A hint of recognition

Xander's POV...

Seemingly calm on the surface, brutal to his enemies, could easily incite fear with just one glance. That was just a glimpse of how they envisioned him. He had spent years perfecting this image, living up to the expectations of what an heir to the throne should be like. Only a handful of people had a clue of what was really brewing within, the silent war between him and the woman that had him wrapped around her little finger. 

Xander turned to look outside, pulled down the window and took in the scenery surrounding him. Endless rows of forest, greenery and all kinds of flowers everywhere. The road they were on was surprisingly tarred similar to the ones in Tithen.

 So this was the forbidden human realm? 

"It looks just like Tithen", he commented appreciating the environment.

"Yep, it does. What were you expecting?" asked Griff who was at the wheel, darting his head from side to side in search of a road sign with a green arrow pointing left. 

"Dark, barren wastelands with unsightly creatures, I guess. Just not this." 

Griff was his long childhood friend who had been through almost everything together with him and he was one of the few people who knew of his struggle. 

"you'll be very surprised at just how similar they are. We get our raw materials from here and in return we supply them with various technologies. It's been happening for two hundred years."

"And how do you know all this?" asked Xander, doubting the authenticity of Griffs facts.  The human realm was strictly forbidden by law and they had very little information about it in Tithen. He only knew two things which were that it was where law breaking citizens were banished to, doomed to turn into wild animals and he had a list of characteristics to look out for when trying to identify a human. Either than that, it was foreign and unchartered waters for him.  

"It's part of my job. When your father sends me to run erands for him, this is where I come."

Xander always assumed when Griff disappeared for days, sometimes months and refuse to talk about it that he was cheating on Priscilla , his wife for 4yrs. Not once did it cross his mind that he was actually leaving the realm. This was information that he should have known but apparently the memo had missed him somehow. Though he understood them keeping it from the masses, he was livid with his parents for not filling him in on this new development. 

Once a vampire left their realm their bodies would begin to transform from within, removing their ability to walk under the sun . Slowly they would lose their minds and they developed an insatiable thirst for blood and sex. After being told these stories as children, no one ever thought of going there. That's why it had come as a big surprise when Griff suggested sneaking outside the realm for a short holiday. The car came to a smooth halt and Xander noticed a lonesome, tiny, dilapidated cabin and immediately frowned. Why had they stopped here? Did he want to show him something? 

"What?" asked Griff swinging the door open and stepping out.

"Do what you have to do quickly. I'll wait here", he called out and Griff swung the door back open. 

"This is the place. We have arrived", Griff spoke casually as if nothing was wrong. Everything was wrong! How could he leave the comfort of his home for this? "Are you serious?"

"Yes", Griff nodded. "That's why we came with all of this furniture. Trust me you'll love it". Griff then went round to the back and opened the truck to begin offloading. 

"I'm at a loss for words". He had set his expectations way too high after Griff mentioned that this world was similar to Tithen. A mini paradise or at the very least a decent home was what had been running in his mind. So disappointing. Then again, he would be free from Roselyn but still, it looked absolutely horrendous. He reluctantly opened the car door and was about to disembark when he felt his insides leaping forward and he was suddenly knocked right back into his seat.

"I know the place looks small but trust me, you will get the peace that you are looking for", Griff continued as he walked towards the cabin. 

"Argh! Stop it!" He commanded his inner being which was tearing it's way through him and attempting to force its way out. Only Royalty possessed a separate ancient personality within them that they could communicate with. 

"Stop what?" asked Griff inspecting the lock on the door. With one simple snap, as if he was breaking a twig, the lock broke into two then fell on the dirt. 

"If you don't stop now I will", Xander didn't manage to finish his threat. The more he tried to push the more he weakened and he was overtaken. 

"Are you okay??"Griff became worried.

Xander suddenly looked up at Griff as if getting an epiphany then stared at him. He exited the truck slowly his ferocious gaze fixed on him. 

"Aw, no Xander, no!" Griff held his palms up and began to move back until his back was against the door. 

 Xanders pupils were dilating and that normally happened when there was a predator lurking around. 

Griffs words sounded so distant and Xander was in a daze of some sort unable to put his thoughts together. He looked down then sqeezed his eyes shut, his breathing becoming heavier with each second. Griff had remained still not daring to show his fangs. When Xander opened his eyes again, his pupils were blood red, accompanied by some extra sharp fangs.

"Xander get a grip of yourself", again Griff sounded as if he was miles away.

Xander had never lost control before, just the occasional temperament but nothing like this. His inner being had taken over his body in such a way that had never happened before. He was like an animal acting on instinct. Within seconds, he had reached Griff and shoved him so hard out of the way, sending him flying, hitting a nearby tree with a loud thud and crushing to the ground. Xander easily ripped the door and threw it at Griff before he had an opportunity to figure out what had just happened. He entered the little room stopping in front of what looked like a really ugly bed. There were some jeans and a t-shirt, folded and stacked on top of each other. With his huge hands, he grabbed them then brought them up to his nose and began to inhale the scent emanating from them. 

Griff stood panting, his arm rested on the wall at the entrance."What the hell is going on?" he demanded. 

Xander stood there, his eyes closed feasting on her essence savoring every bit of her.

"Xander?" Griff questioned again after being ignored. 

"Out of my way" warned Xander. His senses were trying to locate her whereabouts but her delicious scent was everywhere.

"No, I'm not allowing you to do this!" Griff protested but moved anyway. In the past he had paid dearly so he knew never to take Xander's threats lightly. When Xander was about to exit at super speed, Griff boldly grabbed him by the side then used his entire weight to lift him from the ground and they both tumbled and rolled. Griff had Xanders head pinned under his arm while his legs held Xanders body motionless.

"Let me go before I rip you apart" He spoke mostly out of irritation. Though he had no control, his being still recognised Griff and wouldn't inflict any serious harm. When he threw him earlier it was because he was in the way and he needed to get past him to get inside the cabin. Griff always misinterpreted his harmless gestures and overreacted thinking he would one day turn on him.

 "Xander? It's me Griff! ", he spoke tightening his hold and squeezing really hard. 

Xander allowed Griff to choke him, didn't put in any effort to release himself from the hold and laid there still without struggling. "Release me now", his husky voice held such authority and expectation. 

"It's me!!! Have you lost your mind???" Griffs tone gave away his fear of the situation and that is why he hadn't fought him off. "I'm not trying to fight you! Get a hold of yourself! ". His voice sounded more like a plea than a command. "Tell me what is happening and I will help you!!!" Griff continued his voice still loud.

What am I doing? What am I doing? Xander questioned still lost in his confusion.  His being was demanding for him to act but he was pushing back trying to rationalise with it. He could feel himself begin to recognise his surroundings and then his inner being catapulted out of the way and he was himself again. Amused, he could feel Griff choking him with all of his might.

"I'm fine now. Let go", he choked his words out. 

"I'm not taking any chances. Seal yourself first, then we can talk"

"I'm not doing that". Sealing himself meant he would need 24hours before being able to undo it.

"I can't have you harming any humans".

Harming Humans? He laughed at the thought. "I'm not going to harm any humans! " Irregardless he knew that sealing himself was probably the best course of action.

Causing  a scene here would result in his parents knowing that they had broken the law and left Tithen. Griff could potentially lose his life over this and he really didn't want to bring him any trouble. 

"I brought weapons so you won't be defenceless and besides what can humans do to you? "  Griff continued.

That made sense. Xander closed his eyes then guided his being into his heart where it fell asleep.

"I think we should head back home. I don't want to be here anymore". Griff was bent over dusting his clothes. Xander extended his arm towards him asking for a lift and Griff ignored him. He took back his arm then heaved himself up.

"Stop overreacting. I listened to you and sealed myself"

"This doesn't make sense. You are 1st tier Royalty. Why would you want to feed on a human?"

"Feed on? What?? No! I would never do that". The mere thought of it was repulsive. Becoming one of the damned was completely impossible for him because of his royal blood.

"So what was that all about? You scared the hell out of me"

"It's her, she is here." It had to be her. Why else would he react like that? He had the only instinct to possess her.

"Here??? Where?? The only person I can sense is a young human woman!"

Everything about her had human written all over it but that didn't stop him from being sure.

"It's impossible for the future queen of Tithen to be a human. The barrier will repel her and she wont be able to enter."

Off course Griff was right but that didn't make Xander wrong. "Trust me, it's her".

"I think it's this realm, the atmosphere maybe that's playing tricks on you. Let's head back now"

"I'm not leaving Savannah!" Savannah was her beings name and because he didn't know her new name, had resorted to calling her that.

"Aren't you listening to me? It's not her! Savannah is not a human!"

Griff's words, though logically correct, were not enough to change his mind. What if she had become a master of illusions. That would explain why she had been hidden for 6 years.

"I'm not taking any chances Griff. I need to be sure". This bond had taken too much out of him for him to just walk away. He would never be able to forgive himself, if it was her and he had just left.

"Xander you were out of control. I could lose everything if this gets out. Let's just go"

"No. You can go back if you are not comfortable but I'm not leaving". The fact that Griff was the one insisting on returning and he wanted to stay was ironic. It had taken Griff hours to convince him to leave Tithen and now the tables had turned. 

"But you don't know anything about this realm", Griff argued. This was one of the few times that he could be very annoying. Fine, he had sealed himself but that didn't mean that he needed to be babysat. He still had combat skills as well as weapons when necessary.

"Just go, I won't hold it against you".

"I'm really going".

Xander  could feel a hint of rage now rising from his heart and his eyes began to flicker changing from brown to blood red  in response. His being though sealed was restless and he could feel the deep anxiety. Griff sighed surrendering to him, inhaled then varnished within a few seconds.  Xander took a step back then frowned, fully observing his surroundings for the first time. "Is this how you have chosen to live?" he questioned out loud. A tiny green bucket at the corner, a warn out bed against the wall and a dusty green velvet couch that he would never dream of occupying in his lifetime. He could not understand why Savannah had chosen this life over being with him when there was so much he could offer her. The only silver lining  to this meagre picture was her lingering presence that had drawn him and kept him here. After successfully offloading the truck, Xander cleared the cabin, cleaned it well then arranged the furniture, completely transforming it. This would have been finished within seconds had he not sealed himself instead he was busy for hours. He looked at the sun, it was nearly setting and he felt uneasy not knowing where she was. Had he made the right decision to stay and wait for her? If he had ventured into the woods without his powers, it would have taken ages to find her and he ran the risk of missing her entirely.