Deadly Magic

Safe Haven

I wake up in Damon's bed. I start to panic and look up. I release the breath I held. No blue sky. No green grass. No trees. Good. I never want to see that field again.

I look over to where I know Daemon's sleeping face will be. He looks like an angel. He looks like he's five years old and he's never seen the things he has. I brush his hair out of his face.

I slowly and gently get up. So that I don't wake him. I walk into the bathroom and look in the full-body-length mirror. I suck in a breath.

Bruises. Bruises everywhere. How did they get there? I must have bumped into more things than I thought. I tried to think of what I bumped into.

The memories flood in my mind and they are so painful I block them out. I'd rather not know if I have to relive them.

I run the water so that it's two inches deep. Then I turn the shower on and grab a towel and scrunchy. I sit in the tub while the shower runs and sink farther in until my head is flat against the bottom.

The water beats against my stomach and I smile as I get lost in the feeling and rhythm. I feel like I could fall asleep but then I'd drown. I smile. Drown all my worries.

I turn on my stomach and then try to sit up. As a little girl I would do this and pretend I was the ring. Back then I wasn't afraid. I didn't believe.

I make my way to the knobs on the tub and turn the water off. I lie back down and my hair flips over my head, splattering water on the ceiling and bath tile.

Almost all of my face is in the water. It comes to my chin. I wave my arms in the empty spaces by my side. I smile.

Daemon sneaks up on me. He must've been watching for a while because he suddenly steps into my line of sight and smiles. I smile back but his expression suddenly changes to one of worry and pain.

I frown. What's the matter? Oh. The bruises. I sit up and he helps me out. He finds a towel and wraps it around me. He sweeps me up in his arms and I laugh. He gently sets me on the bed and throws my underwear at me. I giggle.

He smiles but I still see pain in his eyes. He comes over, frowns, and touches a bruise on my hip. I wince.

“They hurt. Did they do this to you? Don't spare them.”

“I'm not! I just bumped into a few things.”

“A few things!” He lifts my left arm and I flinch away. There are bruises all down my side. They're big, too, as if someone kicked me repeatedly. “What did you bump into that would make a bruise that big?”

“Okay, fine. I lied. I don't know what happened I didn't feel anything until now.”

He wraps me in his arms. “You're not lying to me, are you?”

“Why would I protect the scum of the earth?” He must notice that his shirt starts to get wet because he looks down. I can imagine the frown on his face but I don't look up.

“Don't cry. I'm sorry. I just want a reason to kill them. They hurt you so much.” He caresses my face and I lean into his hand. So big and warm and safe.

“I love you,” I say and lean my head back on his chest. He nods. “I love you too.” He lifts my chin up and kisses me.

Fire explodes inside of my chest and my heart stats to race. Shocks run down my spine and I feel like I'm floating. This is the best sensation I've ever experienced.

I grab his collar and pull his shirt. I hear it rip. I pull on the waist of his pants. His belt rips in half and his button pops off. His zipper brakes and I happen to rip his underwear too.