Inner Darkness (Book 2 of Dragonfire series)

Chapter 21

Cullen's POV

I stared through the glass, unable to take my eyes off her limp body. She occasionally twitched, but nothing too extreme.

Her arms suddenly flew up around her head and laid flat against the table, as if they were being held down. I quickly glanced back at Mr. Galtero and saw him casually sitting at his desk. Before he could stop me I ran into the room and up to the table to see Alena. Bruises encircled her wrists like bracelets. Her body shook, as if she were trying to escape something. Someone.

I cupped her face in my hands, hoping it would somehow help her. She abruptly stopped, and for a moment, I though she was dead. I grabbed her wrist and felt for a pulse. A gentle thump put my mind at ease. As if to provoke me more, a deep red scratch spread across her cheek. She yelled out, scaring me half to death. That must have caught Mr. Galtero's attention because he suddenly burst into the room.

"What's going on?" His voice bellowed throughout the room.

"I-I don't know, these marks keep appearing across her body." On cue, a bruise formed across her right temple and a scrape formed on her right arm. I looked at him frantically, hoping he could end it.

"She is fighting him. She needs to do this Cullen, it's the only way."

"Fighting? By the looks of these marks its more like she's getting her ass kicked. Can he—" I couldn't even say the words. I couldn't even consider the thought of her–an end. Death is not an option, I won't allow it. I need her.

She suddenly transformed into her faerie outfit. Yes Alena, fight back!

"He shouldn't be able to kill her, but I've never done this myself to know for sure." I placed my hand on her head and stroked her hair in effort to calm her and me. Her body slid off the table and collapsed on the floor violently. I ran to the other side and watched as her body was lifted off the ground.

I looked to Mr. Galtero, panicked and unsure. "What should we do? Is she flying?"

He stood with wide eyes, just as shocked as I was. "Her neck..." I looked to her throat and saw a bruise forming in the shape of a hand, as if something were holding her up by her neck. She was suddenly released, but I caught her before she hit the floor. She started coughing and gasping for air. I looked up at Mr. Galtero angrily.

"THIS is how you try to help her? It's clear Damien was just strangling her! Wake her up before it goes any further!" He stared absently at Alena's limp body.

"We can't, she has to come out of it on her own." I shook my head, angry for allowing this to even take place. I looked down at Alena and lifted her up so her ear was right by my mouth.

"Alena, please wake up! We can find another way, I need you to listen to me. Get out while you can!"

Ok so my goal was to have this book finished by Christmas but I don't think that's gonna happen. Oh well, I'm already thinking about book 3 ;)