Crimson Love

Chapter Twenty-one

Xander's POV

I was really worried about Ellie, so I decided to stay with her that night to make sure she would be ok, but not even in sleep could the demons leave her alone.

She twisted and turned calling out my name. I tried to wake her up but she only called louder. Her mom came in, and I quickly disappeared into a corner of the room. She shook Ellie awake, calling her name softly.

Ellie finally woke up, drenched in sweat, eyes battling fear. I watched as her mother rubbed her back and talked soothingly in her ear, but Ellie didn't seem to ease up at all.

"Xander I know your there. You can come out. I'm not that oblivious."

I slowly stepped out from the shadows and quickly made my way over to Ellie. Sitting down I pulled her close, and ran my fingers through her matted hair.

"Shhhhh Ellie. . . it's going to be alright," I whispered.

Her mom kissed Ellie once on the forehead before departing into the hallway. Ellie began crying as soon as her mother left, and I felt her warm tears fall on my shoulder.

"Ellie what happened?" I asked her still holding her tightly.

"He. . .he was chasing me and he wouldn't leave me alone. . . He. . ." She trailed off into quiet sobs.

"Ellie, it's ok your safe. He can't get you here." I told her, pulling her into a hug.

"No Xander. . . he won't stop, not until he makes me his. . . forever," She lowered her voice to a whisper barely audible. Now she was really scaring me.

"Forever," she echoed again as she buried her face deeper in my chest.

Finally, she fell asleep, and I laid her down. Holding on to her, I encased myself around her. She would never be his. I would keep her safe, even if it's the last thing I do.

•

Waking up I tried to move out from under Ellie because I really had to pee, but she only snuggled closer to me.

I saw Ellie had begun to stir, so I laid back down. She moved closer to me and curled up again. I ran my fingers along her arm and I saw her smile. I kissed her forehead and she hugged me tightly.

"Ellie what happened last night?" I asked her.

She frowned and her face became worried and scared. I felt bad for asking so soon, but I need to know what was wrong. Why was she having such terrible nightmares now?

She lay there silently, and just before I was about to ask again, she answered in a hushed tone. "Xander, I want him dead. He won't leave me alone."

"I know. And I'll do anything to kill him. I promise I'm going to keep you safe."

She snuggled closer to me again, and I looked out the window, watching the sun rise. My eyes trailed around the room, as I ran my fingers through her hair. My eyes landed on her calendar hanging on the wall. Today's date was circled. It was her birthday.

"Hey sweetheart, happy birthday!" I said trying to smile.

"Wait is today the eleventh already?" She asked sitting up, rubbing her tired eyes. I nodded in response and she seemed to brighten up a little bit.

"Well, I guess I'm seventeen now!" She said jumping out of bed, suddenly alert and read for the day.

I smiled at her sudden change in mood. Of course I never really knew what it was like to truly age. Once a vampire turns 17 they just stop growing overall. And because I was born a vampire, at 17 I was done.