Darker Than Blood

.18

He was standing in front of the hideous door.

It was 11:30 AM.

Damien couldn't recall how he got here? In one hour? One minute? Or one second?

He had no idea.

All he could remember was a red haze that had fallen over him . Elliot tried to stop him but really he was no match to a royal.

All he could think about was her.

He didn't knock or pushed the bell button like he usually did. Instead his eyes flipped to deep red and he let his powers go to work.

The air around him hummed with life. Hummed with unseen powers. The whisperings only he could hear. They slipped under the door. . slithering towards the bolted door. . invisible hands pulling the latch down. .

The door opened with a soft creak.

Without another thought, he moved in. He couldn't seem to shake off the red in his eyes. . indicating the dread in him. The fear of not knowing what had happened—

Standing in the lounge , he could hear the erratically beating heart.

It was coming from right across her bedroom.

Moving swiftly, he was through the door in a blur not even caring if her mother was around or not? Caring about nothing at all but her.

He had to be sure.

To make sure she was fine.

Smiling like he left her that night.

In the blink of an eye he was in the bedroom and the first thing he saw was her.

Fine.

In one piece.

The relief he felt was instant. Overwhelming. That moment telling him what exactly she meant to him. That one moment where you know the worth of the next person. .that was it for him.

Unaware of his presence, she was trying to stifle her sobs. Eyes shut, hand pressed to her mouth , face wet. She was trying so hard to stop herself from shaking , from breaking down.

Damien Damien Damien!!

If only he was here—

She jerked at the slight touch on her knees.

Opening her eyes, her hurt momentarily forgotten at the touch, she saw him through a blurry vision.

He was sitting on his knees, his hands lightly touching her knee. Covering them. His dark blue eyes staring up at her as if he wouldn't ever stop looking .

Sarah didn't try to hide her face or anything. She just kept looking in those eyes , reminding herself that there was one person in this world who seemed more than family. More than anything.

And even in her worst state she was being thankful to God for him .

He made her feel thankful when she didn't want to be.

She sniffled , her crying session morphing into wonder. Wonder at him . At her.

How did he—

Damien watched her red nose, swollen eyes . .tear stricken face and really she looked like a tulip that got its first taste of rain.

A little wet.

A little surprised.

Relief flooded in him again .

She was fine. Everything was fine.

She noticed he was just silently watching her. .just watching. Just there.

Sarah looked away from him.

Unconsciously, her hand moved on top of his. . covering his.

"How did you—what are you doing here?" She croaked.

"You were calling me."

She glanced at him again , surprised at his sure tone.

"No I didn't. ." She trailed off . But she did. In he heart.

Damien smiled ruefully.

"I felt it. Your heart was on fire wasn't it?" He asked lightly.

Her eyes widened.

"I don't understand—"

"Leave it. Tell me what happened. What. .who made you this way? What brought tears to your eyes? I'll see if I can kill the reason ." He said calmly. A chill traveled up her spine.

Sarah shook her head trying to smile but really she just didn't have the strength.

"My mother. .," She whispered. " She was being difficult. . sometimes I don't get her. .why is she like this? Why can't she see what she's doing to me?" Sarah asked him , tears filling up her eyes as she bit her lower lip hard. Trying to look brave but failing.

He watched as tears spilled . . splashing on the back of his hand.

"She left. I didn't hear any heartbeat other than yours."

Hearing those words was digging the dagger deeper in her heart . Twisting around . Making sure she bled as much as possible.

Really it was too much .

"Take me away from here , Damien. ." She whispered , her nose watering, voice breaking. How pathetic did she look right now? Why did he keep seeing her in the worst of state?

Horrified she realized that her crying was transforming into full blown sobs. Her shoulders shaking again, body trembling again—

He got up.

She didn't dare look up.

She didn't have to.

Because bending down to her height ,gently he took hold of her shoulders .

He looked in her red swollen eyes.

"Do you trust me Sarah?"

She nodded . "You're .  you're the only one i trust."

With her affirmation, he smiled and seeing that Sarah's heard swelled with something. Some unknown feeling. He kept making her feel everything she never had felt in her entire existence.

Slowly, oh so slowly. .one of his hand lifted from her shoulder and gently . .with the back of his hand . .he wiped away all the wetness from her cheeks .

"When I saw you I knew . I knew you have a warrior soul and you know what ?", He looked in her wide eyes ," it's completely acceptable to take a break from that post because no one knows how strong the warrior had been . And they are not my lines, " he chuckled slightly. " My mother used to say that all the damn time so it's stuck in my head."

He grinned at the smile on her face like the sun raising from the horizon. Breaking the dark. Spreading it's light.

"Want to know what my line is?" He asked her , his hand cupping her cheek. .his thumb touching the corner of her mouth.

"What?" She breathed.

"It can't rain forever. The sun will rise. Ironic for a vampire to talk about sun." He winked at her .

She chuckled at his humor.

"Yeah. It can't rain forever. . " She said in a low voice and then he held her hands and pulled her up gently on her feet.

Her hands bunched up his shirt. She wouldn't let go even if the judgement day arrived.

His arms wrapped around her loosely. The warmth of him made her feel relax . Slumped. She leaned all her weight on his body . Sarah tucked her chin on his shoulder.

"I hate when you see me like this. "

"Like what? " One of his hand was tangling in her hair.

"Being weak and being a loser. " She tried to laugh but it got stuck in her chest.

"I'll let you see me being a loser and being weak. No one is perfect, you know. It's simply this. .some people know how to hide well and some don't. "

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