"You can't deceive me Blair!" Damien whispered.
He started drawing close and about to kiss her when the sound of someone approaching the room made them jerk back to their senses. He step away, "I really want to trust you, but I can't seem to!"
With those words, Damien leave and Cara walked in.
"What's going on? Did I miss something?"
Blair shook her head "no, it's nothing serious!"
"I'm really sorry about what happened back there!" Cara apologized.
Blair smiled "it's okay!"
The next morning, Blair woke up early but remained in bed thinking about events from last night and about what happened between her and Damien.
Something changed when he looked into her eyes, there was something about his stare that felt different, and for the first time for a very long time, her heart beats for someone.
"Ugh! I need to end this quickly!" She jump out of bed, showered, dressed up, and headed downstairs.
None of them were around on the first floor, and on the dining table - she sees the golden dagger.
That was a shock but an obvious trap. She glanced about the room to see if any of them were lurking around but found none of them.
Could Damien really have forgot his dagger on the table? Can he really be this careless?
Warily, she tread towards the dining table. Her head spins, this could be the chance she's been awaiting for a very long time.
Without giving it another clear thought, she reached for the dagger, and as soon as her fingers grazed it - everything around her went dark.
She could still feel the dagger in her hand but cannot see a thing.
"Hello? Anyone?"
No answer.
Lurking within the darkness, red eyes gleamed from across her, then came an excruciating low dangerous growl.
She gasped, "who is it?"
All of a sudden, the weird creature came charging towards her.
Frightened, she spin around sharply and started running aimlessly. She could not see a thing but kept running until something sharp like a claw, latched into her lag and rammed her on the ground, then started dragging her back.
Whatever this monster might be, it came when she took the dagger, and so, instinctively, she let go of the dagger.
Instantly, the shadow monster disappeared, the darkness washed down, and she was back in the mansion.
At first, she thought it could be her mind playing games, but when she glanced down her leg, she sees the hole where the monster pierced his claws into - blood pumps out of it.
"I didn't want to do this, but I have to!" Damien's voice echoed as he walked into the room, he approached her and kneel on one leg. The golden dagger is right next to her, Damien picks it up and sled it back into his sheath, then he reached for her wounded leg and observe the injury.
"This is what happens when someone that's not me takes hold of the dagger!" He speaks without looking up at her, "the shadow monster is the dagger's guardian, it can hurt and even kill to make sure this dagger is in safe hands… my hands!"
He wave his hand across her injury and it instantly healed, then he carefully put back her leg, "this is a warning, whoever you are, whether you are the evil masked witch or really just her doppelgänger like you said, be careful. Having an ulterior motive will do you no good!"
He finally looks up at her, "I am giving you a chance to give up your plans and leave. Even if you are the evil masked witch, I am willing to forgive everything and move on!"
Eyes red with tears, Blair stares back at Damien wordlessly.
"Let it go… please!" He whispered.
He stands to leave.
Blair finally found her tongue "How are you so sure I am her? I am not! how can I be when I've lost everything?"
She rise to her feet, "You said a kiss can show you who I really am right? Fine! Go ahead and do it… Kiss me Damien Cold, explore my mind and unveil my secrets."
He turn to face her, "are you sure? You could be hurt in the process!"
She scoffs, "pain? There's no pain worse than the one I'm currently in!"
Suddenly, he strides forward, took hold of her cheek, lifted her face to his and, leaned to kiss her but stopped midway.
"I'm not talking about physical pain, what I mean is you can be emotionally hurt!"
She whisper, "This pain has always been mine to bear!"
What amuses Damien isn't her confidence, but her vulnerability. He's always known she was the evil masked witch and was merely playing along to see how far she takes her lie, but now, he is kind of wishing the truth doesn't come out.
The pain in her eyes is similar to the one he's been through, and a part of him wishes to save her from it, to give her a chance to live a normal life.
That is why five years ago when he attacked Blair, he saw a similar look in her eyes and decided not to go ahead with his initial plan to kill her, and only hurt her enough to take away her powers.
What impresses him is her bravery, but it could also result to her death - which he now fears.
And so, his plan is to beat her at her own game.
Blair's plan is to seduce Damien cold, but he will be the one to capture her heart.
And so, Damien closed the distance between them and kissed her.
He invested all his emotions in this kiss and Blair felt the sincerity.
Her body reacted before her mind and she started kissing him back.
Her lips parted slightly letting his tongue slip inside, and the kiss deepened.
It was a slow, passionate, and tender way of Damien's sincere gesture to strip Blair of the darkness that weighs down her light.
When he pulled away, they were both tensed and seething with lust and desire.
"So what did you see?" Blair asked softly
He whisper "You! I see you!"