Tempting Darkness

Chapter 16

Christian & Isabelle

Christian

A week later.

Why isn't she waking up? Fuck, fuck, fuck! How could Danielle have been so careless that she left Isabelle alone? How could she be so stupid to leave her vulnerable like that? She's been like this since she came out of surgery. I promised her. I promised her that I wouldn't let anything or any-fucking-one hurt Isabelle. And I fucking failed! 

I should've never let Isabelle out of my sight. I pace around the hospital room, waiting for her to wake. I slump into the couch, my face in my palms. This is so fucking frustrating! One promise, Christian. You had one fucking promise to keep. My conscience sings to me. I know that! I shouldn't have been so careless. I should've sent more guards with them. I shou—

I hear a groan. I instantly look up. Fucking finally! Isabelle is beginning to stir. Thank fuck. I walk over to her and sit on the stool beside her bed. I put on my gentleman facade and force a smile at her while stroking her hair, trying to comfort her as she opens her eyes. She stares at me for a few moments but then her eyes widen as if she's scared to death. It's like the day we first met. More like first saw each other. She was scared. Terrified. Even now she is. The look in her eyes shows how terrified she is as if I'm going to kill her.

"Calm down, Isabelle. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise. I'll never hurt you," I say, trying to soothe her. But of course, it doesn't work. She's still looking at me with eyes filled with fear. "Relax, sweetheart. I won't bite." I give her my most appealing smile. It's unreal. Fake. But it seems to soothe her ever so slightly. 

"I don't want to hurt you, Isabelle. I'm only trying to protect you. I swear."

"Why?" She asks, her voice shaky.

"Because..." I pause, trying to think of the right words to tell her. "Let's just say I made a promise to an old friend of mine that I'd protect you no matter what," I tell her the truth but don't mention who. I can't. It's not my secret to tell. She tries to sit up which causes her to shriek. "Don't do that. You'll hurt yourself. I don't know if you remember but you were shot, Isabelle."

"All I remember is fucking pain." Her voice is shaky again.

I get up and walk over to the coffee table in front of the couch. "You've been asleep for a week. Coma would be the more appropriate word. You lost a shitton of blood." I pour myself a glass of whiskey. "The bullet almost hit your heart. You got lucky it only damaged your shoulder. That's the upper side. The downside, you may not be able to use that shoulder fully anymore. I hope you're not left-handed because that would do some serious damage to your education."

"I'm not."

"Good. Oh, and, speaking of which, Dani told me about you wanting to go to University. I have gotten you into one of Chicago's best Universities, Sundrop Academy. And, don't worry. You owe me nothing." I smile at her again. "As soon as you recover, we'll leave for Chicago. Although, Danielle won't. I need to go out somewhere, I'll be back tomorrow. Get rest. Good night, Isabelle." I turn around, advancing towards the door.

"Christian?" I stop and turn to face her. "I hope I can call you that? Um, thank you. For what you're doing. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, sweetheart. You're welcome. And, yeah, you can."

***

Isabelle

As soon as I recover, Christian and I fly to Chicago. He takes me to his huge penthouse and shows me my bedroom. It's bigger than that in the manor. "If you need anything, come straight to me, okay? And all those shopping bags on the bed were ordered for you. Let me know if you don't like something or if there's a size issue," He says and leaves me alone in my new bedroom, closing the door behind him. There are a hell lot of bags and boxes here. One by one, I open all of them. They're all shoes, clothes, jewelry, perfume, make-up, and everything a woman could ever possibly need. One box is placed on the vanity table and is gift-wrapped. I open it and gasp. It's a new phone. The latest model, that is.

"Do you like that?" Christian asks. I jump at his sudden voice.

"Christian, I... I can't take all this."

"Well, good thing I wasn't asking if you want it or not the

|en. Besides, you couldn't possibly want your cousin, Ivy's hand-me-downs." How did he even know about that? "They're gifts, Isabelle. Keep them. And, just in case, my phone number is on that phone along with Dani's." And he leaves again.

Why is he doing all this? Who the hell has he made a promise to? Does he care about me genuinely or is it some sick ploy? What is going on? Why does the man who is so ruthless care about me? Why is he being so kind and generous to me when no one in the last decade ever has? Well, except Lucy. Questions swirl around in my head. 

I stare at the things he's bought me. The clothes and jewelry are of course beautiful. The perfumes smell so amazing and intoxicating. The shoes and bags are perfect too. And they're all very expensive and from highly luxurious brands. How am I supposed to take it? No one's ever done so much for me except my parents when they were alive. The phone Christian gifted me buzzes as a text arrives.

Christian: There's one gun under your pillow, one in the bathroom closet, and one in your closet in the last drawer in the left corner. I suppose you know how to use it. If anything happens, use it and text me. Don't panic. That'll get you nowhere. I'm going out for a while. And, those things are all yours. I'm not taking no for an answer.

Isabelle: I... I honestly don't know how to thank you for it all. Why are you doing all this for a person you don't even know?

Christian: I told you. I made a promise.

Isabelle: To whom?

Christian: Can't tell you just yet. Don't dwell too much on that though. Just know that I'll never hurt you.

I'm still skeptical about him. I don't know how to trust him. I want to when he tells me he just wants to protect me but he's still the most cruel and ruthless man. He's the Devil. How am I supposed to trust him? How am I supposed to trust that he isn't plotting something? I'm scared of what the future is about to bring. I'm scared of Christian and what his intentions are. I'm scared of my skepticism becoming reality. I am scared of finding out my fears may become true. I'm bloody terrified...

***

PLEASE READ!

Hey, guys! I hope you're enjoying reading T.D. I know I've said this too many times, but I can't help the pressure my society puts me under when it comes to education. I really am sorry for the long delays. Also, T.D. will now be undergoing a lot of editing since the book is very sloppily written. But I'll try posting every Tuesday, if not for T.D then at least for Game of Love. 

For those of you who haven't read it, it's a story about a runaway werewolf princess and the vampire crown prince. 

Two people who're supposed to hate each other falling in love. But maybe the Princess, Amara is just too naive to think that the Crown Prince, Nicholas, who has the most twisted heart in all of the land, has pure intentions towards her. But forces are conspiring against them. Forces that may as well bring devastating war to their Kingdoms. They could be each other's salvation... or they may annihilate each other.