Inner Darkness (Book 2 of Dragonfire series)

Chapter 19

I must've had a dozen or so nightmares. I lost count of how many times I woke up screaming or transformed or my hand engulfed in flames. Thankfully, I had Cullen right next to me to calm me down. Finally at eight I made myself get out of bed and shower.

The hot water did wonders to my body as it ran down my back. I breathed in the steam and looked down at the dark bruises that covered my skin. Once my fingers looked like prunes, I shut the water off and wrapped a towel around myself. I walked up to the mirror and froze.

Behind me stood Damien with a dark look on his face. I quickly turned around, but saw no one behind me. My heart felt like it was going to explode from the sudden fear. I realized I was suddenly out of breath and tried to calm myself so I wasn't gasping for air. Cullen quickly opened the bathroom door and looked at me frantically.

"Are you alright? I can feel your anxiety through our bond." I just stared at him, lost for words.

"Uhh nothing I just..." I didn't want to lie to him but I didn't want to worry him either. Instead of further questioning it he embraced me in a hug.

"It's ok Alena, you're not in that cave anymore." He ran his hand over my wet hair, calming me down. Now that we were bonded, our emotions affected each other. I could feel his calmness wash over me, erasing all the panic I previously felt. I took a deep breath and slowly pulled away from him. I got dressed and put on a little mascara before going to Kokel's office.

I stood outside the door for at least five minutes before mustering up the courage to knock on his door. Within seconds Kokel opened the door and greeted me warmly. I sat in one of the leather chairs across from his desk as he spoke.

"Alena I am so relieved to have you back with us. I am so sorry about Professor Waylon, I should have known he was up to something." I shook my head in protest.

"Kokel you have no reason to feel guilty about this. We had no way to predict any of this happening. I'm just thankful my friends were able to..." I didn't exactly know how to finish my sentence, so I didn't. Kokel nodded as if he understood completely, which I believe he did.

"You are a pure soul Alena. Don't allow anyone to make you believe otherwise. You may not believe an old man like me, but I have a gift of knowing purity when I see it. I ask that you remember my words and keep them close to your heart." I smiled weakly and nodded as a few stray tears rolled down my face. I quickly wiped them away and left.

My body was exhausted from all the radical changes it had gone through in the past twenty-four hours. I returned to my room and climbed back into bed. I didn't know where Cullen went, but I was thankful to have time alone to think. As much as I loved being around Cullen, I felt like I couldn't think freely in his presence. I wasn't an expert when it came to the rules of being bonded. I didn't know if he could hear my thoughts, or at least get an idea of what I was thinking about. If he felt my guilt, then he would know something was up with me. I pulled my comforter up to my chin and allowed myself to drift into a dream.

I am reliving the night we came back from the caves. I am in my room with Cullen as things start to get heated. He pins me to the bed and places wet kisses for my mouth to my neck. He sits up for a moment to take off my shirt. After he throws it to the floor, he takes off his own. He pulls his shirt over his head, and reveals his true face. Damien's face replaces Cullen's, leaving me wide eyed in terror. He lowers himself back onto me and places kisses across my collarbone. I scream and try to fight him off, but somehow he is more powerful than me. He sits back up and holds my wrists against the bed above my head.

"You think you can just kill me and go on living a happy life? You are sadly mistaken fairy, your eternal punishment has just begun." His face contorts into the Phoenix and opens its beak before consuming my face.