YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

18

Claire's POV

I woke up feeling disoriented, the remnants of a vivid dream fading from my mind. Blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, I glanced around the room. Everything seemed so normal, yet there was an undercurrent of tension that I couldn't shake.

As I tried to piece together what had happened, the events of the previous day came rushing back. My heart began to race as I remembered the conversation with my mother and Selene—how they had revealed things about themselves that seemed too fantastical to be real. Vampires and witches? It had to be some sort of elaborate joke, a misunderstanding. But the sincerity in their eyes, the weight of their words... it didn't feel like a joke.

Panic started to rise in my chest. I shifted in bed, glancing around the room, half-expecting everything to look different, to reflect the absurd revelations. But everything was the same as always. My eyes landed on Selene, sitting in a chair by the window, her gaze focused on me with a mix of concern and something deeper, something almost... tender.

As our eyes met, a chill ran down my spine. Memories of those nights where I felt watched, the gold eyes I thought were just figments of my imagination... they were real. Selene had been watching me. My breath hitched, and a wave of fear crashed over me. How could I have been so naive? How could I have missed the signs?

"Claire," Selene said softly, standing up and moving closer. Her voice was gentle, but I could hear the underlying emotion—worry, sadness, maybe even fear. "Are you okay?"

I recoiled slightly, unable to hide the fear that was now bubbling up. "This... this can't be real," I stammered, shaking my head. "It has to be a nightmare or a prank... Vampires? Witches? It's not possible!"

Selene's face fell, her eyes darkening with hurt. "I know it's hard to believe," she began, trying to reach out to me, but I flinched away.

"No," I whispered, hugging my knees to my chest. "This isn't... I can't... How could you...?"

My voice trailed off, unable to form coherent thoughts. The room felt too small, too stifling. I felt trapped, like I was in some bizarre alternate reality. My breathing quickened, and I could feel the beginnings of a panic attack setting in.

Seeing my distress, my mom hurried over, her face full of concern. "Claire, sweetie, calm down," she soothed, trying to place a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. We're here to help you understand. I know it's a lot to take in."

"Understand?" I snapped, my voice rising in pitch. "Understand what? That you're a witch and Selene's a vampire? That everything I thought I knew about my life was a lie? How am I supposed to understand that?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as the reality of the situation crashed over me. My mother's face, usually so calm and composed, was now etched with worry and sadness. She glanced at Selene, who looked devastated, her usual confidence shattered. The sight of her so vulnerable only made me feel worse.

My mom tried again, her voice softer. "Claire, please, just take a deep breath. We didn't want to scare you. We just... we wanted to protect you."

I shook my head, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Protect me? From what? The truth? I don't even know who you are anymore!"

The room was thick with tension, the air heavy with unsaid words. I could see the pain in both their eyes, but I couldn't shake the fear and confusion clouding my mind. Everything felt wrong, twisted.

Selene finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never wanted to hurt you, Claire. I... I care about you more than anything."

I looked away, unable to meet her eyes. The weight of everything was crushing, and I felt like I was drowning. I needed space, time to think, to process. 

Devin's POV

Sitting in my study, I stared blankly at the wall, the remnants of last night's drink still sitting on the desk. The glass was empty, but the bitterness of the alcohol lingered in my mouth, much like the bitterness of my thoughts. My worthless son, Mark, was missing. No doubt, he'd run off, too cowardly to face the consequences of his failures.

The room was silent except for the faint ticking of the clock. I had always known Mark was weak, unable to live up to the family's expectations. But this time, he had outdone himself, disappearing without a trace. I gritted my teeth, frustration boiling over.

He had one job—to secure the alliance. He was meant to stay close to the girl to ensure she could lead us to her mother, who knew too much about me and my family.

As I mulled over my thoughts, the door to my study burst open. One of my guards entered, his face pale and tense. "Sir," he said urgently, holding up a single shoe. "We believe Mark has been kidnapped. This was found near the place he was last seen."

For a moment, I was stunned into silence. The shoe was unmistakably Mark's, scuffed and dirty from his careless nature. My mind raced, trying to comprehend the implications. "Kidnapped?" I repeated, struggling to mask my shock. "Who would...?"

The guard looked as bewildered as I felt. "We don't know, sir. But it seems serious. Should we take further action?"

I stared at the shoe, anger and confusion churning in my gut. This was unexpected, and it complicated everything. "Find out who did this," I ordered, my voice cold and commanding. 

As the guard nodded and left, I sat back in my chair, a dark cloud settling over me. Mark was more than just a failure; he was a liability. But now, his disappearance posed a new problem—one that I couldn't afford to ignore.

I needed to find out who had taken him and why. And I needed to do it fast. The game was changing, and I needed to stay one step ahead.