Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 39

Thalia woke up the next morning to a knock on the door. She glanced down at Emma's still sleeping form before carefully sliding herself out of her hold, walking over to the door. She quietly opened the door to find Damien there holding two plates of food. She smiled softly and let him in before walking over to Emma and waking her up. She wasn't very happy to be woken up but she took the food Damien offered her, somewhat reluctantly. Thalia took her food as well and they ate in silence.

While she ate, Thalia noticed that Damien kept glancing at her as if he wanted to say something to her. "What is it?" She asked him.

"We'll talk outside whenever you're ready." He replied. She merely nodded in reply, despite the overwhelming sense of nervousness that fell over her.

Thalia looked over to Emma. She was picking at her food and Thalia frowned. She hasn't seen her friend so reluctant to eat since she first moved in with the ginger. It worried her. "Emma," Thalia called out softly, causing her to look up at her fellow apprentice. Thalia furrowed her brows at the emotionless look on her face. Emma had put her walls up and is refusing to show any emotion. "Eat your food," Thalia continued, "please." She sighed and stared into her friend's eyes as she took a small nibble of food. "All of it." Thalia stated. She merely raised a brow in reply.

She was challenging the ginger. "If you don't eat all of your food willingly, I make you even if it means shoving down your throat." She growled under her breath, scowling at Thalia before turning back to her food and took small bites. Thalia watched her carefully, knowing that she'd try and hide food so she wouldn't have to eat it. She must have known that Thalia was watching her because she didn't try anything and ate her food without further complaint.

Not long after they finished eating, Mika, Irene, and Iridessa came into Emma's room and tried to cheer her up as Damien and Thalia slipped out. Damien and Thalia stood beside each other, neither of them knowing where to start with this conversation. They both knew that they had to decide what to do with the offer Diana gave him, but they were nervous about what the other would say.

She looked up at Damien just as he turned to look at her. She gazed into his eyes, seeing a hopeful fire burn within them. His answer was clear while hers wasn't. She bit her lip nervously as Damien took her hands, holding them to his chest. "Would you be upset with me... if I went through with it?" He asked her softly.

Thalia gripped onto Damien's hands, clinging for something to soothe her, making her feel at ease. She was completely torn. She didn't want to lose him, but she wanted him to be happy. It would be selfish of her to deny him his one chance at something he has wanted for as long as she'd known him. In the end it came down to, if he accepts the risks, she'd want to support him. On top of that, she promised him two years ago that she would figure out a way to make him human and she was not the kind of person to go back on a promise.

Thalia took a deep breath before giving him a small smile, "If it makes you happy, then do it." She stared into Damien's eyes as she gripped his hands and hugged them to her lovingly. She could see the pure joy in Damien's eyes as he stared down at her, tears lacing the edges. "I love you no matter what you are." She continued, "If you truly wish to be human, then let's do this." Before she let Damien reply, however, Thalia brought his hands to her lips, kissing over them with a now worried expression. She was still scared. She could lose him. "But please... please... don't you dare die on me. I can't bear to live without you..."

Damien nodded and leaned over, kissing her forehead gingerly, "I will do everything I can to survive it..." She nodded in response, feeling slightly less anxious from his words. She knew, however, that despite his reassurance, there was still a high chance things could go poorly. She just had to hope that things would end well.