The One I Was Meant To Fear

The fear between them

Chapter Sixteen

Daniella woke to the sound of rain.

For a moment, she didn't remember where she was.

Then everything returned.

Kelvin.

The vampires.

The truth.

I am half vampire.

She sat up slowly.

Her heart felt heavy.

She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kelvin standing in the courtyard, telling her the truth.

He hadn't tried to deny it.

He hadn't tried to force her to believe him.

He had simply stood there and let her be afraid.

Somehow, that made everything more confusing.

A soft knock came at the door.

"Daniella?"

Mia.

"Come in."

Mia entered carrying breakfast.

She placed it on the table.

"You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"I know."

Daniella frowned.

"Then why did you bring it?"

"Because sometimes friends know better than you do."

Daniella almost smiled.

Almost.

Mia sat beside her.

"You've been thinking about him."

Daniella sighed.

"I've been trying not to."

"How's that working?"

"Terribly."

Mia smiled.

Daniella looked toward the window.

"I don't know what to do."

"You don't have to decide everything today."

"What if he really is dangerous?"

"Then you stay careful."

Daniella looked at her.

"But what if he isn't?"

"Then eventually you'll realize that."

Daniella lowered her eyes.

"I remember what they did to me."

Mia nodded.

"And I keep thinking that maybe I'm being stupid for trusting him."

"You're not stupid."

"I let myself get close to him."

"That doesn't make you stupid."

Daniella's voice became quieter.

"I kissed him."

Mia smiled slightly.

"I know."

Daniella covered her face.

"Don't remind me."

Mia laughed softly.

Then she became serious.

"You trusted him because of how he treated you."

Daniella lowered her hands.

"Yes."

"That matters."

Daniella didn't respond.

Mia continued.

"You don't have to erase your fear. Just don't let fear make every decision for you."

Daniella looked at her.

"What if I can't trust him again?"

"Then don't."

Daniella frowned.

Mia shrugged.

"Trust doesn't have to return all at once."

She stood.

"Let him earn it."

---

Later that afternoon, Daniella left her room for the first time.

The pack was quieter than usual.

People watched her as she walked through the corridors.

She wondered if they knew.

If everyone knew Kelvin was half vampire.

If everyone had been keeping the secret from her.

She reached the garden.

Mia followed a few steps behind.

Daniella sat beside the fountain.

She stared at the water.

The same place where she and Kelvin had once talked.

The same place where he had apologized.

The same place where she had started believing she could be happy.

She heard footsteps.

Her body tensed.

Kelvin.

He stopped several feet away.

"Daniella."

She looked at him.

"Hi."

His expression softened.

"Hi."

Neither moved.

"I won't stay if you don't want me to."

Daniella looked down.

"I don't know what I want."

"That's okay."

She looked back at him.

"You really mean that?"

"Yes."

He took a slow breath.

"I don't want you to trust me because I ask you to."

Daniella remained silent.

"I want you to trust me because I prove that I deserve it."

Her eyes began to sting.

"You make it very hard to hate you."

A small smile appeared on Kelvin's face.

"I'm not trying to make it easy."

She almost laughed.

But then she remembered.

"Kelvin."

His smile disappeared.

"Yes?"

"Have you ever hurt someone because of your vampire side?"

He didn't answer immediately.

"No."

"Not even once?"

"I've come close to losing control."

Daniella's heart tightened.

"When?"

"Years ago."

He looked away.

"Before I learned how to control it."

"And what happened?"

"I left."

"Why?"

"Because I was afraid of what I might become."

Daniella studied him.

"Did you ever go back?"

"No."

She nodded slowly.

"At least you're honest now."

"I'm trying."

---

That evening, Daniella returned to her room.

She stood in front of the mirror.

She barely recognized herself.

A few months ago, she had thought her biggest dream was simply freedom.

Now she wanted something more.

A life where she didn't have to be afraid.

A life where she could trust someone.

But trust had become complicated.

Especially when the person she wanted to trust carried the blood of the creatures who had destroyed her childhood.

She opened the window.

Cool air entered the room.

Her eyes moved toward the forest.

Something inside her whispered that she should leave.

Just for a while.

Somewhere away from Kelvin.

Away from the pack.

Away from vampires.

Maybe then she could think clearly.

Daniella turned toward the door.

She hesitated.

Then she made a decision.

She packed a small bag.

Nothing much.

Just enough for a few days.

She didn't tell Mia.

She didn't tell Kelvin.

She didn't tell anyone.

She quietly slipped out through the back entrance.

The night was dark.

The forest stretched ahead of her.

Daniella looked back at the pack one last time.

"I'm sorry."

Then she walked into the woods.

---

She didn't know that someone was watching.

A shadow moved between the trees.

Then another.

Daniella continued walking.

The farther she went, the quieter everything became.

She eventually stopped beside a narrow stream.

She sat on a fallen tree and took a deep breath.

For the first time in days, she felt like she could think.

Maybe leaving had been the right decision.

Maybe she needed distance.

Maybe—

A branch snapped.

Daniella froze.

She slowly stood.

"Hello?"

Nothing.

Then a voice came from behind her.

"You shouldn't have left the pack."

Daniella's blood ran cold.

She turned.

Three figures stood between the trees.

Their eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.

Vampires.

Her breathing stopped.

"No..."

One of them smiled.

"We've been looking for you."

Daniella stepped backward.

"Stay away from me."

Another vampire moved closer.

"Come quietly."

She shook her head.

"No."

She turned to run.

A hand caught her arm.

Daniella screamed and fought to pull free.

"Let me go!"

The vampire tightened his grip.

"You don't understand."

"I said let me go!"

She kicked backward and managed to break free.

She ran.

Branches scratched against her clothes as she pushed through the forest.

Behind her, she heard footsteps.

They were faster.

Much faster.

Daniella's heart pounded.

She stumbled.

Before she could get back up, one of the vampires appeared in front of her.

She stopped suddenly.

He smiled.

"Got you."

Daniella backed away.

"No."

He reached for her.

Then—

A roar tore through the forest.

The vampire froze.

Daniella's eyes widened.

She knew that voice.

Kelvin.

And judging by the sound of his footsteps approaching through the trees...

he was no longer calm.

Not even close.