Be Careful When You Bite Me

Chapter 27

I tried to hide the sudden feeling of anxiety that arose within me. I wondered if she could somehow tell

that I was hiding something,” it was alright, I seen myself on the news as a missing person, that was

hard to watch.”

Asia’s expression turned sad,” I can’t imagine what your parents are going through right now.”

“Me neither, I wish I could call them, just to reassure them that I’m ok.”

Asia looked hesitant before setting her chopsticks down and grabbing her cellphone,” make it quick.”

I looked at her with an expression of uncertainty,” are you sure?”

She nodded,” don’t tell Damon.”

I grabbed the phone and got off the stool, I punched in my mothers phone number and looked up at

Asia who gave me a reassuring smile. I gulped back my nerves and hit dial.

I felt my heart drop to the deepest pit of my stomach as I heard the phone ringing and finally, the purest

voice of all, my mothers.

“Hello.”

She sounded normal. That was my first thought was that she sounded normal. I took a deep breath and

tried to get my words together.

“Hello,” I replied,” mom, it’s me.”

“Holly,” I could always hear it in my mothers voice when she was getting ready to cry and I could tell

that it was coming,” Holly, where are you!”

“Mom, I’m okay, I’m not far from home.”

“Where have you been all this time, I thought you were dead somewhere!”

“I’m in New York mom.”

“What the hell are you doing in New York!”

I could hear the anger and the frustration through the crying but I could also hear the relief.

“I’ve been at a friends house here, I’m going to stay a little longer but I’ll be back soon.”

“Which friend? I didn’t even know that you knew anybody in up there.”

“She’s an old friend from school mom, I never really told you about her.”

“Holly this doesn’t sound good, where are you really.”

“Mom I promise I’m okay, I’m at a friends I’ll be back soon-“

“No, you have to come back now! Your father is worried sick, he’s got police all over looking for you.”

“Mom I promise I’m okay, I just needed a couple weeks away, I’ll catch up on school when I’m back-“

“When Holly? I can’t live like this, hearing from you once every week or so, you’re not even 18, you

can’t be out on your own you have to be here.”

I felt tears stream at the corner of my eyes and felt my heart breaking. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“I’ll be back home soon Mom I promise, can you tell dad that I love and miss him please?”

“He’ll be home in an hour or so, you call and you tell him.”

“I’ll try, but Mom please don’t be worried, I really am fine.”

“I don’t understand Holly, is it something we did? Are you in trouble?”

“No Mom, not at all, I miss you guys so much, I need some space right now, just for another couple of

days maybe a week.”

“We miss you Holly, please come back soon.”

“I will Mom, I promise.”

With that, I blinked back my tears and ended the car. That had to be one of the hardest phone calls I’ve

ever had to make but I couldn’t bypass the inevitable fact that a new sense of relief now draped over

my body and it felt as if I could finally breath again.

I thought about what Luna had said, my old life back for Dimitiri.

I looked back to see that Asia was starting at me, her expression both concerned and sorrowful.

“Are you alright?”

I nodded and blinked back some more tears,” I feel a lot better bow, thank you,” I handed her back her

phone. I meant it when I thanked Asia. It was selfless and kind of her to have done that.

“Of course, I bet your Mom feels a lot better.”

I nodded,” I hope so.”

The door suddenly burst wide open and in walked in Xavier and Damon.

I felt sudden butterflies forming at the base of my stomach at the sight of Damon. Asia ran out of her

chair and into the awaiting arms of Xavier and I wondered if Damon had expected me to do the same.

His gaze met mines as soon as he walked in and the expression on his face told me that he felt

uncomfortable as well.

“Hi,” I meant to say the words but instead I breathed them out,” your back.”

He nodded, coming closer to me,” I’m back.”

I looked up at him now that he was just a foot or two away and wanted so badly to touch him,” you left.”

He nodded once again,” I’m sorry, I should have told you before I left, you fell asleep I didn’t want to

wake you up.”

I nodded and looked down at the ground before looking back up at him,” there’s Chinese...if you want

some.”

He smirked and amused smile and said,” not my kind of food but thank you for the offer.”

I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment and I wondered what the feeling in my chest was. I

diagnosed it as missing him and pondered why.

“Is there any news, did you find someone who will help me?”

His expression turned serious and he shook his head,” not yet.”

I swallowed back my nerves and thought of what Luna had said.

He’s got a soft spot for you, use it.

I hardly believed that but I figured that it was my last chance to help myself out and so I brought up my

hands and placed them on his jacket,” I want to go back to the castle.”

His gaze flickered from my fingers back to my eyes and a look of confusion crossed his face,” why?”

“I don’t like it here, I want to be back in my room,” my voice was shakier then I had intended it to be and

I gave myself a mental kick to remind myself that his intuitions were stronger and better then mines, he

could pick up on when I’m lying,” I-I feel like if nobody here wants to help me I might as well be

somewhere I got used to-“

“You got used to the castle? You want to go back after I put you in that cell?”

“I understand why you did that Damon,” I locked eye contact with his and repeatedly reminded myself

that I had to do this if I wanted to ever see my mother again,” I know you didn’t mean it, I could tell it

hurt you, but I don’t know these people and I feel like I’m intruding-“

“The castle might not be safe, Matheos and Elisabeth might come back to finish what they started.”

“Not if you’re there with me ,you’ll protect me, you always have so far.”

He stayed silent for a couple of seconds and I almost wanted to vomit at the sound of my own words.

Technically I wasn’t telling any lies, had it not been for Damon, I’m sure someone would have killed me

by now.

“I could get you a hotel to stay in, just until we figure it out, I’m planning on meeting with the Council,

explaining the situation-“

“Please,” I begged,” can’t we do all that from back home?”

He finally nodded, his gaze softening up,” Okay, I have some things I have to take care of tonight,

spend another night here and we’ll be out of here first things tomorrow morning.”

I nodded and forced a smile,” thank you.”

Xavier and Damon only stayed an hour longer before bidding us farewell and departing again. I lay in

bed that night, tossing and turning, glancing at the phone Luna had given me.Sleep didn’t come easily

as my thoughts did a good job of keeping me up. I couldn’t help but feel guilty for playing Damon like

that but a part of me was shocked that it worked. Half of me expected him to dismiss any request I may

have had.

Maybe it was because I let him bite me?

It had to be.

I thought about what might happen if I were able to pull of Luna’s plan. I couldn’t pretend part of me

didn’t feel a bit of distaste at the idea of never having to see Damon again. The mere thought made me

uncomfortable. I forced myself to put those thoughts to rest by remembering that I had a life before all

of this. I had school, and college applications and after that I had a whole life that I hadn’t even started

imagining. I finally drifted to sleep, my last thought still being Damon.

Morning time rolled around quickly and before I knew it I was being awaken by the strong beams of

light penetrating though the window. I tiredly got out of bed and took a quick shower before slipping

back into my clothes that Asia had so kindly washed last night.

I grabbed the cellphone that Luna had given me and made sure it was turned off before placing it deep

inside my bra.

In the kitchen was Xavier and Damon talking amongst themselves while Asia was busy making

breakfast.

Damon caught my eyes as soon as I entered,”Good morning.”