Page 7 of Her Immortal Love

ALEXEI

Iapproach the human encampment, my senses on high alert. The scent of fear and desperation hangs thick in the air, a constant reminder of the chaos we've thrust these mortals into. As I round a corner, movement catches my eye. I freeze, instinctively melting into the shadows.

It's her. The dark-haired woman who's been causing quite a stir among the humans. Alina, I think her name is. She's tucked away in a secluded corner, hidden from prying eyes. Or so she thinks.

My breath catches as I watch her extend her hand, palm up. A tiny flame dances above her skin, flickering and swaying. Her brow furrows in concentration, and the flame grows, pulsing with each breath she takes.

"Fascinating," I mutter under my breath. I've never seen a human wield magic before. It's... unsettling.

Alina closes her eyes, and the flame shifts, morphing into a sphere of water. It hovers for a moment before collapsing, splashing onto the ground. She curses softly, shaking out her hand.

"Dammit," she hisses. "Come on, focus."

I lean in closer, intrigued by her determination. She takes a deep breath, centering herself. This time, when she extends her hand, a small rock lifts from the ground. It trembles in the air, wobbling as she struggles to maintain control.

Her methodical approach strikes me. She's not just blindly throwing magic around. There's purpose in her movements, a scientific precision to her experiments. It's... admirable, in a way.

The rock drops suddenly, and Alina lets out a frustrated sigh. But then she seems to calm herself, cocking her head as she thinks.

"Subject seems to respond to emotional state," she mutters, my enhanced picking it from here. "Elemental affinities vary. Duration limited by concentration and fatigue."

I find myself oddly impressed. In the face of impossible circumstances, she's applying logic and reason to the inexplicable. It's a stark reminder of the human capacity for adaptation.

As I watch her continue her experiments, a nagging thought tugs at the back of my mind. If she can do this, how many others might be discovering similar abilities? And what does that mean for us?

I step out from the shadows, my footfalls deliberately heavy to announce my presence. Alina whirls around, eyes wide with fear and defiance. The air crackles with tension, and I catch a whiff of her scent - an intoxicating blend that calls to me.

My fangs instantly ache, and the needs for her swirls inside of me. I try to push it down, blaming it on hunger, but it feels different. I'm just not sure why.

"Impressive," I say, nodding towards her still-outstretched hand. "Most humans would be cowering in fear, not experimenting with magic."

Alina's jaw clenches, but she doesn't back down. "What do you want?"

I raise an eyebrow, amused by her bravado. "To understand. You're not like the others."

She snorts, crossing her arms. "What, because I'm not sobbing in a corner?"

"Because you're adapting," I counter, taking a step closer. "You're studying the magic, trying to make sense of it. It's... unexpected."

Alina's eyes narrow, but I catch a flicker of curiosity in their amber depths. "Everything about this situation is unexpected. I'm just trying to survive."

I nod, respecting her honesty. "And how's that going for you?"

She hesitates, then shrugs. "Could be worse. I could be dead."

A chuckle escapes me before I can stop it. Her dry humor is refreshing after the constant posturing of my fellow vrakken. "True enough."

Alina studies me, her gaze sharp and assessing. "Why are you really here? Shouldn't you be off terrorizing the other humans or something?"

I shake my head, oddly stung by her assumption. "That's not... We're not monsters, you know."

"Could've fooled me," she mutters, but there's less venom in her tone now.

I take another step closer, drawn by some inexplicable pull. Her scent grows stronger, and I feel a strange tightening in my chest. "I'm curious about you, Alina. Your approach to magic, your resilience... it's unlike anything I've seen in a human before."

She blinks, clearly surprised that I know her name. "I... I'm just trying to understand what's happening to me. To all of us."

I find myself leaning against a nearby tree, my guard lowering despite years of training. There's something about Alina that has put me at ease, a feeling I haven't experienced since... well, since before.

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