Hunger (Damnation Book 1)

Chapter 29 - War

Damien drops me off at the front of my house the next morning after a long night of talking and cuddling. He was so sweet the rest of the night; it's almost if the argument had never happened. If it weren't for what he said next, I could almost believe it was a nightmare.

"I won't bother you until you make your decision. I really want you to choose me, but it has to be your decision."

I nod and head inside. He keeps his word though. I don't hear from him almost all week. I don't even sit with him at lunch; instead I just work through it. I still need to get through these courses in a little over a semester. Amon picks me up every day from school, sadly. Everything feels dulled, though. Everything is just a little off and not right. Damien had started to tear down my walls, and now, I feel as if I'm walking in the rubble, haphazardly trying to put them back up but failing miserably. By Wednesday, I've annoyed Amon to no end with my listlessness and inability to hold a conversation.

"We are going out. Get dressed," he orders swatting my backside as I head up the stairs.

Rolling my eyes as I pass my brother, Cade, he can't stop laughing. He thinks my situation is funny. Personally, Amon is way too handsy for me. I like being pawed as much as any girl, probably a bit more truthfully; but he's too much even for me. Though, with millennia of practice, his hands are works of pure art. Nothing serious has gone down, but not for his lack of trying. In my room, I put on a tight skirt with a black strapless top and heels. I put on some dangly earrings Amon bought me two days ago to complete the outfit. I fluff my hair and fix my make-up. By the time I'm done, it's dark.

"Where we going?" I ask as we get in his car.

"This place on Bourbon."

We pull up to a very popular dance club, the one that got things rolling with Chase. My stomach jumps into my throat and I try to squash it down. I can't freak now. That can happen later, when I'm home, alone. But I can't help the way my heart feels like it's about to burst and my stomach is churning like crazy. Amon pulls me into the VIP area and I see a few other demons just hanging out. I sit down beside him, but it isn't enough. He practically pulls me onto his lap.

"Hi, there," I say sarcastically when I realize my face is inches from his.

"Come here often?" he jokes back.

I let out a humorless laugh and reply, "Not until recently."

Without a second thought, I check out of their conversation. I'm not really meant to hear. I'm here to look pretty and make the other demons jealous. My mind shuts off and I play with the buttons of his shirt. His fingers trace my open patches of skin, his fingers getting dangerously close to my no touching zones for him. Still, it's hard to think when someone touches you so softly. Looking down at the dance floor, I see the swim team, Damien amongst them.

Well, shit. There goes that whole not bothering thing.

Amon misjudges my looks at the dance floor and tells me, "Go dance. Give me a show."

I kiss him on the cheek because that's what's expected, and then prance off to dance. My body starts shaking the minute my feet touch the floor. Slowly, so it doesn't look deliberate, I make my way to Damien. I feed off the lust in the air and the slight touches of grinding bodies as I head his way. I don't want to feed off of him so I need to do it before I get there. I try to focus solely on feeding to deal with the masses of people weaving in and around me. The uncomfortable feeling I'm so used to having is still there, but it's buried underneath my need to feed.

Damien's eyes never leave mine as I weave through the crowd. It's sends anticipation coursing through my veins and by the time I reach him, I can't stop the smile on my face. I've missed him this week.