Always and Forever [Book 3]

Promises

Rachel's POV
The last few days, me and Damien are very close. We're very good friends. We spend a lot of time together and I enjoy his company.

On Tuesday I skipped school so I could spend time with Damien. He showed me all the hidden places of Bayou. He also showed me a cliff which ended up in water that boys were jamping from to impress the leader of the group. Sam. He told me that when people got in that group they had to make a tattoo on their right arm. He also said that he won't ever get in that group. He didn't want to. He guided me to the rest of the Bayou and i returned home.

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I'm at Klaus's house - and yes I call him Klaus cause it doesn't quite fits with me the word grandfather, and he doesn't want me to call him like that- and I sit on the couch. I see Klaus walking down the stairs.

Rachel :Klaus?

Klaus:Yes

Rachel:Do you know what's going on with mom? She acted weird after we left Bayou. Was it about Damien?

He sighs

Klaus :I'm gonna be honest with you. Damien's last name is Castle.

Rachel:So?

Klaus:His father is Lucien Castle. The first vampire I turned. He tried to kill me once but I killed him. Damien is as dangerous as his father. And I want you to stay away from him.

Rachel:But -

Klaus:Promise me you'll stay away from him.

I sigh

Rachel:I promise

Even if I promised him not to see him, I want to go find him.

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The last days I've texted Damien but he hasn't respond. So I decide to go find him at his place.

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I pull up my mom's car outside his house and I see him walking towards the forest.

Rachel:Damien!

Damien:Rachel? What are you doing here? Go away.

Rachel:What?

Damien:Go. Away.

Rachel:What happened to you? What's wrong?

He turns around to leave but I grab his arm. I see a tattoo on his right arm.

Rachel : Hey! What happened? Did Sam get to you? Is this what's happening?

Damien:Sam is trying to help me. Don't blame him. And if you want somebody to blame how about these filthy bloodsuckers who you call family?

Rachel: I don't know what you're talking about.

Damien:You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Sam with the rest of the group are far behind him, yelling.

Sam:Cmon! Damien!

Damien:Look Rachel. We can't be friends anymore.

Rachel: Damien I know that I might've hurt you because of- It's killing me. It kills me. I just need.. Maybe give me like, some time or something..-

Damien: Don't. It's not you.

Rachel : It's not you it's me. Right? Really?

Damien: It's true. It is me. I'm not... good. I used to be a good kid. Not anymore. This doesn't even matter. Alright? This is over.

I move my head no. I want to cry but I hold my tears. The one that I can't hide is my cracking voice.

Rachel: You can't leave. You're my friend. Not you too. You promised.

Damien:I know. I promised I won't hurt you Rachel. And this is me keeping that promise. Go home. And don't come back. Or you're gonna get hurt.

He turns around and leaves running. When he leaves it starts raining. I don't realize that it's raining until I start running to my mom's car.

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Dear Irene,
Things are bad again. Like really bad. When you left I found comfort in Damien's company. Now he's gone. I really feel like he never existed. I keep texting him but he just ignores me . But I know the place where I kept seeing him. I will find it. I just have to get lost again.

I walk in the forest for a bit and then I arrive at my destination. I look at the place. It's not the place I remember. The place I was with Damien was green. A green prairie. With lavender on the ground. This is a place of dry grass. I sit down almost crying. I get up and see in front of me a man. The man from the night of the car crush.

??? :Rachel

Rachel:Who are you?

??? :I didn't expect to find you here.

Rachel:Who. Are. You?

??? :My name is James. I come in favor of Lucien Castle.

Rachel: Castle.

James: You see Lucien hates you. And he wants to kill you.

Rachel:My family will kill him.

James:Oh I don't think they will. Lucien will be disappointed of my killing you. But I can't help myself. You're so mouthwatering.

Rachel:Don't. You don't know-

With his vamp speed he comes closer

James: Shh. Shh. I'm doing you a kindness. Lucien plans on killing you slowly. Painfully. Whereas I'll make it quick. I promise. You will feel nothing.

He raises his hand. I close my eyes.

James:I can't believe it.

I open my eyes and look at the same way he does. A wolf at the size of a bear is growling to us. I widen my eyes while James leaves running. The wolves go after him and one wolf stands in front of me. He looks at me in the eyes. So do I. Then he goes after James. I leave running too to the opposite direction. I panic. I run as fast as I could.

I stop to catch a breath. I sit against a tree. I can't breathe. I put my hand against my chest. Panic attack. I've had enough of those since Irene died. When I was spending time with Damien it got better but when he left they came back. I take deep breaths. After a while I relax.