Virelle's POV
There was no reaction from him. My confusion turned to alarm as I realized something was deeply wrong.
"Big Brother," I called softly, signaling him with a look. He followed my gaze and observed Ethan's vacant expression.
He frowned, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "What's going on with him?" he muttered.
"I don't know," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But this isn't normal. It's like he's… trapped somewhere."
Big Brother placed a firm hand on Ethan's shoulder and shook him. When that failed to elicit any response, his frown deepened. After a moment of hesitation, he clenched his fist, clearly deciding on a more drastic measure.
"Wait! What are you—" My words caught in my throat as Big Brother's fist connected with Ethan's face, the impact sending him stumbling backward.
Instinctively, I reached out and caught him, my arms slipping under his to stabilize him.
He was unexpectedly heavy and his weight pressed down on me like an anchor. I struggled to hold him upright, my vampiric strength straining under the burden. Despite my efforts, his head slumped against my chest with his face resting against my bosom.
The intimacy of the situation struck me like lightning.
My face flushed, and I found myself unable to look away from him. His pale skin was unblemished, smooth as marble and his slightly parted lips exuded a calm serenity that contrasted sharply with the danger I knew he faced.
For the first time, I noticed the vulnerability in his unconscious state, a stark contrast to the fierce and composed resolve he often displayed.
A rush of emotions surged within me including an intense mixture of embarrassment, curiosity, and an overwhelming but primal craving.
Find more adventures on empire
My gaze lingered on the pulse of his neck where his veins throbbed rhythmically beneath his pale skin. The memory of his blood, rich and intoxicating flooded my senses.
My fangs itched, a tingling sensation spreading through my gums. The hunger clawed at me, insistent and relentless but I fought it and swallowed hard against the rising temptation.
"Virelle," Big Brother's voice broke through my haze. "You're just going to stand there all day holding him like that? Or are you planning to put him down on the bed?"
I snapped back to reality and realized how tightly I had been holding Ethan with my fangs an inch away from his throbbing neck.
I straightened up and my face burned as I glanced down, noticing the indentation his head had made against my chest. The realization sent my thoughts spiraling further into chaos.
The lingering memory of our shared moment in the underground flickered in my mind igniting a fierce longing that I struggled to suppress.
"I—" I stammered, unable to form coherent words. My gaze darted back to Big Brother who stood a few steps away with a knowing smirk. He was pretending to examine the ancient paintings on the wall, his whistling a poor cover for his amusement.
"Brother!!" I shouted, my voice cracking with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Stop standing there and help me! He's too heavy for me to carry alone."
Big Brother turned toward me, his grin widening. "You seemed to be managing just fine," he mocked in a light but teasing tone.
I glared at him with my face still flushed. The tension within me refused to dissipate and a volatile mixture of suppressed hunger and mortification ate away at my soul. Resolving to regain my composure, I adjusted my grip on Ethan and prepared to drag him toward the bed.
But as I turned, I caught sight of his face again. His serene expression drew me in and for a fleeting moment, I wondered worriedly what he might be dreaming about or if he was trapped in a dangerous situation.
The intensity of my emotions made my chest ache and I couldn't help but worry about his safety and well-being.
I shook my head, clearing the intrusive desires.
This isn't me, why I am worrying so much about a person who I just met today, I reminded myself sternly and focused on the task at hand. Together, Big Brother and I maneuvered Ethan onto the bed.
As I stepped back, I stole one last glance at him, my mind a swirling storm of emotions. Relief, concern, and an unnameable warmth battled for dominance within me. But before I could sort through my feelings, Big Brother's sudden movement caught my attention.
My eyes widened as I saw him gathering power in his right hand and a pulsating red hue enveloping his arm like a living flame. He stood poised to strike Ethan's unconscious form with the air around him distorted with the weight of his energy.
"What are you doing, Brother!?" I shouted, my voice sharp with alarm. My head throbbed, a dull ache born of exhaustion and the relentless surprises today had thrown at me.
How many times had I been shocked and stunned already? My patience, like my energy was wearing thin.
Big Brother turned his gaze toward me, his expression calm yet serious. "Don't worry, Virelle," he said, his tone carrying a weird nonchalance. "I just want to experiment with something. If I'm right, the results will be spectacular."
Before I could argue further, he drew his fist back and the glowing red energy trailed from his hand like streaks of molten fire.
He aimed a swift punch at Ethan in a precise and deliberate motion. The beauty of the luminous red trails caught my eye momentarily but my attention quickly returned to the descending strike.
This punch wasn't like the normal one he had thrown earlier but far more potent. I could feel the power of a peak Elemental Sea Being radiating from his arm.
Yet, I didn't try to stop him. As reckless as he seemed, I knew Big Brother's control over his energy was impeccable. He wouldn't harm Ethan at least not intentionally.
Then, just as the punch was about to land squarely on Ethan's serene face something impossible happened and Ethan rolled to the side, dodging the attack entirely.