CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 244 BREAKDOWN

Cold, spider-like fingers raced up and down my spine, as the fire got closer.

Time seemed to stop, yet all I could hear was the chaotic beating of my heart.

Then, everything began to move fast again... maybe too fast because I couldn’t comprehend it.

Boom.

Everything darkened, as my face got buried into a hard warm chest. Strong hands wrapped around my waist protectively, his frame shielding me.

My heart skipped a beat in panic, but when the person’s scent registered in my head... I pulled away immediately.

But the body arched over mine, blocking my line of sight.

"Damon!" Mr. Four Eyes’ panicked voice made my heart cut in two.

’Is he alright? Is he dying because of me?’ I panicked more, struggling to get away from his hold.

"Everyone stay behind me." Rhydian’s voice wasn’t as calm as it always was.

The tension thickened so fast that it was suffocating. I couldn’t think straight... I wanted to know how he was... but he wouldn’t let me.

Warm tears poured from my eyes... This was the second or third time he was risking his life for me... while I remained a weak jelly fool.

I sobbed, desperately trying to unwrap his arms around me.

"Stay still." His hoarse voice whispered in my ears. "I can feel your fear and guilt. I’m fine." He added.

"Damon the Lycan King... not a pleasure in meeting you." One of the witches’ said teasingly, her voice dripping with malice.

’What? What do they mean by Damon the Lycan King? Does that mean Damon is a Lycan?’ My brain buzzed like a broken tape.

His hold on me tightened. "I really wish you wouldn’t know like this... but the witches are powerful... I’ll have to go all out to defend us." His solemn voice made my heart clench.

’So he had been hiding his true self from me?’

Suddenly, he pulled away, and a cry almost escaped my lips in protest, as his warmth was replaced by cold.

My eyes interlocked with his, they were silver grey now... silver grey.

My lips parted to speak, but no words came out. I had a lot to ask... and the feeling of deja vu made my heart feel like it was being squeezed.

"I’ll protect you." A glint of madness flickered through his eyes. He looked at me like I meant the world to him.

"Attack!" the witches’ leader ordered.

Mr. Four Eyes and Alaric stepped behind Damon, their claws protruded out of their fingers, and their fangs began elongating.

My legs went numb. The people I thought I knew... were not who they were. ’They all lied to me.’ I felt my reality shattering like a glass.

"Werewolves!" Rhydian said with so much hatred, he was so consumed in it that he momentarily let down the barrier wall from his opposite side.

"Keep your feelings to yourself. If we don’t work together... we might end up dead." Damon said coldly, flexing his arms and neck.

"You are the reason they are attacking us. You are the reason!" Rhydian burst out in a fit of anger. "How could you put her in such danger? Why did you come near her when you knew your presence would harm her?"

Damon didn’t bother to glance at him. He stood with his hands behind his back, which was now black from the smoke of the fire. His shirt was burned, making it look like he was wearing a rag.

With one swift motion, he yanked the shirt away. "Witches." He growled, his voice deepened like he was possessed. "You touched one thing you shouldn’t have... now you must pay for it."

The witches closed in on us, throwing spells at us. Rhydian’s wings protruded out of his back, his eyes burning like a blue flame. He took to the sky, his blue wings spreading out majestically.

His blonde hair danced to the wind his wings were generating.

My lips parted in awe. He looked so ethereal like out of the world.

His sword shimmered with blue energy. His eyes squinted and a huge wall formed around us.

"You are on your own Damon... my only responsibility is Aeris." His voice sounded like rippling water.

"Alaric, Theo, protect her," Damon commanded, ignoring Rhydian’s words.

His claws and fangs lengthened. His muscles flexed. He glanced behind his shoulders, offering me one last look.

"Dam..." I couldn’t finish my words. Something struck me in my chest. We were meant to be enemies, why have he been risking his life for me? Why did he even get close to me? Is it because I looked like Ember or is there more? Could he have been deceiving me?

I took a few steps back, I wanted to hate him, despise him for being a liar... my wet lashes fluttered, as my eyes continued trailing him.

Slash.

The ripping of flesh and the screams tore through the woods like music.

My eyes could not follow his movement, he was swift and agile, and every single action of his was precise and controlled.

Damon looked nothing more than a beast unleashed. The witches’ spells did not affect him... they were like prey before a predator.

My stomach churned from the gruesome view. Arms and legs littered the ground, even some bodies were missing their heads.

My hands flew to my lips, and I quickly averted my gaze from the view.

’How could someone be so cruel? Is he the same Damon who was scared of being mishandled? The one that always clings to me and makes me breakfast? The one that always shields me? Is he the same person who is on a killing spree?’

I choked on my tears, Alaric and Mr. Four Eyes fought vigorously around me, eliminating any witches that got closer to me.

’Is this the real Damon? Has he always been a psychopath?’ That was the only word I could use to describe him.

I staggered as images began playing in my head. ’Psychopath, Master... pet.’

The images flooded my head, ripping out a scream from my throat. My legs buckled, digging into the ground. My vision blurred and my hands clutched the dirt.