Chapter 10

(Chloe's POV)

The day after I ran out of Aro's wing, Jamie told me that the twins, Demetri, and Felix were all sent out on a mission and will be gone for about a week. I was also thankful to know that no one say Alec or Aro leaving my room because they were all hanging out in the lounge at the time. I love Jamie, but I know that if she saw that; everyone would know about it in seconds. Today I was in the lower guard library cuddled up on a couch next to the fireplace, reading a book. I quickly learned over the months that not many lower guards came to the library, so it was a good place to go for some quiet outside my room.

"Chloe?" A voice came from close to me and I looked up to see Heidi standing there looking a little uncomfortable. Which was weird, because Heidi always beamed confidence, I didn't know she could even get uncomfortable around people.

"Um, ya?" I asked and she tucked her hair behind her ear and sighed.

"I wanted to apologize to you for what happened yesterday." She said, "I didn't mean any harm."

"It's ok," I replied, "I'm sorry for running off." Heidi shrugged and she plopped down on the couch one cushion away from me and stared at the fire.

"No," she said, "you don't need to apologize. I was the one that didn't notice your discomfort. I was just really excited that Demetri was actually with a woman that wasn't me." I looked at her in confusion.

"I don't know why you'd be happy about that," I said, "aren't you two a couple."

"Oh God no!" she quickly shook her head and waved her hands, "we're just friends. Although I'll admit, when I was turned and came here, I did have a crush on him. But really, we're just good friends. There's nothing romantic between us."

"Oh," I muttered, "I guess how you approached him in the garage made me think differently." Heidi gave a toothless smile.

"You're still young to this world," she said, "boredom can lead us to do many things, especially when we don't have mates. Demetri is one of the oldest guards here, I don't really think he finds anything entertaining anymore." Demetri did give me that kind of vibe at the aquarium. Heidi let out a long breath as she crossed her legs.

"And besides," she said, "even though he gives me what I want, I'm confident in saying he doesn't care to much for me. Which would hurt my pride as an allure, if he wasn't my best friend." I knew of Heidi's gift, being able to attract people to her.

"Oh." Was all I could say, feeling a little uncomfortable with this conversation.

"You're the first person that he's taken time to actually hang out with," she said, "it's just not like Demetri to take a girl out to an aquarium or willingly talk to them." She stood up them, "well anyways, I'm happy you're feeling better. Bye!" With that, she was gone. I bit my lip and stared down at my book. I don't understand why Demetri insists on bothering me either or why, deep down, I really don't mind it.

~One Week Later~

It's been a week since my conversation with Heidi and we've passed each other in the hall a couple times. She would smile and ask if I had any plans with Demetri when he got home, which I replied there was no chance and quickly walked off. I just didn't understand why she cared so much…

"Not again," I sighed when I stopped at the entrance of the garden to see rain. All I wanted to do today after all my work was done, was go to my secret hiding place I found in the main garden and read in peace. My shoulders dropped a little as I held my Sherlock Holmes book in one hand and closed the door with the other. The door was halfway closed when a hand stopped it and I quickly jumped back to see Demetri walk in soaked from head to toe, his hair sticking to his face.

"Chole," he tilted his head a little, "my apologies, I didn't mean to startle you." He brushed off some water droplets from his sleeve after removing his long black cloak.

"It's fine." I muttered before turning on my heel and walking back in the direction of my room. I jumped a little when Demetri suddenly grabbed my wrist, but not tight enough to where I couldn't get away making me wonder if he did this on purpose.

"Hold on," he said, and I looked into his dark red eyes and blinked as he started pulling me down the hall. My shocked state was too confused to do anything, so my feet followed him. I nibbled on my lip as we entered Aro's wing, went up a couple flight of stairs before stopping in front of a large door with his name engraved in it. He pulled me in and walked me over to a couch before letting me go.

"Wait here for a second," he said as I eyed him in suspicion, and he disappeared. I pressed my lips together, looking at the door. If I ran, he would catch me in a second. And I also didn't pay attention to our path, so I have no idea how to get back to my room. I plopped down on the couch then and looked around the dimly lit room. The furniture was a dark brow wood that his blood red bed sheets complement. The couch I was sitting on was also read and was across from a fire place with a long foot rest between. On the other side of the room was a large desk and a large fully stocked bookshelf. It was a gorgeous room. Demetri walked out of a door that probably led to the bathroom, wearing some dry cloths. Another expensive looking suit with a navy shirt on and his damp hair was brushed into that old-fashioned style again. He walked over to me then and sat on the foot rest across from me. I shifted a little, putting some space between us.

"We should talk," he said as he looked at me and I blinked in confusion while he continued, "Chloe, why did you run away?" I shot up out of the couch then and held onto the book tightly, trying to damage it.

"I told you that it's none of your business." I snapped feeling infuriated that he just wouldn't leave me alone, he wouldn't stop asking questions.

"I believe it is," he said standing up as well, "seeing as I helped you." My teeth clenched together, and he sighed before grabbing the book out of my hand and setting it down. He grabbed my wrist again and sat down on the couch, slightly tugging at my hand.

"Sit." He said calmly, but something hidden deep in his voice made me believe there wasn't a chance I could argue with him; so, slowly sat down scooting as close to the armrest as possible to keep distance between us. Demetri let go of my wrist then and picked up a nearby remote and turned on the fire place. I watched the fire dance around as we sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Chloe," he finally said and I stiffened, "people here can help you, but you need to be honest with someone. I can help you."

"Why do you want to?" I snapped, "why is it so hard for you to just leave me alone?!"

"What if I had?" he asked, "would you have survived? Or perhaps you would've been taken back to where you ran away from." My whole body stiffened at the thought and I bit my lip to stop it from trembling.

"No," Demetri sighed, "I find I don't like the idea of you dead, it shouldn't bother me; but it does." I glanced at him to see he was staring at the fireplace, his eyes now completely black. I didn't say anything as I looked back at the fire and fisted my hands in my shirt. I forgot about my strength until I heard a small tearing sound and looked down to see I had torn my shirt up to my bra.

"Crap," I muttered and quickly covered myself. I suddenly felt a jacket being placed over my shoulder and looked over in time to see Demetri move away. I quickly put my arms through the sleeves and wrapped the jacket around me, being extra careful to not rip it. I already owed him enough money, I did not need to add to my debt. I inhaled and the smell of a fresh rain hit my nose and I found it comforting. I never did take time to notice Demetri's scent.

"Sorry," I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

"It does take time to learn our strength." He replied quietly and I felt him move my hair behind my ear.

"Have you told Athena and Damien about your human life?" he asked, and I shook my head a little.

"I just," I whispered feeling my eyes glaze over with tears that will never fall, "I just want to forget it."

"Forgetting takes time," he said, "and acceptance. We can never move on from our past until we accept it." I stared down at the ground for a long time as he rested a hand on my upper back.

"My parents were murdered," I whispered, "when I was ten. I found them when I came home from school." I buried my face in my hands as my shoulders shook a little, "there was so much blood and no matter how hard I try, I just can get the picture out of my head. And then my damn uncle didn't care about my grief and got himself landed in jail and me sent to the hell that was the foster system. No one cared about me or how I was treated. I ran away that night because…" I took a shaky breath, "because that drunken foster father kept trying rape me only to be pulled away by his wife who only cared about her getting in trouble and not me." I thought I felt Demetri stiffen next to me, but I was also too busy shaking to really notice. I gasped when he suddenly pulled me onto his lap and wrapped one arm around me while the other stroked my head.

"You're safe here Chloe," he whispered, "you must know that, right?" I nodded a little as I buried my face into the base of his neck and let his scent comfort me, closing my eyes I remembered how much I loved the smell of rain.

"You must greatly enjoy reading," Demetri said after a while and I had calmed down a little, "you are often in the library."

"Stalker." I muttered and he chuckled a little.

"Or just curious." He replied softly. I let out a sigh and looked up to see him staring down at me with black eyes.

"You should probably go get some food." I said and attempted to move, only to have him hold me a little tighter.

"I am fine," he said and looked up at him, "I don't want you to leave yet." I blinked up at him a little before looking back at the fire, not knowing how to respond.

"You have a gift," he suddenly said, and I bit my lip.

"According to Aro's friend." I replied looking at my hand that I didn't realize had been fisted in his shirt the whole time. I quickly let to and stared at the wrinkles in his shirt knowing it would bother the perfectionist in him. Ah well, serves him right for being nosy.

"A powerful one." He continued I looked up at him.

"I don't think so," I replied, "I just get feeling about things, that all."

"Yet your 'feelings' saved the twins a while back," he said "tell me what kind of feelings do you get about me?"

"Annoyance." I replied without hesitation and he laughed while I blinked up at him. That was attractive…I quickly shook away those thoughts.

"You do have a quick tongue," he said in amusement and I bit my lip. Demetri suddenly stood up and placed me on my feet. I had to hold his upper arm to steady myself because of the sudden movement and stiffened when his hands cupped my cheeks.

"You bit that lip a lot," he whispered as he brushed a thumb over my lower lip. I didn't realize how close he was until I felt his breath on my face. I also never realized how much taller he was, but now that he was so close, I realized I was only eye level with his neck.

"Never noticed." I muttered, trying to get my thoughts together. Demetri leaned down a little and my whole body froze in place.

"Demetri!" We both jumped and I quickly moved away from Demetri when pounding came at his bedroom door as Felix's voice boomed from the hall. "Aro wants your report on the mission! Where have you been man?!" His door swung open and I quickly hugged the jacket to me, remembering the condition of my shirt.

"OH shit sorry!" Felix yelped when his eyes landed on me and I suddenly realized I was in one of those 'it's not what it looks like' situations knowing my face would be bright red if I were human.

"Must you always barge in here Felix?" Demetri sighed as he straightened out his shirt. Man, Jamie was right when she said Demetri was laid back, while I was panicking Demetri was calm and acted as if he didn't even care about Felix's intrusion.

"I couple more minutes and I bet I would've barged in on the good stuff huh?" Felix wagged his eyebrows with a smirk and I just wanted to die on the spot. Demetri took a step towards the giant vampire who quickly ran out of the room.

"Shit sorry man! Don't kill me!" Felix's voice echoed down the hall and I watched as Demetri ran a hand through his hair with a long sigh. Demetri looked back at me with a small smile.

"My apologies for his behavior," he said then picked up my book and handed it to me, "read here until I get back and can escort you out of the wing." Right after I took his book he was gone, closing the door behind him. I stood there and stared at the book as realization hit me.

Was Demetri going to kiss me? No that had to be my imagination, it just had to be. I set the book down and laid down on the couch, staring at the fireplace. Closing my eyes, I let myself fall into a dreamworld and got what I considered the closest resemblance to sleep I could get. After a long time, I heard the door open and sat up as Demetri walked back in holding a red shirt.

"Here," he said handing me the shirt, "Heidi said you could borrow it." I bit my lip as I accepted the shirt and he turned around so I could quickly change.

"Thank you," I said as I folded his jacket and rested it on the top of the couch. Demetri nodded before opening his door again and following me out of the room. I walked next to him as we moved through halls and down steps and I was sure this was defiantly not the way we came.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked and he placed a hand on my back.

"Long way," he replied quietly, and I glanced up at him. I bit my lip as we continued, and he suddenly stopped.

"Don't do that," he said, and I looked up at him in confusion.

"What?" I asked and he stepped closer to me while I froze in place.

"Bit your lip," he said, and his eyes flashed to my lips.

"Why?" I asked and he quickly looked away before he continued to walk, and I followed him after a second. I watched my feet as I followed him down some curving stairs and brushed my hair out of my face when a gust of air from somewhere blew it in front of me. I was too busy moving my hair away that I didn't notice Demetri had stopped so I ran smack into his back.

"Sorry." I said quickly taking a step back to see his whole body was tense.

"Screw it." I heard him mutter and before I could react his hands had cupped my cheeks and his lips were on mine.