His dark side

Chapter 5

Daemon found her hands folded around her knees with her face tucked underneath, faintly crying beside a birch tree that was a few yards from her house. Curious to know the cause of her sadness, he slowly walks towards her, placing his hands on her shoulder as her name escaped his lips.

She flinches with fear at the sudden touch, but regains her composure after seeing the person standing in front of her.

The ends of her hair seemed wet with her tears, and eyes, red and puffy, it seemed as if someone had taken the spirit out of her. The face that glowed upon seeming him was now replaced with a depressing and bleak countenance.

His heart feels a stab of pain upon seeing her condition. "Scarlett," he whispers worriedly. "What's wrong?"

Those doleful eyes of her watching him in desperation, as if she was trying so hard to hold something in, wrapping her arms around his neck, they burst with tears once again.

This gesture of Scarlett's caught Daemon by surprise as he sat there with his knees folded and hands resting on the soft patch of grass underneath.

"My grandma..." she spoke between sobs while burying her face in his chest. "She's gone..."

Daemon didn't know what was more surprising. The fact that her grandmother had left this world or the way she was holding onto him so tightly. He had always been lost in his own thoughts, in his cruel past, and didn't have any experience in comforting someone or being comforted.

After he didn't reply for a long time, Scarlett realized how he hadn't moved a muscle from the moment she hugged him. Lost in her misery, she had forgotten how uncomfortable Daemon must be feeling.

"I'...I'm sorry," she starts withdrawing her arms in embarrassment when Daemon does something so unexpected that leaves her in astonishment.

Placing his hands on her small back he whispers, "its okay....let it all out."

Bewildered at first, she finally told him everything. From the time she had received the phone call of her grandmother saying her last goodbyes and her begging in agony for her to stay strong, till the moment her mother crying between tears, "I'm sorry, Scarlett."

And all the while Daemon thought to himself, how he had longed for someone to comfort him like this when he felt as broken as her. It felt soothing, hugging her like this, as her warmth flowed into him.

After she had calmed down a bit, with her patting her back gently in constant intervals, he lifted her head with his thumb and forefinger to face his. A sharp, brisk sensation runs through his hands.

"You are cold," he says. Scarlett didn't know how to respond and looks anywhere but towards him awkwardly.

Unsure of what to do, Daemon finally removes his jacket and hands it to her.

"No Daemon," she protests with chattering teeth and hands him back his jacket. "It's fine."

Leaning close to her ear, he whispers, "You sure?"

His hot breath tickles her ear as she slips into a dreamy trance. By the time she regained herself, her arms were already covered by a warm jacket while Daemon stood beside her gazing off into the night.

"Thank you," she says her voice barely audible.

"It's getting late...Scarlett, can you walk?" he asks eventually, facing her.

Trying to get up, she pushes her hands against the ground but finds herself unable to lift her body. Moving her feet, she realizes she couldn't feel them as they were numb from the gelid weather. Eyes filled with fear, she shakes her head.