Escape the Covenant || Shawmila [Completed]

Chapter 20

We're laying under the trees, listening quietly to the gurgling of the river. The sun reflects on the ground spreading an almost unbearable heat, but surprisingly this warmth doesn't bother me. With my head on his chest, our bodies are incredibly close as when we slept together. Just like the other time, I can hear his heart pumping blood through his veins, but now I feel a sense of peace and calm rushing over me. The knowledge of his feelings for me gives me some kind of reassurance I didn't know I was needing. Even if we can't stay together, it's nice to know that the one I'm slowly falling with, likes me back. I feel less lonely. Shawn plays with my long hair, twisting it on his fingers, while he looks at me in adoration. I wish I could stay wrapped in his arms forever.

«So» I say «You like me, huh? » I ask with a playful tone.

«Why so surprised? I thought it was pretty clear»

«No, it wasn't! »

«Oh, come on, Mila. You're blind if you think I wasn't obvious with my actions. I literally begged you to spend time with me, I told you everything about my family, I took every chance I had to hold your hand or touch you, we even slept together! If that's not me being blunt, then I'm ridiculous»

I raise my head and smile at him. On impulse, I kiss his cheek, just for a fraction of second. «Okay, maybe you were pretty obvious, but we have barely known each other for two weeks, I didn't expect you were already hitting on me».

He blushes and rolls his eyes in fake annoyance, but smiles nonetheless. «That's not exactly true. You have known me for two weeks. I've known you since I was a child»

«That's impossible! » I exclaim.

He laughs and intertwines his long fingers with mine. «I swear it! Every summer I came here and my grandfather used to told me stories about the witches of this town. Once, I asked him to point one out, and when we passed in front of your house, you were there, playing alone in the garden. He told me that you were one of them, and since that moment I grew curious about you. At the beginning I was just a nosy child willing to explore the world that surrounded me, but as I got older I developed a crush on you. I used to watch you every night going out in the darkness. Every time you walked in front of my house, I hoped you would stop and say hi, or at least glance at me. The first time I heard you voice I swear my heart jumped from joy. We didn't spoke until two weeks ago, but I knew who you were a long time before it. I knew you're kind and smart, independent and brave, a bit of a loner, but loved by everyone around you»

I sit up and glare at him. My face is hidden by a mask of seriousness and I slap his chest. «You're a stalker!»

Shawn opens his mouth, but he's speechless. He tries to find something to say, but no word leaves his lips. It's obvious that's not the reaction he was expecting. 

«You're a stalker, I knew it! The first time we met, you were literally following me». I lay down in my previous position, hiding my face in his chest. «You're lucky that you're cute».

He laughs out loud, relieved. «Damn Mila, you have to stop pulling my leg! For a moment I was really convinced I had screwed everything». When he quiets down, he becomes more serious. While he talks there's a trace of concern in his words. «So, what are the rules? How do we have to act in this situation? »

That is a really good question, but I don't have the answer. «I'm not an expert. I just know that we can't be a couple or do couply stuff, I think. Maybe we can hang out or hug each other like we're doing right now, but that's it, I suppose»

Shawn lets out a big sigh. «That's a shame, I really wanted to kiss you». He says it like it's the most normal thing to say, like kissing someone wasn't a big deal. And maybe that's how it is. He licks his lips while looking down at mine, tracing soft pattern with his thumb on one of my cheeks. «Do you think we can give it a try?». His voice is low and smooth like velvet, and reminds me of a honeyed melody that has been crafted to charm me.

I blink rapidly, my eyelashes almost tickling his cheeks, as he brings his face close to mine. «Aren't you scared? » I whisper in a faint voice.

He shakes his head never diverting his glare from my mouth. «I would risk it all for you, Mila»

My heart stops then starts to pound at an impossible speed. Nobody has ever said such a thing to me, not even my own family. Adrenaline runs through my veins as I close the distance between us, sealing our lips together. I feel his soft lips on mine, his sweet scent that encircles my body, his smooth skin under my gentle touch, his hands that cups my face, our breaths that mingle together as our tongues brush slowly. All these new sensations mess with my head making me dizzy, emotions fill my chest to the limit.

And then I feel it.

I feel the blood on my veins as it starts to bubble, morphing into fire and making its way through my skin. I start to sweat as my body burns like it has never done before, a first flame spreading from my neck. I abruptly stop the kiss, jumping backwards to put a distance between our bodies, shocked and confused by everything that's going on at the moment. For a brief moment I glance at Shawn, terror and regret in his eyes, but then I can only focus on the burning pain in my whole body.

I curl down on the ground, too weak to make any other move. My head feels like it's about to explode, my sight is blurred, and my lungs fail to inhale enough oxygen. I hear a bloodcurdling scream ripping the air, only to understand that it's my own cry. I'm about to lose consciousness, sure of leaving this mortal world, when two strong arms wrap around my small frame and take me with them inside the river.

The cold water startles and relieve me at the same time. The blaze that was torturing me quiets down slowly, and I'm left only with pain and tiredness. I realize my head is still under the water the moment my lungs scream for air but fill with the chilly liquid. I widen my eyes and fight to return on the surface, clinging on Shawn's body for some help. He lifts me up and the moment my head is above the water I take a deep breath followed by an ugly cough.

«It's okay, Mila, it's okay. You're okay, it's over». Shawn rocks me in his arms, whispering soothing words as I struggle to calm down. «I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you. I'm so sorry, Mila». He repeats his apologies again and again, his voice breaks more and more with every word, until I fall into a deep sleep, still held by his arms inside the stream of water.