A few days had passed, and I spent most of them pacing my room and listening to Damien explain a few things about his past, or rather his and my parents past. He was heading out for a few hours, so I'd be left alone with my thoughts.
After he left, I had a little time to think over everything, again. 'Okay. Let me see if got everything. Mom, Charles and Damian were friends for close to twelve years. Then I came along, and everything turned upside down. Damian sort of let them go, and Charles came here to check in and not go crazy from thirst. My mom thought they were hiding from him. For some reason, they decided to kill Damian, but I didn't get a reason why. I'll have to remember to ask. Damian's practically stalked me since I was conceived. Now, he has me here. Did he ever answer me as to why? ... I can't remember. ... What was it he said. ... He CARED about me. I wonder if he meant like a dad or ... Okay. Not going there. I don't even want to think about that. ...' I grabbed what was left of my second slice of pizza and took a bite. 'I'm sure he's only telling me part of the truth at the very least. He left out why they wanted to kill him and his brother, so whatever the reason was it must have made him look bad. Why else would he that leave out?' I had finished my second slice and started to get up, but I heard the door click shut and looked over to Damian. I forced a slight smile and asked "Is that one strong, too?"
"I think it's about the same." He smiled.
"Thanks." I said as he set the glass in front of me. "So why did they decided to kill you? You didn't say."
"I'm not really sure. I've heard a few different reasons. One of them being they didn't want me some after you. Another one, Charles and I had discussed on one his visits. He was always careful not to mention what we all knew you were. A Healer. He would only say things about you being a normal child. Like your first steps and words. NORMAL things. I asked him once if he had noticed anything that wasn't normal, and he never answered me. That's when I knew you were a Healer for sure. I had assumed you were from the beginning, but he confirmed it without saying a word."
"They never wanted me to be a Healer, did they?"
"No. I don't think they did. I'm pretty sure that was their reasoning. I wouldn't have forced you to do anything, and I never will. I never forced Melanie to do anything either. I don't understand why they assumed I would."
"Would someone have told them that? To get them to react that way?"
"I'm not sure, but it is a possibility. ... They were like family to us. I couldn't believe it when they attacked us ... in our own home. I never would've expected it from them"
"That's all the more reason for someone to tell them you were going to bring us back here. Wouldn't you agree?"
He nodded and slowly answered "I suppose so. ... I would make their reasoning a little better."
"Who would tell them something like that?"
"I have no idea."
"It's just a theory, anyway. We don't even know if that's what happened." I took long slow drink and stared into my glass. 'And neither of us will ever know what happened to make them come here to kill you, either. ... Eighteen years they waiting to come here, and eighteen you waited to come get me. I wonder if that's significant.'
"What are you thinking about?"
Without thinking, I told him the truth. "I was just wondering why they would come here after eighteen years, and why you waited eighteen years to come after me."
"I hadn't even thought about that. It does seem like a long time to wait."
"Vincent and Myron explained how time passes different for you than it does for me." Still staring into my drink, I closed my eyes and whispered "Sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned them."
"You said they're your family, and they're part of you. I can't expect you to forget them, and I hope you don't. But I'd like you to consider something." I slowly opened my eyes and raised my head to meat his eyes. He leaned forward slightly and smiled. "I'd like you to think of me as family, too."
I forced myself to smile and say "You've been around since I was kid, so I guess you are family."
"You know I think of you as something more than family, don't you?"
All I could think of to say wasn't very smart. As I lowered my head to star into my glass, I murmured "You shouldn't."
"Why not?" He asked softly.
I took a gulp of my drink and said "You just shouldn't."
He stood up and started walking around the table toward me, and I kept my head still but followed him with my eyes. "Do you trust me?"
"I think so." I said nervously.
As he stood behind, he placed his hands on my shoulders and quietly said "You must think a few different things about me. I can understand that. I can even be patient. I trust you to tell me the truth. With that said, why shouldn't I think of you as more than family?"
I felt trapped and had no answer I could tell him. 'I can't tell him I'll never like him in any way at all. I certainly can't tell him he makes my skin crawl every time he touches. If I tell I love Vincent, he'll be angry, again.' The only thing I felt was okay to tell him was "I could never feel the same about."
His grip on my shoulders tensed as he asked "Why not?"
My heart was racing, and my breathing was staggered. "It'll only make you angry."
As he slid his hands down my arm, he quietly said, next to my ear, "You can tell me. I won't be angry with you. Trust me, Alexis."
"I love him." I breathed.
I felt him stiffen behind me, and his hands tensed around my forearms. "I assume you mean Vincent." I nodded stiffly, and he pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me, still holding my arms. "I know you love him. I don't expect you to forget him, but I do hope you will. Maybe, in time, you'll be able to love me, too. ..." His chin brushed against the side of my neck, moving my hair. As I stiffen, he whispered against my ear. "I know you don't understand how or why you're here, so I'll give you the real reasons. I've watched you for so long. I watched you grow into a beautiful women. I saw you learn things about Healing. I saw you heal Mary after the car crash, which was caused by Eva. She can do some astonishing things with her mind. I saw you heal Vincent. I thought he killed you at first, but I still heard your heart beating. I watched you heal all those who came to you. I watched the compassion you felt for us made you stronger. I watched you go back to the hospital and heal that baby. I've watched the years pass by, and you stay the same. Just like one of us. You've stopped your body from aging. I'm still amazed by you every time I see you. No one has ever been able to capture my attention like you have. I don't think I could ever let you go. Do you know how beautiful?"
I was sure he was going to sink his teeth in at any second, and I couldn't think of anything to say to stall him. 'I have to stall him. ... Keep him talking.' I never really thought of myself as beautiful, so I shook my head slightly.
He squeezed me a little tighter and whispered "You're breathtaking, Alexis. ... I wish you could see that, but you weren't raised to think of yourself as bright and shining. You were taught to be quiet and hidden. I can't tell you how much that makes you even more beautiful. For you not to think of yourself that way makes you seem so innocent, and that adds to your beauty."
"I'm not that great." I blurted the first thing that came to mind, trying to keep him talking. 'I should just let him drain. Get it over with, so he stops touching me. Or at least so I don't have to know he's touching me.'
His grip loosened, and he spun me around. My first reflex was to grab for his arm with my right hand and the shirt over his chest with my left, keeping my head down. His right hand was on the small of my back, and his left was between my shoulders. "Yes, you are, Lex, and don't let anyone ever tell you any different."
When he said Lex, instead of Alexis, I raised my head to look at his expression. He looked like cat on the prowl, and before I could even ask why he called me Lex, he kissed me forcefully. I tried to push him away, but I couldn't budge him. 'No!! Stop it!!' I wanted to scream, but I could only think it. I didn't want to risk opening my mouth in slightest way.
When he loosened his hold around me, he gave me a long look that I couldn't read. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that, but I couldn't resist anymore." He sounded almost embarrassed.
My skin felt like it had a million little bugs swarming across it. All I wanted to do was punch him. With disgust and rage trying to take over, I forced myself to try to stay calm. "It's okay." I stammered, trying to hide my true feelings. 'NOT!! Get out! Get out! Get out! ... I think I'm going to be sick!' As he let go of me, I turned toward the table to grab my drink and finish it. "I need to get rest. I'm still a little weak from -"
"Would you like me to play for while you fall asleep?"
As I set my empty glass down, I nodded and said "I'd like that. It's beautiful ... and relaxing."
As I turned around to face him, he stepped toward me, and I reflexively leaned back against the table, putting my hands on the table to hold myself up. "You don't need to be afraid me. I wish you'd remember. Your heartbeat hasn't slowed down since I stood up."
"I guess I'm still getting use to everything." I swallowed loudly, and he smiled and laughed once. "When you stood behind me, I thought you were going to drain me, again. You're venom is so strong. I - I can't explain it."
"You've mentioned that before."
"And you told me it was because you drink every day. Why does that make a difference?"
"The stronger we are, the stronger the venom. Blood makes us stronger, so I drink it in an abundance."
"I guess that makes sense."
As he reached up and ran his finger tips along the thick, pulsing vein in my neck, I tried not to cringe away, but I stiffened and turned my head slightly anyway. "You're shaking."
"Nerves." I lied. 'Stop touching me!'
As he stepped back, I stood upright, and he asked "Would you like to hear anything in particular?"
"I'd love to hear Fur Elise and the one you were playing earlier."
He smiled and said "Fur Elise is one of your favorites. I remember you playing for hours, when you first started learning it."
I smiled at the memory of my mom and Charles teaching me different things. "You have been watching a long time." I said lightly and started to walk away from him. 'At least I don't feel trapped anymore. ... Other than being trapped in this room I should say.'
"Good night, Alexis."
"Good night, Damian." Even saying his name politely made me want gag. 'Be have. Be nice. Smile. And play along.' I kept telling myself. As I laid down, he started to play. I didn't want to think, so I listened to the music. Even though it was him playing, it was exactly what I needed. To relax and fall asleep, instead of passing out. I kept myself from thinking and lost myself in the music. As I drifted off to sleep, my last thought was 'I wish I was home.'
****
