Love Bites™ (Harry Styles)

Chapter Four

A/N: I am really anticipating your reactions on this chapter, so please let me knownwhat you think! This was SO much fun to write. :) Enjoy!

The sun was starting to go down and man was I hungry! I got to the kitchen and saw the man I'd hoped to never see again standing there, Eli. My stomach started doing twists, and not the good kind. I actually felt like I might be physically sick. He flashed his devilish smile at me right before I turned and ran out of the room. Another emotion hit me like a ton of bricks; fear.

Tears started to brim my eyes as I tried desperately to find the wooden black crow door. Once I found it I banged on it repeatedly and almost hit Harry when he opened it. The tears slipped out of my eyes and started cascading down my cheeks. Harry looked down upon me with worry overtaking his beautiful features.

Harry lugged me inside his room and shut the door. I ran into the comfort of his arms as he wrapped them around me. One of his hands rubbed my back trying to calm me down whilst the other held me close lovingly and protectively. If only time could stay frozen in this moment forever.

"What happened, beautiful?" he asked me softly.

I took in a shaky breath, "H-he scares me."

"I should've never told you..."

"N-no. It's n-not th-that."

"Then what is it?"

"The m-man-mannequin."

"Shh, calm down, love."

Harry carried me over to his bed where he held me tightly in his lap. Even though he was being compassionate toward me, I could sense the anger boiling up inside him. Once I'd calmed down a pretty sufficient amount, I leaned up and kissed his cheek. Then it occurred to me that I always run to Harry. Why don't I ever run to the others?

Before I had time to think about it, Harry set me down on the bed and got up. He placed a hand on the door knob, but I interrupted him. "Where are you going?"

"To talk some sense into that bastard. No one makes you cry and gets away with it like that."

"Harry, p-"

It was too late, he was already out of the room and walking down the hall. I quickly scurried off of the mattress and out the door, chasing after Harry. Sooner than I would've liked, we were in the confines of the kitchen with the hazel-eyed devil. He seemed pleased with our entrance and even the makeup running down my face. He was a sick, sick man. Harry got right up in his face, making me very nervous.

"Why did you show her that!? You made her scared!" he yelled.

"She needed to know," Eli shrugged, sipping a cup of tea.

"Not like that!"

He pulled the cup away from his lips, "Better now than never."

This really set Harry off. He took one look at the hot contents of the coffee mug and poured it on him. Eli's eyes grew a dark shade of red, anger filling his facial features. I stood by the door with my eyes held wide open. I was praying that Eli wouldn't retaliate too seriously. Unexpectedly, his expression went back to a happy one, seeming unfazed by the former scenario. He glanced back at me with that smug smile that I despised with my life.

"You should know that I'll be departing soon to go to Florence. Ambrogio and I have some unfinished business we need to take care of. I will expect you and the other four to keep a close eye on Callidora and make sure she stays safe. I do not wish to see a scratch on my bride-to-be the day of our wedding, which, by the way, will be the day I return. Now go, I need to speak with her privately."

Harry looked at me one last time before reluctantly exiting. His eyes held something of sadness and fear, things I'd never thought he would experience being a vampire and all.

Eli approached me smoothly, almost like a snake with graceful unnoticed movements. "Now, Callidora, I need you to do me a favour."

Harry's POV

It had been a good hour of me pacing the length of my room back and forth. Eliodoro could not, should not, and will not take my Callidora away from me; away from us. We would need to find a way to stop this courtship before it's too late. If only I could find out how to contact the strongest, oldest, most wise lamia of all; Ambrogio.

As I was pondering the execution of the dreadful Eliodoro, a bloodcurdling scream filled my ears. Right at that moment I raced down the hallway, my heart beating faster than ever. When I entered the room of Callidora I felt almost devastated; I wanted to cry and I never cry. She held a pocket knife in one hand and was continually slashing at her opposing wrist. The other lads came and saw what she was doing. Some of them started to tear up, but I just stood there speechless. Was she trying to commit suicide? Had life with us for just three days really been that horrid?

I dropped to my knees in front of her, my heart pleading her to stop. "Callie, look at me," I begged. Nothing. All she did was switch hands and began slashing the other wrist. The lads left, unable to handle all the blood, but I was going to stay and fight off my urges as long as it took.

Right before my eyes her wrists were bleeding out profusely and the other was beginning to. "Please, love. I'll do anything, just stop!"

She looked up at me, seizing the cutting. But the look in her eyes was not sadness nor fear, it was hate... Anger. Before I had time to register it, her hand collided with my cheek, slapping me pretty hard. Now I was furious. This was not her. Someone put her up to this... Eli compelled her. I took the pocket knife from her hand and hurled it at the window, shattering the glass. She began to cry and scream. She was losing it.

"No! NO! I NEED TO KEEP CUTTING! NO!"

My heart broke into millions of pieces at her words. He compelled her to kill herself. I lifted her body off the ground and forced her to stand against the wall. My strength was much more than hers, so I easily kept her pinned as I looked deeply into her eyes. I needed to find her soul, that was the only way to stop the compulsion from a vampire as strong as Eliodoro.

After what felt like hours I'd finally found the bright, burning soul inside of her. I closed my eyes and concentrated on connecting with it. A loud gasp was my sign that I'd gotten through. She was back.

I let her stand on her own. She was still in the state of shock as I tore two pieces of fabric from the sheet of her bed. I wrapped them securely round her wrists as I looked up at her. She attentively watched every single move I made and I knew she was permanently traumatised. Getting her to trust any of us was going to be a challenge; even for me.

As I glanced round the room I noticed blood was everywhere. We'd need to clean this up straight away. A clapping sound slightly frightened me as I finished tying the last makeshift bandage.

"Bravo, Harrius, bravo. I see you've aced my test. Now that I know she will be safe, I shall be on my way to Florence," said non other than the voice of Eli.

Perfect, a way to express my dire hatred for him. I broke the wooden bed post and went to stake him through the back as he walked out. Eli swiftly turned around and caught the makeshift stake with ease. He pried the wood from my hand and shoved it into my abdomen. I cowered back in pain, falling to the floor. Eli walked up to me and whispered in my ear.

"You think you're so strong, don't you? I bet you think you're more powerful than me too. Let me let you in on a little secret, you're not and you never will be. Callidora is mine you little bastard."

He stood back up and straightened his clothing. I looked up at him just in time for another speech.

"Mark my words, Harrius, if you ever try a stunt like that again the stake will be in your heart, not your kidney."