He stared at the bodies on the ground , at the girl covered in blood .
"you're late " she said standing up .
her eyes narrowed at him and before she could process what happened a large growl errupted from the guy who stood in front of her.
"Mine...
I turned around, my heart aching as I saw Ethan's familiar face.
A smile broke through my tired facade as I walked towards him, opening my arms to embrace his small frame. He clung to me tightly, his arms wrapping around my neck with a fierce desperation that spoke volumes. It was as if he feared I might vanish if he let go.
"Aren't you supposed to come a few days later, little one? And it's so late... what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound lighthearted, though my voice was tinged with exhaustion.
"You don't answer a question with a question," Ethan said, his tone serious despite his small stature. "You said that, so my answer first."
I chuckled softly at his response. Even at his age, he was far too perceptive. "Well, no, I'm not dying. I just had a rough fight with a lot of rogues. I'm just a bit hurt," I said, holding his hands gently in mine.
"I didn't want to stay there anymore. It was boring, so I came back with the bodyguard Alex provided. I followed your scent," he said, a touch of pride in his voice as if he had accomplished something monumental.
Austin cleared his throat, reminding me of his presence. I almost forgot he was there amidst the reunion. "Ethan, this is my close friend, Austin. He's a good vampire, so stop glaring at him like that," I said, nodding towards Austin. To my surprise, Austin responded by showing Ethan his canines in a playful attempt to tease him.
I took back what I said about Austin's maturity. He still had the brain of a five-year-old sometimes.
"Both of you, stop. Austin, take Ethan back home. I have some work to do," I said, trying to maintain a semblance of authority.
"You're not going anywhere," both Austin and Ethan said in unison.
"Copycat kid," Austin muttered, directing a playful jab at Ethan, who ignored him. I laughed at the way Ethan handled the situation, a bittersweet smile on my lips.
"I'm not running away. I just need some fresh air and time to clear my thoughts. And Austin, please look after Ethan. There are rogues nearby, and they're not just any rogues—they're drugged," I said, my voice dropping with the gravity of the situation.
Ethan's grip tightened on my hands, his eyes pleading. "I need to think about some things. Please, I promise I'll be back soon. You know I don't break my promises," I said, bending down to his level.
"I missed you. I'll be waiting," Ethan said, pressing a kiss to my cheek. My eyes widened at the unexpected display of affection. What had Alex done to my once-cold child? I looked at Ethan, and he looked down, embarrassed.
I smiled, cupping his cheeks and returning the kiss to his forehead. "I will."
"Hey, you guys are discriminating me. I need kisses too, for God's sake!" Austin shouted, making us both laugh at his dramatic exclamation.
The sky was a dark, oppressive cloak as I finally reached the cliff. The same place where once, I had slept peacefully on Alex's lap. Now, it felt like a distant memory, a painful reminder of how far I had fallen. The sky loomed overhead, a dark and oppressive shroud that seemed to mirror my own sense of despair. As I reached the cliff, the familiar sight of the place where I once slept peacefully on Alex's lap felt like a cruel reminder of how far I had fallen. The serenity of the cliff was now a stark contrast to the chaos within me.
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THIRD PERSON'S POV
As Davina stood at the edge of the cliff, the horizon before her seemed to mock her sense of defeat. The waves crashed below, their rhythmic roar a cruel contrast to the tumult inside her. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders, each breath a struggle against the crushing pressure of her dark powers.
Her mind echoed with Maria's ominous words: "You will die. These dark powers are rooted deep inside you. Taking them will kill you. But if they stay inside you for longer, they will consume you like they did to your father." The weight of that prophecy was a constant, gnawing presence, reminding her that no matter the path she chose, it led to a painful end. The dark energy within her felt like a living entity, twisting and coiling, threatening to overtake her.
"Why am I even fighting?" she thought bitterly. The battle seemed endless, a never-ending cycle of pain and struggle. Her life had become a tangled mess of fears and regrets, and she was utterly worn out from the constant fight against the darkness inside her.
Her gaze fell upon the cliff's edge, the lure of its finality almost too tempting to resist. The thought of ending her struggle was seductive. "Just one step," The dark voice within her mused, "and all the pain, the exhaustion, the darkness would be over."
Just then, the familiar voice of Alex broke through her dark thoughts, making her flinch. "I thought you ran away. Again." His words were a mix of disappointment and concern, cutting through her haze of despair.
She turned sharply, her heart pounding as tears welled up in her eyes. "How could I be so weak?" she thought, feeling the crushing weight of her cowardice. "How could I leave Ethan, Austin, Alex... everyone behind, leaving them with another scar?" The guilt was overwhelming.
Alex moved swiftly, closing the distance between them. He enveloped her in a warm embrace, his body heat a stark contrast to the cold night. The comfort of his touch was almost too much to bear. Her sobs turned into quiet, shuddering breaths as she clung to him, feeling both grateful and devastated.
"This feels so right," Alex whispered into her ear, his voice steady despite the intensity of the moment. "The feeling when I touch you—it's like I'm truly alive. Don't do anything like you were about to do. Please."
He stroked her hair gently, his touch soothing and deliberate. "For once, let's just live like a normal couple. Let's go out on dates, let's talk things out, let's kiss. Let's fight and then let me say sorry every time. Let's live for once. Because I seriously can't live without you, not even for a second. I don't care who you are or what you did in the past for surviving. I'm here now, and I'm not going to let you go through any more struggle or pain. You're not alone, little wolf. I'm with you."
His words pierced through her despair, and she found herself succumbing to the comfort he offered. As she drifted to sleep in his embrace, she felt the burden of her fears momentarily lifted. Yet, the reality of her situation loomed large: Alex's resentment, Maria's words, and the endless exhaustion that had become her constant companion.
In the quiet of the night, as Alex's steady breathing filled her ears, she wished for the strength to fight another day. She clung to his warmth, trying to hold on to the fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different.
