He knew now what it was. He had to wait for this moment when he knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jill saw him for who he was.
Jill wrapped her arm around Damien’s neck, her other hand reaching around him to rest on his lower back. She released his lips, backing away to look into his eyes.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now.” Damien said, slightly chuckling. His breath heavy.
“Me too.” Jill replied. “It’s late though and you’ve had a rather eventful night. Would you like to stay here? I can take you back to the college tomorrow to get your truck.”
Damien hadn’t noticed the time. He was too absorbed with the idea that not only had he kissed the woman who stole his own heart but a lycan. “Yeah. I should probably get to sleep. Let me shoot my dad a text to let him know I’m staying at a friend’s house.”
Jill took the same blanket she used the first night Damien stayed with her, putting it on the couch before getting her clothes to go change in the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” Damien asked, curious about Jill’s sudden change in behavior.
“You told me it made you feel uncomfortable to see me get dressed so I was going to head to the bathroom.”
Damien turned towards the wall. “I won’t look, Jill. Do what you want. This is your room after all.”
Jill smiled, not really caring if he used the mirror he had to have known was on the wall to watch. It didn’t bother her to get dressed in front of him. To her, Damien was as natural to be around as any lycan.
After she finished, Jill went over to the couch to sleep for the night. A sudden warm, firm hand around her wrist stopped in her tracks.
“I’ll sleep on the couch. You shouldn’t have to give up your bed just because I’m here. It felt wrong to take it last time.” Damien’s voice was gentle as he spoke.
Jill looked towards the couch then back at Damien. “You know, I don’t mind sharing the bed. You like to cocoon yourself so you can have the blankets. I’ll lay on top of them and use the spare.”
Damien let go of her to take off his shirt and set it on top of his backpack on the floor against the closet.
By the time he turned around, Jill was already curling up on the bed under the blanket. She looked so beautiful, her dark hair falling in waves over the pillow.
Damien flexed his hands, his knuckles turning white from how tight he closed them only to release the muscles again. He knew what he wanted to do but hesitated because he didn’t know how Jill would react.
There were times when she was so strong. Like she didn’t really need anyone. Others, she seemed reserved and shy.
Swallowing the uncertainty, Damien pulled the blanket back to slide in next to Jill. His arm draped around her waist as he maneuvered his body to fit into hers. The smell of her hair was pleasantly sweet. Like blueberries and vanilla with a hint of jasmine.
Damien fell asleep next to her. The once tortured ghosts that haunted him were laid to rest with each soft rise and fall of her chest.
Chapter Six
The following morning, the clouds responsible for the rain the day before broke allowing the rays of the sun to shine in through the window of Jill’s room. The light in his eyes made Damien raise his arm to try and block the piercing rays. He rubbed them as he rolled onto his back, a slight groan escaped him as he stretched his arms above his head. He rose up to find he was alone. The blanket they’d shared fell to his hips.
What time is it? Damien thought, reaching for the bedside table where he left his phone. It was already past 1:00 pm.
He got up out of the bed and looked around quickly. His shirt had been set down on the chair next to the desk in the corner. Damien took it and put it on quickly before he grabbed his backpack.
Out in the hall, it appeared vacant. No one seemed to be awake yet so Damien made sure to keep quiet as he descended the stairs.
Kain waited at the bottom of the stairs, drinking coffee and reading the paper. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
“I was going to ask Jill for the ride back to the college so I could get my truck. Do you know where she is?”
“Jillian went to the school with Gabriel early this morning to get your truck. She didn’t want to wake you since the two of you had a late night. I promised her I would watch out for you just in case.” Kain replied, calmly, folding the paper and setting it down on one of the workout benches.
“Kain, what am I doing? I’m not a werewolf or a vampire.”
Kain winced. “Lycan, please. We don't appreciate that word.”
Damien forgot what Jill said about lycans feeling insulted at being called werewolves. She never did tell him why.
“Sorry. I’m not a lycan either. I still don’t get the full extent of what’s going on.”
“Damien, I know you have been led to believe you have to pretend to be something you clearly are not. You are not human. No more than anyone in this gym. You may not be able to transform or drink blood, this is true. However, how many humans do you know can take a hit by a vampire into a dumpster and suffer a broken leg only to have it heal completely in a few days,” Kain asked, his gaze locked on Damien.
Damien looked down at the floor. His muscles tensed all throughout his body at the lycan’s words.
“When was the last time you felt comfortable around them? Have you ever truly felt like you fit in man’s world? You still feel like they're silently judging you. Like they're seeing you as some sort of outcast. You aren't a freak, Damien. You have been fighting against your true nature for years. Give it time. I know you will come to see us as family.”
“Kain!”A call of challenge from Scott could be heard echoing through the gym along with his storming footsteps across the wood floor.
Kain rolled his eyes under his reading glasses as Scott screamed his name. “Think about what I've said. I know you feel in your heart I am right.” Kain threw a towel over his shoulder.
Damien watched the lycan’s back as he walked away. Kain was beyond wise, someone Damien quickly found himself looking up to.
****
After he left the gym, Damien decided to go for a run to think. He began to realize what Kain said fell in line with the realization he came to the night he’d imagined Jill in his shower. He'd never truthfully felt at home with normal people since his accident. Nothing had changed in the ten years he had been gone. It was as though the town had been suspended in time as if by some spell.
The phone in his pocket began to vibrate and ring. It made him stop in the middle of the country road just outside of town to answer it so he could keep listening to his music.
“Rob, what’s up?” Damien asked, his breath labored from his run.
“Hey, D. Have you seen, Chels? She hasn’t really been answering any of the calls or texts I’ve sent.” Rob’s voice sounded strained with concern.
“No. I haven’t. We had lunch on the campus but then she left. She seemed pretty upset. I just thought she was mad at me.” Damien’s reply was laced with his own concern.
Even if he didn’t feel the same for Chelsea as she did for him, he still saw her as a good friend.
“Damn. Hope she’s okay.”
“I’m betting she’s fine, Rob. You know how she gets when she’s pouting. She’s probably with one of her girlfriends she’s always chatting with online.”
“Yeah, I bet you’re right. Hey, you want to go see that new gory movie in the theater? Have some guy time?” Rob replied, his mood appeared to have lightened.
“Sure. Just let me get back to my house. I’ll see you around seven tonight, sound good?”
“Cool, see you then.”
Damien hung up, taking a deep breath as he turned around to head back to the gym.
By the time Damien made it back, Jill was standing next to his truck with his backpack and keys in response to a quick text he’d sent her after he got off the phone with Rob.
“Enjoy your movie tonight, Damien. Just please remember what I
told you about the vampires. Be careful and stay alert. Text or call after you get out t to let me know everything is alright.” Jill asked, wrapping Damien in a firm hug, worried to leave him alone after dark.
Damien gently guided Jill’s eyes to look up at him, kissing her lips. “Don’t worry about me. I will be careful. I promise I’ll call once the movie ends.”
Jill nodded, hesitant to release him. She watched as he got in his truck and drove away.
****
Damien pulled up in the parking lot with thirty minutes left to meet Rob in front of the theater. He’d raced home to get cleaned up and dressed before heading back out, squeezing him for time.
Rob was leaning against the brick wall, his eyes locked on his phone when Damien ran up to him.
“Sorry I’m late. My girlfriend had to bring my truck.” Damien froze the minute the words left his mouth.
“Girlfriend? Dude, no wonder Chelsea isn’t talking. Who is it?” Rob asked, chuckling.
Damien figured there was no reason to hide the truth anymore. At least the part about Jill being his girlfriend. He hadn’t even asked her yet.
“I’ll tell you when we get into the theater, Rob. We have some catching up to do, that much is for sure.” Damien replied, careful to watch his surroundings like he’d promised.
They bought their tickets and headed into the theater. Rob wanted popcorn so they stopped by the concession stand to get some. Damien settled on a bottle of water and nachos.
After they sat down, Rob didn’t wait to bombard Damien with questions. “So, this girlfriend of yours? Why so secret? We’ve been friends for years.” He asked, not hiding his excitement.
“Well, she’s kind of an introvert. Doesn’t really like to get around big crowds.”
“Ah, one of those hiding types, huh? Can’t say I relate but I can’t blame her. People can get nuts. What’s her name?” Rob spoke with a mouth full of popcorn, muffling his words.
“Jill. Jill Styles.”
“Nice name. She hot? Wait,” Rob paused as though he’d just had an epiphany. “Is this the ‘spirit’ chick? The one you kept seeing although Chels and I still hadn’t seen her?”
“The very same. Sorry I lied, Rob. I just didn’t want to make you two think I was more insane than I already sounded.” Damien took a drink of his water, almost choking when Rob landed his hand hard on his back.
“Hey man, no problem. I get it. You did sound nuts for a while there but I’m glad it worked out. I’d like to meet her sometime but don’t push it. If she’s that introverted, I don’t want to come off as too frontal. I’m an ultra-extrovert.” Rob laughed.
Damien didn’t respond, silently agreeing.
The lights dimmed signaling the start of the movie.
****
After the film ended, Damien walked with Rob to his car. He scanned the area to make sure he didn’t see any suspicious people lurking about. His eye fell on a black BMW. The man leaning next to it smoked what looked like a vapor cigarette.
“Dang that movie was freaky! Now I know why I hate clowns! I’m so not sleeping tonight.” Rob opened his car door, his voice held the slight edge of a tremble.
Damien’s eyes stayed locked on the man. Something didn’t seem right about him. The car had limo tints so dark he couldn’t see into the windows. He was so focused he hadn’t heard what Rob said.
“Uh-huh. Hey Rob, mind giving me a lift to my truck? I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to walk all the way across the lot.” Damien lied, still feeling suspicious.
“Sure, man. I got nowhere to be. Just heading home to game with some guild folks online. Hop in.”
Damien got into the car, glad he was able to get his friend to give him a lift.
“Thanks, Rob.” Damien said as he closed the door.
Rob stuck around until Damien was in his truck. He didn’t move until Damien started engine and began to pull out. They always looked after each other at school and tonight, Damien was more relieved than ever Rob had his back.
He pulled out of the lot to head back to his house.
****
The drive home was always interesting to Damien. His house lay just outside the town but the drive was the most enjoyable part.
Once you got past the city limits, there was nothing but woods. It was one thing Damien loved, especially when he went for a run down the trail.
He glanced in the rearview mirror to see what looked like a black car. His suspicions grew as it sped up, close enough to his truck, it could almost hit it only to whip around and speed back up.
Damien sighed in relief. For a moment, I thought that might have been that same car.
Only a few miles ahead, Damien saw what looked like a man standing in the middle of the road. He didn’t want to hit him so he slammed on the brakes.
Before he had a chance to recover from the mild hint of whiplash, the man was next to his window. A wicked grin curled across the man’s face as he stared at Damien.
He had the same pale complexion Lilith and the vampires in the alley had. His suit was a fine all black, tailored Italian and he wore the same black sunglasses despite it being pitch black.
A sharpened nail raked across the glass. The high pitch noise stinging Damien’s ears. It stopped only to tap on the window.
Oh shit. Damien thought just before he felt his truck picked up and rolled down the steep ditch.
Once the rolling stopped, Damien kicked open the crumbled door. He only had a few scratches but felt dizzy and nauseated from hitting his head against the steering wheel.
He jumped down off of the truck, his knees giving way beneath him.
“So, you're the infamous Damien Pierce. It's a pleasure to finally meet you face to face,” The man took a puff off of his vapor cigarette, blowing it out as he continued. “You don’t really look like much to me. I don’t see why Lilith is dead set on having you as her king.”
Damien recognized the name Lilith as the one he met in the science hall. “And you are?” Damien used his truck to stand, slightly ticked that everyone around him seemed to know who or what he was but him.
Before he could even think about moving, the man was in his face. The distance between them closed in a matter of seconds. A billow of sickening smoke blew into Damien's face. He coughed as he turned his head.
“My name is Stoker Cromwell. I'm a vampire noble and you're moving in on my intended bride. Honestly, I don't know why everyone is making such a fuss. You should be flattered though. I'm going to be the one that crushes the life out of you.”
“Somehow I don’t think getting killed by someone is a reason to feel flattered. Look, Stoker, is it? I don’t really have any interest in Lilith so she’s all yours. I’ve honestly had about enough of everyone seeming to want to kill me lately.” Damien replied, trying to fight the fear of his impending death staring him in the face.
It seemed like his encounters with the vampires were getting more frequent and every one of them either wanted him dead or to screw him.
Stoker grabbed Damien by the collar, shoving him hard against the crumbling body of his truck.
The sound of hissing brought Damien’s attention to the exhaust line beside his ear. He knew from working with his dad on the engine a few times that the exhaust line gave off really hot gas and liquid.
“Okay, let’s skip the bullshit shall we? I would like to end your pathetic life quickly and get back to my bride.” Stoker spoke through clenched teeth, his frustration evident.
“That’s going to be a problem. See, giving up and dying isn’t really in my nature.” Damien replied, using the knife he began carrying in his back pocket to puncture the hissing line.
“Shit!” Stoker screamed in pain as his face was suddenly sprayed with a mix of hot gas and liquid, forcing him to release Damien.
Damien took the opportunity to run as fast as he could through the woods. The woods around him seemed familiar. His house was only a few blocks away. Jill told him vampires couldn’t enter his h
ouse unwelcome without being hurt.
“Pierce!” Stoker yelled into the woods.
The ache in his head made Damien stop to catch his breath. He still suffered from the whiplash of the crash. His head pounded in his temple but he couldn’t give in to it or he would lose his life.
Stoker’s black leather shoes could be heard crunching behind him. “That’s it, Pierce. I was going to be merciful and end you quickly. Maybe drain you of every last drop of blood. Now, I’m going to tear you apart piece by piece. You will be begging me to end your life before I’m done.”
Damien hid behind a wide pine, his breath labored. Swift thinking made him pull out his phone quickly to hit the speed dial for Jill.
“Damien? Why didn’t you call me sooner? I’ve been worried.”
“Jill, listen. I’m in trouble. I don’t have a ton of time.”
“What’s wrong? Where are you?” Jill’s voice was emotionless.
“I can’t tell you the details. His name is Stoker Cromwell. He’s wounded but he’s angry. I don’t know how long I can dodge him. The woods only a few blocks away from my house. Please hurry.” Damien hung up, the fear began to manifest despite his attempts to suppress it.
Just as the call ended, Stoker stood in Damien’s face. His right eye and face were badly burned. The bloodlust apparent in his angry scowl.
“Call your dog, did we? It doesn’t matter. You won’t be alive by the time she gets here. No one disrespects me like this and gets away with it.” Stoker grabbed Damien by the throat and pinned him against the tree.
“Humans are such fragile creatures,” He continued. “You think you have power. Blinded by thoughts that you are the dominant species. In reality, you are nothing but food for those of us higher up on the evolutionary chain,”
Stoker slid his hand beneath Damien’s jacket to his ribcage. “Don’t believe me? Let me show you how weak you are?”
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