Cravingz [Editing]

Ch.38 (flashbacks)

Following night.

Stefan's POV

I returned to Karen's house but stayed on the porch. I wanted to see Ash, but I knew I would only cause her more harm than good. Karen had given me an update on Ash's health, and by the sounds of it, she was fine. I sighed, feeling hopeless as anger began to stir within me. It intensified when I heard Ash's voice. My eyes lifted in the direction it came from, but I remembered I couldn't hold her. Just as I was about to leave, Jessica approached from behind.

"Hey, Stefan," Jessica greeted me. I looked at her, my features softening for a moment, but that didn't last long as tears began to settle in my eyes. I turned away from the dark-skinned teen and walked over to my car.

Jessica's POV

"What's up with him?" I wondered as I stepped inside the house.

"Mom! I'm ho—" I yelled but stopped short when I saw Ash sitting on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket. My mom emerged from the kitchen, handing Ash something in a mug before taking a seat at the small wooden table. She felt Ash's forehead and looked into her eyes. Confused, I spoke up.

"Is she sick? What's going on?" I asked, walking over to them. My mom glanced at me before turning her attention back to Ash.

"Well?" I was growing anxious; my best friend didn't look so good. My mom inhaled deeply, and Ash looked at me with droopy eyes.

"We're not sure what's going on with her, but it seems she's caught a cold," my mom stated with a warm smile. I looked at her oddly but shook it off. Just then, my phone dinged with a message.

Chadwayne: Hey, you busy? Call maybe?

Blushing at the text, I quickly replied, asking for five minutes before he called. My mom looked at me and asked, "Is that Jacob, honey?"

Completely caught off guard by my mom's question, the name Jacob sounded familiar yet odd. I shook my head. "No," I replied, leaving my mom and Ash in the living room as I headed upstairs to my room.

Stefan's POV

I walked into my house and headed straight for the liquor cabinet. Impatient, I used my elbow to shatter the glass door, reaching in to grab the strongest bottle I had. Pulling the cork off, I chugged the contents down, feeling the burn in my throat.

I made my way to the fireplace in the living room, staring into the flames as they danced, vibrant shades of orange and yellow flickering in the dim light. I ran my hand through my hair and took another swig from the bottle.

"You think drinking away your problems is going to help anything?" a familiar voice said from behind me.

I whipped around to see Ella standing there. Without thinking, I rushed over to her, my hands wrapping around her throat, squeezing tightly as I made it difficult for her to breathe. She slapped at my grip, struggling to escape, but my eyes darkened as my fangs extended.

"Steffaíne, please! I'm not my sister! I swear it's me, Timiria! It's Timiria!" she gasped, her voice desperate. Slowly, I released my hold on her, stepping back as my frustration surged.

I didn't want to hear anything from Timiria. In a moment of rage, I used my magic and snapped her neck.

Sinking onto the couch, I took the bottle back into my hand, drinking from it as if it were water.

Flashback

Here's a revised version of your scene for clarity and to meet guidelines:

1753

"You are?" a short brown-haired lady asked, extending her gloved hand toward me. I looked at her curiously but took it anyway. Leaning in to kiss her hand, I was enveloped by a heavenly scent. I decided she would be my next meal. My vampire abilities were still strange to me, and my feeding habits were a whole different story. I fed my way to the top.

The lady was introduced as Emily, visiting family for a ball that afternoon. I watched her every stride, noting how she walked with her husband, Dr. David—a man touted as one of the best and a part of the founding fathers. They chatted animatedly with some congressmen, and I overheard snippets of conversation about a vampire problem.

"Vampires?!" Major Dobley whispered urgently, glancing around to see if anyone else could hear.

"That is absurd! I thought our founding fathers dealt with such a problem years ago," another man replied confidently, prompting a chuckle from me.

"Yes, but who's to say those who fled aren't back for revenge?" another voice chimed in.

"I must say, the past few months, the attacks on victims do seem familiar. You don't think they're back for revenge?" one man speculated.

"Didn't you hear about that village raid? Dear God, it was awful," the mayor added.

I stepped out into the garden, where I had arranged to meet Lady Tamane. As expected, she was there, waiting. Approaching her, I admired her lovely dress, noting how her shoulders were exposed to the night air. Her skin glowed, and her heartbeat was steady. I reached for her hand, slowly pulling off her gloves. She looked up at me, blushing as our eyes met.

"You're a beautiful woman, Emily," I whispered in her ear, and she gasped as my fingers traced her neckline.

"And I'm also confident that a lovely lady like you will have a lovely funeral," I murmured just before I bit into her neck.

"Wait, what?" she gasped softly as I sank my fangs into her flesh. I held her close as she struggled, frantic and desperate, fighting for her life. After I had my fill, I chuckled at the thought of an appetizer, glancing toward the ballroom buffet that awaited.

The beauty of having no remorse, no guilt—my humanity was switched off.

Flashback ended.

"I'm not that person anymore," I murmured, feeling a pair of hands gently rubbing my shoulders. The flames crackled in front of me, casting dancing shadows across the room, while Timiria remained a constant presence, her warmth enveloping me.

Looking up at her, my heart softened at the familiarity of her features. After all these years, she hadn't changed. Standing up, I fought against the tide of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"You're not alone in this," she said softly, her voice steady. "You can find your way back."

But could I really? The weight of my past loomed heavily over me, stirring a mix of longing and fear within.

"Steffaíne, you don't have to be that person anymore," Timiria urged, stepping closer until we were face to face. I studied her intently, my heart torn between hope and doubt.

Sighing, I reached out and ran my fingers through her hair, the silky strands slipping through my grip. She leaned into my touch, eyes fluttering closed in a moment of bliss.

"It's been so long," she whispered, her breath warm against my skin. "I thought I lost you for good."

In that instant, something ignited within me. Before I could think, I pulled her close, wrapping her legs around my hips, and kissed her fiercely, letting the rush of old memories wash over me.

She responded eagerly, pushing me back onto the sofa. I watched her as she quickly pulled off her shirt, and I followed suit, the thrill of our connection reigniting a fire deep within.

"Just like old times, huh, Steffaíne?" she breathed, a playful grin spreading across her lips as we fell back into the rhythm of each other.

~

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Enjoy!