MY DARLING DAREDEVIL

Damon's arms

Squatting beside Russel, Aziza let out a pained groan and placed her hand on her stomach as darkness overwhelmed her. Kane’s venom was fighting badly within her and her injuries seem to be getting weaker and broader instead of actually healing.

“Aziza,” Russel called out and tried to move or at least touch her but his hands were still and numb, his legs were heavy and so was his entire body. He groaned at himself when he remembered that he had been stabbed with something earlier. It had probably gotten him paralyzed for a few hours for he was familiar with the smell of what had been given to him. But for how long? That was what he did not know. He wouldn’t have cared, knowing that he would be fine and would have his body back soon but the smell of blood, wolf, and death that hit him almost made him gag in disgust.

“You missed all the fun,” Aziza forced a smile as she went down on her butt beside him. She was still bleeding, she was weaker and her vampire side had resurrected. She needed strength, she needed blood. Russel chuckled darkly, understanding exactly what she meant. She might have sounded weak and had a smile on her face while she said that, but he was sure that if she could bite him, she would. Seeing that he could not move, he used his eyes to scan the place, the places his eyes could reach. It was dark. Yes, the moon was the source of the light in such a dark alley but he did not need his eyes to see when his nose could smell.

“How many?” he turned back to the woman who was sitting beside him like she had nowhere else to be. She lazily glanced at him and lowered her gaze with how lazy her eyes were, then she breathed heavily with weakness and exhaustion.

“Ten,” she mumbled and he frowned. Not just because he would prefer that she stopped killing people simply because she had the power and ability to but because of the way her voice came out.

“You killed them all?” he went ahead to ask. She was beginning to get annoyed at his questions, because she expected him to get up and help rather than lie still like he had suddenly become paralytic. But she answered him anyway, seeing absolutely no need to remain quiet.

“I killed nine,” she responded inaudibly still with her head lowered and her eyes giving in to what she was feeling within while her heart went to Damon.

“What happened to the other?” Russel continued. He could not see how weak she was, he could not tell that the blood he smelt was also hers. How could he think about that when he knew how quickly she healed? Aziza slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. The colours in them had returned to normal, they no longer glowed and she simply had her dark eyes reflecting the moonlight but he saw that look. The hunger within, the weakness and the bloodthirstiness of a vampire. He scoffed and shut his eyes for a moment. Of all the time he could be paralytic, he had to be one when she was in such a state. She could suck him dry and kill him if she could no longer hold it.

“I let her live,” she mumbled her reply and swallowed hard before she lowered her gaze again. His heart skipped and leaped as he thought of the possibility of mercy finally being in her heart.

“You allowed her to live?” he repeated excitedly.

“Why?” he questioned again. Not being able to keep answering his annoying questions, she growled slowly in reply and he snapped his mouth shut.

“To see me die in misery and pain,” the voice of a different woman came sharp to his ears. Then he heard footsteps, slow footsteps till the owner of the voice stopped where his eyes could reach. Her outlook proved that she was a werewolf but she had no blood on her body, like she was not part of the people who had only just attacked them. Her dark hair was beautiful and raven. It had a shimmering glow to it and her skin was perfect. The moon goddess had sculpted her with grace and beauty and a certain calm unlike the other werewolves that always had the outlook of rogues and wild demeanour. But with those beautiful looks, her shoulders were slumped, her eyes were cold and empty and she looked as though she had died with the others.

“Why didn’t you just kill me?” Daciana yelled loudly as more tears came running down her cheek while she dragged her legs towards the monster. Aziza ignored her, not because the urge to kill her didn’t come. She was suddenly regretting why she had allowed her to live in the first place when she was so stupid and ungrateful. But seeing and feeling how weak she was, something that she had never felt, except she was expecting new powers. She was too weak and simply did not consider finishing what she started.

“Tell me, you wretch. Do you simply wish to cause me more pain that can’t be compared to death?” Daciana yelled louder. Her heart was breaking more as the pain tore at her like a dagger had been inside her and squeezing itself within her chest. Earlier, she had remained on the floor and had simply wanted to live, but not with the pain she was feeling. Life had been taken away from her, her world had come to an end and it was all over even before it started. There was no need to live anymore, no need to fight, no need to return home. The red hair could finish her, it would at least rid her of the torment.

Russel turned his gaze to Aziza, confused about what the girl was saying and hoping that she would give an explanation. But her head was down and her eyes were downcast like she was sleeping and didn’t hear anything at all. Aziza could feel the gaze of her uncle on her, the curiosity within them made her roll her eyes that she found no escape.

“I did that for your good, Daciana,” she mumbled and lifted her head.

“Don’t tell me that, you murderer,” she snapped like a crazed woman. Her voice echoing and going loud in the night.

“You and your friends also killed me earlier,” she smiled in response.

“What does that make you?” she added and slowly turned her gaze to the only woman who had not wanted to kill her or burn her the first instance they put her down. She was the only one reasonable enough to think and buy time for her to heal even without knowing it. While she lay there on the ground, while they surrounded her and thought she was dead, Daciana made them see that the oracle needed her. She might not have intended it but she made them argue and distracted them from burning her immediately. That was the only way she could regain, the only time she bought to heal. The wolf might not have realised it, but she helped her and she only wanted to return the favour, how could she not see it?

“Do you actually want to die because of him?” Aziza pushed aside her weakness and asked. Her voice revealed her irritation and annoyance as she stared at the woman who had looked somewhat strong just a few minutes ago. So easily, she had changed and looked like a walking dead over a mate who did not see her.

“He was my mate and you knew,” Daciana cried and fell to her knees as it weakened.

“He rejected you,” Aziza growled at her, shutting her up.

“He left you and made you a laughing stock among your peers. He had no respect for you, no care for you and treated you like trash. And while you hold on to him, he hurts you more and more without a care in the world. How can you love such a man?” she yelled this time around. Daciana’s cries softened as tears simply flowed out of her eyes as she listened to what she said. She knew it was the truth, the absolute truth, but it still did not take the pain away from her heart.

“That man did not deserve you,” Aziza added slowly and lowered her gaze. Daciana snapped her eyes to her words, shocked that a stranger and a bloodthirsty being like her could be the one to speak about her in such a way.

“I was going to kill him after all, the pain would have been ten times what you feel now if I didn’t make you accept his rejection. Your bond had to be broken completely so you can live and be free from him forever. And maybe find happiness, find yourself, find your strength. You would have died slowly in pain and agony if he died while you still shared that connection,”

“I might be a monster to you. But I gave you a new life, a chance to return home. Your friends never had such a chance. Don’t be ungrateful, will you?” she added lastly.

For a long time, it went quiet, no one said a word anymore. Not even Daciana. Aziza’s words had only just opened her eyes to see what the stranger had done for her. And she did not know how to react to it anymore nor did she know what to say. But she got up on her feet and looked around her. Blood, death, heads and naked bodies were all she saw, all she perceived. Yet she had not a single blood on her. Turning to Aziza again, mixed emotions filled her heart, and words found it hard to form in her mouth. She turned away and dashed off in confusion.

Russel on the other hand smiled. Aziza had only revealed that she could forgive, that she could have mercy and allow a little goodness in her heart. It might be as little as a speck of dust but it was goodness after all and she had only just showed it. For a longer time, Aziza remained in her sleeplike position and they both said nothing till he was slowly able to move his legs, then his hands. Forcefully he pushed himself up, breaking his paralytic state with a groan of pain. Then he turned to Aziza. She looked pale and lifeless and it was slowly scaring him.

“Hey,” he placed his hand on her back and she scoffed.

“You can finally get up,” she mumbled lowly.

“I was paralyzed,” he retorted.

“Yeah right,” she answered none the less and slowly got up on her feet. But she had become so weak, her legs could no longer carry her and she fell to the floor.

“Aziza….” Russel ran to her and held her worried and confused about what was actually happening to her.

“I can’t heal anymore,” she mumbled breathlessly and shut her eyes. His eyes widened and his heart skipped at those words. Guilt sprang alive in his chest almost immediately as the deeds of his past immediately came back to the surface like they had been there all along, warning him of something like this happening.

“But I’m fine,” she opened her eyes again. It travelled to his neck, as her hunger and thirst slowly drove her. Quickly, she snapped her eyes away from him and tried to get up.

“No..stay,” he ordered in pain.

“I’m fine,” she protested and got up anyway. This time, she forced her legs to remain strong and a sudden urge to stay away from him overwhelmed her. She didn’t want to hurt him, she was scared of what she was capable of doing and her hunger was slowly overwhelming her senses.

“Can you get rid of their body?” she asked, looking around at the mess she had made.

“Yes,” he responded lowly.

“Well then,” she sighed and took a deep breath. Then she shut her eyes and thought of one person and one place alone. Taking the last of her strength, will and energy, she zoomed off for Damon’s mansion.

Damon had been pacing to and fro in his room immediately after Aziza had left. He had suddenly become so worried over her, especially after what she had said and seeing that she had not returned, he could not keep still.

“Sir, your dinner is getting cold,” a maid had come into his room for the third time to remind him of his dinner and he snapped his eyes to her. He gave her a hard glare that made her scurry away in fright never to return, at least for that night. Then he groaned and ran his hand through his hair. He had never been so worried over another but on that night, he felt a connection to her. Something that told him that things were not fine, something that made him want to protect her even when he knew that she was powerful and he could not stand a chance against the werewolves she had talked about. He had talked himself out so many times from taking his car keys and going in search of her that his head was beginning to hurt. But seeing as pacing to and fro and worrying so much was making him go mad, he decided to just do what he was supposed to have done. He turned to his table, picked up his car key and headed to the door when something hard crashed through his window and he instantly turned around in full alert and with his eyes turning to his wardrobe where he had hidden his pistol.

“Have you thought of how I would kill you myself if you go out against my orders,” Aziza’s voice pulled his gaze back to the window. He relaxed and breathed heavily with relief as he placed his hand on his knees.

“You could have used the door,” he replied and stood up to his full height in excitement when his nose picked up the smell. Blood. He frowned and paid more attention to her than before. Her skin looked pale, her lips looked dry and blood was dripping on the floor. His heart skipped as he ran to her within seconds and her knees gave way, then darkness kicked in right in his arms.