I walked down a set of stairs hazily, unsure of where I was trying to go.
I woke about five minutes ago, and I saw that it was evening so I knew I could come out of the room.
It had been more than an hour.
I didn't really know where Elias went, so I kept going forward until I met the end of the staircase.
I glanced left and right, wondering if I should've called his name or not.
But then I saw a small hanger on the wall, and two masks dangled from it.
I dashed over to the wall, stopping immediately and picking up the first mask.
The masquerade one.
I stared down at it, tipping it forward and watching the golden glitter sparkle under the window from upstairs.
I then ran my finger on the feather, feeling the soft texture and nearly drowning in it.
He wore these all the time. Where was he? What did he look like? I needed to know.
I hung the mask back up, about to turn to look for him.
But my vision suddenly went dark.
A sudden panic consumed me, but it settled when I felt fabric being tied behind my head.
A blindfold?
"Elias?" I said.
"Shhh..." he whispered, adjusting my hair over my back. "Follow me."
He then caught my hand and guided me forward, making me put my other hand out to make sure I wouldn't fall.
But he just lowered it, making my breath shake.
"I won't let you fall," he promised.
And we continued forward.
At the sound of a door opening, I knew we exited the house when my bare feet met a woodened porch.
Elias just lifted me by my hips and helped me down from the stairs, setting me on soft dirt.
I wiggled my toes a little, smiling at how good the ground felt.
I'd never been here... it was nice.
And I could hear the sounds—amplified now that my sight was compromised—and I could barely feel us start walking.
I could hear the birds chirping...
Elias breathing.
The wind howling...
Elias breathing.
Why could I only focus on that? It was just so... calmed and controlled it was... alluring.
I kept following him as per his desire, and we'd been walking for what felt like forever.
Until something filled my ears, a crashing sound, and I nearly recognized the sound before water misted on my face.
A waterfall?
I'd never seen one before. Was this what he wanted to show me?
"Elias?" I asked him.
"Shhh," he replied.
And he let me go, leaving me just standing there, fingers twitching in anticipation.
"Elias, can I see your face now?" I asked then.
"Patience, Angel," he replied, voice getting further and further away.
"Elias, where are you going?" I demanded.
I just heard his chuckle, and then clothing ruffling.
Uhm...
But then I heard a loud splash! and I gasped when another batch of water steamed my face.
He jumped in? But what about me? Was I just supposed to stand here?
I heard him wade over to me, until finally he spoke, "You can look now."
I immediately tugged the blindfold off and gazed over at him.
The top of his head was above the water, only showing me his eyes and his hair color.
I gasped, gaze sparking.
He had short, black hair that looked like ink in the water, and the little curls at the ends told me it was wavy. The top of his head was olive like his chin, and his eyebrows were thinned and perfect.
And those black eyes... those black irises watching me in amusement.
I dashed over to the water and jumped in, not caring about getting my dress wet.
I splashed into it, feeling him move away so I didn't crash into him, and I then pierced above the water, gasping as my feet touched the floor.
I gazed over at him, but he kept the top of his head above the water.
How could he breathe like that?
I waded over to him, but he just backed away, clearly playing with me.
"Elias!" I complained. "I want to see you closer!"
He lifted his mouth above the water, making my eyes widen.
Oh, my Lord... he was gorgeous. His black hair, those dark eyes, and that perfectly angled face.
I waded over to him again, and he backed away, smirking.
"Elias!" I said again, standing now. "I want to see you closer!"
"I know," he replied.
I waded again, but he just swam away from me.
Eventually, after a minute of this, I got fed up with him, and I sprang off the floor, speeding toward him as he remained in his position.
But finally, I caught his arm, and I pierced from the water, frantically wiping my eyes before I gazed up at him.
He looked down at me, smirking, and I just watched him in awe.
He kept his gaze to mine, and I just watched his face, scanning every angle, every edge... because I feared he would shield it from me again.
"You've been staring at me for two minutes now," Elias said, and my eyes flickered to his. "It's concerning me."
I just hugged him, an impulsive move, and he blinked as I buried my face in his neck.
He just stared down at me. "Why aren't you afraid of me, Angel?"
"Say it again," I told him.
"What?"
"'Angel'," I said, gazing up, "call me it again."
He just smirked. "What's in it for me?"
"Say it again," I demanded.
He just gazed down at me. "Tell me why you're not afraid. I'm a monster, Alice. A monster. I've been watching you, stalking you. Usually, girls run from men like me. Why aren't you running?"
I just stared at him. "Because you interest me."
"Why?"
"Because you're not like everyone else," I said. "You are a monster, like you said. I don't know why... the moment I looked into your eyes... I just couldn't."
"Couldn't what?"
I watched him now, mesmerized. "Couldn't... control myself."
"I came into your room," he told me. "You never told me to leave. You didn't even try to resist me."
"Every normal person would try to resist despite how they feel," I said, smiling now. "But I'm not normal, am I?"
"Did you think to resist me?"
"Yes," I replied honestly, "yes, because you're scary, but... that's why I like you."
He watched me. "You said it's normal to resist, why didn't you?"
"Because I didn't want to."
"Why?"
"Because you interest me."
"Why?"
"Because you are scary."
He kept his eyes on me. "That's why you interest me, too. You kill people, but you act so normal. Is that why you like me?"
I kept my gaze to his. "That's why... yes."
He just tipped his head to the side. "You interest me, Alice. You confuse me, enlighten me... enrage me."
"I do?" I said, feeling him get closer.
"Every second," his voice was dark, menacing, "every day, every moment, every minute." His breath heated my face now. "You interest me because you kill, and you turn into a completely different person when you kill. You confuse me because everyone thinks you're so normal, and you act so normal. You enrage me because you're leaning toward me when I'm a horrifying person, and you just know I'm a horrifying person. I'm not a vigilante like you, Alice. I kill for fun."
"You kill for fun," I agreed, not worried in the slightest. "But you don't kill innocents, I can see in your eyes that you did try once, and you regret it."
He kept his position, but his hands caught the small of my back. "You are so... fascinating. There's no one like you. Murdering like you... hurting like you... suffering like you."
My eyes flickered to his.
"Crazy like you..." he continued, "struggling like you... insane like you... traumatized like you..." he leaned down, "fascinating like you."
I felt heat swell inside me the closer he got. "Elias... help me..." I whispered as he gazed up at me, "I knew the moment I looked into your eyes... I'm obsessed with you."
He just watched me with those black eyes. "Save me," he replied, "because I'm obsessed with you, too."
And his lips fell on mine.
I whimpered at the touch, giving into him immediately.
I'd never kissed someone before... and this was... insane.
Every part of me was hot even when I was in water, and I could feel him... I could sense his emotions, how he felt, what he longed for, what he desired...
His every being filled me, and I lost control long ago.
He twined his fingers in my hair, threading them through as I kept a hold of him.
But he suddenly separated from me and sliced his teeth into my neck.
I cried out, clutching onto him as he slowly started sucking my blood into his mouth.
He... he wasn't human.
Not a vampire, no... and he had no runes.
Oh, my... he was daem.
A demon born from heaven.
I tipped my head back as he kept drinking, letting myself gasp as my lashes fluttered.
But I didn't stop him, because I knew he had control... I could feel him holding back... it was... glorious.
I could feel the daemivenom filling my veins, burning through me.
And I loved it.
I was completely twisted. I knew I'd gone insane.
The moment dizziness consumed me, he forced his teeth out, making me collapse.
And he caught me.
I distantly felt him lift me in his arms and carry me out of the pool.
He didn't want me to drown.
As he laid me on the grass, I gazed up at him, trembling as the venom burned through me, but I didn't care.
I knew he claimed me.
Elias laid down with me, pulling me into his arms as I buried my face into his neck, still shivering.
"Shhh..." he soothed, holding me tighter, "I know it hurts. It'll go away in a second."
I breathed shakily as I clutched onto his shirt.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I wasn't planning for this, or I would've prepared you. It was impulsive, I'm sorry."
I giggled a little, still trembling. "Have... you ever... apologized before?"
"Shhh..." he soothed, "shhh... you'll feel better in a second. A second. It's okay."
"It... it burns."
"I know, Angel."
I buried my face in his neck. "Ah... ah... ow... mmm... ah...."
He lowered his lips to my forehead.
"You... claimed me... didn't you...?" I stammered.
"Yes," he replied honestly.
"Haha," I giggled uneasily. "Finally. I've... been dreaming... of... this...."
"Shhh... don't talk," he soothed, stroking my shoulder blades. "Let it pass. Just focus on me, okay? I'm rubbing your back. Rubbing that back."
"Ow..." I whimpered, tears slipping from my eyes even when I forced them back. "Ah... ow!"
"I'm sorry," he whispered again. "Shhh...."
I didn't know if I could handle it without him holding me. He was so warm and I was so... cold. So cold.
"Ah..." I sobbed, burying my face in his neck. "Ah!"
"Shhh..." he soothed. "Hush. You'll be okay. A second. Just a second, my princess."
"Ow!" I cried. "Ah—ah! It hurts!"
"I know..." he whispered.
"I can't... I can't! It hurts so bad!"
It did... I couldn't handle it anymore. My entire body was in flames, I didn't like this anymore.
"I'm so sorry," he said again. "I promise I'll sleep with you tonight. To make up for this."
At his words it seemed as if the lights when out, and I was seeing complete darkness.
Darkness... darkness...
Where was I?
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