Tormented

When I wake back up, Alexander is standing by my bed. He immediately moves closer and sits down beside me when he sees that I am awake.

"Are you okay, I was so worried when you were not in class?"

"I am fine."

"Lauren said she found you crying in the library on the floor. What happened?"

"It was nothing really."

"Are you sure? Your friends were very worried when you went missing suddenly. I hate to say this but I think Damon was the most concerned about where you were."

At the sound of his name, I turn away and feel tears running down my face again. Alexander reaches out and puts his arms around me in a hug. At his touch, I shudder and move away from him and his touch to sit on the other side of the bed.

"Damon went into the library right after you left me to go to class."

My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper as I try to find the courage to go on and tell him what happened.

"Is Damon the reason you left school?"

I nod my head.

"Celeste, what happened with Damon?"

"He asked me where I had been all weekend. When I told him I was with my parents he did not believe me and accused me of being with you. I ignored him because I had to reshelf some of the books that were turned in. I was in the far corner putting the books back when he followed me because he was mad. He said he saw you kiss me and could not believe that I dumped him for you."

"So what happened that made you cry?"

"When I went to leave, he grabbed my wrist and pushed me up against the shelves. He said that I would regret my decision and then he started to leave."

Alexander's grip on the bed sheets tighten as he listens to my story.

'I know he is angry about what happened, but I have not even gotten to the part of the kiss yet.'

"So did he leave then?"

"No, he must have changed his mind because he turned back around and yanked me to him. He forced me up against the shelves and kissed me. It was rough and hurt so much. When the bell rang for third period, I could not find the strength to get up. Lauren was the one who found me and brought me home."

He moves closer so he is sitting right beside me but he does not reach out to me or anything.

"I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do," he whispers, probably afraid he is going to scare me.

I turn toward him.

"Can you please make his touch go away?"

He reaches up to caress my face as he frowns.

"Celeste, I do not know if I can, I do not want you to feel scared every time I try to touch you."

"Please just try."

I lay my head on his chest as he leans back to lay down on the bed.

"Sweetheart you know there is no way I can get rid of his touch, but I can promise you that he will never touch you again."

I look up to see into his eyes. There is a fire in them that I have never seen before.

"You promise you will stay away from him?"

"Yes, I promise."

"Good because I do not want him messing with my girl again."

'My girl??? Does that mean that we are officially a couple now? I look down at the ring on my left hand. I guess we were when he put this ring on me but it is just crazy to hear him say it officially.'

"It really does look pretty on you."

"Well, you do have good taste."

He smiles, "yes I do and not just in rings either."

I caress his cheek in my hand and lean up to kiss him.

'Is it possible that I am falling even harder for him? Can it be possible to actually fall in love with Alexander after only knowing him for such a short time? Would I have met him if it was not for the prophecy?'

Alexander wraps his arms around me and closes his eyes. I relax my head on his chest; eventually we both fall asleep to the beating of one anothers hearts.

The moon is very bright on the balcony tonight. I feel a pair of hands on my shoulders before they travel down my arms. A shiver runs down my back. I turn around expecting to see Alexander but instead it is Damon.

"Hey beautiful," he whispers against my ear.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you and make you regret your decision like I promised you I would."

His arms entrap me as they rest on the balcony on either side of me, making it hard for me to leave or move.

"Damon, what do you want?"

He smiles and leans in closer to me.

"I want you to regret your decision and come back to me."

I push him away from me and run into my bedroom, trying to get away from him. He follows and grabs my wrist before I can get too far.

"Let go of me," I yell.

"Never."

There is such rage in his eyes. He pushes me hard against my bedroom wall and kisses me.

"He will never love you like I do. He can never feel anything for you. He is not human."

"He is as human as I am."

I watch as Damon gasps with shock.

"What?"

"I know what he is and so am I."

He looked struck with complete shock, but then his face turns to complete anger. His hand goes back and comes down onto my face with a loud sharp slap.