Samael – POV
By the time I arrived home, the clock was already nearing five in the evening, later than I had originally intended, though the delay had not been without purpose.
On the way back, I had taken a brief detour to a flower shop, selecting something that felt appropriate for the occasion before ultimately settling on a large bouquet of deep red roses, their colour rich and vivid.
That left me with roughly an hour and a half to prepare.
By 6:25, everything was ready, and I opened the driver's door and settled into my seat as the engine came to life beneath my hands.
The journey took approximately twenty minutes, during which the sky gradually darkened, the fading daylight giving way to early evening as the world around me grew quieter.
When the time I arrived, the Cullens' house stood illuminated against the dim surroundings, its wide glass walls revealing the warm light from within while faint reflections of the forest still traced across the darker sections of the glass. The structure itself was modern, just as I remembered from the movies, all clean lines and smooth surfaces, elevated slightly above the ground and framed by tall trees, giving it an almost secluded presence.
I parked the car and shut off the engine, stepping out into the stillness where everything seemed calm and quiet, though at the same time it was clear to me that the residents of the house had already noticed my arrival.
I wasn't focusing on what was happening inside, yet one voice stood out effortlessly.
"He's here!"
Alice's bright and happy voice carried from within the house as she announced my arrival before I had even reached the door, drawing a faint smile from me.
I approached the entrance and pressed the doorbell, waiting briefly before movement appeared beyond the glass door.
Within seconds, Carlisle came into view and opened it.
"You must be Samael," he said, offering a polite and composed smile.
"Yes, Dr Cullen, I am Samael Ashborn," I replied evenly, inclining my head slightly before extending my hand, which he accepted without hesitation. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm here to pick up Alice."
"Nice to meet you as well, Samael," he said. "You've arrived at the perfect time. She'll be down in a moment."
His tone remained polite, yet his gaze subtly lingered on me, as though he was observing while making an effort to remain courteous. There was no hostility or suspicion in it, only a quiet sense of interest, as if his attention was driven more by curiosity than anything else. Which only confirmed the theory I had already formed about how much Alice and the others knew about me.
Thinking back, there had been a reason for the way I asked Alice out.
I wanted to understand, at least to some extent, what she had seen in her vision about me. Normally, she shouldn't have been able to see much, yet the concept of imprinting and the even less understood nature of vampire bonds introduced too many variables to ignore, making it possible that she could see more than expected.
So, I was curious.
The way I asked her out made it clear that I was aware she wasn't human, while at the same time implying that neither was I.
Her reaction had already told me enough to form a theory.
She knew I wasn't human, at least that much was clear, and she wasn't troubled by it. At the same time, she didn't seem to understand the full extent of what I was capable of, which suggested that whatever she had seen had been limited. Most likely, she hadn't seen my other forms.
Carlisle's reaction only supported that conclusion, and more than that, it suggested that this wasn't something he had learned only recently, because otherwise his response would have been more than simple curiosity.
But even that remained a theory.
It didn't trouble me, though; if anything, it made things easier, as I was far from ordinary, and if the Cullens had already had time to accept at least the idea of me, even without knowing the full truth, then I had no objections.
My attention shifted toward the staircase as I became aware of someone descending, accompanied by that same soft, honey-like scent.
Alice.
She appeared at the top and began descending with light, effortless steps, her gaze lowered at first as she followed her movement, before lifting gracefully to meet mine.
She looked stunning.
She wore a dark, fitted dress that fell just above the knee, the fabric soft and fluid as it moved with her, paired with sleek heels that added precision to each step. The deep tones complemented her pale skin perfectly, while her short hair framed her face in soft, deliberate lines.
I watched her in silence as she approached, not once looking away.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, I finally spoke.
"You look fabulous, Alice."
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she continued walking toward me with unharried steps, her eyes locked onto mine as if nothing else in the room existed. There was no need for words, the way her expression softened, the warmth in her gaze, the quiet pull between us spoke far more clearly than anything she could have said.
Once she stopped in front of me, I extended the bouquet toward her.
She accepted it gently, her fingers brushing mine for the briefest moment before she brought the roses closer, breathing in their scent. Her smile widened.
"They're beautiful," she said, her voice warm. "Thank you, Samy."
"I'm glad you like them."
Her attention returned to me. She didn't even try to hide the way her gaze slowly moved over me, openly admiring.
"You look…" she began softly, her voice faltering for a moment as her gaze lingered, as though she'd lost her train of thought entirely.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"No, actually," she murmured, her tone turning warmer, more intimate, "you look incredible."
She didn't take her eyes off me as she said it.
"Although," she added in a light, almost teasing tone, "maybe just a little too much black."
Carlisle smiled faintly and then let out a quiet sigh.
"You look perfectly fine, Samael," Carlisle said. "Alice just has very high standards when it comes to fashion."
Alice glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly, though the teasing in her expression remained.
"I'm just helping," she said lightly.
A quiet laugh escaped me.
"It's perfectly fine, Dr Cullen," I replied. "I don't mind."
Alice's expression brightened immediately.
"See?" she said, clearly pleased.
Carlisle smiled faintly and gave a small nod.
"Well then, I won't keep you," he said, "I trust you'll take good care of her."
"I'll make sure she gets back safely."
Carlisle didn't say anything in return and simply nodded once again, stepping slightly back.
Turning to Alice, I extended my hand, which she took without hesitation, her fingers fitting effortlessly into mine, her other hand still holding the roses.
Together, we walked toward the car.
When we reached the passenger side, I opened the door for her, and she gracefully slipped inside.
"Would you like me to place the flowers in the back?" I asked, glancing at the bouquet.
She shook her head, holding them a little closer.
"No," she said, "I want to keep them, they smell really nice."
A small smile formed.
"As you wish," I replied, which earned a soft, pleased hum from her as she settled more comfortably into her seat with the roses in her hands.
I closed her door gently before walking around to my side and taking my seat behind the wheel.
As I started the engine, I turned slightly toward her.
"Are you ready?"
Her answer came without hesitation.
"Always."
…
The road stretched ahead in a quiet, steady line, illuminated only by the soft glow of headlights as the evening deepened around us. Inside the car, a calm silence settled between us, not the kind that felt empty or awkward, but the kind where neither of us felt the need to speak, as if simply being there together was more than enough.
She sat beside me with the bouquet cradled carefully in her hands, occasionally lifting it slightly to breathe in its scent.
More than once, I found my gaze drifting toward her.
And then, inevitably, to her outfit.
This time, I observed more carefully.
The longer I looked, the more apparent it became just how perfectly it matched mine, too perfectly for it to be a coincidence, and it didn't take long to understand that she must have seen something about this evening beforehand.
Which left only one question, how much?
It made me wonder whether she had seen the entire date, or only fragments of it. And more importantly, what would she have done if I had taken her somewhere that might have forced her to question how much I truly understood about her nature? A restaurant, for example, one of the most typical choices for a first date. A place where she would be expected to eat, to act as though nothing was out of the ordinary.
She knew I was aware she wasn't human, but that didn't necessarily mean she believed I knew exactly what she was.
Would she have gone along with it and pretended?
The thought lingered briefly, though as I glanced at her again and noticed how quietly absorbed she was in the flowers, it faded just as easily as it had come.
"I take it I chose well," I said, nodding slightly toward the bouquet resting in her hands.
She looked up at me, her expression lighting up.
"I love them," she said. "I think they might be the prettiest I've ever seen."
A quiet breath of amusement escaped me.
"That sounds like an exaggeration," I replied. "Or perhaps you're slightly biased toward the person who gave them to you?"
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she tilted her head slightly.
"Biased?" she repeated, feigning innocence. "I have no idea what you mean."
We held each other's gaze for a moment longer than necessary, though the attempt at maintaining composure didn't last.
Almost at the same time, we both let out a quiet laugh.
…
After a bit more driving, the welcoming sign of Port Angeles came into view.
When Alice noticed it, her expression shifted slightly, as if she had suddenly remembered something she hadn't meant to bring up, and for a moment, there was a trace of worry in her eyes before she spoke.
"I'm just curious," she said, glancing at me in a way that tried to seem casual. "What did you plan for us tonight?"
I caught the intention behind the question almost instantly, and the thought crossed my mind that she clearly hadn't seen everything about the evening.
A smile almost formed on my face, though I held it back, letting my expression settle into something more neutral.
"I thought you didn't mind," I replied evenly, "Or is there somewhere you'd rather not go?"
She blinked, clearly caught off guard, her gaze shifting away for a moment,
"No, that's not what I meant…I was just-",
She stopped mid-sentence the moment she looked back at me again.
I was still facing the road, but a faint smile had already formed.
And there was unmistakable teasing in it.
Her eyes narrowed slightly at first, but then her expression softened into understanding, a hint of amusement appearing as she realised what I was doing. She didn't say anything, just held that knowing look, her head tilting slightly.
I still kept my attention on the road, though I glanced at her from the corner of my eyes, and the expression on her face was undeniably adorable.
I couldn't hold it in any longer, and a quiet laugh escaped me.
She raised an eyebrow.
"I see you're enjoying yourself, Samy."
"Maybe just a little," I admitted, warmth threading through my voice. "Sorry, I couldn't resist… but I'd say it was worth it."
I paused briefly before adding,
"Your reaction was very cute."
For a moment, her expression softened, clearly pleased, though she quickly composed herself, straightening slightly as a more playful look returned.
"You won't get away with that so easily, gentleman."
I chuckled quietly.
"My apologies," I said lightly. "I'll have to make it up to you somehow."
She held that expression for a moment longer before her lips curved into a small smile.
"I'll think about it," she said. "But you'll have to work hard."
"Of course."
…
The silence that followed felt different this time, quieter, but carrying something unspoken beneath it.
Alice looked down at the flowers in her hands before lifting her gaze back to me, her expression shifting into something more uncertain, as though she wanted to say something but wasn't quite sure how to begin.
"Samy, are y-"
Before she could finish, I gently placed my hand over hers, interrupting her.
"Alice," I said softly, "let's leave that for the end of the evening."
She searched my face carefully, not looking away.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
"Yes," I replied, offering a small, reassuring smile.
"You don't need to worry about anything," I added quietly. "Just enjoy our first date, alright?"
She continued to hold my gaze for a moment longer before her hand shifted beneath mine, turning so that our fingers could intertwine.
The concern faded from her expression, replaced by something warm, as though whatever had been weighing on her had been quietly lifted.
"Okay," she said gently. "We'll do it your way."
She adjusted the bouquet slightly so she could hold both it and my hand at the same time, as if unwilling to let go of either.
A faint smile remained on my lips as I turned my attention back to the road.
…
Ten minutes later, I slowed the car as our destination came into view.
Above the entrance in the building, illuminated against the dim surroundings, a single word was displayed.
Cinema.
I parked in the nearby lot before stepping out of the car and moving around to her side, opening the door for her. Without hesitation, she handed me the bouquet, which I took in one hand while offering her the other, and she accepted it as she stepped out.
Once she was out, I placed the flowers carefully back on her seat and closed the door before turning my attention to her again.
"Shall we?" I asked.
She nodded, and together we made our way inside, our hands still loosely intertwined.
"I have to admit," I said, glancing down at her as we walked, "a cinema isn't exactly the most original choice for a first date, though in my defence, it's not the only thing I have planned for tonight."
She looked up at me, her expression softening into a smile touched with playful warmth.
"I don't mind," she said. "But I also wouldn't complain if we spent a little more time together after."
I met her gaze briefly, returning the smile.
"That's fortunate," I replied.
At the ticket counter, Alice's attention shifted toward the list of films currently showing, her gaze moving over the options with mild curiosity.
"Have you already picked something?" she asked, glancing back at me.
"I have," I replied calmly. "And I'm fairly certain you'll enjoy it… it also seemed rather fitting to our situation."
Her eyebrow lifted slightly at that, interest immediately sparked.
"Is that so?" she said, her tone carrying a quiet curiosity as she studied me. "You sound very confident."
"I am," I answered simply, a faint hint of amusement threading through my voice.
Within a few minutes, it was our turn.
"Two tickets for Mr & Mrs Smith, please," I said.
The girl behind the counter hesitated slightly.
"I'm sorry," she said, uncertainty slipping into her voice. "There's been an issue with the projector. That screening has been cancelled for today."
Alice pressed her lips together faintly, a small sign of disappointment, before lifting her gaze to watch my reaction.
I looked at the cashier, my expression unchanged.
"I believe there's been a misunderstanding," I said calmly. "I'm the one who called earlier today."
The girl's eyes widened slightly.
"Are you-?" she began, a hint of anxiety slipping into her tone.
"Yes, Samael Ashborn," I said before she could continue, cutting in smoothly. "So is everything ready?"
Her posture straightened immediately as she tried to compose herself.
"Of course, sir," she said quickly. "Everything is prepared. One of my colleagues will guide you to the hall."
"Perfect," I replied. "And before that, we'll take one large popcorn as well."
"Certainly, sir," she said, already moving to prepare it with noticeable haste.
"Thank you."
Beside me, Alice remained quiet, though her curiosity was clear, her gaze shifting between the cashier and me with growing interest as if she was piecing things together but holding her questions for now.
A moment later, a member of staff approached and began leading us down the corridor.
Alice then leaned slightly closer to me as we walked.
"Did you… buy all the tickets or something?" she asked quietly. "How did you even do that so fast? They would've had to cancel everyone… that's not exactly ideal for their reputation."
Her voice was of a genuine curiosity, though there was something lightly amused beneath it.
I glanced at her, a small smile forming.
"Let's just say," I replied, a small smile forming, "the owner of this place changed quite recently… and the new one is much easier to work with."
Her eyes widened slightly as the implication settled in.
"And when exactly did that happen?" she asked, tone shifting into a more playful one.
"Oh, not long ago. Roughly a couple of hours."
"I see," she said, entertained. "Then whoever that was must have been a very kind person."
"Exceptionally," I agreed. "I think you'd like him."
She tilted her head slightly, studying me with a knowing look as her smile slowly deepened.
"Mm… I think I already do."
By the time she finished speaking, we had reached the entrance to the hall.
The staff member stepped aside, gesturing for us to enter.
And without another word, we stepped inside.
[Hello, everyone!]
[The next chapter might take a bit longer to finish. I have several deadlines coming up, and I don't want them to affect the quality of the chapters.]