A Predator's Curiosity

The sunlight filtered through the vast glass windows of Sidharth Raichand's penthouse, casting long shadows across the sleek, modern interior. Sidharth sat on a leather armchair, his fingers curled around a crystal glass filled with a dark crimson liquid. He sipped leisurely, savoring the blend of sweet, metallic, and slightly savory flavors, when the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted his solitude.

"Father," Sidharth greeted without looking up. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Abhay Raichand, his father, stepped into the room, his tall, commanding figure wrapped in a tailored dark grey suit. His sharp features were etched with the quiet authority of someone who had seen centuries pass by. Without replying, Abhay made his way to the bar, poured himself a drink from the same decanter, and leaned casually against the counter.

"I thought I'd check on my reckless son," Abhay quipped, raising his glass to his lips.

Sidharth's brow arched. "Is that so?" His tone was laced with sarcasm.

"Yes, really," he's no less either.

"No, really, Father, why are you here?"

Abhay's demeanor shifted, the lightness evaporating from his expression. "I heard," he began, his voice steady but tinged with concern, "that you've been unable to use your powers on someone. A girl."

Sidharth tilted his head, unimpressed. "I should've guessed. Let me guess-you pulled the truth out of Vineet's mind?"

Abhay shrugged, unbothered by the accusation. "I don't need to explain my methods. Now, tell me-what happened?"

Sidharth leaned back, swirling the contents of his glass. "It happened in the forest. After I disposed of Nikita near the tiger's cave, I sensed her-this human girl. She must've been nearby recently. I tried to use my power to see her face, but I couldn't. It was blurred, blocked, like some force was protecting her. But I could tell she's young, likely a college student, carrying a backpack... and her scent, it was delici-"

"Spare me the details," Abhay interrupted sharply, his voice cold. "I don't care about how she smelled."

Ignoring his father's irritation, Sidharth continued, "The strange part is, I tested my powers on others after that. You, Mother, even Nikita's lifeless body. My powers worked fine. It's just her. Someone-or something-is shielding her."

Abhay's expression darkened. "Or," he said slowly, "someone is deliberately keeping you away from her."

The suggestion hit Sidharth like a bolt. "But why would anyone do that?"

"I don't know," Abhay admitted, his tone grave. "But I intend to find out. If she poses a threat to you or our clan, I'll handle it. Personally."

A flicker of unease passed through Sidharth. "And how exactly do you plan to handle this?"

"I'll consult your grandfathers," Abhay replied, his voice resolute.

Sidharth's lips twisted into a frown. "Both of them?"

"Yes."

"Is that really necessary? You know how Grandpa Arnav and Grandpa Chand get when they're together." Sidharth said with a knowing smile.

"When it comes to your safety, I'll involve anyone I must," Abhay said firmly. "Anyway, they both love you a lot. So, it won't be a problem."

"I'm not a child, Father," Sidharth grumbled, embarrassed by his father's over protectiveness.

Abhay placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his expression softening. "I know you're not a child, Sidharth. But you're my only child left. After losing your brother..." His voice faltered, sadness briefly clouding his eyes.

Sidharth's jaw tightened. Memories of his twin brother, Sidhansh, flashed through his mind-his laughter, his strength, his tragic end at the hands of a witch. The revenge Sidharth had taken still haunted him, the price of that vengeance etched deeply into his soul.

"I'll take care of myself," Sidharth promised, his voice low. "And I'll work on controlling my urges."

Abhay nodded, satisfied for now. "Good. But there's more. I'll also ask your grandfathers about your increasing cravings for human blood. Six girls in two months, Sidharth? That's not normal, even for you."

Sidharth's gaze dropped to the glass in his hand. He hated to admit it, but his father was right. His thirst had grown insatiable, uncontrollable.

"Something is happening," Abhay continued. "And I need to know what it is before it's too late."

Sidharth sighed, defeated. "Fine. Let me know what Grandpa Chand says. And send my regards to him and Grandpa Arnav."

"They'll be pleased to hear that," Abhay said, a rare smile softening his stern features. He turned to leave, but paused at the door. "Take care, Sidharth. You may not be a child, but you'll always be my son. Only son."

"I will," he promised.

Sidharth followed his father downstairs to his office, his mind racing with unanswered questions. Something was changing, something dangerous. And the mysterious girl at the center of it all-he couldn't decide if she was a curse or a salvation.

Sidharth leaned back in his sleek leather chair, his sharp eyes scanning the numbers on his laptop screen. Work never distracted him, but today was different. A sudden vision flashed before his eyes-a girl wandering through a familiar forest.

He froze, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. It was her. The girl who had consumed his thoughts from the last two nights.

"Why is she back there?" he murmured, closing his eyes and focusing.

Her image flickered in his mind again, blurred but vivid enough to see her movements. She was searching for something, her lips moving as if talking to herself. He concentrated harder, trying to make out the words.

"I'll find the truth," her voice rang sweet and determined in his mind, "and I'll make sure the killer pays for what they've done."

Sidharth's eyes snapped open, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Punish the killer?" he thought. "What killer?"

His confusion quickly turned into amusement. A wicked smirk curled on his lips. "She thinks she's some kind of justice warrior," he mused, his voice laced with dark humor.

Despite the absurdity of her resolve, he couldn't deny one thing: her voice was intoxicating, pure and melodic. A voice like that deserved to be savored, just like the taste of her blood.

The thought stirred something primal within him. He closed his eyes again, focusing harder. This time, he saw the surroundings more clearly-the towering trees, the rustling leaves, the exact spot where he had left a girl's body months ago.

His smirk deepened. "So, the little detective has found my dumping ground."

The realization thrilled him. "A police officer, perhaps? Or just a nosy little girl playing the hero?" He leaned forward, his hand gripping the edge of his desk. "What if I pay her a surprise visit?"

Without hesitation, Sidharth was on his feet. Minutes later, he was driving at breakneck speed toward the forest. The tires of his sleek black car screeched as he came to a halt near the entrance. He stepped out, pulling a small blade from his pocket and puncturing the front tire.

"There," he muttered, wiping his hands clean. "Now it looks like I had no choice but to stop here."

His sharp senses caught her scent almost immediately. Lavender-fresh, sweet, and utterly captivating.

He inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma. "She smells just as tempting as I imagined."

He approached her car, pretending to check if anyone was around. His eyes darted to the forest, where her scent was strongest. "Should I go in...or wait for her here?"

For a moment, he debated. Waiting seemed logical, but the thought of her alone in the forest unsettled him. The woods weren't just dangerous because of wild animals. Others like him prowled these lands-vampires who hunted for sport, for pleasure, unlike him, who killed out of necessity.

His jaw tightened. The idea of someone else laying a hand on her infuriated him.

After ten minutes of waiting, his patience snapped. Panic gnawed at him as the possibility of her being attacked grew stronger. He sprinted into the woods, his movements silent and swift as the wind.

"She's not safe here," he muttered under his breath. "Not in these woods. Not alone."

Memories he had buried for centuries clawed their way to the surface as he ran. He wasn't the only predator in this forest, but he was cursed to be the hungriest, the most tormented.

"As you took my love's life, drinking his blood, I curse you to crave human blood to satisfy your thirst! I curse you, for ruining my life, snatching my happiness and shattering my dreams."

Her words echo in his mind, his fists clenched. "This curse," he whispered bitterly, "it took everything from me. My humanity, my freedom... and her. I became a monster."

The pain in his chest was familiar yet distant, a ghost of the man he once was. He shook his head, his thoughts snapping back to the present.

He could sense her now, not far ahead. Her heartbeat, steady but quickened by adrenaline, was like a beacon in the darkness of his world.

There she is.

His steps slowed as he approached, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. She stood with her back to him, crouched near the ground, examining something.

For a moment, Sidharth simply watched her. His lips curled into a wicked smile, but his chest ached with something foreign. Something he hadn't felt in centuries.

"Careful, little detective," he murmured to himself. "You might find more than you bargained for."

But even as he spoke, a strange urge pulsed through him-one he hadn't felt since the curse first consumed him.

A desire to protect.

Shehnaaz crouched low, her sharp eyes catching the faintest hint of dried blood on a brittle, withered leaf. She picked it up delicately, her brows furrowing. Her mind raced with questions.

How did this get here? Could it be from the victim?

Lost in thought, she barely noticed the faint rustling behind her. But then it hit her-a presence. It was overwhelming, almost suffocating. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and her grip on the leaf tightened.

She shot up to her feet and spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. Her breath caught in her throat.

Standing mere feet away from her was a man. No-a presence.

He was tall, impossibly striking, and oozed an aura of power. His sharp jawline and chiseled features seemed like they were carved by the god himself. His black shirt, perfectly fitted to his toned body, contrasted against his pale skin. But it was his eyes that held her captive-intense and unreadable, like they held centuries' worth of secrets.

Shehnaaz gasped, instantly recognizing the man before her.

Sidharth Raichand.

The multi-billionaire businessman.

The man who had graced countless magazine covers, dominated the corporate world, and was whispered about in exclusive circles.

What on earth was he doing in this forest?

"Miss..." His voice was deep, smooth, and laced with a charm that sent shivers down her spine. "You seem startled."

Shehnaaz blinked, struggling to compose herself. "I-uh..." She cleared her throat, tucking the leaf into her pocket. "I didn't expect to see anyone else here."

Sidharth's lips curved into a slow, enigmatic smile. "Neither did I."

Her brows knitted in confusion. "What are you doing here, Mr. Raichand?"

"She knows me." He noted.

He tilted his head slightly, as though amused by her question. "Car trouble," he replied, gesturing vaguely toward the road. "My tire gave out just as I was driving past this...intriguing place."

"Oh!" She nodded.

His eyes flicked to her pocket where she had stashed the leaf. "And you? What brings you to such a dangerous spot, all alone?"

Shehnaaz squared her shoulders, trying to steady her voice. "I'm doing research," she said cautiously. "It's...related to something I'm working on."

His smile deepened, sending an inexplicable chill down her spine. "Research," he repeated, his tone dripping with curiosity. "In a forest known for wild animal attacks? How brave of you."

There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her. It wasn't just that he was attractive-breathatingly so-but there was a weight to his gaze, as though he could see right through her, peeling back every layer of her thoughts.

"What kind of research?" he pressed, taking a slow step toward her.

Shehnaaz instinctively took a step back, her pulse quickening. "Just...personal research."

Sidharth's eyes flickered with amusement, but he didn't push further. Instead, he looked around, his movements graceful yet predatory. "The forest is beautiful, don't you think?"

"I guess," she muttered, still on edge.

"And dangerous," he added, his voice dropping an octave. "One could easily get lost here. Or worse."

Shehnaaz's throat went dry. There was an undertone in his words that she couldn't quite place-something both seductive and threatening.

"I can handle myself," she said, forcing confidence into her voice.

His smirk widened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes-something dark, primal. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

"I don't doubt that," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "But still, a little caution never hurts."

Shehnaaz clenched her fists, trying to shake off the unease crawling up her spine. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Raichand, but I really need to get back to my work."

He nodded, stepping back slightly, though his gaze never left her. "Of course. I wouldn't dream of interrupting."

As she turned to leave, he spoke again, his voice softer this time. "Be careful, Miss..."

She paused, glancing back at him. "Shehnaaz," she said curtly.

He repeated her name slowly, as though savoring it. "Shehnaaz. A beautiful name for someone so...intriguing."

She felt a blush creep up her cheeks, but she quickly turned away, muttering a hasty goodbye.

As she walked out of the forest, she couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes on her. Her heart was still pounding, but whether it was from fear or something else entirely, she couldn't say.

Behind her, Sidharth watched her retreating figure, his smirk fading into something more contemplative.

"Shehnaaz," he murmured to himself, her name rolling off his tongue like a forbidden secret. "I should've known it would be you."

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