The King's Pet

#18

My hands shook as I stared at the dried red liquid on them. My vision blurred. I killed someone. I killed someone. The words didn't even make sense in my head anymore, but I had done it. I ended their life. What if they had a family? Kids? A sob wracked through my body as I felt myself collapsing on the floor, tears falling, dripping off the edge of my nose since I was lying sideways. My vision blurred and distorted as my gut clenched with guilt, so much so that I clutched my stomach. And then I felt bile in my throat and instantly sat up so that I could empty my breakfast into the toilet bowl. The aftertaste was bitter, tangy. 

Currently, I was in the bathroom of my own room in Seth's mansion. It had been about an hour since... the Pet Shop. 

"Chloe!" I heard Seth's distressed voice as I awoke from the blackout. I had this strange dream, that I killed the Pet Shop owner with the stake that I stole. My eyes fluttered open to Seth's face, his blue eyes focused on my face. 

"Seth..."

"Thank god, you're awake," he let out a breath that he seemed to be holding. Everything seemed to blur every few seconds like I couldn't stay in focus.

"Seth, I had the strangest dream... I had killed the Pet Shop owner and I-"

I was interrupted by my own scream as I looked to my side to see his lifeless face staring at me with dead eyes. His face had deep gash-like burn marks carved into the hollows of his cheeks and his forehead. Scrambling away, I barely registered Seth's hands trying to pull me up. And then I saw my hands, stained with blood that could never be scrubbed away. My breathing turned shallow as I stared at them, tears welling in my eyes. I tore my eyes off my hands and back at the Pet Shop owner. His eyes seemed to follow me around and I felt a flood of fear and guilt enter my mind. Guilt that I had just killed someone and fear that I would never be able to recover from it.

I sobbed, "Seth, he's not waking up."

He looked at me, eyes filled with pity. 

"He's not waking up," I repeated, louder this time. I tried to run to him, to shake him awake but I was caught from behind in taut, muscular arms. I struggled against his grip, kicking the air and screaming for him to wake up. 

"Chloe," he tried to console me, but I couldn't. After a few seconds of fighting against him, I calmed down slightly so that he could let go. He turned me around, his hands on my shoulders but I looked down, not wanting him -or anyone- to see me like this. He tucked his fingers beneath my chin, pushing it up so that I could meet his gaze. His eyes were soft, gentle as he stroked my cheek gently. 

"He's dead, Seth," I hiccuped, "I killed him."

Fresh tears trickled down my face after I said the statement, not wanting to believe it. 

"Sh, Chloe, come here." He embraced me once again, resting his chin on the top of my head. "Let's take you home."

And with that, we sped off.

Memories of those moments kept replaying in my mind like a broken record, and I wanted nothing more than to tell my brain to shut the fuck up. I bit my lip to keep myself from sobbing.

How did my life come to this? Three years ago, my biggest concerns were my upcoming exams and boyfriend troubles. Now it was me having to avoid getting killed by vampires and not become a blood-thirsty lunatic. 

Why? Why did I kill him?

I jolted when I heard a knock on the door. "Chloe," Seth spoke softly from the other side. I didn't answer. To be honest, I was embarrassed. He'd seen me at my worst; when I was vulnerable. So I didn't want to face him again. 

"Chloe," he repeated. "Don't be ashamed, pet." 

I sniffled, leaning my head onto the door. I didn't even have the energy to tell him off about reading my mind again. Sighing, I opened the door hesitantly, letting him walk inside.

I looked like shit. My mascara stained my face due to the tears and my eyes were red and puffy. 

He looked down at me with worry and sympathy. Carefully, he picked me up. I laid my head on his chest. Currently, I didn't have anyone else to go to. Meredith was the only other friend here but what if she thought I was a monster? A freak?

When I was in middle school, I used to look like a major geek. Everyone called me a freak. So, in the summer, I lost weight, cleared up my skin, and got rid of the braces. It was massive glow up but the emotional scars were still there. After that, most of the boys wanted to go out with me.

But I didn't want to revisit that time where I was known as the abnormality. 

Seth sat as down so he was leaning his back against my bed frame and I was lying on top of him. He stroked my hair gently. I listened to his steady heartbeat, calming down at the sound of it. If anyone could relate to my current situation, it would be him. 

"Why did I kill him?" I whispered, breaking the silence. 

"If you hadn't, I would have," he replied, his chest vibrating as he spoke. "He was a bad person, Chloe."

"But what if he had a family?" I choked out.

He lifted my head up so I could look into his turquoise eyes. "Regardless. He tortured humans for pleasure. You reap what you sow."

"Am I a monster?" I asked, my voice barely audible to people with regular hearing. Good thing Seth's a vampire. 

"No," he answered, his voice filled with finality, "Not even close. If you're a monster for killing one person, then what am I? Maybe I am a monster, but one reckless choice on your behalf doesn't define you. Ever since I met you, I've known that you might be the purest person I've come across. So no, you're not a monster, pet. Far from it."

I sniffled but nodded slightly, closing my eyes. After about five minutes of him gently stroking my hair, I fell asleep.

A/N-

Guys this chapter was literally depressing I'm so sorry. But... ILY GUYS SO MUCH. My reads have been going up by the HUNDREDS and every day I'm just spammed with votes  :)) Also your comments make me piss myself laughing. I was going through them and my sister thought I had become deranged. 

Anyway, I really just want to thank all of you for being the best readers EVER <3

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