chapter 18
1005 Words
John was on his way to the dining room when Lana's raised voice echoed through the hallway.
"You are a monster!"
He stopped in his tracks and for a brief moment, the mansion fell completely silent.
Then the dining room doors burst open and lana stormed out.
She nearly collided with John before stopping abruptly.
The anger on her face instantly melted into embarrassment.
"Oh..."
She hadn't expected anyone to hear that.
John looked at her for a moment before offering his usual gentle smile.
"Good morning again, Miss Lana."
Lana managed a nervous smile in return.
"Morning..."
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly unsure of herself.
Had she gone too far?
John didn't mention what he had heard and he didn't look bit upset
"I'm sure you'd like some fresh air," he said kindly. "The living room is open if you'd like to sit there."
"Thank you."
She gave him one last awkward smile before walking away.
John watched her disappear down the hallway beforr he let out a quiet sigh.
"I'm getting too old for this."
Straightening his jacket, he pushed open the dining room doors.
Damon was still sitting exactly where Lana had left him.
His untouched coffee had gone cold and he wasn't eating or moving, he was simply staring into space with a deep frown carved across his face. Anyone could tell that he was in a really unpleasant mood and John knew exactly what had caused it. he almost let out abither deep exasperated sigh.
he quietly walked farther into the room, his eyes travelling back toward the way lana had gone before trailing back to his boss.
"I take it breakfast didn't go well."
Damon slowly looked up and a humorless scoff escaped him.
"When does anything involving her go well?"
John didn't answer, instead, he walked over and began clearing away the dishes without waiting for the maids to do it.
Several long moments passed before Damon suddenly spoke.
"John."
"Yes, sir?"
Damon hesitated. it wasn't like him, which made John squint his eyes suspiciously.
Finally, Damon asked quietly,
"Do you think I'm a monster?"
John stopped what he was doing, the question surprising him.
He looked at Damon carefully. the younger man's face was unreadable, but John had known him long enough to recognize what lay beneath, her words had eaten deeper than he expected.
The question mattered.
"It matters what you think."
John set the plates down.
"I think..."
He chose his words carefully.
"I think you're carrying more pain than anyone should."
Damon looked away.
"But," John continued gently, "you're not making things easier by taking that pain out on her."
Damon's jaw tightened.
"She called me a monster."
John nodded.
"She did."
"And?"
John sighed, unsure of how to puts his words out calmly
"Can you truly blame her?"
the room became silent
"You kidnapped her."
Damon remained quiet.
"You frightened her."
he still couldn't say a word because he knew it was true.
"You nearly strangled her."
Damon's hands slowly curled into fists.
"From her point of view," John said softly, "you are exactly what she called you."
The words hit harder than Damon expected.
His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood.
"I've heard enough."
John watched him calmly.
"I've done nothing but tell you the truth."
"The truth?" Damon laughed bitterly.
"You want me to be kind to the daughter of the man who destroyed my family?"
"I want you to stop letting the past destroy what's left of yours."
Damon's expression darkened.
"Enough."
The single word echoed sharply through the room and john fell silent.
Damon grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair.
"Have my car brought around."
John blinked in surprise
"You're leaving already?"
"I'm going to work."
Without waiting for another response, Damon walked out of the dining room.
John sighed.
"As you wish, sir."
Lana stood quietly inside the spacious living room.
She had wandered there without really thinking and the room was peaceful.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows and the gardens outside looked beautiful.
She wrapped her arms around herself. From where she stood, she could hear voices coming from the entrance hall, john and Damon.
"I'll have the car ready immediately, sir," John said.
"Thank you."
A brief silence followed before John spoke again.
"What time should we expect you home?"
Damon adjusted the cuff of his jacket.
"Don't wait up."
With that, he walked through the front doors.
Curiosity pulled Lana toward the large window overlooking the driveway.
She stood just behind the curtains.
Outside, a sleek black luxury car rolled to a stop.
The driver quickly stepped out and opened the rear door Damon climbed inside without looking back.
A moment later, the car pulled away from the mansion.
Lana watched until it disappeared beyond the estate gates.
Only then did she release the breath she'd been holding.
"He really left..."
The mansion suddenly felt... quieter and less suffocating.
She should have been relieved, jnstead, an uncomfortable feeling settled inside her.
Her thoughts drifted back to breakfast.
'You are a monster.'
The words replayed in her mind and a frown settled on her face.
"He is a monster," she whispered to herself.
Wasn't he?He had kidnapped, threatened and locked her inside his mansion.
He had every reason to deserve those words.
Didn't he?
Yet.. She remembered the way he'd caught her when she fell.
The way he'd carefully placed her on the bed instead of throwing her inside.
The strange look on his face before he'd walked away and this morning...
For just a second..he had almost seemed...No. she shook her head.
"What am I thinking?"
She couldn't allow herself to feel sorry for him, not after everything he'd done.
Still...A small pang of guilt tugged at her heart.
Maybe...Calling him a monster had been a little too harsh.
She sighed deeply.
"I must be losing my mind."
Because if anyone deserved sympathy in this house...
It certainly wasn't Damon Carson.
- Writer
