Something suddenly clicked in Elena's mind. Her eyes lit up faintly as she looked at the diamond again… then back at Gabriel.
"I have a favour," she said with interest, like she was testing the words, "and if you can accept it…"
She lifted the diamond gently, letting it catch the afternoon sun again. "I'll give you this diamond."
Gabriel's gaze locked onto it immediately. "Diamond…" he repeated.
His voice came out quieter than before, almost like he was hearing it properly for the first time. Then his eyes shifted back to her face.
"Who taught you that?" he asked, his tone no longer playful, but very curious, wanting to know what was going on.
Elena ignored him and simply turned around. "Follow me." And she started walking.
Just like that, without any explanation or hesitation, as if she even expected him to obey.
Gabriel stood there for a second… then let out a small sigh and followed her anyway.
The crowd watched them go in confusion, whispering among themselves, but neither of them paid attention.
They walked past the trees, further away from the noisy group, deeper into a quieter part of the forest where even the air felt different.
When Elena was sure no one was around, she stopped and looked at him seriously. "Vampires compel, right?"
Gabriel took a step back in shock. "What did you say?" His eyes narrowed deeply, something dangerous flickering through them.
No one knew what or who he was, they only knew him as their saviour. And to everyone else, he was just another beast, just a strange one with red eyes, long canines, and a taste for blood. Some even admired him for it, thinking it was part of some rare beast form, wishing to see him in his beast form one day. They never counted him as a different race or someone who came from somewhere to rule them, but as one of themselves. The elders even wanted to meet his parents, afraid they were a very rich beast tribe who refused to mingle with others for some reason.
But what this person called him was not something they had ever guessed.
"I don't have time," Elena added quickly, her voice low and urgent.
Gabriel exhaled slowly, recovering his usual composure, though his gaze never left her face. "No one knows what I am," he said calmly. "Except one person I don't particularly care to offend."
"I knew it, Dad," Elena muttered, rolling her eyes knowingly.
Gabriel blinked, then chuckled softly. "Lord Zenobius?" he asked. "Not even him."
He tilted his head like he was recalling something unpleasant. "There's… an ancient spirit among your tribe," he continued, his voice dropping as if he didn't want to talk about it. "A troublesome, sly man you people call the Prime Lord."
Elena froze… she didn't even have the memory of him yet.
"I don't like being around him," Gabriel added with a faint frown. "He has abilities I find… irritating."
Elena's brows slowly pulled together. "Beasts have abilities…?" she whispered to herself, more to her own confusion than anything else.
Gabriel heard it anyway. "Of course they do," he replied easily. "Especially the fox bloodline."
He folded his arms, his tone carrying a hint of disdain, and somehow, Elena was glad there was someone who could actually be annoyed by them.
"All colours… but the same tricks… and nonsense. Your bloodline also has its own abilities too, but that man…" he clicked his tongue lightly. "His is absurd. I knew something was off the moment I heard he had more than one tail…"
Elena's mind went blank for a second. A fox with multiple tails and abilities??
Her system was really not joking with her!! That shouldn't even be her problem anyway! She quickly shook it off. "Look," she said and stepped closer, her expression serious again. "There's no time for that."
She looked straight at him. "Can you compel an Alpha?"
Gabriel stared at her in disbelief. "You want to snap my neck?"
Elena blinked. "What?" She didn't expect that!
"That's basically what you're asking me to do," he said flatly. "Compelling an Alpha is not something you just do casually."
Elena's expression shifted into frustration. Then how was she supposed to do her first mission? "Ahhh!" she groaned, running her hand through her hair. "You don't understand!" she said urgently.
"I have to do this tonight!" She was about to continue but paused. She couldn't explain the real thing. If she told anyone, the situation might get worse.
Her shoulders dropped. "Great," she muttered bitterly. She looked around like the answer might just fall from the sky. "Who can I even talk to that will trust me?!"
No one, of course!!
She let out a frustrated breath and dropped to the ground, sitting right there like she had given up on life.
Her hands covered her face. "This world is crazy…" she mumbled. "The people are crazy… the system is crazy… even the men are crazy…" She peeked at Gabriel through her fingers. "And now there's a vampire scammer."
Gabriel raised a brow. "Scammer?"
Elena pointed at him weakly. "You tried to exchange a diamond for forks."
"They are high-quality forks."
Elena suddenly felt like she would faint from anger. "Please stop talking."
Gabriel sighed softly, rubbing the back of his neck like he was reluctantly getting involved in something troublesome. "Why an Alpha?" he asked after a pause, his tone quieter this time.
Elena didn't answer immediately… what if he figured out what she was up to?
Her fingers tightened slightly against her dress. "Because, if I don't do this…" She swallowed. "Everything will get worse," she said tiredly.
She didn't even know what punishment she would face if she failed the mission!!