" Not the tie."
" Yeah that's way to formal."
" Not even coat."
" It's called suit and don't push it Eren."
Eren wasn't complying, but when facing a fierce woman he really held no choice in the matter. He was getting groomed as she wished and he just went with the current, sometime agreeably and sometime displeased.
Just like now, He Though black suit over the formal white shirt and black trouser was over the top, but Elizabeth didn't heed his words.
His hair was done masterfully before this, trimmed from sides but rest long enough to tie a sexy bun behind the head and he liked it. She also bought him golden framed transparent glass which made him look like sophisticated individual, But he though of it as cosplay of some villainous school teacher who hid behind facade of elegance of charm.
He liked the look obviously but glasses on top was awfully catchy, just like suit but Elizabeth didn't care for his opinion.
She eyed him closely, intently as she inspected every aspect of his physical appearance, For a moment even bit her lips in lustful manner subconsciously and then fixed his collar for final touch up. Once done that she smiled at his face and spoke,
" Shoes check, clothes check, hair done,
I would prefer gold ring but since you're hell bent on rejecting that I'll back off for this once." She enjoyed this, He looked handsome as it is and putting effort into him felt right.
If asked she wouldn't deny that every piece eren wore worked like charm, and he looked best in everything.
' I should've bought him everything.'
Eren was unaware of her insane way of thinking, He was really unaware.
She had brought him to some store he didn't knew, some brand he had never heard of and all clothes he tried looked simple yet elegance. They were expensive, eren could guess but had no means to inspect because this store didn't put a price tag on their products.
It was only when he heard the billing of customer before him. That didn't just astonished him, it shook the land below his feet. He could imagine why they didn't put the price tag but what was he doing here, he wanted to drag Elizabeth back to realisation as to what she was doing in here.
She wasn't just spending big money, she was abusing it and ofcourse she didn't care,
' Maybe perk of being princess but even so, Isn't she supposed to be undercover.'
" Eren." Elizabeth leaned forward, " You look abundantly handsome." Eren was momentarily paralysed, all his thoughts disheaveled when she suddenly complemented but then she didn't gave him time to answer anyway.
"My turn." And pulled his hand into lock.
She walked upstairs, on the second floor where women's section laid wide, Much wider than men's.
Eren followed, Holding her hand in tight grip.
" Let's see, Accesories would not match with your plain theme, So only clothes." She hoped to match with eren.
" Instead say that accesories wouldn't match the occation, You don't want to look like princess among party of commoners. That would take all the attention my aunty and uncle deserve." Eren's way of reason was not wrong g as well, she held charm that instantly grayed the world and made her sole beholder of colours.
His words were true, They were main centre of occation and he certainly didn't wanted for them to get overshadowed by Elizabeth. Though he also knew it was imminent, She looked like a freaking princess which she really was.
" True so which type of dress should I wear, simple or fashionable, I mean since we're talking how would that aunt of yours will get ready?" That sounded rhetorical, She purposely avoided facing eren.
' What's with her indignation with aunt jasmine?, They haven't even met.' Eren saw her rummaging through dress that hung on each different section with utter dislike.
' I remember even Agatha held some friction with aunt jasmine.'
" Eren hurry up." her voice put a stop on Eren's thoughts, Eren couldn't see her.
She was already far, hidden behind neatly hung clothes but eren cought her glimpse and followed.
When he reached, she was holding two dresses. Both knee length long, long sleeves sundress. She could wear those as cold didn't affect her.
" Which one?" She asked eren, showcasing each dress from front and back.
Both were fine, One dark gray with black wine pattern on the silhouette and other one completely black. Other one looked traditional vampire choice but even simple black spoke of elegance.
Eren didn't knew what to choose,
" Should I wear it so you can decide more clearly." Though it sounded nice, that was also a sarcasm. Eren responded with his own smile and nodded, " That's much better."
Elizabeth nodded to herself, held his hand and walked towards changing room.
" Miss this is women's only area, I'm afraid your companion cannot accompany you inside." The woman who checked on their clothing was apparent with her duty.
'She was eyeing you from the moment we entered, knowing full well you're with me but noo..' Then she mimicked a childish tone,
' cannot Accompany you.' Eren heard all in his head, doubting wether Elizabeth was really a princess.
Those weren't such eloquent words in any sense.
" It's Mrs.salvatore to you, he's my husband, and surely he can. I need him to zip my dress." And then she looked at eren, hinting at something else with obvious snarky smile, " I need him for many other things."
Eren flinched,
' This woman.'
But then store lady instantly replied, putting eren off an akward conversation.
" I'm terribly sorry Mrs.slavatore, but rules are rules." She smiled arrogantly and her apology didn't look genuine.
" You're right, but rules change when rulers change." Then she walked back, store lady enjoyed the victory not knowing what she meant by those words when she heard,
"I'm buying this place."
Store lady's smile faded instantly.Though such situation were rare, possibilities were ever present because this place was insanely expensive and every customer carried highclass background.
But she calmed her heart, Thinking that it could also be a bluff.
' Surely she can't, our clothes are one thing but whole store.' She was right, Buying whole store was no cheap matter and expensive brand such as this one was on another plane of hierarchy.
Eren was just as shocked, but then he knew her capabilities and he could also stop her from doing such madness.
He hurridly grabbed her waist, lifting her up very easily and pushing her inside the changing room before she could take any step.
" Go change you stupid moron."
" But-"
" We're not discussing this, Now go." Eren cut her off and pushed her away, giving no chance to answer back.
Elizabeth complied begrudgingly, Ofcourse she didn't forget to glare hole into store lady with eyes that spoke ' I would've shown you if not for him'
Eren chuckled with a sigh of relief, wiping sweat of his scalp and waited, store lady walked upto him.
" I'm sorry Mr.salvatore, I did not mean to upset your mistress." Eren noticed her bowing, he could guess even for her that would be nerve wreking.
" Its okay, don't mind her, She'll be smiling just fine coming out of that changing room, forgetting everything." Eren chuckled to himself. He got the firsthand look at that confused princess, She got upset for one detail only to kiss him next like nothing happened before.
Store lady looked at eren with a smile as she nodded and walked back to her position,
' Mr. Salvatore sure is naive, Women never forget anything.' But she didn't say that out loud, she didn't wanted offend eren as well.
There were two reasons, first because he was with Elizabeth and second because he was handsome.
Hypocrisy was one thing that ran in almost all the people.
" How do I look?"
She wore the gray dress with wine pattern on it. It was good, black strap around her waist and half sleeved, V neck dress really looked great.
She looked absolutely stunning, not only because of dress but because she was that beautiful in earnest.
Eren also noticed she wore black heels and questioned himself.
' Were they always there?'
But then his attention came up, her slender white legs, legs followed upto place where he just imagined doing many naughty thing even though it was gracefully hidden behind silhouette.
Instant he failed to see her curve that he looked up, her breasts were large so they stuck close to her dress. She noticed him eyeing and retracted herself back to changing room without any words, Her expression were hard to notice.
Eren stood there motionless, doubting wether he was obvious or not?
And then after sometime she came back, this time dressed black, still smiling with expectations.
Now that eren saw this one looked much plain. It had square shaped neckline, pleated silhouette, buttoned bodice, cuffed poet sleeves and black string ribbon tied around waist.
And just like before her chest held charm of tight beauty, it looked good.
" so?"
Eren pondered, after a while he answered,
" The first one."
" so black it is." She ran back to changing room, bringing back the clothes she originally wore.
" You take your clothes back as well, It's my first gift to you." she said, Eren looked at with silent anger.
'Why did she ask for an opinion?' He thought but didn't bother asking, she was smart on few occation but stupid on most. Asking her was asking for further annoyance, but by choosing exact opposite of what he said Elizabeth touched his nerve.
He didn't like it one bit.
He also didn't bother taking back the clothes he had left in men's changing room, originally he came here wearing extra wide trouser and ripped tshirt.
Elizabeth couldn't exactly make out his waist size, and tshirt was ripped when Eren's horn got stuck. That was also the reason he was visiting clothing store, originally he was content with what he wore but Elizabeth refused explosively and eren had no choice.
Eren walked upto billing counter, While Elizabeth followed him with a playful smile. She also took back his clothes without any vanity, she enjoyed irritating eren.
At the counter she waited, looking at eren and enjoying the view. Eren waited for her to pay which she purposely delayed, annoying eren even more. While the same lady who was at changing room waited for them to sort out their fun play, her shift had changed to cashier.
At first she was angry but then watching them enjoying, or rather watching Elizabeth having fun with eren made her their fangirl, she rooted for Eren though.
RING..
RING..
But then phone rang at worst possible timing, as always.
It was Elizabeth's, but she didn't immediately picked it up, she watched as phone rang twice and then cut off. And Instantly chimed for multiple notification.
And hearing every chime of notification changed her expression, There were exactly seven chimes and there was nothing in message other than randomly typed alfabets.
It was enough of message, changing the nature of situation in an instant, she looked at eren, feeling disappointed, defeated by luck. But more than that, with desire, she didn't wanted to give this time up.
" I gotta go." She said, expecting eren to question as to what happened but he didn't, he just nodded understanding.
Elizabeth didn't say anything else, paid in full cash without much care for change and ran out of store in hurry.
Store lady who was watching them, Had this intense urge to ask where she left but then door to store opened again.
Elizabeth rushed back, pulling eren in strong kiss.
" I'll surely make this upto you, And congratulate them on my behalf. Bye." She gave another soft kiss and closed the door behind her as she ran away.
Eren watched her walking distant, slowly disappearing in orange glow of sunshine.he too was displeased with her sudden departure but somehow that kiss worked like temporary apology.
" Mr. Salvatore, we've packed yours and madam's clothes, and this is your change." Eren shifted his gaze to counter.
There were two paperbags, brand logo printed on it and bundle of cash beside it. He imagined Elizabeth casually flaunting not just few pieces but bundles of cash and wanted nothing but to scold her right away, but she was gone.
He took the money and clothes with the smile, ready to leave.
His home wasn't that far from this place anyways, he hoped walking their in slow pace would change his thoughts for good.
" Mr. Salvatore?" It was the same store lady who stopped him, He looked over his shoulder and asked
" What?"
" I might be stepping out of line but would you mind answering my question?" She looked ted bid worried and mostly curious.
Eren nodded.
" would she've?" She was hesitant, but asked as she managed to muster her courage.
Eren looked at for second, then smirked and left the store, leaving his expression of an answer for store lady to understand on her own.
*******
It was an abandoned warehouse in abandoned area of western outskirts of aston city. Boxes laid here and there but other than that it was mostly empty.
Golden orange rays of sunset shot through broken ceiling, igniting dim light. though most of it's part remained devoid of spark and life.Except one corner, Soft sound of rythmic, rapid breath could be heard. Soon pressure in the air changed, becoming more intense with each second. That woke the blue eyes shining within the darkness from shalow slumber.
Eyes carried what could be called intensity of murder, And soon individual walked out to light.
She was a woman, dressed in casual clothing of modernity. Jeans and tshirt, it would've looked much better if they weren't stained with blood. But she didn't flinch, just stood motionless. Her eyes were deep blue but when in light shone radiance of ice blue.
She looked tired, sweat rolled down her forehead which she swiped with her hand, But that made her head paint red with blood that were dripping off her hands.
But she didn't spare any glance, Instead she dropped her heels. Holding them in hands as weapon. She looked ready to spill some more blood.
Her wait ended soon, Winds whistled the arrival of opponents she was fighting and by numbers they were many. They surrounded warehouse, some stood above the roof while some slowly closed in but one glaring detail was that they all wore black body suit from top to bottom, even their eyes were hidden behind integrated glass of facemask.
Their presence were unending and unavoidable, And without much wait they all lunged at the woman standing in the middle with variety of weapons in their hands.
But blue eyed beauty didn't falter. Her eyes shifted left and right as she perceived their every action, grip on heels tightened and soon she was locked in barrage of attacks.
Each attack ready to cut and cleave, ready to take her life but she managed to dodge every one of them. More than that with every second passed, Her precision became perfect.
She was like a butterfly dancing between moths and she managed to outrun them,it seemed as if time was running fast yet it had been only few seconds after their initial contact.
Blue eyed beauty clicked tongue in displeased manner, Because she knew that due to lack of space not all could attack her with free hand but if push come to show, there would be sacrifices. Another trouble she had watch out for that, so far the opponents she was fighting were warriors who didn't posses any elemental authority but there might be few hidden among them, waiting for their chance. Just like sniper she had sensed earlier, they watched her like hawk but failed to do anything with so many of their own people getting in the way.
More so her stamina was not infinite, Without proper response she would be forever locked in this battle only to die pitifully with exhaustion. So it was time for counter attack.
Twisting her body with experienced steps, She dodged the incoming slash but this time didn't retreated. She aimed her left heel to oppoent she thought was easy to handle, and surprised masked man didn't had a second before force of her attack shattered his chest, sending him flying back with few of his companion.
She hurridly grabbed swordsman's arm, disarmed him with her strength and skill. Simultaneously shot her heel into his skull, killing him on spot. She would've enjoyed this feeling but she didn't had second to waste.
Twisting her waist, she threw the long sword she had stolen. It passed through two's chest, Heel swept through battlefield like menace as well. She switched weapon like clothes, played with them like toys and killed people with brutality.
Another second passed. Suddenly there was only half of them remaining, but those who faced the blue eyed beauty didn't think of that as sudden.
They saw her crushing skulls with heels, cutting men in half with sword like butter and then shattering their body and ego as she used their own weapon against them and completely overpowered them.
They halted in steps, faltering with fear but if they weren't coming then impatient lady wasn't waiting long. Either she reached or her heel reached, killing them with ease. And within few more seconds warehouse became silent, stained with blood, littered with corpses.
" How many weakling like you are there in this dump?" She asked the last remaining soldier, She had spared him for questioning and as anyone would do, he refused to speak, struggling to keep his eyes open in intense pain. She had cut his legs and arms off, making him a pitiful of an existence.
" Hilarious." As she said, her hands zapped with insane speed and precision. She pulled a knife out of her heel and threw it out of one of the holes of ceiling.
And looked at pitiful guy who groaned crying in pain,
At certain distance to her, another masked man laid on his chest. Holding long necked sniper in his hand, He saw all his companion getting killed miserably yet he couldn't mourn to their death, he felt fear but also wanted to overcome it, he finally had his Target not moving and was about to take action but then she moved again, suddenly Every nerve on his body screamed to move but he couldn't, paralysed with fear and only thing he saw before knife pierced his forehead was shine of reflecting steel. Then he died.
" Pathetic, He should've just shot aimless, that way he would've some chance by luck." She relaxed her arms in her pocket, bringing out something and flicked it, directly inside incapacitated individual's open mouth.
" Speaking of pathetic, He's blue ranked warrior, Surely he can handle it, what do you think?" Blue eyed beauty spoke with humorous laugh, watching incapacited men suffering in pain.
" If this is what you call level seven threat then, Really pathetic evelyn." A chill voice answered from darkness behind her.
"Oh i meant them when I said pathetic." voice also held humourous calmness, not getting aggravated by her provocation.
Blue eyed beauty, Evelyn didn't bother to turn back, neither she felt slighest bit of agitation by her words.
" You're awfully calm for someone who was tricked last night, Something must've happened to you." Evelyn turned back, Behodler of voice slowly walked in light.
Another beauty, Dressed in black knee length attire. She was Elizabeth faust.
" Were you on a date?" Surprised as she asked, peering from up to down on her appearance.
Hair tied in bun, Black dress to top it off and though she didn't needed any makeup she had done some touch up which she normally didn't bother to do.
Elizabeth couldn't answer immediately, though as far as she knew. If she backed away now that will be more troublesome for this conversation.
" I was actually, Awfull timing by the way."
Evelyn analysed her answer for certainty and found it more and more confusing to discern.
She had many doubts to clear, many questions to ask and many tricks to play on Elizabeth but neither she was in situation nor in the mood.
" Sorry for that and sorry for last night."
Elizabeth was little surprised, She knew how much shrewd Evelyn could be but would she play her mind games now, in time like this. She didn't know.
" Apology accepted for today, for last night that won't be needed."
Evelyn closed her eyes and shook her head,
" I wish I could peek in your head and find out what's making you gloat so much, And believe me I've never seen you smile so radiantly. It gives me chills." Her words were paced fast, then she gave a meaningful glare and continued, " But let's get to business now."
Elizabeth nodded, she could feel tension in her voice even when she sounded confident. Level seven threat was not supposed to be just some easy walk in the park anyway.
" What's the situation?"
Evelyn didn't immediately respond, instead she turned around to face incapacitated men. Her glare was cold.
She relaxed her arms in her pocket, standing as causally as possible yet her stiffened face showed reluctance of sort.
Then mana fluctuated in the air, responding to her will with almost no resistance. Where Fire manifested, with red flames burning on incapacited man's left arm.
" Aaaahhh.."
His torso twitched and twisted in agony, mouth roared for cry but nobody bothered with him.
" This organisation we've been sent to investigate seems to be part of some big deal. Almost as if power of emperor or some similar force's backing." her eyes turned even colder while flames turned hotter.
Though she burned him to restrict death by bleed and she intently didn't bother to care for his suffering, at the rate her flames burned, He was bound to die.
But then another spell was casted,
Crystalline ice showered over the flame, instantly extinguishing it without much effort.
Simultaneously also froze his limbs to icy coldeness.
Evelyn didn't complain by elizabeth's intervention, she was glad. If not for her she would've rushed in this threat with emotion and not intelligence, what she saw in this place so far was affecting her judgement.
" Their research seems to be on bloodlines, but more so their goal is to create new bloodlines. We already know that much." Elizabeth walked closer to them.
" But how do they intend to achieve it."
Evelyn didn't answer, and gestured at the groaning men.
" Answer her" Effect of truth spilling drug was in action, her words compelled him to answer even though he willed against it.
" They insert dead core into living subject." Man's expression turned horrified with realisation, he knew he was doomed.
His only option was suicide, Now he was liability to his group and spy for this outsiders.
He had no other choice, least he could do is to make this quick and troublesome.
self explotion.
But similar thoughts ran in inside Elizabeth's head as well, She crouched before him and touched his broken bloody chest and sealed his mana core. Rendering him to state of powerlessness. He was no longer awakened, though his cultivated body still retained strength but without his limbs he was nothing but disabled non awakened.
Another thing he intended was to cut his tongue off, to not betray his people but,
" How do you combine bloodline?" This time Evelyn asked, stopping all his action with a question.
" Few months ago, we found beasts that accepts other bloodline and does not repell it, Their blood had same effect.
By infusing their blood into core that will be inserted in the subject, Possibility would be zero no more." Unwilling but once answered he tried to achieve what he intended but then again,
" Why?, is this not hundred percent accurate?" Elizabeth knew when to play,
" No, Some people cannot handle this change and ends up being mindless, Their body might or might not change into monsters permenently. Same with monsters, Only that they do not turn into humans or asuras.
This process forces subject's body to absorb large amount of mana, while few manages it but most subjects are blown to pieces, unable to hold the power within." He wished he could die, but then again
" where are those beasts whose blood is being used?"
" I don't know."
" Are they here?"
" No."
" They are not here meaning, There should be second base of operation. Is there?" evelyn took her time this time asking question, it gave crippled man chance to bit his tongue off yet his jaw was stuck shut by powers that came from woman before.
And it changed how he saw the situation, all this time he though they were asking questions in order to stop him but he was wrong. They were just toying with him and that filled his heart with rage.
Yet he could not expell it out, And his raging yet aching heart compelled him to answer,
" Yes."
" How many and where?"
" I don't know."
" Does this exist out of this continent and if it does where?" Elizabeth asked in detail knowing full well how tricky use of this drug was.
" Yes, in every continent."