A Vampires Lover - COMPLETE

Chapter Sixteen

Lara's POV

As I sit on the bed, my forehead resting against Byron's, my eyes closed, his scent swirling around me, engulfing me in a gentle cocoon, I try to fight the harsh whispers threatening to consume my mind, whispers of hate, betrayal and insults. I feel trapped in my own skin, my mind a broken record of repeating phrases that just wont stop, Walter's voice a relentless reminder of my capture. But the vampire knelt before me doesnt seem like the same creature Walter described, ive spent enough time now in this underground lair to calm my jumpy nerves a touch, I still jump at every closing door or loud footsteps but it doesnt terrify me anymore. Is Byron really what Walter described or is Walter actually the bad guy in all of this? Thats the main question I just cannot answer, the pain in my head gets too much from trying to figure it out, the whispers turn to shouts and my own voice is lost in the screams echoing in my mind. Focusing back on the present as I attempt to shut the whispers out I open my eyes and study Byron's bowed head, his long almost feminine lashes stand out against his skin, his lips slightly parted, his nostrils flaring with each breath he takes. My gaze trails down his arms to where his hands lay with mine in my lap and I cant help but stare in almost fascination at the veins moving in his arms, beating, blood flowing under his cool skin.

Dead. He is nothing but a corpse that refuses to stay buried. Instead he just kills for fun. He is a monster.

Walter's voice suddenly screams in my mind, as loud as if he were next to me again, his lips to my ear. I launch back, holding my hands tightly against my ears, my eyes snapped shut as my head shakes trying to kill the voice that is repeating wicked sentences again and again until I cant stop the never ending flow.

Hes not dead. Hes not dead. Hes not a monster.

I chant in my head, my voice a tiny mewl compared to Walter's, my inner voice trying to fight but it just isnt strong enough because the doubts are driven so deep that I just cant fight it on my own. I am slowly drowning in my own mind, my own voice drifting away.

"Lara? Lara. If you can hear me I want you to listen to my voice. Only my voice. We can get through this together if you will let me in. Youre not broken, youre perfect but youre just a little bit lost. He isnt stronger than you, nobody is stronger than you. If anyone can fight his hold then it is you, just believe in yourself." Byron's soft voice seeps into my mind like a cooling balm, Walter's voice goes into a frenzy, brokenly screaming but my attention is caught by Byron's calm words, giving my inner self strength, Walter's assault doesnt stop even as I force his voice from the front of my mind, his voice is still in my head, it probably always will be but I can think clearer now. Opening my eyes they instantly collide with Byron's unique purple gaze, my back pressed firmly against the headboard as he kneels infront of me on the bed, his arms either side of my legs, pinning them slightly but I dont feel trapped, my inner self trusting him more and more with every passing day. The compassion and concern in his gaze makes me look down at my hands in shame as tears spill from my eyes, exhaustion taking over, causing my emotions to become uncontrollable.

"Im sorry." I stutter, sniffing and wiping my eyes with my sleeves, clutching the jumpers material like a safety net. The bed complains slightly as he moves to lie down next to my balled up figure, all contact between us is gone and I feel the insistent whispers trying to force their way back into control again, leaning my head on my knees I turn my face so I can see Byron's, his gaze fixed to the ceiling, his arms folded across his chest as if he is deep in thought. Even though I dont want to disturb him, I cant help my body yearning to be closer to him but I dont want to embarrass myself further so I wait, my heart hammering in my chest. Slowly his gaze connects with mine and I attempt to smile but my lips refuse to cooperate as I try to stop the tears from spilling over again, his arms open slowly, beckoning me in, and so help me I willingly took the offer greatfully. My ear pressed against his chest as I lay next to him, our bodies flush, his hand resting on my waist as his other hand plays with the pads of my fingers, the slow beating of his heart holds my attention, people who are dead dont have beating hearts, so he cant be a corpse, its not possible. At some point I must have closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep because when I open my eyes again Byron is asleep, his chest moving softly with each breath, his heartbeat has slowed more but it is still there. As gently as I can I slip from his side and pad silently across the room, pausing at the door to look back at his peaceful figure before I slip out into the corridor. I head quickly to my room on the other side of the underground house, slipping inside I head to the bathroom, splashing my face with cold water, trying to figure out what to do next. Suddenly as if a dam bursts Walter's voice rushes through my mind like a tidal wave and I am instantly swept under, the screams all merge together, not a single word can be defined, my eyes collide with the mirror but instead of my reflection all I see is Walter's face sneering at me, his lips moving in time with the voice in my head. Something in me snaps, my fist collides with the cold glass before I can even register telling it to, the mirror shatters, shards embedded in my knuckles as I hit the mirror again and again until a blank space on the wall stares back at me, the glass tinkling in the sink, blood smeared on the glass and the wall while droplets splash onto the porcelain, the voice in my head is gone, replaced by burning pain from my hands. I look at my knuckles, almost in wonder, watching my blood well up around the shards stabbed into my skin before it runs off my hand, dripping into the sink. Collapsing onto the toilet seat I start carefully pulling out shards of the mirror, relishing in the silence, the beating of my heart and my harsh breathing is the only noise that hits my ears, along with the occasional drip drip tink drip drip as I keep removing the glass, dropping the bits into the sink, watching it stain red with my blood. My fingers start to go numb from the pain as I remove the last shard, running my hands under the cold tap has me wincing in renewed pain, bandaging my knuckles quickly I cant help but stare at the collateral damage of me losing my control and I feel ashamed by it. I have never been a naturally violent person, but I did this damage without a seconds thought and that scares me more.

"Who am I?" I ask myself, the broken shards of my reflection scattered around me.

"Youre Lara and you always will be." Byron's soft voice has my head jerking up, his violet eyes capturing mine, I look down ashamed as tears threaten to spill from my eyes.

"I dont feel like Lara anymore." My voice sounds weak, childlike and I hate it. Glass scrunches under Byron's shoes as he walks to me, I instinctively flinch when his hand raises to my face but all he does is lay his palm on my cheek, not the assault my body was anticipating.

"Look at me Lara." His soft coaxing voice has my eyes lifting slowly to his, warmth and comfort swirl in the mesmerising depths, the chaos in my mind calms, like the sea after a storm and I feel like I can finally breathe.

"What the fuck have you done?" A loud voice echoes around the bathroom a second before Byron is torn from me, held against the wall, Dylan is holding Byron up by his throat, for a second I freeze unsure whether to intervene.

"I didnt do anything you moron. Lara accidently broke the mirror." Byron replies, his voice strained, Dylan half looks towards me, waiting for confirmation I presume.

"He came to make sure I was okay, he didnt do anything to upset or hurt me. Please put him down." A few seconds pass before Dylan reluctantly releases Byron who is glaring daggers at his younger brother.

"My apologies Lara, I smelt your blood and when I saw the scene I feared the worst. If you need me just call for me." I nod silently and Dylan bows his head slightly in acknowledgement before he disappears from the room.

"I swear that when youre here you turn my whole family against me." Byron says, looking towards the door where Dylan had disappeared out of.

"Im sorry." I whisper quietly, unsure of what to say, suddenly strong arms scoop me up, holding me tightly, I close my eyes against the tears welling up again, burying my face in his t-shirt, my hands connected around his neck.

"I wouldnt change it for the world Lara, im used to being in control of everything but when you are near, my control disappears and ive actually come to welcome the feeling. For too long I have only survived but you, you make me want to live." Byron's voice whispers against my bare neck sending shivers coursing through my veins as Walter's voice booms through my mind, trying to break me again, having thoroughly enjoyed my outburst at the mirror but its ultimate goal is for me to hurt Byron and his family, I realise that now.

"Im scared." The confession rips from my throat, Byron's arms tighten around me a moment before I am gently placed onto a soft mattress, pulling my knees to my chest I hide my face, I feel the bed dip by my feet.

"Why are you scared?"

"Im scared that im going to hurt you or any of the others. I wouldnt be able to live with myself." I peek up from my knees, our gazes collide and hold each others, his hand slowly reaches towards me, brushing my hair from my face.

"I wont let you do anything you will regret. I promise. Now try and get some sleep, I know you havent been sleeping properly lately."

"How did you know that?"

"Vampire hearing and the fact that I am in tune to you. I could pick you out of a crowd of thousands with my eyes closed. The connection you felt towards me may have been severed by what happened to you, but mine is stronger than ever." I lift my head fully, his words calming the storm of voices thundering in my head, the sincerity and honesty in his voice would have me convinced if I didnt have Walter's voice circling my mind.

"Thank you Byron."

"I mean every word Lara. Do you want me to leave?" He asks reluctantly.

"Please." I reply, still unsure of everything, of him, the flash of hurt sweeps across his face before a blank mask covers the emotion.

"Of course, my door is always open to you Lara." I nod, my voice failing me, his soft lips press against my forehead before he vanishes from the room. Suddenly feeling very much alone I curl up on the bed in a fetal position as all my emotions drown me, tears stream down my cheeks, my sobs muffled by the pillow while Walter's voice screams in my mind, persistently. A long time later I drift into a restless sleep, reliving memories I wish I could forget but they sneak in like smoke, holding me captive.