Paradigm Shift [On-going]

Beautiful torture

* * *
Dean

Jasmine had become a regular visitor to our hotel room ever since our first meeting, and Seth's words played heavily on my mind every time she was around. I kept my distance from her and had even started smoking again, so that I had an excuse to leave the room. The cigarettes had no negative health effects on me anymore, but the nicotine actually helped curve my cravings for blood. Spending time around Jasmine was difficult, and I didn't expect the wave of emotion that washed over me every time I heard her laugh. Watching her interact with Seth made me envious. If I didn't know any different, I would think Seth was human. He wasn't affected by her at all, and even Roman seemed to grow comfortable with her presence. It made me feel like the odd one out. We were all vampires, yet I couldn't do what they were doing, and it was frustrating.

Despite my best efforts, as the weeks passed by. I could feel myself slowly growing attached to her. Whenever she wasn't around, I missed her. She was torture, but I was becoming obsessed. I was obsessed with the object of my biggest temptation, and it was almost masochistic. She made me feel alive again, but I feared what these feelings meant for her. She tortured me without even trying. First with her scent, which was by far the strongest of all the aspects of her torture. Through her beauty, which held my gaze and captivated me whenever she was around and through her inability to kick Damien to the curb. I had listened when she talked about her relationship with Damien. It wasn't a conventional relationship, and they'd started out as friends with benefits, on the understanding that if either of them found someone, they were serious about, the arrangement would end. However, Damien had promised her she was his main priority and Jasmine had hoped they could become a couple. She had given him another chance after what had happened at the Hall of Fame ceremony and she seemed smitten with him.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I'd seen her backstage with him. Heard his devious thoughts as she cuddled him, and I felt the urge to intervene. Not her I'd thought. He doesn't get to do that to her. I had no reason to feel that way. Yet I was annoyed and angry. She was nothing but an acquisition to him, but her thoughts when she was around him were a lot more genuine.

She had seen me and was uncertain as I approached her

"Hi" I mumbled. "How are you?"

My question left her bewildered. I could see it in the slight crease in-between her eyes. Her heart beat sped up slightly.

She moved away from Damien to speak to me. "Can i ask you something?"

I nodded

"Have I upset you somehow?" She asked

Yet again, her scent was abusing me, but I gritted my teeth.

"No" I answered "why would you think that?"

"Well, it seems like you're doing your best to avoid me" she explained

I could feel Damien's emotions as he watched us interact. He was jealous and insecure and the thought of that pleased me.

"You're right I have" I admitted ''and I apologise"

I knew deep down that Seth was right. I felt something for her, but I wouldn't allow myself to act on those feelings. She was too pure, too kind. She didn't deserve to have her life tainted by someone like me.

"Truth is...I'm not the kind man you want to be friends with" I explained. "Trust me. It's best if we just stay away from each other"

She huffed, and I could feel her irritation as she looked at me. "Best for who? You or me?"

"Both of us" I answered

"I'm the only person who can decide what's best for me...but if that's what you want" she dismissed before making her way back towards Damien, who made a show of kissing her in front of me

I didn't rise to his bait. In reality, he was no threat to me, and I was confident that he would eventually trip up and show his true colors.

Seth was waiting for me when I returned to the hotel room.

''Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"

"Of course I am Seth. Because my whole life evolves around you" I replied sarcastically.

"Why are you pushing her away?" Seth asked.

"Because it's better than the alternative" I explained.

Seth rolled his eyes as he walked away and I saw Roman, who had overheard the whole conversation, make his way towards me.

"Don't tell him I said this but I think he's right"

I glared at him. "Please tell me you're joking?"

"Ever since she came into our lives you've been a lot happier" Roman revealed. "I may not have your power, but I know you!"

I didn't realise I had changed at all, but I also knew that Roman wouldn't lie to me. I could trust what he said.

"I think she's given me something to focus on and I won't deny that she's had a certain effect on me" I admitted. "I won't let Seth's vision come true, though. She deserves better"

Roman shook his head. "Those feelings. If they are there. Will eventually take over you weather you like it or not"

"Her scent. The effect it has on me is terrifying" I shared "It takes all my self control not to lunge for her throat anytime she's near me"

"I've noticed" Roman replied with a smile

"How are you and Seth not affected by her the same way I am?" I asked

"I think Seth can be around her because he drinks human blood so his thirst is fully satisfied" Roman answered "and capsules and gummies are enough to help me stay in control around her"

"I don't get why she affects me so much more..." I said, thinking out loud

"Seth has a theory on that" Roman adds

"Of course he does" I sneered

"He thinks you have such a strong physical reaction towards her because she was meant for you"

I laughed. "Where did he get that from? It sounds like something out of a teenage romance novel!"

"Well, I don't think much of his theory, but like I said before. I think her being in our life is a positive thing"

I couldn't argue with that, but I would continue to keep my distance. I couldn't bear to be without her completely, but I could still look out for her from afar.