

But as he was about to respond to the question, a portal suddenly opened before them, as a white wolf covered in bloody wounds jumped through it, and landed right in front of Armaros, as it turned in to Stella.

Armaros immediately grabbed onto her as she collapsed in his arms.

“Stella, what happened to you?” He blurred out, while shock and worry clearly painted his face, as her body was covered in bleeding wounds.

“Armaros?” She spoke lowly, as she passed out in his arms.

He immediately took off his jacket and put it over her. But before the portal had closed, Carl, Kyle, and Hunter had come through, as they stared at everyone in shock.

“What happened to her!” Chase roared at them, as they looked at her and then at Chase.

“It was probably his men.. Right guys?” Carl defended, pointing at Armaros, as both Kyle and Hunter nodded in agreement.

All of them had several scratches, and Carl had gotten a black eye as well.

“We were attacked on the way, by a whole group of demons, so we didn’t stand a chance.” He continued, still pointing the finger at Armaros, who frowned.

“Me? I would never hurt Stella like this, if I wanted to do that. Don’t you think I would have done that a long time ago!” He growled as he watched them in disbelief.