Darest Temptations

Hello everyone,

I actually had submitted ch. 5 last week but it was disapproved for formatting reasons i believe.

Anyways, i read the comments for ch. 4. I appreciate the time and heart that you guys put in the comments. It made me realize where the story was going. I don't think i can write long chapters, but what i did was write two chapters under one name and separated them by parts. Anyways, i really appreciate your guys' comments for ch. 4 and i wanted to thank you guys for giving this another chance.

Thanks,

writingfanatic

All comments and feedback are appreciated.

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Ch. 5 Part 1

Dimitri's eyes scanned over the computer screen.

"Haha," he laughed at David, "It looks like whoever didn't want you getting into the system was able to block you out."

"Dimitri, you may have to destroy this computer."

Dimitri frowned. "David you have to get me out of there, this is one of my best computers."

"Sorry, looks like I can't."

Dimitri mumbled something inaudible before asking David to get off the computer.

"I guess it's alright but I need make a copy of my security system and other programs on this computer first. I bought this for nearly ten thousand." Dimitri complained.

Meanwhile Alera who was monitoring Dimitri and David through the webcam paused when Dimitri claimed to have bought a computer for ten thousand dollars. A ten thousand dollar computer? Who the fuck would-!

Shit. No way. No, Alera denied, he couldn't have that computer. If it was one of her computers that she had sold, then she had given him her contact information! No, no, no, no, Alera screamed at herself all while managing to keep a calm disposition on the outside. Alera started imagining all the downfalls in her life and how Dimitri would eventually put all the pieces together. No, she told herself firmly, Dimitri will never find out who I am, I'll even get Laden to help if I have to. Alera then realized something. If she wanted Laden to help then he would have to know her secret wouldn't he? Alera shook the thought out of her mind. There was no way she would work with him. Let Dimitri try to figure it out on his own.

Suddenly her phone rang.

"Shh," Alera told Jessica.

"Hello," Alera answered, "Who is this?"

"Ah, Kylie," a man said on the phone, "It was Kylie right?"

"Uh, yes," Alera replied, "But who is this?"

"Oh, I'm Dimitri Marinescu. You sold me your computer, the one for ten thousand."

"Oh!" Alera feigned surprise. "I remember you now. What do you need?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could stop by London to fix my computer. It seems something has happened to it."

Alera paused, "Tell me what is wrong."

This time Dimitri paused. "I was trying to hack into something but it didn't quite work out."

"Well I don't know too much about hacking, but what about my security system?"

"It's um breached, it says it's breached."

"What?" Alera exclaimed standing up, "It says it's breached?!"

"Yes."

Shit, shit, shit, Alera thought. If her security system had said it was breached then it must say where it's coming from.

"It also says that the breach is coming from somewhere in the US," Dimitri said only to prove Alera's point.

"O-o-h. Um, I see. So if it's hacked into I'm going to charge you if you want to get it out."

"Sure," Dimitri replied, "How much?"

"I'll uh do it for free but only if you promise me not to be there when I'm on the computer."

"What? Why?" Dimitri asked.

Alera made something up, "Techniques can't be shared with everyone. Either that or get someone else to do it." Alera heard Dimitri growl.

"Then you have to come to London, I'm not going to your place like last time."

"Oh, no worries," Alera replied, "I'll be there tomorrow at five pm."

"Okay, bye then."

Alera hung up. Anger suddenly flooded inside of her.

"How you guys know each other?" Jessica asked.

"Noo," Alera moaned, "He's going to know that I lied to him."

"Why is that such a big deal? You barely know him."

Alera looked at Jessica. "No Jessica, I have two reasons. First he's the fucking vampire prime minister of Europe and second I don't want anyone finding out my true identity."

"Ah, that's right," Jessica said, "But you can quit your job you know that?"

Alera paused. "I don't think that's very good to say right in the middle of the CIA headquarters."

Jessica stared at Alera. "I know, but you seem to be in a huge dilemma."

"We need to go outside and talk."

Alera grabbed her belongings and stuffed everything into her backpack.

"We can go to my place," Jessica offered.

"Sure," Alera replied.

Thirty minutes later the two friends sat on Jessica's couch in her living room.

"You really need to clean up this place," Alera told Jessica, "It looks no different from last time."

"That's good," Jessica called back to Alera from the kitchen, "It means it didn't get messier."

Alera smiled. "Jessica, you should really get some house cleaner, there not that expensive."

"No," Jessica said, "Parents are still in huge debts and my siblings are still in college, I have to pay for that."

Alera frowned. "I could help if you―"

"No," Jessica interrupted, "I earn my money you earn yours. Well... actually you more like blackmailed to get your money but that works too."

Alera sighed. "So what about me quitting the CIA?"

Jessica came walking back from the kitchen holding to water bottles.

"You know I'm going to drink more than that," Alera said.

"Oh yeah, I know you can get the rest yourself. I just brought one for you out of courtesy."

Alera laughed.

"So," Jessica began, "How come they don't like you working with the American government?"

Alera leaned forward. "Vampires consider themselves different from humans. Some think that humans are inferior, others simply don't care for their existence except that they are a food source."

Alera saw Jessica cringe at the thought.

"Anyways," Alera continued, "Dimitri who knows my real face will probably remember my scent too when he come over to get his computer fixed. Not only will he remember my scent as me, Alera, but then he'll start inquiring about how I knew about all this technology when I had seemed to him a harmless vampire."

"I still don't understand why can't you work with humans?"

"Because we're supposed to keep our existence a secret. For him to know that I've been working for humans and letting them know of my existence he'll probably order an army of vampires to kill every person that worked with me in the CIA... which is practically the whole organization."

"Oh shit," Jessica said.

"No really."

"Try seducing him."

Alera nearly jumped out of her seat. "What? No!"

"Why not?" Jessica asked, "With looks like yours it wouldn't be too hard. And he's, well he sounds powerful and rich."

"Jessica," Alera said, "It's not about the money and looks, there are plenty of other vampires who are very good looking. He was actually cheating on some human girl, or at least attempting to cheat."

Jessica nearly choked from shock. "Okay, never mind," she managed to get out.

"Anyways," Alera said taking a deep breath, "I think I'm going to go take a nap, I really don't know what to do from here on. But one thing is definite; I'm going to quit the CIA before things get worse."

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Meanwhile back in London Dimitri lay reclined on his chair. Kylie had promised she would be back in London my tomorrow 5pm. Strange, Dimitri thought; he traced the call to the US CIA headquarters. He wondered what she was doing there. From what he remembered Kylie had been a vampire. Dimitri cocked his head. Oh well, he thought, there were more pressing matter to think about.

With the information that Alera had given to― Dimitri clenched his teeth together. The mere thought of her made him want to do everything in his power to turn back time and reverse what he had done. So many things had gone wrong in just ten minutes, the attempted sex, the mating fangs, and then Mariah. Dimitri nearly exploded in anger at Mariah for misleading Alera to such an absurd thought. Now with nothing on her except her face and name Dimitri couldn't quench that ache in his heart. He hadn't really liked the girl but she definitely intrigued him. Yes she was arrogant, he thought, there was no doubt about that. He would have to change that. One thing he hated most above all things was arrogance. Then there was also her temper and patience. She always made him repeat himself, another thing that Dimitri hated. As for her actual character he still didn't know her that well but somehow he couldn't stop feeling a certain pull towards her. No, he denied shaking his head vigorously, there was no way she could be his mate. If she had been his mate she would have realized that by now wouldn't she? She would have felt that same connection with him that he felt whenever he touched her, looked at her, talked to her. But he saw none of that. All he remembered what that angry expression that was written all over her face like she was going to murder him when she thought that Dimitri had tried to use her to cheat.

Dimitri cringed from remembering one of her punches. If Alera had punched harder Dimitri would have gone crashing into his closet and through the wall, causing more ruckus that he would have wanted to.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," Dimitri said.

A tall vampire walked in. He had a mixed wash of brown and blonde hair that hung somewhat over his eyes but one could still see the bright green through them.

"Ah, Laden what brings you here?" Dimitri asked.

"Eh, nothing much, just some woman problems going on."

"Woman problems?" Dimitri echoed.

"Yeah," Laden replied, "A woman from my past."

"She called you?"

"No, I called her."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow, "What's her name?"

"Alera Romana."

Dimitri froze. "Alera?"

"Yes," Laden replied, "She's an Elder. ... Why do you look so frozen?"

"Nothing," Dimitri brushed off, "It must be a coincidence."

Laden became curious. "No, tell me. Do you know her?"

"I'm not sure," Dimitri said, "I can describe her though."

Laden nodded his head.

"Um, auburn brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin, vampire, Elder, beautiful?"

Laden nodded his head. "Seems like we're talking about the same vampire."

"How do you know Alera?" Dimitri blurted out unable to hide his curiosity. He noticed a small smile creep onto Laden's handsome face.

"We used to be friends until one day I lost control and killed her entire family."

"Well that's a blunt way to put it."

Laden nodded. "I called to try and apologize but I think she's refused me. She keeps holding onto the past and that's what makes her weak. Alera thinks that holding onto her past as a human makes her more tangible to that world but she needs to realize that she's a vampire now."

"Does she want to be human?" Dimitri asked.

Laden sat down. "No, I don't think so. Alera values her knowledge too much, what she's learned from the past fifteen hundred years of her life can't be replaced. She's barely come into contact with the vampire world."

Dimitri paused for a moment. "So she's not just some woman who likes to blackmail men for money?"

Laden laughed, "Did she do that to you?"

"No," Dimitri denied, "But that's what she told me."

"Oh, yes, she does do that, but it's not her life. Alera's smart, but she's too arrogant. She needs some sense knocked into her otherwise she's going to get herself into some trouble. I've met too many vampires like that."

"Well anyways, aside from Alera did you hear about the killings?"

"The killings of the five vampires?"

"Yes, we're doing an investigation, but I think I'm going to need your help."

"Sure," Laden replied, "What do you need?"

"Can you get me a list of all the Ancients you know? I think the Ancient that killed the five of them must be unregistered otherwise my team would have observed his movements."

"Oh," Laden said, "Who said it was an Ancient?"

"Alera."

"Okay, I'll get going then. See you tomorrow."

After Laden left the room Dimitri returned to thinking about Alera. Great, he thought, so not only is he on Alera's shitlist but so is Laden, one of his closest friends alongside with Kai and Ryu. But it wasn't the shitlist that bothered Dimitri. It was the fact that Alera and Laden had a history. A history that Dimitri intended to find out from Alera.

Dimitri leaned forward and looked up Alera Romana on his computer. One face popped up. He clicked on the link and saw her beautiful face illuminated on the screen. He checked where she was last seen. London Heathrow Airport.

Hmm, he thought, she must have gone out of country. Perhaps she did have something to do with her life. No matter though, he thought, when Kylie comes over tomorrow I'll ask her to improve the tracking system; hopefully I can get a tail on Alera.

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Someone knocked on Dimitri's door.

That person knocked again. And again, and again.

What is wrong with that bastard? Alera asked herself. Did he not hear her pounding on his door?

"Sorry!" Alera heard him yell back to her, "I'm coming!"

Alera waited for a brief ten seconds before Dimitri opened the door. She was greeted by a vampire god.

Apparently Dimitri had just finished taking a shower and had only able to get his pants on. His chest muscles were clearly defined as was his evident abs. His arms looked firm and toned.

"H-h-i-i-," Alera stammered. She hoped he wouldn't hear through her fake British accent.

"Hello," he replied, "I presume you're Kylie?"

Alera nodded. Before she had come here she had put on a fake tanning gel in hopes of making her skin darker. She wore a dark brown haired wig and dyed her eyebrows brown. Also she wore grey contacts to dull the color of her eyes since she knew that the last time they had met Dimitri had gotten a good look at her face.

Alera shakily walked into the room hoping, praying to whatever god there was that he wouldn't notice her scent. She had tried her best to disguise it. For a whole three hours all Alera drank was animal blood since she knew its blood would change the way she smelled.

"The computer is that one," Dimitri pointed out.

Alera walked over to the computer. She opened it up and noticed that the last thing he had looked at was her. Alera frowned. How had he gotten her last name? Romana. There was no one who knew her last name... no one except Laden. Then how could have Dimitri gotten―.

"Dimitri!" a voice called from behind the door. The man on the other side opened the door.

Alera couldn't believe her eyes. There he was standing in front of her. Alera swallowed. She knew that she should get over the past. She was a vampire now wasn't she? Besides, Alera reckoned, if she just dropped the human side of her than every human she knew would be safer from the vampire world. Alera swallowed again. Yes, she agreed, she was a vampire and it was time to embrace that. Laden had proved to her that he was sorry; she couldn't let her past get in the way of the friendship they once had. After all he was the one that took care of her when she was first sired into a vampire. It was Laden who had told Alexander, one of the Ancients, that Laocles had a human army racked up to track Alera.

Suddenly Laden's head turned in Alera's direction. Immediately she sat up.

"Who is she?" Laden asked Dimitri, his gaze not leaving her face.

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Ch. 5 Part 2

"Oh," Dimitri said, "That's Kylie, she's just fixing my computer."

Alera and Laden made eye contact and immediately Alera knew Laden recognized her.

"Well, she is uh... very attractive," Laden managed to get out.

Dimitri stared at Laden with a horrified expression. Did he just say Kylie, the orange-fake tanned girl, dull blue eyes, and weird Einstein auburn hair was attractive.

"Anyways," Laden began, "I will talk to you later, bye."

Alera breathed out a small sigh before she continued with the task at hand.

"Hey Kylie," Dimitri said, "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Yes?" Alera asked.

"Do you mind checking up on a girl for me? I need ro find her."

Alera waited for a brief moment before replying. "Sorry, I'm not a private investigator."

"No," Dimitro protested as if he thought he could somehow convince her, "This girl, her name is Alera Romana and I need to talk to her. It's about some political stuff."

Alera cocked one eyebrow. Hadn't she told him everything that she knew about the killings? How persistent was he? Alera did a mental sigh and continued working on the computer.

"So... Uh about my question?" Dimitri asked.

"Oh, yeah, uh I don't think I can," Alera said.

"Really?" Dimitri asked in a curious sort of manner.

Alera looked up from the computer screen and saw him approaching her.

"Why can't you find her for me?" Dimitri asked.

Alera stared at the man. "I already told you," she said trying to keep her voice steady, "I'm not a private investigator. Besides I'm not good at that kind of stuff."

"And that's why you can build a system that can even hack into the US government most secret files?"

Alera stuttered. "I didn't know it could do that."

Dimitri smirked. "Kylie," he said leaning in, "If you actually believe that-"

Dimitri's eyes widened and Alera could guess at the exact reason why.

For a whole moment Dimitri just stared at Kylie... or at least who he thought was Kylie.

His eyes brushed over her face, examining her eyes closely enough to recognize Alera's well-disguised blue eyes. Dimitri's gaze drifted to Alera's lips, his mind reeled at the thought of kissing her again.

"I have to go," Alera stated.

Dimitri returned to look at Alera's eyes. "Ha," Dimitri laughed throatily. "Alera, the gel tan and weird green eyes really don't suit you."

"Disguises were never really my suit," Alera admitted.

Dimitri could only stare at Alera. "How did you change the scent of your blood?"

Alera's eyebrows perked up, "Anyone would recognize you anywhere so there is really no use of hiding your scent."

"Yes I supposed you're right but in actuality if I were to approach in a disguise I would stand a chance right?"

Alera stood up, slightly surprising Dimitri.

"But―"

"I want to know where Kylie is."

"I am Kylie," Alera said softly.

Dimitri frowned. "Why did you not tell me?"

"Would you stop interrogating me like I'm some sort of criminal?" Alera asked stepping away from Dimitri's desk. "All you have been doing is asking me questions! I'm just here to fix your damn computer!"

Dimitri's eyes never left Alera's gaze. "I'm curious. I'm curious because it never crossed my mind that you could be someone so different from what I imagined."

Alera's chest heaved up and down which to her chagrin attracted Dimitri's hard gaze. Immediately she saw his gaze soften and his eyes glazed with desire.

"I'm going to the bathroom to change and clean up."

Alera left the room but heard Dimitri follow her. "I can manage."

"The shower is broken, I'm afraid the bathtub is quite hard to use."

Alera shook her head. "No, I can figure it out."

Dimitri shrugged but he stood in the doorway still. His eyes motioned toward then bathtub, a tint of challenge in them.

Alera walked over to the bathtub. She looked at the assortment of buttons and handles that were there. Uh oh, she thought, she hadn't even the slightest clue as to where the water faucet was.

"I'll be getting you a towel," Dimitri replied as he walked out, closing the door behind him.