Chapter 17

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Evain’s POV

Reluctantly, I headed up the stairs. It was quite a struggle for me. I was lacking food and sleep so my energy levels were dangerously low. And since when did Elijah care about Damon? He hates his brother for what he’s done to everyone. Am I supposed to forget what he did to me? The anger that was building inside of me drove me up the last few steps.

As I brushed passed the door, I saw Damon on the floor in a heap and something dropped in my stomach. Crap.

I ran to his side and dropped to my knees. “Damon?!” I shook him and he groaned quietly. He looked ill. “Damon wake up!”

Damon’s eyes opened slowly and he focused on me. “Evain?” His voice was weak and hoarse.

I nodded. “Yes… It’s me. What happened?”

His hands clasped round my shoulders, an iron grip and I gasped. “I need… Need…”

“What?”

“Blood.” He growled and pushed me up against the wall. His hand was in my hair, pulling on it causing my neck to stretch to the side, exposing it for him. His breathing was shallow and fast.

“Stop Damon! Please, you’re hurting me.” I begged. I didn’t think it would be any use, how could I stop a vampire in need of blood. I had to be the only unfortunate human around.

Damon flung himself backwards and hung his head. “I’m so sorry.”

I blinked in surprise, ignoring the pain in my arms. I was trembling, adrenaline coursing through my body, telling me to run and never look back.

“I was sent to help you… Elijah said you needed my blood, why? What happened? I thought that vampires heal themselves when they’re injured…”

He looked up at me slowly, sorrow in his eyes. “They do normally; I should never have drunk from you…”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why?”

“Get out.”

“…What?”

He glared at me. “I said, get out.”

“Damon—”

“GET OUT!” He screamed and I jumped.

I scrambled to my feet and ran through the front door, heading towards the woods. Tears were flowing down my face; I couldn’t see where I was going. I didn’t even know why I was crying, he scared me, I was trying to help and he was so horrible. Everything caught up with me, the terror of being taken by Ailyn, of nearly being killed and then having Damon do that.

Everything went rushing past me as my foot caught on something sending my flying through the air before crashing against the floor. I felt a sharp sting on my face and could see scratches on my arms. I sat there leaning against a tree and felt the rain run down my face, blending with my tears.

It was only light rain to begin with, but within minutes it became thundery and the rain felt sharp against my skin.

I heard cracks around me, but I ignored it assuming it was the rain. But when the bushes near me started rustling I became suspicious. I looked around behind me but I couldn’t see anything, it was dark and raining. I sighed, I had pretty much given up by now, I was exhausted.

“You make things too easy, Evain.” Came a voice from in front of me, my head shot up to find Ailyn staring at me.

I gasped and scrambled backwards, but the tree was behind me and there was nowhere I could go.

“Oh calm down, stupid girl. I won’t get a chance to do anything; Elijah will be running after you shortly.” She moved closer to me and crouched down, running her hand across my face.

I jerked away from her touch. “What do you want?”

“Just words, for now. You may think you’re safe now, but your lovers can’t be with you all the time.”

“Excuse me, lovers? Plural?”

“Yes, I know you love both of them, it wouldn’t be the first time. Together they make the perfect man, one’s dark, dangerous and sexy, and the other is caring, loving and charming to be around. But to have both of them, then you’re never missing out.” A smirk grew on her face slowly.

“You’re wrong, I don’t love both of them.”

She shook her head at me. “Who are you trying to convince? Anyway, as soon as they’re out of the way, I’ll be back. You’re never going to be safe, I can guarantee that.” She cackled and started to back away from me.

I could hear someone shouting my name in the distance.

“Now, I know you’re going to go crying to them and tell them what I said, but they can’t do anything. No one can stop me. Remember, I created them, in a fight, I would win. Especially now since young Damon’s not doing so great. That was you, you know?”

I stared at her. “No… It’s not me. I didn’t do that to him.”

She raised an eyebrow at me and nodded slowly. I blinked and she was gone. Faded unto the night.

“Evain?” Elijah broke through the overgrown plants and appeared next to me. “What are you doing out here?!”

“I—”

But he cut me off. “No, explain later, come now.” He grabbed my hand fiercely; the love he always showed wasn’t there. I felt bad for leaving Damon, but I had no choice.

“Damon asked me to go, he told me!”

Elijah stopped momentarily before continuing again. “So? I told you to help him.”

“What do you expect me to do? He screamed at me to get out!”

“And you thought the best thing to do was leave him alone and run into the woods unprotected, who knows what could have happened to you? What if Ailyn was out there? She could have taken you. Don’t be so foolish.” He snapped at me.

I pulled my hand out of his grasp and stopped walking. He turned to look at me. “Look, I didn’t mean to shout at you, but I was worried and you caused that yourself.”

“No, you haven’t even listened to me! You don’t know what happened!”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, explain, but not now. Now you need to help Damon, please. He’s dying…”

I felt my eyes widen as Elijah held out his hand again. Before I knew it we were back at the cottage, the broken door and shattered glass all over the floor. Damon was where I left him, pressed up against the wall from when he flung himself away from me.

“What’s wrong with him?” I asked tentatively.

Elijah brought my hand to his mouth. “I’m sorry if this hurts.”

Before I could say anything, Elijah had bitten down on my wrist and I was pulled over to Damon. He pushed my wrist against Damon’s mouth, but the blood was just running down his chin, he wasn’t drinking it. He wasn’t even conscious.

“Come on Damon, wake up and stop being so bloody selfish!” Elijah shouted at him.

I looked down at Damon waiting for a reaction to Elijah’s words. Nothing. I knelt down next to him again. “Damon?” I whispered. “If you can hear me, drink. Please.”

Moments passed where nothing happened, it felt as if a hush had fallen upon the house. No one was even breathing. At times I stopped and I kept gasping whenever my body realised that my lungs were being starved of oxygen.

Suddenly I felt a pull on my wrist. Damon’s hand slowly reached up to my wrist, holding it to his mouth as everyone else stood back awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do.

I was worrying, just how much would Damon take? But I could see almost straight away the effects it was having on him. The first gulp and he could open his eyes again. The second and he could sit up properly. By the fourth colour was returning to his face and he was looking like his usual self.

After a minute or so he let go and wiped his mouth. I felt fine, not much blood had been taken from me so I wasn’t weak or anything. I just needed food and a shower, but I think we all did.

“You want to explain what happened now?” I asked Elijah.

He looked at his feet, trying to think of something to say.

“I said you were different, right from the beginning.” Damon said, surprising me.

“Different how? I know you said I tasted better, like a really fine meal, but… What?”

“I don’t know. Elijah, would you…?” Damon muttered.

“Uh, yes, okay. Well you see, when you went missing, I eventually found you at Lizzie’s. I turned away after I saw you two… Well, maybe I got the wrong idea. But I shouldn’t have turned away. I went straight to Damon. I won’t lie; I had the intention of starting a fight. I was angry and he was the one that took you from me. When I found him, he looked a little like he did a few minutes ago, but not as bad. The only thing I can compare him to is an addict going through withdrawal.”

“Go on.” I urged.

“So I questioned him. I needed to know what he had done now. He’s always caused trouble.” Damon growled from where he was. “Sorry. Moving on, he revealed it was you. Your blood.”

I laughed. “You’re joking, right? I’m not a drug, and he’s fed off other people too!”

“Yes, I know, but he was… Shaking. He was a wreck! There was nothing else that could have had that effect. It’s your blood, Evain, you’re his drug.”

I stared at him, my jaw slightly ajar. “But if that’s true, then you’d be the same too, and you, Lizzie.”

“Well that’s what I thought originally. But then Damon said it took days before he felt like this. I mean, obviously he fed from you quite a while ago, and it only started taking affect a few days ago. And if you don’t believe me, look at him now. You saw how bad he was before, and now he’s… Well, much better.”

“But… How?” My legs went weak and I tumbled, I closed my eyes, waiting for the pain as I hit the floor. But instead I met a pair of arms.

“Careful.” A dark voice whispered. When I looked up I saw Damon and pulse quickened, shamefully.

I struggled out of his grasp and went to sit on the floor. “Uh, I’m fine.”

“I don’t know why it’s special, to answer your question.” Elijah said slowly. “But someone must know.”

“We’re not taking her to them.” Damon said fiercely.

Lizzie who had been quiet this whole time piped up. “Who?”

“Yes, I want to know too! Who are they?” I agreed with Lizzie and she smiled at me.

“No one.” Damon snapped.

“We’ll discuss it at a later date.” Elijah reasoned. Damon glared at him but didn’t say anything.

“Fine. So I suppose you’ll start feeling like that… And you too Lizzie?” Elijah nodded and Lizzie looked scared.

“We’ll have to stay within reaching distance, and unfortunately we’ll have to keep you alive and well, so we can have your blood.”

I opened my mouth to object, but I couldn’t. I had just helped Damon, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to, but my body keeps responding to his. And if I left, the same would happen to Elijah and Lizzie, and I wanted to help them, I didn’t want them to be hurt. I loved them and they meant a lot to me.

It was too much, everything was overwhelming and I felt tears build up in my eyes again.

“Hey, hey, hey.” Lizzie was by my side instantly, her arm around me. “Don’t cry.” She whispered. “I’m here.” I leant into her, she was comforting and I needed that.

She looked up at them. “Do we have to do this now? We’re all tired and hungry. Let’s just go back and get clean, maybe sleep. Then tomorrow we can discuss more?”

“The voice of reason.” Elijah laughed. “Yes, that would make sense. Shall we leave then? I think we can maybe get back before sunrise, especially seeing as Damon’s looking better.”

“We need dry clothes…” Lizzie said quickly.

Elijah looked confused. “Why?”

“She’s soaking wet! She might get ill if we travel and she’s wet.” I was grateful for Lizzie, it was true but it wasn’t something I was willing to point out because it would delay things.

Elijah thought for a moment. “Well I guess Ailyn might have something upstairs that would fit you, not that I would want to take her clothes…”

I grimaced at the idea of wearing something of hers. “I guess I don’t really have a choice… How long would it take to get back to the mansion?”

“Well I think I can get there in about 20 minutes, I feel revitalised.” Damon announced. Lizzie and Elijah looked doubtful.

“Well you could always go ahead with her whilst we make our own way. Are you sure you feel up to it, Damon?”

He looked offended. “Of course I’m up for it, what do you say, princess?”

“Don’t call me that… Well I suppose 20 minutes will be fine.”

He smiled. “You can shower when you get back, I can help if you want.” He winked.

“I think I can manage…” I said, hiding a smile. He seemed well and his charm was returning.

“Okay, let’s go.” He moved towards me and the world moved from under my feet as I was scooped up into his arms. I looked back at everyone but they couldn’t meet my gaze, they couldn’t even look in my direction.

“Maybe I could walk…”

“Don’t be silly.” Damon sped up and soon we were practically flying through the night. I clung on to Damon tighter, I didn’t want to fall. “Don’t worry, I won’t let go of you.” I felt oddly reassured.

Before long I could see the mansion in the distance and the maze was the only thing between us and it. Damon moved through it effortlessly in seconds. I was slightly in awe of him.

We approached the door and bad memories came flooding back. The last time Damon had brought me back to the house it was after an incident in the maze with Dimitri. Damon had left me in this house and disappeared. Ivan had come looking for me.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Damon asked, worry in his voice.

“Nothing.” I mumbled.

“Don’t lie to me, I just had your blood, I can sense your mood. Is it being back here?” I nodded. “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen again.”

I thought back to Ailyn finding me in the woods not that long ago, they had no idea. “Mmm.”

Once inside, Damon still wouldn’t put me down, he took me all the way upstairs to his room. My door was still broken. “You can stay in there if you want.”

I shook my head. I had too many bad memories of Ivan coming after me and attacking me. I escaped from there. No, I’d rather stay in here tonight.

“As you wish.” He placed me on a chair by the bed and moved to the bathroom. I heard a tap running and steam started to fill the room. “I’m running a bath because soaking in this will make you feel better.” I saw him grab something from the shelf and pour it into the water.

“What is it?”

“Secret.” He looked at my worried face. “Oh, it’s just to relax you and make you sleepy, it won’t hurt you.” I relaxed a little and made my way to the bathroom. “I’ll just wait downstairs, get you some food too.”

He went to walk away but I grabbed his hand. “Thank you.” I smiled up at him and he winked at me.

“I can stay if you want? Help you in?”

I pushed at him jokingly. “Go away, I’ll be fine.”

He laughed and left the room. The bath was amazing. My clothes were still wet and they were freezing, so ineffectively, so was I. As I slid into the bath, the hot water made everything better, albeit highlighting where I had been cut.

After about half an hour I got out, I could smell food and I was starving. I grabbed a soft towel that Damon had left out for me and I padded into his room. He was lying on the bed, propped up on his arm with a plate of food next to him. He looked incredibly tempting and I cursed myself for being attracted to him.

“I’m just going to go and get dressed in my room…”

He looked slightly disappointed that I was getting dressed, but what did he expect, I was hardly going to stay naked with him around. “Okay, but hurry, the food might get cold.”

“I will.” I promised.

When I got into my room it looked different. It wasn’t how I had left it the night before but tidy and clean. The door was fixed and my clothes were laid out on my bed. He still thought he could decide what I wore. Looking at what he chose, I was quite impressed, he had picked something cute and comfortable that keeps me warm and was quite comforting after the night I had had. How did he know to pick that?

I got dressed quickly, ran a brush through my knotty hair and quickly got back to his room.

“Where is Elijah and Lizzie? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”

“Well… They should be, unless Elijah went to his house first… Who knows what they have decided to do, Lizzie is rather persuasive.” He suggested.

“No, Elijah wouldn’t…” I started before blushing, I was giving everything away.

His eyes widened at me. “You and him? You went straight to him and that was it?”

“You’re forgetting it was practically the same with you, but… Ah nothing, I’m not discussing this with you, it’s weird and wrong. Let me eat!”

He looked angry, but he sighed and moved the food towards me before getting up and pacing the room. I scoffed everything down, feeling very fat and greedy. “You need to sleep.”

“Damon, please…” I started.

“No, just go to bed. In your room.”

I stared at him. “You have such a bad temper, your mood is so on and off all the time, I don’t know where I stand!”

Damon stood there, shocked at my outburst. “I—”

“No shut up. You’re always trying to tell me what to do and how to act, but it’s not your job, you can’t tell me what to do!” I sighed and lay down, my head bouncing off of the bed. I felt the bed sink down and I saw Damon sitting next to me.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, I was just jealous.” He moved my plate off of the bed and left it on the floor.

“Jealous?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about that now, you really do need sleep.”  He got to his feet. I’m going to sleep in the other room, Elijah and Lizzie should be here shortly, I’m sure they’ll have a reason as to why they were slightly delayed.”

“Damon?” He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me.

“Yes?”

“Stay with me?” I had no intention of doing anything, but I was scared to be alone.

“I understand.” He replied whilst moving back towards me. He knew what I was thinking; I had almost forgotten that he could tell.

I climbed under the sheet and he went round to the other side. I was exhausted and I closed my eyes straight away. The bed sunk down next to me and an arm snaked round my waist. He pulled me closer to him slightly; I felt safe and drifted off.

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Okay, so this is coming to an end, I think maybe another chapter and that's it. 

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