Chapter Five
Healing
"Palms rise to the universe...Feel the warmth, we'll never die. We're like diamonds in the sky. You're a shooting star I see. A vision of ecstasy. When you hold me, I'm alive. We're like diamonds in the sky. At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays. I saw the life inside your eyes. So shine bright tonight..." ~ Rihanna
"There's a blaze of light in every word. It doesn't matter which you heard. The holy or the broken Hallelujah..." ~ Leonard Cohen
"I'm standing across from you. But I see you. I've dreamt alone now the dreams won't do. But I see you. I'm standing across from you. But I see you. I've dreamt alone now the dreams won't do. But I see you..." ~ Mika
I was wide awake staring at the windows, the curtains moving to the beat of the wind. There was some sense of relaxation in watching the curtains move. I matched my breathing with the wind, concentrating on letting go of every thought in my head.
The door creaked open, the sound deafening in the silent room. Damon entered and closed the door behind him. He lifted the covers sliding in to bed next to me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pressing his body against mine, nestling his nose in the hollow of my neck. I closed my eyes breathing out. I took Damon's hand in mine holding it against my chest. I won't lie, it felt great to be so close to Damon.
It wasn't long before I fell asleep. I woke up with sun rays in my face, and an arm wrapped around my waist. I smiled and turned around, feeling well rested and refreshed. Damon was fast asleep, totally at peace. I slithered out from under his hold and got out of bed. "Going somewhere?" he asked, eyes still closed, a smile playing on his lips. "I need to use the toilet," I said leaving the room.
"We avoided talking about the blood situation last night, but I haven't forgotten," I said to the door. I heard Damon groan and get up. "Fine," he said opening the door as I washed my hands. "Really?" I was surprised, I honestly thought I'd have to beg a little more. Damon came up to me and took my face in his hands, burying his fingers in my hair. "Really," he whispered leaning in, brushing his lips against mine.
My whole body hummed, a shiver running down my spine. I grabbed his arms and stood on the tip of my toes, planting my lips on his, kissing him. Damon responded instantly kissing me with a hunger unlike I've ever felt. The lust we felt flowed together, obscuring any emotions or thoughts we had. I wrapped my arms around his neck, relishing the feel of his lips against mine, his hands on my skin and his body pressed against mine. Damon hands cupped my ass and he picked me up, putting me on the bathroom counter. I looked Damon in the eye, knowing exactly what I wanted. I wanted him here and now. No. I needed him. I needed him like I needed the blood flowing in my veins. I kissed him again, unable to control the yearning that needed to be satisfied. With him it was a constant fight to satisfy the burning lust I felt.
It wasn't long before we lost all control. Damon's hands explored every inch of me, while my hands ensured that there was nothing stopping Damon from satisfying the yearning burning inside me. He spread my legs and pushed inside me, the whole world disappearing. I arched my back and scraped my nails across Damon's back, drawing blood. Damon's beast emerged and stared straight at me, his black eyes piercing my soul. I grabbed the back of his head and pushed him down, kissing him.
Damon bit my bottom lip the taste of my blood heightening his senses. He smiled and bit down on my breast, as I ran my fingers through his hair. Damon looked up as he emptied his seed inside me, his mouth stained with my blood. I leaned forward and kissed him, my mouth coppery with the taste of blood. Damon pulled away and bit down on his own wrist creating a gash. He offered me his wrist and I took it placing my mouth around the wound. I felt his blood flow through me and heal the wounds and bruises I couldn't. I stopped when I thought I'd had enough of his blood.
Damon's fingers moved across my back, and I looked over my shoulder, watching as the carving on my back started healing. I smiled and turned my head, facing Damon. He smiled playfully, his eyes sparkling. "What," I asked meeting his blue gaze.
"I could get used to this," Damon said before he leaned down and kissed me. At that moment I think more than just my outside wounds healed, I felt some of the scars on my heart heal too. I've had good times with Damon before, but this was different. This felt like love.
When we could pry ourselves from each other Damon and I went downstairs. Although Damon was fully satisfied, I still needed to eat. He went to the living room and I went to the kitchen to grab some food. While in the kitchen I drank a tall glass of water, and a tall glass of orange juice. I also took a couple of vitamin tablets. It was all to help me regain my strength after feeding Damon. I made myself a plate filled with orange slices, nuts, and grapes. I needed all the protein, vitamin and sugars I could get. I went to the living room my plate and orange juice in hand.
I entered the room and stopped. On the sofa sat Sasha. She looked up and grinned, jumping to her feet. She hurried towards me and I put my plate and glass down before I made a mess. She wrapped her arms around me, embracing me tightly.
"You look great," she gushed stepping away, studying me. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now," I answered with a smile. Sasha hugged me again, and then pulled away turning to look at Damon. "I'd hug you, but I'm still upset," Sasha said to Damon.
"What did I do?" Damon asked pouting. I grabbed a few grapes and popped them into my mouth, watching Damon and Sasha. "Oh, you know exactly what you did," Sasha said with her hands on her hips. I walked passed her and sat down next to Damon, crossing my legs. Damon looked to me for an answer. I shrugged. "Don't look at me," I said with a mouthful. "I told you to fight for her," Sasha said indicating towards me with her head. "And what do you do? You leave!"
I laughed and looked at Damon waiting to hear his response.
"Have you met an angry Ava?" Damon asked.
"Yes, yes I have," Sasha chuckled sitting down on the coffee table.
"Why are you here?" I asked. "I thought you weren't coming until next week."
"I know, but we managed to finish packing earlier," Sasha answered.
"Packing?" Damon asked, frowning.
"When Ava told us she's leaving Charming, Dave and I thought it was time to pack up and move on," Sasha replied getting to her feet.
"Where are you moving to?" Damon wanted to know, suddenly worried.
If Sasha noticed Damon's reaction she didn't show it.
"Well, here. I just accepted a position at the hospital."
"Oh," Damon said relieved. I elbowed him, and glared at him. It was my way of saying he needed to be a little more discreet. "Am I missing something?" Sasha asked, looking from me to Damon and back. "Ava's decided to give me a second chance," Damon answered before I could say anything. "Well, technically it's chance number 20, but who's counting," I corrected finishing the orange slices.
"Oh, so you two are doing okay?" Sasha asked, eyeing Damon carefully.
"He hasn't tried to kill me if that's what you mean," I said grinning. Damon did not find that funny. He flinched when I said kill.
"Good, but just in case," Sasha said keeping her eyes on Damon. "If you hurt her again I will go to great lengths to make sure you suffer."
"Understood," Damon said his hands in the air.
"Great! On that note I have a contract to sign and boxes to unpack." Sasha leaned over and gave me a kiss on the head, and gave Damon one last look before turning around to leave. The front door opened and Sasha stopped. Stefan walked into the living room a moment later and grinned. "Stefan," Sasha exclaimed opening her arms for a hug. Stefan obliged and embraced Sasha. He looked at me and Damon, raising an eyebrow.
Damon and I both shook our heads. Stefan let Sasha go and took a step away.
"Where are you going?" he asked, still smiling.
"I need to run a couple of errands, but I'll be back later if that's okay," she said looking over her shoulder at me and Damon. "That's fine," Damon said with a nod.
"Great!" Sasha beamed. "I'll see you guys later."
Sasha left the house and we all waited for her to leave the grounds before Stefan spoke. "You have to tell her," he said with urgency.
"And we will, just not now," I assured.
"You better, because the longer you put it off the harder it's going to be."
"It's been thirty years, Stefan. I think a couple more days won't matter."
The sun was setting casting shadows on the floor. I laid down on the bathroom floor, in the semi darkness, staring at nothing in particular. I felt exhausted, but sleep didn't come. Lying in bed did nothing to soothe me, but the coolness of the tiles felt comforting. "Ava?" Damon called anxiously from the bedroom.
The light from the room spilled into the bathroom. Damon hurried to the bathroom, coming to a standstill by the door. I was as sick as a dog. I had a fever, a splitting headache , and I was vomiting blood. It turns out Damon's blood made me sick, again. "I'm fine," I said trying to lift my head, but it felt heavy and I laid down again.
"My blood?" he asked, getting down next to me. "It'll pass," I reassured, my stomach turning. I lifted myself up from the floor, throwing up blood. Damon held my hair back and rubbed my back. "I thought you said you weren't going to hold my hair," I said, wiping my mouth with a wet cloth that was on the floor next to the toilet. I knew what to expect when the vomiting first started and was prepared.
"I sometimes say things that I don't mean," Damon replied reaching over to flush the toilet. I sat back, resting against his chest. "Where's she?" someone called, the voice echoing through the house. Damon and I looked at each, before he got to his feet picking me up from the floor. My legs wobbled and Damon was ready, scooping me into his arms. He carried me out of the room, as I rested my heavy head on his shoulder. "What did you do?" Sasha demanded, bursting into my bedroom.
Damon and I looked up at a pissed off Sasha. "Nothing," Damon said quickly.
"Sasha," I said gently, but my stomach turned and I leaped out of Damon's grasp and dashed to the toilet. I flung open the toilet lid, blood oozing from my mouth.
"What's wrong with her," Sasha asked with concern, coming into the toilet.
I closed the toilet lid, as I wiped my mouth.
"I gave her my blood to help her heal," Damon answered coming over to help me to my feet. "Boy, you do look like crap," Sasha said leaning in to study my face.
"Oh, thanks Sash," I said going over to the sink to rinse my mouth.
"I'm just saying," Sasha paused. "Who am I kidding, you look dreadful," she finished with a chuckle. "And here I was, feeling worse," I said drying my mouth and hands, turning to look at Sasha. Sasha and Damon burst out laughing, obviously finding something really funny. "I'm glad I'm so amusing," I said walking back into my room.
Damon and Sasha followed still laughing. "It's just," Sasha took a deep breath, trying hard to stop laughing. "It's just your face, pouting, oh god I can't." Sasha burst out laughing again, and I couldn't help but join in. I felt crap, but she just lit up the room.
Sasha shook her head and left the room, her laughter ricocheting off the walls.
"I don't get what was so funny," I said getting into bed.
"It's just you're so cute when you're sick," Damon said with a crooked smile, sitting down next to me on the bed. I looked at Damon and pouted. Damon laughed and shook his head, gathering me in his arms. I laid my head against his chest.
I started dozing off a few minutes later, but heard Damon whisper that he loved me.
I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
