Disclaimer – I don't own Darkest Powers

My eyes open. My head is in someone's lap. I look up to see the familiar eyes of Aunt Lauren. She looks down and I faintly hear her say, "She's awake." Suddenly I felt four pairs of eyes on me, burning a hole through me. Kit quickly looked back at the road but glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"Hey Chloe," he began softly; "can you say something."

I opened my mouth to speak but my throat constricted, not allowing it. I closed my mouth and tried again. Still, my throat seemed to close up on me. Tori and Simon looked very similar due to their expressions: worry, relief, uneasiness, and others I couldn't put my finger on. I looked past them to Derek who was in the passenger seat. His eyes held so many emotions it was hard to identify them all. In that moment there was nothing and no one else. There was no ghost/demon after me. I wasn't in pain. That moment of pure bliss where nothing mattered was wonderful. All because it was just us.

Just us.

We looked away at the same time, breaking the trance.

"Chloe," Aunt Lauren said. "Are you –?"

Blackness took over once again.

XxX

I was in the air. Kind of. Warm, strong arms were holding me against something hard. My eyes fluttered open. I could make out household objects and stairs. I looked up and saw Derek's expressionless face. He was had two duffle bags on each of his shoulders and was carrying me up the flight of stairs.

"Whe – wh –" I tried but I couldn't get the words past my dry lips.

"Shh," he stopped walking and looked down at me. "It's okay. We're safe."

I could barely nod. He continued walking up the flight of stairs and finally reached the top. "Pick a room."

I shook my head and shrugged. It doesn't matter.

Understanding, he went to the second door on the right side of the hall and kicked it open. Derek shrugged my duffle off his shoulder in the corner of the room then proceeded to carry me to the bed. He set me down gently. I pulled the covers up and over my body slowly. I was only sore but it still hurt.

"You alright?" he asked warily.

"Y – ye –" I licked my lips and coughed dryly before trying again. "Y-y-yeah."

He nodded slightly before turning away. "D-derek?" I called as loudly as I dared.

He stopped mid-step. He just stood there with his back to me before cautiously turning around and facing me. He walked over to the bed and leaned down, brushing a kiss across my forehead. He pulled back a little so his face was inches from mine. My gaze wandered down to his lips despite how I tried to keep them from doing so. I hesitantly reached up, feeling his warm breath across my lips until I just stopped. Derek eliminated the tiny margin of space between us and glued his lips to mine. His large hand gently made its way up to cup my cheek. It was probably one of the sweetest, gentlest, most worried kiss he had ever given me. When he pulled back I noticed he was sitting on the bed.

"You should rest up," he advised. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

I merely nodded. He looked back at me in a way that made me go numb. Derek pulled his hand away from my cheek, taking all of his warmth with him, and got up, making his way to the door. I stared after him. The way he walked didn't seem right. I could tell he was on edge. His posture was too stiff. He'd always had great posture but the way he was standing was almost wrong.

The door closed quietly behind him, but not before he looked back to give me a forced smile. I returned it with a miniature smile of my own. I looked up at the ceiling, wondering where we were, what had happened to me, and why Derek was carrying me. Was that demonic ghost gone? Or was it following me now, haunting me? I thought back to the conversation I had with my mom, her telling me I needed to leave the motel or I die. What if –?

"Either way little necro," that voice – the one that sent chills up my spine, the one I've been hearing from the beginning – said. "In the end, you die. It doesn't matter that you left that motel. Even if you leave this place tomorrow I'll find you and I'll kill you myself."

My eyes widened and, despite my aching muscles creaking in protest, sat upright in bed.


Alright. This is the part where I get on my knees and beg for mercy... I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER AND I'M SOOOOOOO SORRY THAT THIS CHAPTER WAS SO SHORT. Please don't hurt me…please? Well, I kinda made it a cliffhanger but I have my reasons. Liked it? Disliked it? Loved it? Hated it with your guts? Got question or a suggestion that you need to ask/tell me? For that you can PM me. Everything else can go in your REVIEW that I would so dearly love. C'mon, press that adorable little button right there at the bottom of the screen. Yes, that one. It's cute it'd it? Yes it is. You know what would make it even cuter? You clicking it, reviewing, and making me a very happy author! You like that idea? Good, 'cause I know I do! I'll throw in some candy for you…you know you can't resist the candy! Anyway, I PROMISE that I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. PROMISE! That's all for now, my darlings. Until next time!

- xxWARxx