The Curse of Love (The Hybrid and The Wolf - Book 4)

Chapter 20 - Where Nothing Stays Buried

Last night, after Cami's death, there was a earthquake that assaulted the city. I barely took notice because I was so deep in grief. I still am.

She's gone. My friend is gone because of me . . .

I was standing on the balcony in Klaus' room, staring off with a numb expression. I didn't pay any attention to the people walking the streets below and I definitely didn't hear Klaus walk up behind me.

I jumped when he touched my shoulder and then I looked at him.

"You alright, love?" He asked, concerned.

I was silent as I walked past him, back into the bedroom.  Klaus followed me.

"Nina."

I ignored him as I continued to walk towards the door.

"Nina," he sighed, frustrated before vamp-speeding in front of me.

I stopped and looked up at him, my face blank. "What?"

"Talk to me," he pleaded.

"What do you want me to say?" I asked.

"Anything," he expressed. "Instead of walking around and shutting everybody out. The last time you did this was when Jackson died."

I rolled my eyes and attempted to move past him, but he blocked my path.

I looked at him, unimpressed. "Move."

He shook his head. "No."

"Fine," I glared at him before grabbing him by the shirt and throwing him across the room.

Klaus crashed into an end table, breaking it upon impact and I heard him groan as I continued to walk out. I didn't get very far because he vamp-sped in front of me and blocked my path.

"You can't keep doing this, Nina," he told me.

"Doing what?" I asked.

"Shutting down and running every time you lose someone."

I shook my head. "How can you even look at me right now?"

Klaus tilted his head in confusion.

"She's gone, Klaus!" I told him, angrily. "Cami is dead because of me!"

"It wasn't your fault, love," he replied, sympathetically as he took a step towards me.

"Oh, stop!" I started to yell, distressed. "Stop saying it's not my fault! It is my fault! All of this is my fault! It was suppose to be me!"

Klaus looked at me, bewildered.

"Lucien was coming after me," I confessed. "He was going to bite me, but Cami saved me and he bit her instead. That's why she died! I'm the reason you lost your best friend! I snuffed out your light! My darkness consumed her because she got too close to me, just like everybody else in my life!"

Klaus was so overwhelmed by what I was telling him, that he was speechless.

"I was just starting to move past Jackson's death and now this . . ." I angrily wiped the tears that fell. "It's no wonder I've been alone most of my life. I'm toxic. All I do is hurt the people I love, so . . . maybe it's better if we don't do this right now."

Klaus furrowed his brows as he looked at me. "Don't do what?"

"This," I gestured to him and then myself. "Us."  

Once he understood what I was saying, he shook his head. "No."

"Klaus . . ."

"No!" He yelled. "I'm not letting you do this!"