Damon's perplexity lingered, his question hanging in the air like a whispered secret. "What on earth just happened?" he queried, awaiting an explanation from his companions.
"I believe she's aware, there's no other plausible explanation," Derek responded matter-of-factly, his voice laced with a somber undertone.
Venessa, maintaining her composure, calmly added, "That look on her face was unmistakable; she was utterly terrified of us."
Damon, sharing the sentiment, interjected with a touch of sorrow, "It's truly a pity. I had quite taken a liking to her, and now she trembles at our mere presence."
Concerned about their predicament, Venessa raised a pressing matter. "But what about the operation? She is the only surgeon in the entire country capable of performing the procedure on Nana. We must persuade her to carry out the surgery."
---
Inside her office, Lauren's restlessness propelled her back and forth, her mind in disarray as she tried to arrange her thoughts. Seeking a momentary respite, she hastily made her way towards the small refrigerator, pouring a glass of cold water.
As she attempted to grasp the glass with her trembling hands, it slipped from her grasp, shattering upon contact with the floor.
Letting out a weary sigh, she retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge, opting to drink directly from it, unfazed by the spillage on the now fragmented glass.
The chilled water bestowed a fleeting calmness upon her tumultuous heart. Picking up her phone, she dialed her sister Alanna's number, her voice quivering with unease.
"Hey, sis," Alanna greeted, but was met with an unsettling silence on the other end.
"Lauren, what's the matter?" Alanna inquired, her voice infused with genuine concern.
Lauren, gathering her composure, took a deep breath before responding with a tremulous tone, "The vampires... they are here at the hospital."
Alanna's worry escalated instantly. "Where are you?" she demanded.
"I'm in my office," Lauren answered, her voice remarkably steady considering the circumstances.
"Stay put. We are on our way," Alanna assured her before abruptly ending the call.
Gazing at the wall clock, she realized there were still forty-five agonizing minutes remaining until the scheduled surgery.
Yet, in her current state, she knew she was in no condition to perform any surgical procedure. Attempting to regain her composure, she took several deep breaths, seeking solace within the serenity they promised. Alas, her efforts fell short, yielding no calming effect.
Resolute, she apprehensively made her way across the scattered shards of broken glass, a remnant of her earlier mishap.
In her attempt to clear the debris, a sharp edge inadvertently nicked her finger, a stinging reminder of her vulnerability. Overwhelmed and disheartened, she found herself sinking into a soft sob, her tears a testament to the immense weight she carried.
Suddenly, the door to her office swung open, disrupting the stillness of the room. Reflexively, she turned her gaze toward the entrance, only to be confronted by the presence she had been trying to avoid—Damien.
Locking eyes with him, she couldn't help but be struck by the uncanny resemblance he bore to his father, the source of her internal turmoil.
Frozen in place, and unable to move, a whirlwind of emotions ravaged her fragile heart. Seeing him again, after countless days of not seeing him since their fateful kiss, sent her heart into a frenzied dance. The longing she thought would lessen upon their reunion remained painfully fresh.
For a moment, Damien simply stared at her, taking in her teary countenance and the cut on her finger. He moved toward her, an instinctive gesture of concern, but halted mid-step as she instinctively withdrew. It was as though she already knew the truth, the reason behind her overwhelming fear and vulnerability.
"I'll assume you have finally discovered the truth" he broached the subject, a tinge of hurt reflecting in his voice as he witnessed her fragility.
She continued to gaze at him, fresh tears tracing a path down her cheeks. The anguish emanating from her hurt him deeply, stirring a profound ache within his cold heart.
"Are you scared of me?" he questioned, his voice gentle yet tinged with an undertone of longing. A step closer, and with each movement towards her, she instinctively retreated until her back met the resistance of the cold wall.
Drawing nearer, their proximity so close that their breaths mingled, he could feel the frantic rhythm of her heart pounding against her chest.
Unable to resist the magnetic pull between them, he reached out, delicately tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The shudder that coursed through her frame revealed the impact of his touch, yet it also kindled a glimmer of warmth within her heart.
"Look at me, Lauren," he entreated, using the gentle touch of his index finger to guide her gaze towards him.
"I will never, ever hurt you. Deep down, you know that," he reassured, his voice carrying a tranquil cadence that served to comfort her ragged nerves.
A sigh of relief escaped him as he noticed her racing heartbeat gradually subside, retreating into a more regular rhythm.
"You need to tend to that injury on your finger. Come," Damien said, ushering her to sit on the nearby sofa as he rummaged through her drawer in search of a band-aid.
Observing him as he meticulously searched for her first aid kit, Lauren couldn't help but smile broadly in the seriousness etched upon his face. Somehow, deep down, she knew he was right; he would never hurt her.
Sitting beside her, Damien tenderly cradled her hands in his, gently attending to the wound. As he cleansed away the blood and applied soothing ointment, the rhythmic movements of his fingers were so therapeutic that she was momentarily forgot everything that was happening around her.
"I know you have countless questions, and I am here to provide the answers. But promise me one thing," he earnestly requested, his gaze piercing, capturing her attention.
Emboldened by the intensity radiating from his eyes, Lauren found herself momentarily speechless. "I can't make that promise, Damien," she answered honestly, though not in the manner he had hoped. Undeterred, Damien pressed forward, determined to convey his plea.
"Promise me you won't run away from me," he implored calmly, his words so simple yet stirringly significant that her emotions whirled into a frenzy.
Before she could respond, the door forcefully swung open, revealing the arrival of the Benneth sisters, Ariana and Alanna. Upon witnessing the bloodstained floor and spotting their cousin in Damien's presence, their minds jumped to the worst possible conclusion.
"Get away from her, you blood-sucking vampire!" Alanna bellowed, her irises transforming into a piercing shade of yellow, while both sisters extended their hands, about to cast a powerful spell at Damien.
"Let's calm down, shall we?" intervened a voice from behind, causing the Benneth sisters to turn their attention to the arrival of the DeMarco brothers, accompanied by Venessa, the hybrid.
"You think the three of you can take on the Benneth witches?" Ariana smirked, her eyes turning a fiery red.
"Why don't we find out?" Venessa interjected, casting a lopsided smile in return. The tension mounted, the two groups poised for conflict—Venessa and the Benneth sisters. However, before the storm fully unleashed its fury, Lauren hurriedly interposed herself between her cousins.
"Alanna, Ari, it's alright… I'm fine," she affirmed, her voice laced with a plea for understanding. Alanna eyed her with suspicion, thoroughly examining her for any signs of harm.
"What happened to your finger? Did he cause that?" Ariana questioned, her anger palpable.
"No," Lauren swiftly responded, her voice resolute with honesty. "I accidentally cut myself while attempting to retrieve the fallen glass. No one has harmed me. I assure you, I am fine. So, why don't we all take a moment to calm down and commence a civilized conversation?"