Chapter 005
1234 Words
Heartbeats and Lies
"Do you feel it too?"
Though it was quiet, just a whisper, it struck me like a flashbulb. His palm warmed my arm, his fingers squeezing just enough to get my heart pounding.
I raised my head to face his deep, angry gaze—those straight-through eyes. I gasped. He was rather close. Overly near.
" Feel what? My voice was hardly steady as I asked.
His eyes went to my lips, and his fingers stiffened. "This... pulls." I cannot avoid you no matter how hard I try.
My heart dropped. I wanted to correct him and refute it. The reality, though, was strong and blazing inside me. I experienced that as well.
Needing space and air, I withdrew. Damian, you are seeing things differently.
His mouth tightened and his eyes flashed. Aria, I know what I feel. You dare say to me, this is nothing?
Crossing my arms, I sought protection. Perhaps you are simply confused. Given you have been looking out for me, maybe you find you care.
He moved forward, his presence overpowering. "I'm not perplexed." I tried to turn away. I have tried to forget you. Still, every time I close my eyes, all I see is you.
His words sliced through me, my barriers collapsing. Then, why did you run?
His face dropped, suffering flashing in his eyes. "I was frightened."
I stopped breathing, leaving my lungs frozen. Fear of what?
He stopped, his hands closing at his sides. "Of harming you." Of losing authority. Of your loss.
My heart softened and my fury subsided. I was unable to yield, though. Not right yet. "You have already accomplished it."
His shoulders dropped, and his face went white. I know... and it's killing me.
Silence permeated us, weighty and stifling. I wanted to reach out, to touch him, to believe him. Fresh, though, the wound was still flowing.
Whispering, my voice breaking, "I trusted you." "You broke me and I trusted you."
His arms encircling me, dragging me into his chest, he moved before I could respond. Though I ought to have pushed him away, I did not. Unable.
I apologize, Aria. I never intended to hurt you. I was simply so terrified. His voice was coarse, shaking with emotion. To me, only you count. But should something happen to you thanks to me? That is unacceptable for me to live with.
My heart hurt, my body slid into his warmth. He smelled familiar and seductive.
I closed my eyes, fingers gripping his shirt. " Damian, I was very afraid. You didn't seem to care, then. You despised me, I assumed.
He backed off, his hands cupping my face. His eyes burned with intense feeling. I could never detest you. Not once.
His thumb swept away a tear I had not noticed had dropped on my face. His face was so near, his breath blending with mine.
His body stiffened as his eyes slid to my lips. Aria, I am losing my sanity. Every time I turn to face you, all I want to do is—
I held him back from finishing. I shot ahead, my lips slamming against his. He stopped; his body became stiff. Then he melted, his arms closing around me and dragging me in.
Desperate and eager, his mouth opened against mine. My heart was beating as his hands entwined in my hair, and I felt my knees weaken.
Lost in him, in his favor, I was drowning. I never intended to show up on air.
Still, he withdrew, his eyes wild and his chest heaving. We can't... I am not able to do this.
The pain cut across me, his comments like a slap. "What not?"
His face twisted with shame hovering over it. I don't deserve you. Dangerous, Aria is me. I am powerless. I cannot gamble on injuring you.
I shook my head, uncertainty and resentment whirling inside me. "You won't damage me."
His mouth clenched, and he turned aside. You are not aware of that. You have no idea what my capacity is.
Taking his arm, I made him look at me. Then show me. Let go of hiding. Quit lying. Allow me in, Damian.
His eyes softened as suffering danced in their depths. "I would like to." God, I intend to. But, should you know, you would despise me.
My heart cracked, his embarrassment and terror flooding over me. None you could say would cause me to despise you.
His body shook as he turned to face me, his eyes searching mine. You are ignorant of what I accomplished. You're not sure... the blood is right here on my hands.
Ready to protest, I opened my mouth but heard a rustling sound nearby. We both stopped, heads pointing toward the woods.
A shadow with crimson eyes slinks across the night. My blood stopped cold, and my body stiffened.
Damian snared, his body slanted in front of me to cover me. Follow me.
My heart hammered, terror, biting at me. "Is that??"
His body tensed, poised for attack, he ignored. "Go to the house." right now.
My body quivering, I stepped back. Still, I wanted not to be apart from him. Running was not what I wanted.
"I'm not walking away from you".
He turned, his voice sharp, his eyes gleaming. If you are here, I cannot shield you. Then go. Right now.
I paused; my heart cried out to keep me. Then the shadow rushed, its teeth shining and its snarl resounding throughout the evening.
Damian ran quicker than I could see, his body meeting the beast and their shapes blurting to the ground.
My heart halted, horror immobilizing me. "Damian!";
He yelled, his body moving, his bones shattering and reordering. His body swelled, fur growing over his skin, his face elongating, his eyes shining. I gazed in dread.
He was great. Horrifying. Beautiful.
But he was failing. The beast was quicker, more robust, and larger. With fangs burrowing into his shoulder, it pinned him.
I yelled, terror, washing over me. I wanted to be of assistance to him, to do anything. But I was powerless. Empty.
"Aria, run!," Desperate, his voice burst through and kept ringing in my head.
My body moving on its own, I staggered back. My heartbreak with every stride, I turned and sprinted.
I heard him scream, heard the snarl of the thing, and heard the terrible sound of flesh ripping. I did not, however, turn around.
My chest heaving, my body quivering, I arrived at home shutting the door behind me. My vision swirled as I sank to the floor, pressing my back into the door.
I wanted to go backward. I felt like I should be helping him. But I wasn't able to.
Tears came down my cheeks, terror straying about. I enveloped myself with my arms, his voice resounding in my head.
"Run, Aria!"
With a pained heart, I closed my eyes. Please be OK.
But the evening was still quiet. Not too vocal.
I heard it then as well.
A wail. Long and sad, bursting with suffering.
My body went numb, and my blood changed to ice.
Since it wasn't his.
Then the door behind me trembled, the wood breaking under my claws.
I whirled around, dreading drowning myself. Sharp teeth beaming at me gleamed red eyes over the c***k.
It was this here.
And Damian was gone.
- Writer
