5. Alexei

5

ALEXEI

I approach 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.

"I wasn't always like this, you know," I say, surprising myself with the admission. Alina's eyebrows raise, curiosity replacing fear in her amber eyes.

"What do you mean?"

I run a hand through my hair, memories I've long suppressed bubbling to the surface. "I was human once. Not too long ago, actually."

Alina's jaw drops. "You're kidding."

"Nope." I can't help but chuckle at her expression. "I was a diplomat, if you can believe it. Worked for the Russian Foreign Ministry."

"Russia?" Alina takes a step closer, her fear seemingly forgotten. "I've always wanted to visit St. Petersburg."

The mention of my home city sends a pang through my chest. "It's beautiful. The Winter Palace, the canals... I used to love walking along Nevsky Prospect at night."

I pause, lost in memories of snow-covered streets and glittering lights. "I was in Rome when it happened. Cultural exchange program. One minute I'm admiring the Colosseum, the next..."

I trail off, the trauma of my transformation still raw. Alina's voice is soft when she speaks. "How long ago?"

"Almost a year," I admit. "Sometimes it feels like yesterday. Other times, like a lifetime ago."

Alina nods, her eyes full of understanding. "I can't imagine. Do you... do you miss it?"

The question catches me off guard. I've never allowed myself to truly consider it before. "I... yes. More than I realized."

We stand in silence for a moment, the weight of shared loss hanging between us. Finally, I clear my throat. "What about you? What was your life like... before?"

Alina's eyes light up, and for the first time, I see a genuine smile cross her face. "I was studying biotechnology in Munich. My parents..." Her voice catches, and I resist the urge to reach out and comfort her. "My mom's a doctor, my dad's a professor. They always encouraged my curiosity."

As she talks about her studies, her family, her dreams, I find myself captivated. Her passion is infectious, reminding me of the drive I once felt in my own career. For a moment, I can almost forget the harsh reality of our current situation.

But reality crashes back as a distant explosion shakes the ground. Alina flinches, fear returning to her eyes. I straighten, instantly on alert.

I know I should be reporting this human's magical abilities to Nyx, not chatting with her like we're old friends. And yet...

"We should get you back to the others," I say, my voice gruffer than I intend. "It's not safe out here."

Alina nods, but hesitates. "What about the magic? Are you going to tell them?"

I pause, torn between my loyalty to the vrakken and this inexplicable desire to protect her. "I... I don't know."

Her eyes search mine, and I find myself unable to look away. "Please," she whispers. "I need to understand what's happening to me. If they find out..."

The fear in her voice tugs at something deep within me, a part I thought long buried. I remember my own terror and confusion after my transformation, the feeling of being utterly alone in a world I no longer understood.

"I won't say anything," I hear myself say. "For now. But you need to be careful. If others discover what you can do..."

Alina nods, relief washing over her face. "Thank you…"

"Alexei," I answer.

"Thank you, Alexei."

The sound of my name makes something primal and unhinges jump deep in my chest. I push the feeling aside, focusing on getting her to safety.

As we walk back to the main encampment, my mind races. Everything I've been taught since my Change tells me that humans are inferior, nothing more than a food source or potential recruits. Only the strong can become a vrakken, and I should be proud to call myself one.

But Alina... She's different. Her intelligence, her adaptability, her strength in the face of unimaginable circumstances – it's forcing me to question everything I thought I knew.

I find myself wondering about the other humans. How many of them might have hidden depths, untapped potential? What will happen when someone finds out?

What will happen to Alina?

The conflict rages within me as we reach the edge of the camp. I should leave her here, return to my post and forget this ever happened. But something holds me back.

"Alina," I say, catching her arm gently. She turns, those amber eyes locking onto mine. "Be careful. And if you need... if you want to talk again..."

I trail off, unsure of what I'm offering or why. Alina gives me a small smile, and for a moment, I forget to breathe.

"I'd like that," she says softly.

As I watch her disappear into the crowd of humans, I'm left with a gnawing sense of unease. My loyalty to the vrakken, my belief in our superiority – it's all being challenged by this one remarkable woman. And I'm not sure I'm ready to face what that means.