Inner Darkness (Book 2 of Dragonfire series)

Chapter 12

Professor Waylon is leaning over me

Cullen is sitting next to my bed holding my hand

Alfio is placing a vase with flowers next to my bed

Stella is sleeping in the same chair next to my bed.

I blinked a few times before fully opening my eyes. Stella was sleeping peacefully next to me. I closed my eyes and took a deep sigh. Why can't I remember anything? Think Alena, think! Cullen walked into the infirmary and froze when he saw I was awake.

"Alena..." He quickly walked over and embraced me in a much needed hug. His arms wrapped around me tightly, holding me together. I reached my arms around him and felt the muscles in his back. I took a deep breath, remembering his husky vanilla scent. After a few minutes he pulled away and gave me a weak smile. "How do you feel? Do you remember anything?"

"I feel ok, but I have no recollection of what happened. Why am I here?" Cullen lowered his gaze for a few minutes before opening his mouth to speak.

"Alena you're awake!" Our heads snapped to Stella who had finally woken up. She gave me a hug and sat on the other side of my bed.

"Stella what happened to me?" A serious look spread over her face. She was about to answer when Professor Waylon walked in and interrupted. Will someone just tell me what happened??

"Cullen, Stella, it was nice for you to visit Alena but I think it's time you should both leave. I think it would be best for me to explain the situation to her myself." They both nodded and left the room without saying a word. Waylon sat down in the chair next to me and rested his arms on his knees. "I'm not exactly sure what caused it, but you somehow triggered another side of your power to come out." I cocked my head to the side as he continued. "You transformed into someone, something, that wasn't you. It was....a darker version of you." I sat there in shock at his words.

"So, will it happen again?"

"No, as long as you don't trigger it, but don't worry. I have some exercises we can do that should help you control......that side of your powers." I nodded slowly and dazed out until he put his hand over mine. My eyes snapped up to meet his. "It's ok Alena, you will get through this." He gave me a small smile before getting up and leaving. I also decided to return to my room and shower.

I laid in bed, desperate to remember the events from the previous day. I racked my brain for anything, but came up blank every time. Finally, I gave up and allowed myself to drift into a deep sleep.

I am in a cave lit only by fire. I look down and do not recognize myself. My boots, along with the rest of my outfit, are black. The fire blazing around my hand is also black color. My once long blonde hair is now black as well. Rather than shock, I feel comfortable in it. A grin spreads across my face as I sense his presence.

"You look beautiful," he tells me as we slowly approach each other. He grabs my hand with the flame and intertwined our fingers together, completely untouched by it. His other hand wrapped around my back, pulling me into him.

"It's nice to see you again Damien," I whispered as I leaned in for the most heated kiss I've even experienced.

I woke up the next morning feeling exhausted, like I had done a cross fit workout all night. I groaned and slowly rolled out of bed. I walked into the bathroom to change and brush my teeth when I discovered something very disturbing. A large hand-shaped bruise was I the middle of my lower back. Oh my gosh what happened to me? I quickly put a shirt on and tried to forget it, scared of what it might have been from.