The Other One

Dark

It's been almost six months since I have seen Ethan. I wanted to just get in my car and drive away but I still don't know if Ethan is ready. Maybe he is. I'm probably not. I walked downstairs and seen Jasmine reading a book. "Hey Jazzy". She looked up and smiled at me. "What's up?" I sat next to her. "Is he ok?" She sighed and closed her book. She knew exactly what I meant. "Ethan he's fine except...he's still soulless Ana. That means if you see him he might say things that you don't want to hear".
"That's fine I don't care. I just need to see him".
"Grayson said that he's a bit on edge".
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Other words he gets angry for no reason".
"Maybe I can help....". She looked at me and gave me a slight smile. " I know you can but Ana. Your powers are not fully intact yet and I don't want you to get hurt".
"It's Ethan he won't hurt me. Jasmine trust me. Just please let me see him". She sighed. "Ana we just kind of got use to being here and now you wanna go back? Doesn't it seem like a hassle?"
"Hey were on break right now for two weeks. We can go. What about my parents?"
"They're fine. Not like Ethan who doesn't have a soul but...they're fine".
"I want to see them too". She nodded. I can't believe I was getting my way. "How about we drive this time. Going on airplanes gives me-ugh!" I laughed. "Yeah me too....I hate planes". We got everything ready. For the first time in forever I was excited and happy. I dreamt of this day. Now that it's finally here. I don't know what to do.
California took almost six hours. Traffic was horrible. "Hey before we get there let's get something to eat". I didn't feel hungry because of all the excitement. "So Jazzy....what about you and Grayson?"
"What about us?"
"Oh come on! I know you guys have a thing. You text him like everyday". I saw her blush. "You guys deserve each other. I mean you deserve him. You deserve any guy, Jasmine. You deserve it". She smiled. "Well thank you". We laughed and jammed out til we got in front of our house. I sighed and smiled. I opened the car door and smelled the California air. To me this was home. We got inside and settled in. I lied on my bed. Jasmine came in after a few minutes. "Hey".
"Hey" I looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "Grayson knows we're gonna come over. I warned him that way if he has to prepare Ethan for anything". I nodded. "Ana why do you want to see him so bad? You know Ethan is not better".
"I need to tell him things. I could try to help him too".
"Okay". She patted my back and walked away. I looked at my chair in the room and noticed the black sweater. I smiled because I know who's sweater it was. It was late. I got up and changed into a muscle shirt and shorts. I then turned on my purple night lights. I slowly drifted to sleep as I thought about Ethan. Suddenly I felt cold. I opened my eyes. I seen my window slightly opened. Wind was blowing under my curtain. I then looked to the right and seen who was standing on the side of the window. "Ethan?" He put his finger up to his beautiful lips. He slowly took off his pants. He then basically hopped in my bed. "E-wha-?" He then smashed his lips against mine. He then touched me everywhere with his hands. I then pulled him away from me. My breath was short and rapid. "Ethan...". He smirked and his eyes turned fully black. I gasped. He then showed me his fangs and before he could take a bite out of my neck . I then woke up screaming. Swear poured down my face and I looked to see if the window was open. It wasn't. Jasmine ran inside my room with a gun. "What's wrong?! Are you ok?!" I nodded as I tried to catch my breath. "Just put the gun down! I'm fine...it was just a...bad dream". She slowly came back to reality and eased the gun down. "Are you ok?" I nodded. "Do you want me to sleep with you?" I thought about it for a bit. "Sure". She put the gun on my dresser and laid next to me. I felt a bit better. "Jasmine?"
"Hmm?"
"Will Ethan ever get better?" She nodded. "Of course it just takes time". She yawned and we both went back to sleep. I still was thinking about Ethan. Him being all...soulless.

The next day had came. I got ready as soon as I could. Jasmine was slowly waking up. "Come on! We have to go".
"Ana how about we go to that one place...you know the beach".
"Oh no I know what you're trying to do. You want to go somewhere that way I can't see him". She sighed. "Well it was worth a shot".
"Why? Jasmine?"
"I'm scared that's why. Ever since you went dark. I just-I don't want you to end up that way again. Besides Ethan-he-if he hurts you. I swear!"
I held her hands. "He won't...Jasmine I promise you that". She sighed and nodded her head.

After breakfast we headed down the road. A few minutes we arrived in front of the Dolans residence. My heart beating so fast. I practically hoped out of my seat and ran towards the front door. I knocked on it a bit hard. Grayson soon opened the door. "Ana!" He smiled and practically crushed my whole body as he squeezed me. I wasn't use to this new Grayson. "I missed you! I mean "we" missed you. Sorry about squeezing you. I just been you know...by myself lately". Grayson still had me in his arms. I cleared my throat. "Could you put me down?" I said laughing. "Of course". Jasmine came from behind me. Grayson gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I kind of blushed. They were so cute together. "Gray-Where's Ethan?" Grayson invited us in and put his hands in his pockets. He then sighed and ran his fingers nervously through his hair. "Ugh...not good and not bad. He's just been...I don't know. Out of it. He hasn't ate in two days and I'm starting to worry".
"What has he been eating?"
"Well raw hamburger meat and some blood from the animals that I got at a vet place". I raised my eyebrow not wanting to know how he got it. "Has he learned to control it?" Said Jasmine.
"His thirst? I believe so but I rather not risk it...til you know his soul is back".
"How do we get his soul back?"
"Well...he has to want his soul back first. Then slowly it will travel back into him".
"So it's not like you, Grayson? It's not inside of an orb or anything?"
Grayson shook his head. "I know where it is" Jasmine said. I looked at her. "Well...where is it?!"
"Inside you".
I was confused. "What do you mean?"
She explained to me the spell she did. "Can't I just shove it back in him?" She shook her head. Grayson laughed a bit and then cleared his throat. "Right. Not funny".
"Can I see him?" Grayson looked at me.
"Please". He bit his lip and nodded. He walked me upstairs. "If anything happens just know I'm right outside. Just holler". I nodded. I walked up to his bedroom door. I took a deep breath and opened the door slowly. I seen a familiar body sitting in a chair looking out the window. Not moving. He probably didn't notice until I shut the door. I swallowed the lump in my throat. There was nothing more than I wanted to do than to run up to him and hug him and kiss him. The last time I saw him...Liam snapped his neck and he...died. Tears almost sprang into my eyes but I fought back. "Ethan?"
"Anastasia...how nice of you to come by and visit". His voice was dark and it sent chills throughout my body. "I'm doing fine and you?" He said. He still wasn't facing me. I took a deep breath and boosted my courage. "How can you be fine? I'm not fine at all. Do you even know what happened to you?"
I heard him chuckle. "Of course I know what happened to me. I know exactly what happened to you too". I was about to say something but I decided not to. "That's why you're here. To get my soul back?" He laughed. I wrapped my arms around my body feeling like I was in danger. He turned around. I gasped as I seen how different he looked. His hair was shorter. He looked like he got much taller and more toned in his body. He looked absolutely stunning. He smirked. "You like what you see?" My heart pounded in my chest and I was flushed with embarrassment. He stood up and walked up to me. Ethan flashed his black eyes at me. I pushed against the wall. He placed one large hand at the side of my head. "There's nothing you or anyone else that's gonna change that. Because I don't want my soul back. I prefer this way. I don't have to have...feelings". I clenched my fist. "You were only good for one thing. That was me getting between those beautiful legs". I slapped him hard across the face. I heard him growl and then smirked. "I'll see you later, baby". He then winked. I began to run out of the room but he grabbed me and pulled me closer to him. "Remember Anastasia....you're mine". His eyes came back to normal. I pushed away from him and I ran down the stairs. I looked for Grayson and Jasmine. I couldn't find them anywhere. I ran outside with tears in my eyes. I suddenly bumped into someone. I looked up...it was Cameron. "Ana?! Oh my god! Are you ok?" I shook my head. I forgot she was alive and well. She hugged me and I completely just let myself go. Tears fell on her shirt. "Come on I'll take you home". I nodded. We got in the car and drove back to my house. I kind of got caught up with her and what had been going on.
"Yeah your parents are amazing and well. Ethan...well you know. Ana, this is all my fault. I'm so sorry. If I could take it back I would. I just-no there's no excuse. You have every right to hate me".
"I don't Cam...I know that it wasn't you. It's just gonna take me awhile to process things".
"Take as much time as you need. Besides I'm sure Ethan will come thru. He loves you, Ana. Maybe not right now but deep down inside he does". I looked out the window and rested my head on the window. What if he doesn't anymore? No more Ethan. The Ethan that I use to love.