Claimed by the Dark

CHAPTER 16

“What will it be? Are you kidding me right now? Both of you need to back off!” I said, louder than I wanted, as I pulled away from both of them and headed towards the bed. “I can’t do this right now. You need to leave. You need to get away from me. I want to be alone. I feel like I’m going crazy.”

“Kira, you need to understand…” Michael tried to speak.

“Quiet, hunter!” said Dragomar with a low and hard voice. “We’ll leave you, my love. Take all the time you need.”

Dragomar grabbed Michael firmly and showed him the door. As he kicked him out and shut the door, he snapped his fingers and he was suddenly fully clothed. He blew a gentle kiss to me and disappeared.

As I was left alone in the room, I crashed on the bed, looking blankly at the ceiling. I did have a strong moment where I laughed, actually thinking that it was a dream. It HAD to be! None of this was real. It was just my imagination. Either that, or…

Come on, Kira! Concentrate!

What was I supposed to concentrate on? What was I supposed to do?

The one time I let go of everything and think only of myself, I fall for a moroi that I feel I can’t breathe without.

But then there’s also Michael. Like an anchor, keeping me grounded in reality.

Aaaaahhh, this is driving me crazy!

I turned around and screamed into the mattress.

I laughed again. Hey mom, dad! This is Dragomar. He’s a moroi, and I’m leaving with him and never coming back!

It’s surprising that I’m not even considering a scenario without Dragomar.

But Michael is right. I have to do right by my family and friends, but how? Fake my death?

Fake my death! Yes! They cry, I cry, we all grieve, but then my folks get closure, and I get to leave with Dragomar and be with him forever.

Was this something I could really do? Could I break my parents’ hearts like that? Could I be so cruel?

Arghhh!! Why do I have to do this now? I thought I had more time!! I just wanted to enjoy my time for now.

Damn you, Michael! You liar! You manipulated your way into my life, tricked me, and now you want me to still be with you?

I was feeling so guilty of my feelings for Dragomar, and Michael was just using me as bait!

I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my phone, texted Michael and asked him to come back to my house. I had to confront him.

A couple of minutes later there was a knock on my door.

I was just finishing getting dressed as I headed to open.

I let him in. He had a guilty look too. Good! Because this was going to be unpleasant.

“YOU ASSHOLE!” I shouted at him and slapped his chest in anger. “You played me! You used me for your own agenda and then came here acting like a hero trying to save my soul.”

“No, Kira, wait, let me explain,” Michael babbled as he tried to calm me down.

“Did you, or did you not move into the building knowing the moroi was here?” I asked directly.

“Yes, but…” Michael started to speak.

“Did you, or did you not approach me to get to the moroi?” I continued aggressively.

“Kira, please…”

“Yes or no?!”

“Yes…” he replied with a sigh.

“Did you or did you not hit on me to find out about my relationship with Dragomar?”

“Yes…”

“YOU ASSHOLE! YOU JERK! I cared about you!” I said as tears started rolling on my face.

“WILL YOU LET ME SPEAK?” he said firmly without raising his voice.

I sobbed and wiped my tears and nodded, giving him room to explain himself.

“Yes, everything you said is true. And I am a jerk. And I also never meant for this to happen. As a hunter, I actually broke protocol to be with you. We never engage with the victims of the creatures. But Kira, when I saw you, I couldn’t help it. I had to be with you. Even now, standing here, looking at you, I find it very hard not to rush over there and kiss you!”

“Don’t even think about it!” I replied immediately.

“I’m sorry, Kira. This was supposed to be a stealth mission. Get in, kill the creature, and you, if need be, and vanish without a trace. Hunters don’t usually go to this extent to save a human. In most cases, it’s considered collateral damage. But you are not collateral damage. I can’t let you be collateral damage. And I will have to answer for this grave breach of protocol. But you’re worth it!” Michael said, coming fast towards me, putting his hands on my face and lifting it to make me look him in the eyes.

“Don’t give up on me, Kira. Please…” he leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss, then quickly pulled back as he realized I had told him to not even think about it.

“I said what I had to say. You’re a jerk. Now you can leave. I still need time to think, but I had to get that out”, I said, turning around and moving away from him.

He let down his head in disappointment, but opened the door and left the apartment.

I was alone again. Consumed by thoughts and worry. Torn between my lust and my responsibility.

My brain hurt. I grabbed the bag of food that was delivered and finally got to eat. It was cold and tasteless by now, but it didn’t matter. My mind was miles away anyway.

I just stood there, on the couch, eating junk food in silence.

And as I was chewing my cold, tasteless food, my phone chimed, and I saw a text from Elena.

Her grandmother had left something for me.

Granny Bia was reaching out to me from the beyond. It had to be important and the timing couldn’t have been better. I got dressed and headed to meet Elena as soon as I finished my meal.

“What happened to you?” asked Elena when we met.

“What do you mean?” I asked, surprised.

“You look drained. Is everything OK? Are you sick?” Elena asked, looking really worried.

“Just a tough couple of days. Michael and I had our first fight, but we’re trying to work through it.”

I could tell Elena didn’t fully believe it. She knew I was hiding something, but I wasn’t sure what and how to tell her.

She gave a small box, wrapped up in a newspaper. I opened it and inside the box I found a pendant and a letter.

“Granny knew you’d mess up”, said Elena as soon as I opened the box.

“Wait, you know?” I asked in surprise.

“I’m a witch trainee. Of course I know. Don’t be stupid, Kira! I know you mated with the moroi!”

Elena’s words cut through me like a knife. The way she said it made me feel dirty and sinful. I couldn’t look her in the eyes. I just kept my head down, looking at the letter from Granny Bia.

“My grandmother made this her last mission before she died. As it is now my job to see you get through it, I won’t let you slack off. My grandmother was stuck in her apartment, but I’m going to stick to you until you unhook yourself from the darkness,” said Elena, grabbing my hand over the table.

“No, Elena, you don’t understand. I want him. I yearn for him. I don’t want to be without him,” I said in one breath.

I couldn’t believe those words coming out of my mouth. A creature that I feared and loathed has now become my sole purpose. Was it me thinking this? For a second, it felt like the Kira that burnt alive with Dragomar’s name on her lips, was still talking through me.

“No, Kira, you don’t understand. I’m not giving you options. I’m telling you the facts and I hope you’re ready to accept the consequences if you don’t comply.”

“Comply? What the hell is this? Why is everyone gaining up on me today? What’s the matter with you people?” I just grabbed everything and headed out of the café, sobbing.

Elena followed me outside, as I was trying to get away from her.

“When Granny Bia asked you to kill it, you showed so much conflict and doubt. How will you react when the moroi will ask you to kill? Because that’s what’s happening next! It’s not just ritual, Kira, it demands sacrifice. Are you willing to sacrifice another’s life to be with your moroi?”