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She moves a bit and I step back into the darkened corner of the room. I can’t get caught in here. I’ve worked so hard to try to earn her trust and I have hardly made a dent in her armor. I know she feels something, but she’s determined to think of me as nothing more than a monster.Can you blame her?
I crack the door open and take a step when her cold, hard voice stops me in my tracks. “What the hell are you doing in here?”
So much for progress.
Chapter Twelve
“Help,” I screech, sitting up and pulling the covers up to my chin. “Help,” I call out again, but for whom, I have no idea. I’m alone here, surrounded by vampires.
“Marina, please. It’s only me.”
“Help!” I continue to yell, starting to shake.
The figure in the corner moves toward me at an alarming rate and I continue to scream hysterically. Two strong hands grasp my shoulders and attempt to hold me down. I kick and thrash with all my might, trying to get out of the monster’s hold. The cover that I had been using as a pathetic shield is ripped away and I slam my eyelids shut so as to not see my attacker.
Maggie always used to say that closing your eyes was a coward move. Whatever was to come was still going to hurt. You might as well look your attacker in the eyes and go out fighting. Right now, I think that’s a dumb idea. Better to not see what’s coming, in my opinion.
As all of those thoughts filter through my mind, my screaming gets even louder as the hysteria kicks up a notch. If this is the end, I’m not ready. I never will be. I said I wanted to sleep, but I never said anything about sleeping forever. I want to live. There is so much I haven’t done.
Whatever is above me moves off, and a second later the overhead lights flash on, blinding me in the process. I blink several times, trying to adjust to the light when I see who’s in my room.
Julian.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I yell, hoisting the covers back up to my chin to hide my body.
“I... Katina said... I came to check on you,” he finally manages to complete his sentence, not meeting my eyes.
“You thought it’d be a good idea to literally scare the hell out of me?”
“You were sleeping. I was only here for a moment. Calm down.”
His condescending voice and invasion of my privacy has the fear melting away and the anger returning. Who the hell does he think he is?The owner of this house and the king of vampires.
Voice of reason, go the hell away.
He chuckles, clearly having read my mind again. Or maybe I said it out loud? Either way, there is nothing funny about this. I tear out of bed, not giving a shit that I’m hardly dressed in a short black semi-sheer nightie.
“Get out,” I say, poking him in the chest with my finger. “Now.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, standing tall and looking down on me. “This is my house. I don’t answer to you or anyone else.”
He’s been cross, but never like this. I’ve officially pissed him off. Any other time, I’d be petrified by the look he’s giving me, but right now, my brain is foggy, I’m exhausted, and he continues to pissmeoff.
“You said you’d protect me. How is this protecting me?”
He takes a menacing step toward me. “I never said I’d protect you from me, Marina. If you insist on going head to head with me, be prepared to lose the battle.”
He’s a mere inch from me, and I can smell alcohol on his breath. “Are you drunk?” I accuse, narrowing my eyes. I don’t need him to answer. I’ve spent years tending to my mom and dad to know damn well when someone has had too much to drink. And when alcohol is involved, bad things happen.
The hairs on my arm rise in warning. I have to get out of here.He’s going to hurt you.I look over his shoulder to see the door is open. If I can only distract him for a moment, maybe I can make a run for it. I step into him, turning us so that my back is to the door and his knees are at the top of my mattress.
I will myself to stop reacting to his proximity. Aside from the liquor on his breath, he smells fantastic. I find myself leaning in even more and breathing him in. His breath hitches and my eyes pop up to meet his. Distraction is one thing, but being this close to him is too much for so many reasons.
“Marina,” he says my name like a prayer, eyes closing on a sigh. I know it’s now or never.
I push into his chest with all my might until the back of his knees hit the mattress and he falls backward onto the bed. Any other time, I know that would never have been a possibility. He’s too strong, but I caught him off guard. I don’t wait around to find out how long it takes for him to realize what I’ve done.
I run.
