||Chapter Nine||
Empty Hell Part One||
N A R R A T I V E||
Damonous stayed like that.
Still holding the little troublemaker as he monitored her breathing. He watched as she had begun to calm down slowly. His back rests on the headboard as his one arm supported his neck as the other wrapped around her side which kept her close to him. He felt her body radiate warmth, neutralizing the coldness in his body after the attack he had used earlier against his father.
Slowly her breaths began to steady and even themselves. Damonous heard her heartbeat ringing through his ears with his heightened hearing.
She was asleep.
Still holding her he sighed, staring at the ceiling wondering how he had reached to this situation.
He had not stepped foot in that school in years of time. His name haunted the school in all it's royal glory, yet he did not care. Never returning to the place as he saw it as nothing but a waste of his time.
Yet here he was. Going to accompany the girl who lays asleep by his side just for her safety.
He wondered if this little human was truly his mate. Damonous tilted his head to the side admiring her features before pushing a strand of her silky hair behind her ear.
"No," He thought to himself.
"She's just a convenience"
Denying that this human was his mate, he took a small strand of her hair in his hand and felt the silken locks.
"Just a pretty little convenience"
He watched her sleep… her head fell over his chest as her hand rested right over his cold heart. He noticed the wet dew on her lashes which still lingered after her tears. He brought his thumb onto the lash and wiped away the tear which was still there.
Holding the tear on his finger he watched as he let his wrist consume with black and blue veins which crawled upwards creeping towards the tear. The veins touched the liquid and once it did Damonous watched as the tear turned white. Patterns drew upon the tear and Damonous looked at the tear that had turned into a little snowflake.
He peered back to the human who laid by his side.
"How can you be so vulnerable?..." He whispered in question.
M E A N W H I L E||
"What?!" Elisé shrieked standing in the middle of the living room.
Daivat sat before her unbothered and flipped through the pages of the newspaper he had held. He was still angry about the incident that had happened only moments ago. A nasty bruise settled on his thick neck as every time he had breathed a sharp and cold pain would prick his lungs.
"No! I will not allow it!" She declared stomping her foot on the floor like a child. Daivat sighed, rolling his eyes and rubbing his temples.
"Elisé my dear, I freed you from that dungeon for a reason, unless you wish to go back you will do as I say." The Alpha had spoken.
Elisé snarled.
"She's nothing but a stupid maid father! A Maid!" She screeched.
Elisé didn't know why the maid was of such importance. For she had the attention of Zayn, her mother, Damonous and now her father Daivat.
She wondered what the human girl was plotting.
Not being able to believe that that little fragile human was gaining more attention than she'd ever gotten from her own family.
'First Zayn, then Damonous, then mother and now father! What type of silver is she mixing into their drinks!' She thought in disdain.
'Why not Kill her?' Her inner wolf Garnet Huffed in annoyance.
"I won't care for her. She could get eaten by the wolves and I'd laugh" Elisé had finally concluded ignorantly picking on her nails.
"Elisé-"
"She is nothing but a cheap floozy who seeks the attention of men. She is seducing Damonous! Why are you protecting her? Is she seducing you as well? Wasn't it enough with Damonous' mother? Do you want to give the same fate to mine as well?" She challenged.
Daivats' nose flared. He got up, his blood red amber eyes glowing bright in their red color.
"What did you just say?" The now enraged Alpha said.
Realizing what she'd just said Elisé took a shaky step back.
She had crossed an extremely dangerous line.
"This little Maid you speak of is the daughter of our most loyal subjects. Esme was loyal and worked for us for years. She is dying in the hospital and her daughter is taking her place! Your pathetic foolishness is nothing but petty, useless and cruel. Disrespecting her is one thing-"
The enraged father said. His claws grew out of his hands. Scaring the little spoiled girl. She backed up until her back hit the wall behind her. "But don't forget that I am your Alpha. I may be your father. But you and I both know that you were always the half-blooded child here."
Elisé muffled back a sob. Caging her threatening tears.
She knew exactly what she was.
The Bastard Child.
She was never the true daughter of the Medici's and Vera was never the true Luna.
Daivat's one night affair with Vera made the mistake of getting her pregnant and his true mate was forced to wither away in the clutches of death due to the unforgivable heartbreak of her mate's betrayal.
The woman who he had betrayed was none other than Damonous' Mother.
"A Bastard" He seethed. Throwing her weakness right at her face the same way she threw his to him.
"You are to keep this human within your sight and that is Final!" The Alpha commanded.
Elisé bowed her head in submission.
"Yes Alpha" She whispered. Daivat smiled, kissing his daughter's forehead.
"That's my Good girl" He murmured, his blood red eyes shifting back to normal.
Elisé patiently waited for him to leave and only after she had heard the door slam shut did she glare at the door.
'I hate him. I hate her!' She roared mentally.
"Shut up" Her wolf scolded.
"Now, Now my human-" She spoke treating her as though she were a child who needed guidance.
However Garnet's guidance was a road that led to nothing but destruction and chaos.
"The Alpha said to keep her within our sight right?" Garnet explained.
Elisé remained silent as she listened to her wolf obediently.
"But he never said not to destroy her and make her life miserable."
"He told us to protect your you little idio-"
"I did not finish!" Snapped the aggravated beast of the young girl.
"We protect her from our kind. However he never said anything making her life unbearable…. We leave her physically unharmed but emotionally?.." Elisé felt her wolf's warm fur of mischief coat around her body in a darkness of pleasure.
"We shall ruin her." The wolf declared.
"That's a good idea!" Elisé had exclaimed.
"But we want her dead…. Not alive"
Garnet had grinned at her human.
Alarm bubbled within the young girls chest as she pondered over her wolf's wish.
'But Damonous never said to touch a strand of her hair. You physically can't go against the Alpha's word" Elisé mumbled having an inner battle within herself.
Perhaps deep down… very deep inside her broken heart lived a girl who really did not wish any harm upon the human girl.
Garnet shrugged. "Of course we cannot as Damonous' Alpha power is beginning to generate. But he never said anything about her running away… or better… she eliminating herself" Garnet had revealed.
Elisé was wary at her wolf's thinking but still had asked.
"But who will do us the favor?" Elisé asked. Garnet smirked.
"Elaine. Or Deimos" She said.
Her blood went cold. She couldn't dare put Deimos's at any harm the memory could haunt her for life.
And he'd never forgive her if she allowed her twin Elaine to be put in harm.
'Easy then, we pick another wolf' Garnet said.
The beast within the girl felt her humans hesitance. She noticed the purity which still lived inside the girl. A faith so small but it still was there. Growling in disgust at it the wolf took over the young girls body. She walked towards the mirror. Her long dark locks shaped her pretty face.
She lifts her head upwards her the whites of her eyes burn into the shade of black as she stared at her own reflection. Canines ripping out of her gums, and the corners of her lips stretching into a wolfish grin.
"May the games begin my human..." She smirked.
Elisé who remained inside the control of the wolf remained silent.
For she was a lost soul.
All she could trust was the beast who was her second half. All she could look up to was the most corrupt version of herself.
Her beast.
For she was the only person who looked after her, even if it was under the dominance of wickedness and the tragedy of others.
Garnet was always there to protect Elisé.
Even if it was through her own destructive ways.
T A L I A||
My head snuggled against something warm.
Something so comforting.
Never had anything offered me this much comfort. I sighed in content pushing my head closer into the comforting warmth. I then inhaled the beautiful scent of it.
Chocolate Mint.
"Talia," A soft whisper had murmured. I ignored the soft sound and dug myself further into my pillow. I haven't slept so peacefully in the longest time. After all the things that had been going on I deserved this sleep more than anyone.
"Talia wake up"
No thank you.
I ignored the sound again replying with a stubborn groan. I felt my pillow stiffen.
Wait-
Since when do pillows go stiff?
I must be in a deep sleep.
I smiled at the thought.
Sleeping. Peace. Comfort.
"What are you smiling about?" The voice cooed.
The voice is beautiful and attractive. I wrapped my arms around my big pillow and tangled my legs to what seemed to be.. legs?
I then felt a light peck on my forehead. Butterflies seemed to race inside my stomach as joy seemed to swirl around me like a beautiful blanket of happy goodness. I then felt two muscular arms wrap themselves around me. One holding me as the other stroked my hair. It was as though I was in a safe cocoon. Where no one could harm me and no one could hurt me.
I then heard a slow and steady heartbeat. Wait a minute...
Voice.
Hands.
Arms.
Heart?
My eyes fluttered open as I lazily got up blinking as the light glared into my eyes. I rubbed my hand to them as if I were a child waking up. My vision began to blur as I rubbed them hard. A hand then grabbed mine preventing me from rubbing my sore eyes.
"Don't do that" He said, his voice firm and slightly annoyed, as if he were scolding a helpless Child.
I blinked in confusion seeing the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. Eyes the same shade of the dark sea.
I blinked again, noticing the beautiful face of which angels seemed to have carved in detail. Dark messy locks fell over his beautiful porcelain face.
I blinked again.
"You're still not awake aren't you?" He asked.
I blinked again.
Damonous? What was I doing with Damonous? I then noticed how he was staring at me. As if I was the most admirable and adorable thing he's ever seen.
"Good Morning" He murmured to me as he surprised me by placing his lips on my forehead.
I blinked again like a disabled human being.
I then noticed where I was.
I was in bed.
My Maid uniform was gone.
I was only in his shirt and in a pair of basketball shorts.
Damonous laid casually on the bed, his back against the headboard as I was seated on his waist straddling him. His one hand on my waist as the other was on my arm as his thumb was rubbing soothing circles.
"We need to get up" He said.
"School starts in…" He glanced at the time, "Ten minutes" He revealed. My brows furrowed.
"School?" My voice croaked in confusion.
Since when did I ever go to school?
Taking note of my hoarse voice Damonous let go of the hand which rubbed my arm and grabbed what seemed to be a glass of water. He brought it to my lips.
"Drink"
I took the glass with my two hands and drowned the water as it soothed my scratchy throat. He took the glass out of my hands once I was done.
Damonous eyed my state. I was still half asleep, my body physically awake but mentally I was as good as gone. Still drowsy and still sleepy. He sighed and got up carrying me monkey style as my legs wrapped around his hard waist, my arms around his neck. He then placed me on his bathroom counter. His bathroom was huge...
Then again everything in this place was.
He took out a beautiful uniform.
I blinked again.
It was such a beautiful uniform...
The buttoned top was off white and carefully ironed. Not a crease or a line to be seen. The skirt was short but very pretty. The skirt was cherry crimson red, it was patterned in an argyle style with black lines. Tight translucent black stockings came with the skirt with black pump heels.
I blinked once, twice, thrice...
'Stop blinking like a disabled human being!' I mentally scold myself.
"Cub, you're beginning to worry me, are you okay?"
It was so weird. Was I still dreaming?
What was I doing here?
It was then reality hit me like a tidal wave.
The events of yesterday going through my head like a series of episodes, giving me a very unwelcome whiplash.
Elisé attacks, Zayns' games, Vera's cruelty, My mother's sickness, Daivat's order and Damonous's....
well Damonous.
To be completely honest Zayn is the only tolerated person in this place. He was sweet, kind, and funny. He made it so hard to hate him. Was it weird that I felt a brotherly bond towards him despite the fact that I've only known him for a few days?
I've always wanted an older brother. It seemed sweet to have someone constantly protecting you and teasing you. It was lonely whenever mom used to leave for work as I had to entertain myself alone at the house.
A lazy and goofy smile made its way to my face as I stared into space.
I then felt his hand twirling a strand of my hair on the tip of his finger. I noticed how I was seated. I was sitting on a counter as Damonous stood in between my legs. One hand on my waist as the other twirled my hair.
The situation only made my smile broaden.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked.
I laughed.
"Zayn" I said in an obvious tone.
I felt him stiffen.
I then felt a different number of emotions.They were not positive ones at all.
I felt frustration, annoyance, and dare I say..
Jealousy.
I ignore the big giant before me for a minute.
How the hell did I get here? And what did this oversized idiot mean by school?
My eyes widened.
Daivat! He wanted me to go to a rich kid school!
My blank stare turned into a heated glare within seconds. I crossed my arms.
"I'm not going to that school" I declared.
Although I wanted to sound firm I'm pretty sure I sounded like a bratty toddler.
And with the hight difference, maybe it looked like it.
Even while I sat on this tall counter he overdid my height by miles.
Apparently my defiance brought Damonous so much amusement. He looked at me as if he was pondering what to do with a tiny little and helpless fool like myself. The corner of his lips lift in mirth.
The cocky brat was back.
"You're so cute thinking you have a say here" He grins.
I glared at him. "Try me" I challenged.
It was then I noticed something flash in his Sapphire blue eyes. He stared at me as he shifted his weight to another foot before crossing his arms. His toned muscles flexed at his movement. I felt his lust.
Did my challenge arouse him?
'Don't flatter yourself silly girl!' I mentally tell myself.
"You are going to that school Talia. Whether you like it-" He said leaning dangerously closer as his hands hold the counter edges from in between my legs. His face only inches away from mine.
"Or not..."
The closeness of his face had me notice again just how broad his shoulders were... just how big his muscles were. Like those halloween costumes that were stuffed with Styrofoam to make muscle.
But his were real.
My breath began to heave rapidly. I noticed how he would stare deeply into my features. How his eyes would gaze to my boring brown eyes then focus on my jaw, his eyes then lingered to my slightly open lips. He was studying my features.
I stared and focused on him. His eyes were the bluest shade of blue I had ever seen.
They hid secrets.
Millions of them.
Millions of which I was daring enough to unleash one by one.
I stared at his sharp inhuman jaw, of which I so badly wanted to trace. My eyes skimmed through his cheeks and defined a straight nose which continued to show off his symmetrical features.
My eyes then fell to his plump and rosy lips.
I bit my own.
How would they taste?
It was then like someone had thrown cold water to my head. This wasn't right. None of it was.
This fiddle-stick and his family of unsalted pretzels held me captive in this palace and now want me to go to school?
I think the hell not!
Hey I may be broke and poor as an unemployed 80 year old but I still watched one of those cliche teen movies.
School is a hellhole.
I'll be damned if I'll go to one which was made for only the richest of the rich.
He noticed my heated glare, his admiring gaze slowly moulds to smug amusement.
"I said I'm not going and that's my final answer." I concluded.
It was then his arms wrapped around my waist and threw me over his shoulder.
"Damonous!" I snarled.
N A R R A T I V E||
Talia sat in the limo.
Both furious and completely frustrated.
She sat with her arms crossed as she glared out the window watching as the trees passed by through her brown and angry eyes.
She felt Damonous' smugness.
The Dark prince watched her anger in amusement.
He sat on the other side of the moving limo his elbow resting on the armrest of the car as hand held the side of his face, finding her fury nothing less than adorable and nothing more than exhilarating.
Although she was enraged she still was confused. How could she feel every one of Damonous' emotions? And how could she feel his dominant power that followed him like a cape everywhere he went?
Her tiny mind held so many unanswered questions, and she wondered if they would ever be answered...
T A L I A||
My anger instantly faded away once I saw the view of the brilliant school before me.
It was ten times the size of Damonous' Palace home.
Believe me when I say that was one hell of an accomplishment.
My eyes glazed onto every carved pillar which was made of stone.
The school looked... Ancient.
Slowly my feet made their way out of the limo. I stared at the building once again in awe. I then felt a powerful presence behind me.
Damonous...
It scared me how I knew it was him immediately. It scared me how I could only feel his presence. I closed my eyes and inhaled the comforting scent of mint chocolate. God I loved that scent and I'd never get used to it. I admired it.
Every aspect of it.
Wait... Why was I admiring? I was admiring the man who practically forced me here.
I then felt his hands on my shoulders as he stood behind me. I fought the urge to arch my head to the side.
This feeling.
What was it?
It was too weak to be a mere crush and it certainly was not love. Why the hell would I ever come to love a self-centered fool like him? That stone cold, arrogant, spoiled, bratty, beastly, gorgeous fool.
I felt him lean close to my neck.
"Welcome to your new school, cub." He tells me. My lips subconsciously part as I felt sparks hit my neck the exact same spot where his breath had touched.
They felt like blissful sparkling little firecrackers.
I turned to him and glared at him reality hitting me like a sack of bricks.
His family put my mother in the hospital. His sister abused me. His brother played mind games with me.
Looking him in the eyes I had thought,
'I hate you.'
I watched as his gorgeous sea blue eyes morphed their way into a dark shade of violet and black. He looked livid.
Wait a minute... I was sure I didn't say that out loud.
Masking my obvious confusion I glared at him once more before turning around my heel and walking my way to the steps of the school. Once the door opened and my feet stood upon a velvet red carpet.
Never have I felt so out of place all my life.
Other than the time I had first entered the Medici Palace of course.
The walls were made of gold as the chandeliers were made of diamond stone.
Each and every person who walked in the halls and those who sat on the silky red cushions and couches turned to look at my direction.
All conversations hushed to silence as they stared at me. Some in confusion, some in shock, some even in... disgust.
The teachers I have noticed since they weren't in uniform also turned to look at me.
Even the tall and muscular guards looked at me.
Was I that different?
I couldn't help but let my self esteem crumble to the floor as I stared at each and every one of them as they did the same to me. I tried so hard to look for a flaw.
No one had one.
Not even one.
They all looked gorgeous in their own unique way.
My heart hammered from the inside of my rib cage in panic.
Wait a minute... Why was I so afraid? Tall or short, rich or poor we're all equal humans.
Therefore we must all be treated the same. They had no right to feel as if they were better than me in any way and I had no right to feel ashamed of myself or inferior.
I am Talia Esme Le Mara. I was better than this. Shame on you Talia. Shame on you!
I held my head up high as I took a step inside the hall unfazed.
One of the dogs even had the audacity to glare at me.
Why was I so afraid...
It was then I felt the alluring and dominant power behind me again. My anxiety had vanished as my fear had faded away. Even my heartbeat fell back to it's normal pace again.
It was as though I was injected with REM.
I then noticed all the students stiffen in their stance and seats. Even the guards seemed to cower away and some of them were six times the size of him! I couldn't help but let my gaze wander to him. He stood beside me both tall and alluringly. Even in this school of beautiful people he stood out.
This Adonis before me had the power to do that. Even in a school like this. He stood by my side as if he had some sort of high authority on me. He placed his one large hand on my shoulder and with one menacing glare everyone's head snapped back to what they were doing.
Far from my direction.
I turned around and stared at him in awe and appreciation.
This man.
God this man had the power to do millions. I stared at his beauty. He was still glaring at the people who trembled under his gaze. He let go of my shoulder then grabbed my wrist.
"You are not leaving my sight in this place" He hissed. His voice held so much authority at that moment that even I had become too afraid to question him.
My brows pulled together in confusion.
Since when was I ever afraid of someone other than mom?
God his jaw was so satisfyingly sharp.
His lips looked delicious.
Damonous' head turned to my direction in surprise as if I said that out loud. His eyes swirling into their deep shade of violet.
I never said that out loud either...
I bit the inside of my cheek. He took a step closer as he inched closer, craning his head down to look at my lips. I unconsciously leaned forward. He visibly flinched once the bell had rung and I took a huge step back.
What the hell was that?...
N A R R A T I V E||
Talia made her way through the large wooden french doors.
She struggled pushing the heavy doors open but they wouldn't budge. She then felt Damonous' amusement as a low chuckle came from behind her where he stood.
Little did she know how adorable she looked at that moment in his eyes which were once always so full of cold darkness.
T A L I A||
Of course that big gorilla could open that door with one hand.
He did it so easily and looked at me with a crooked smile of smug amusement.
"Not a word," I warned as I stepped inside the principal's reception.
Yes.
This place had a reception, along with a café, a shopping mall with actual brands, and as well as many water fountains which had at least ten different flavors of water.
How much more costly could this school get?
All you needed was a whiteboard, a pen and perhaps even some seats, but if I ever said that out loud in this school? I would have been seen as more of a joke than I already was. I walked my way to the receptionist. Even the receptionist was pretty. Stupid perfect green eye that contrasted against her pale skin, long dark lashes, long strawberry blonde hair which was pulled into a low bun.
No wonder people stared at me after I had walked in.
I must have looked like a grinch in comparison to them all.
A wave of insecurity washed over me. These people had perfect figures, the ones that influencers had owned, as I had a tiny pouch on my lower abdomen, they had clear skin while I had freckles peppered on mine.
My eyes were plain and my hair was plain.
I was so...plain.
I peered down to look at my hands.
Damonous must have felt my shame since I could feel his concern.
"Hello Miss De Mara, my name is Lady Madeline and welcome to Étienne High!" She said.
I inwardly cringed.
Her voice was way too chirpy for my sake.
She could be a show hostess. I gave her a forced smile.
"Thank you where is the-"
"First hall up to your right, find an elevator and walk out to the last door down the hall then take two lefts" She said still smiling.
I blinked twice.
Now say it in english please-
"Thank you" I said and turned and walked following her directions feeling Damonous trail behind me. We walked inside the elevator that I surprisingly had managed to find on my own and without his assistance.
I gave myself a mental pat on the back.
"You know I don't need a shadow right?" I retort, annoyance dripping out of my tone as I stared at my own reflection, refusing to look at him.
"No, you don't need a shadow. What you do need is a bodyguard. Those sweet lips of yours could get you in trouble." He shrugged.
My head snapped at him, as my eyes narrowed.
"I can defend myself" I tell him, annoyance leaking out of me.
It irked that he thought I was incapable of protecting myself.
This made Damonous laugh.
"How adorable!" He teased chuckling as he ruffled my hair as if I was some kind of lap dog. I cringed away.
"Listen here you leech-"
"I don't need you following me," I tell him.
I was already had everyone's attention the minute I had step foot in this big place. I didn't want this to be a part two of what went on in the palace.
I didn't want these people's attention and the man who stood with me in the elevator seemed to be a magnet of people's attention.
He just was.
Damonous chuckled.
"You have no idea how much you need me above all people following you, you little chipmunk" He said.
My brows knitted together.
"Don't call me that" I said, my frustration etched into my voice.
"Call you what?" He asked, feigning innocence.
"You know what!"
"Chipmunk?"
I glared at him.
He flicked my forehead in return.
"You're not a prick, you're the entire cactus!" I snarled.
"And you're not a clown, you're the entire circus" He returned.
"You are impossible," I mumbled and gave up.
It was then I realized how we were already inside the elevator. He towered over me as his face was way too close to mine. I felt his breath fan against my face. It smelt of fresh mint.
I bit my lip as I stared at his smooth and pale lips. It didn't go unnoticed by him as his eyes swirled into their deep violet shade.
"Talia,"
A shiver of pleasure crept up my spine. That voice...
It was so hard to explain...
It was as if I was talking to a whole other person.
A completely different creature.
'Seduce him'
I leaned in closer to his lips forgetting all of my life problems.
"Yes?" I asked,
I hadn't noticed the way my voice had sounded breathier than usual.
I could have sworn I heard his body vibrate… vibrate the same way a cat would have purred in content. I wet my lips as I stared at his stiff and alerted eyes.
His eyes burned as he lifts he held my chin with his index finger, lifting my head upwards. His head tilts downwards as he looked so deeply into my eyes. I noticed how his eyes looked like diamond stones. It was so strange. Flecks of violet burned around his pupils as his irises remained blue. The ring around his pupil had swirled in their shades of violet as they changed from dark blue to violet.
As though there was a battle.
It was so beautiful.
My breath hitched.
"We Desire..." He said.
Desire?...
I was too intoxicated with the sound of the voice to actually acknowledge what he was truly saying. Never noticing the fact that he said 'we're' and not 'I'.
"What do you desire, Damonous?" I ask.
"Not only Damonous little human," He told me. He weaved his hand around my hair and let it rest on one side, his hand then smoothly held the back of my neck. It was as though Damonous had lost all his self control. It was as if the man before me was no longer present...
A whole different person.
"Then who else?" I pressed.
He nuzzled his head on my neck. I felt his teeth graze a sensitive area which was right below my ear.
All questions I had once had were forgotten.
Time melted away into nothing. A mere myth was what it had become at this one moment.
Damonous' hand which still held the back of my head tilted it to the left making my hair fall to that direction exposing my naked neck to him.
He inhaled my scent as if it was his air.
"Else" I said.
"... wh….w...who….. else?" I breathed.
My senses were high. I felt every little thing, the pace of every breath he took, the way his nose grazed the skin on my neck and the way his other hand had found its way to hold my waist.
"Asmo..."