Be Careful When You Bite Me

Chapter 13

I flickered my eyes open, slowly to adjust to the light. I felt a massive headache invade my head and sat up slowly to examine my surroundings.

I was in bed, still at the hotel suite, the balcony door was wide open and the slight breeze sent shivers down my leg. I gasped when I realized my leg was bare and peeked under the covers to realize I was completely nearly naked.

Memories of the night before flooded my thoughts and my brain raced with where is Damon and where were my clothes.

I struggled to get out of the massive bed. I wrapped the sheets tightly around my body and stumbled to the bathroom.

There was still no sight of Damon or my clothes. I mentally swooned over the bathtub and opened the glass doors to the standing shower right across. I bathed my body in warm water and watched the dried up blood from my neck drip down my wet body.

I closed my eyes and thought of how amazing it had felt to have his lips and hands on me. It felt impossible to know that I might not get to feel that again ever again.

Was it wrong of me to hope that he forgets to feed again? Last night he had lost control and I wasn't sure why the thought of almost being killed at the hands of Damon didn't completely and utterly terrify me. I lusted for another second in his hands and struggled to stifle my desire.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my body. Back into the living room, I noticed a metal cart with trays of food on it and a note.

Eat,

Damon

I lifted the metal tops to reveal contents inside. The first one looked like an omelet with some fruit and the second had toast and some meats. My stomach rumbled out loud and I realized how much I had missed food.

I dug into the meal and lost track of time. I heard the entrance door open and fumbled with my towel to make sure it was covering my body. In walked in Damon with a brown paper bag.

He looked like a different person today in comparison to yesterday. He looked...full.

I almost chuckled out loud at the thought. He paused to examine me, making me suddenly very wary of the fact that I was wearing nothing. His eyes glanced over at my neck and back up to my face. He reached his hands out and handed me a brown paper bag.

"Y-you're clothes, they were bloody, I had them washed this morning."

I nodded and grabbed the bag from his hands.

"Did you like the food?" he continued.

I realized he was probably feeling guilty or maybe awkward after last night's events. I decided to push aside my nervousness and smiled brightly," I loved the food, thank you, I was so hungry."

He nodded and disappeared into the bedroom, still talking," you didn't eat last night you must have been starving."

I quickly struggled with my top and slipped it on over the towel.

"I was, but that's okay, I'm full now," I fumbled with the bag until I found my panties and slipped them on in between my legs.

I flung the towel off me and towards the couch.

I had got my leggings halfway on when Damon stepped back into the living room. We both paused at the sight of me.

"S-sorry," I mumbled, flushing bright red and brought the leggings up to my waist.

I felt a sudden rush of shyness and nervousness both rain over my body.

"Don't apologize," he forced a smile," I-I'm sorry about last night, I didn't mean to hurt you."

Did he just stutter?

I shook my head," don't apologize, I didn't give you much of a choice."

"I shouldn't have lost control-"

"Like I said, I didn't give you much of a choice."

He stayed silent but he looked away from me, his gaze going downwards.

I took a few steps until I was a foot away from him,"I'm okay, you didn't hurt me," I wrapped my fingers around his.

His golden eyes bore into mine and they look pained. Without warning, he stepped away and headed towards the door," let's go."

I sighed out loud and silently obeyed.

The car ride was spent in silence yet again and I secretly wondered when we were going to get over this awkward bubble of tension.

The car halted at the doors of a high-rise building. Damon glanced my way and said," Ready?" At least he talked this time.

I followed once again. Inside the building was just as breathtaking as the lobby. We entered the elevators just as they were about to close. Damon pressed button 18.

I stole secret glances towards him but his gaze remained on the ground.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened to reveal a charcoal grey carpeted hallway. We walked down until stopping at door 1809. Damon knocked on the door and I couldn't help but wonder who it was we were visiting. Seconds later the door burst wide open, behind it was a shirtless Xavier. His expression transited from confusion to annoyance and he stepped aside to let us in.

"Damon, Holly."

I was almost shocked to be addressed and walked into the massive condominium. A girl came speed walking from behind the marble kitchen island, her curly black hair bouncing as she moved.

"Damon!" She embraced him in a hug and left kisses on his cheeks. I grew uncomfortable at the scene and wondered who she was.

"Asia, this is Holly," Damon pulled back and gestured towards me.

Asia's full lips widened into a smile, her pearly teeth's almost blinding with how white they were. Her tan skin glowed like sunlight and I wondered how many more beautiful women I was going to have to meet.

"Holly, it's a pleasure," she walked towards me and without my consent or knowledge, grabbed me into a tight embrace. The first couple of seconds were shocking and uncomfortable but the longer she held me, the more I wanted to melt into her comforting arms. When she pulled away I was almost disappointed," I've heard so much about you."

She had to be the witch that Xavier had mated with. Her beauty was absolutely captivating and I hardly knew her and could understand how someone like Xavier could give up an entire throne just to be with her.

"Hi," I forced myself to smile," nice to meet you."

Xavier, who had one leg propped against the wall, leaned forward," to what do we owe this pleasure brother."

"I think you already know," Damon's expression had gone serious," I need help, I need a witch to perform the Ritual of Obliteration-"

"So go see Luna."

"She won't do it, she says she's marked."

"So what makes you think we'll do it?"

"I ran out of options Xavier, it's either this or lose the throne to Seth-"

"So lose the throne, do you really want to be tied down as King for the rest of your life!"

"Stop!" Asia stepped in between the brothers, her soft features now concerned," you're bickering like you hate each other, you're brothers!"

"Were brothers," Xavier said, eyeing Damon in disappointment and betrayal," before you agreed to let father dethrone me."

Damon remained silent but he looked at his brother as if he felt guilty. Asia turned back towards me, her big worried brown eyes held a kindness that made me want to tell her all my secrets. Her hands went up to stroke my hair from my face," how are you doing through all of this, I know the castle can be a little...overwhelming."

I signed out almost in relief," overwhelmed is exactly how I feel, I-I just want to go home."

She smiled in a way that was sad," I'll bet you do."

She kept stroking my hair, her eyes boring into mine. She eventually stopped blinking and it was almost as if she was seeing through me. I felt myself being held captive by her glance and I couldn't move or look away. I tried to focus on her fingers playing with my hair but I soon lost feeling of anything around me and was only aware of Asia.

A couple of minutes must have passed until Asia finally looked away, breaking the trance between us. I felt a slight headache but was relieved to be able to move my body now.

I stepped back and shook my head. I looked up to see Damon watching me.

"What was that," I breathed out, feeling suddenly dehydrated.

Asia had gone behind the kitchen island and it was Xavier who answered for her," she did a birth and rebirth spell on you, it's like a summary of who you are."

I looked towards Damon in confusion," what?"

"It's like what Lunda did to you with the crystal ball, she looked into your past and future."

Asia came back into view and handed me a glass of water," sorry I should have warned you."

No kidding.

I took the glass from her hands and chugged it.

Damon glanced at Asia in hope," So?"

She smiled sadly at him," she's definitely marked Damon, I'm sorry."

Damon let out a soft growl," there has to be something you can do-"

"There was and she did it," Xavier stepped in," you asked for help and she's done enough, she has no more reason to help you."

"Baby, it's okay," Asia placed her small hand above Xavier's and I can see his body automatically begin to calm down," he's not the enemy."

"Then tell me who, so I can deliver her!"

I didn't know what or how to feel but one thing felt certain for sure, was that I wasn't about to go home anytime soon. A thousand thoughts raced through my brain but I couldn't open my mouth to utter a thing.

"You know I can't do that Damon."

"So what do I do!" Damon burst out, his loud deep voice sending a vibration through the place.

Asia looked at Xavier and almost as if he had read her mind, he walked towards his brother," let's talk in the other room."

Damon nodded and marched towards the back of the condominium with Xavier following lightly behind, leaving me alone with Asia. She turned towards me and smiled," would you like some fruit?"

I nodded, feeling the anxiety lift just a little bit off my shoulders, "okay."

She points towards the living room, at the black leather sectional," go have a seat, I'll be right there."

I did as instructed and walked towards the living room. I sat down on the sofa and examined the free-hanging flat-screen Tv stationed right above the natural wood burning fireplace and reminded myself that it gets cold in New York. To my left was a massive window with the most breathtaking view of the town. I didn't hear approaching until she set down a place of cut fruit on the glass table in the middle of the room," beautiful sight isn't it."

I turned to face her, watching as she took a seat beside me," it's breathtaking."

"Eat some fruit, it will help rejuvenate you."

I nodded and reached for a slice of what looked like a pear. I wondered if it was laced with poison and decided to take my chances.

I bit away at it anxiously and Asia waisted until I was done before saying," you must have a lot of questions."

I nodded, wondering if I would be able to ask.

"Go ahead."

"How old are they, how old is Damon?" I felt almost as if I had blurted that.

Asia giggled, "he's 20, Xavier is 24."

I stared at her in confusion," But I thought-"

"That he's hundreds of years old? That's a myth, vampires stop aging when they are around thirty-five and they stay like that for around a hundred years until they either die at the hands of the Council or get killed."

"But they can live forever?"

"Technically yes, but the law states that as soon as a member of the Underworld gets to be 135, they must be terminated."

"So the King and Queen-

"Are nearing 135, that's why they are looking to give the throne one of their sons."

"Why did the King dethrone Xavier? Was it really for falling in love with you?"

Her smile widened," didn't anybody teach you that it isn't polite to ask strangers personal questions?"

How much of strangers could we really be now that you've looked into my past and future, but I didn't say that, instead I blushed red and mumbled," I'm sorry."

"That's okay," she reassured," and yes, the King has a very strict law in place for the Cold Ones and it is that they cannot rule if they do not mate with a fellow Cold One."

"Does that mean that Xavier is shunned-"

"He lost his royalty status, but they cannot take it away royalty from his blood."

"And Damon is scared-"

"Damon is scared because he had already witnessed the dethronement of his brother, he doesn't want to have to be next."

"I know it isn't my fault but I can't help but feel bad, like I am to blame for what's happening with him."

She smiled sadly," it will all be okay soon."

"Do you mean that," I asked, almost afraid of the answer," did you see that it was going to be alright with me, will I get to go home and forget this ever happened?"

She remained silent for a couple of seconds before softly saying," eat some more."

I sighed and obeyed silently.

After some time I decided to ask the question that I had been most curious about," What's the Mark of Eros?"

"I was waiting for you to ask."

"Luna said I had it, it's why she couldn't do the ritual, apparently she would be upsetting the gods or the Council, are they more powerful then King and Queen?"

"The King and Queen rule only the Cold Ones. Every creature in the underworld has a ruler, except for shapeshifters, warlock, and witches. who are a free race."

I remembered the security guard at the bar Damon had taken me to and wondered if he had been a shapeshifter.

I merely nodded and she continued," the Council rules everyone in the Underworld whether it's vampire, werewolf, faerie, witch, shapeshifter, or warlock. They consist of 6 people, one from each race of Underworld species. They are the eldest in their race and they control the entirety of The Underworld, they are the only members of the underworld allowed to surpass 135."

"How old are they?"

"I'm not sure, but Vesto, the leader, is a shapeshifter, its rumoured he's over 400 years old."

"I don't understand why they would care about someone like me losing her memory, shouldn't they be happy?"

"In The Underworld, we believe that the future is written by the gods belonging to the Underworld who are far more powerful than all of us combined, you have a god, we have gods."

I nodded and she continued.

"When a witch or a warlock perform a spell or a ritual, we always do it within the guidelines of the Council who makes the law in accordance to the history of the Gods. One of the many laws is we do not harm who is marked with a symbol of The Underworld."

"But I don't understand, I'm not marked, I'm just me-"

"But you are marked, it is written in your story, The Mark of Eros."

"Which is what?" I shook my head in confusion because although Asia was explaining, nothing made sense.

"The Mark of Eros is given to someone who is mated on by a member of The Underworld."

I felt completely confused and was almost certain that she had made a mistake," I-I don't...that can't be true, that can't be right, how does it make sense that a human and a vampire are destined to be together?"

"You arent as human as you think Holly," she said.

I scrunched my face up in confusion, what do you mean?"

"It's all in your story Holly, you are marked by someone which means, you belong to them."