edited and rewritten

The sun comes up and Nick still isn't here. I lay awake in my bed, unmoving. Zeke stirs as he lays on my bean bag. After what happened yesterday, he didn't want me to be alone. Neither did I if I'm to be honest.

Parker called and I couldn't get it out of my head. I was tempted to hurt myself which I'm sure Zeke sensed. He distracted me by playing a board game with me. It worked but not for long. We ate dinner and then went to bed.

Well, he went to bed. I couldn't sleep. I kept twisting and turning, and the only time I fell asleep I had a terrible dream which woke me back up. Zeke's eyes open and he stretches then he looks at me.

"How long have you—"

"All night."

He sighs and sadness swirls in his eyes. "I may not know your situation but I've been restless about an issue before. I've done all the things you're doing right now, so I can say with full knowledge that it doesn't help. It makes it worse."

"Well then what do I do?" I ask and I feel my body slowly breaking down. I'm supposed to meet with him at our spot later tonight. I've been thinking about it, trying to figure out another way but I can't.

I'm so tired, physically and mentally I can't go on anymore. My entire body is done and there's nothing my brain can do to convince me otherwise. I want to be healed. I want to get better but I can't do that. Something or someone else has to help me, but I can't tell them what happened. It's painful.

"Get a therapist, Adara. They'd be confidential with whatever you tell them. They can help you. I promise." He says.

More fear creeps up around me, "I don't want to see him. I'm scared of him." I sniffle.

"Then don't. My brother wouldn't want you to do this because of him."

I shake my head, "But you said that they have the technology to kill vampires. I don't want him to die. If that means I must see Parker then I will. It's just a small meeting, it won't take long."

He nods, and I can see in his eyes that he doesn't believe me. I want to believe what I'm saying but it's hard. I can't say that I'm not scared when I am.

"Well, what do you wanna do until then?" He asks, taking up one of my stuffed animals.

I shrug, "I don't know, maybe I should try and get some sleep until then." I lay back on my bed, bringing my blanket up to my neck.

Zeke looks at me with sympathy in his eyes, "Okay. I'll wake you up when it's time to leave."

I nod as I close my eyes. Maybe I'll get some sleep now.

—♡︎—

Wishful thinking. I get at least two hours of mediocre rest before Zeke wakes me up. "Hey, wake up, you need to get ready." He shakes me.

My eyes open and I rub them. Stars dance around in my vision then I sit up. My hair's a mess and so am I. I don't want to go anywhere but if I don't then Nick could die for real.

I get up out of bed then I take out a dress from my closet and I head into the bathroom. I change into the knee-length dress then I step out. I put on my shoes and I put my phone in my pocket. I let out a sigh and I look at Zeke.

"Adara, you don't have to—"

"Yes! I do. I do have to do this. I was thinking all night last night why Parker had Nick's phone then it dawned on me. Parker is the president. It makes perfect sense. I have to meet with him and nothing you say can stop me." I tell him.

He hangs his head, "Alright. And you're sure I can't come with?"

"As much as I'd love that. No, you can't. If Parker sees someone with me, he'll call everything off." I say then I open my window.

He looks at me in confusion as I step out onto my roof, "What are you doing? You have a working front door."

"I know but my parents don't know any of this. If they find everything out, they'd never let me leave. Ever." I say.

"Please cover for me if need be," I say then I close the window. I get into my car then I turn it on quickly and drive out.

—♡︎—

When Parker and I were dating it was illegal due to our huge age gap and the fact that I was a minor. We both knew that it was wrong, I knew but he paid attention to me and was caring so I didn't see the seriousness of it. He liked the age gap, he liked the power imbalance. It was what helped make him more powerful and the 'dominant' person in our relationship.

We couldn't go on public dates for obvious reasons so we would go to this place just off the city. It was an abandoned parking lot and it made for great movie nights. My heart pangs as I think about how naive I was a year ago. I thought it was romantic how we'd be secluded here but never realized it was because it was illegal and he was manipulating me.

I continue driving until I'm on the outskirts of town. The lively city life disappears and more abandoned buildings come out. I always thought I was special but I was foolish. I wasn't special, I was a victim. Sought out him and then stalked until he got what he wanted.

I just wish I could've learned all of this before. It would have saved me plenty of heartaches. I arrive at our spot and I swallow. My throat tightens as I see the familiar building. It almost seems as if this entire thing was in a different life. It feels odd to think that I was here mere months ago. We stopped coming here in March when I broke up with him.

I texted him that we were over. He never accepted it, though. He used to text constantly but eventually stopped around the time the prince went to that ball and danced with Justina. Everything lines up perfectly. Every time he doesn't text me something big happens with the prince.

I get out of the car, making sure to lock it. I let out a shaky breath then I walk into the abandoned parking lot. The sounds of my footsteps echo throughout the building and I wish they wouldn't. I want to be as quiet as possible. I want to turn around and run home.

The prince has never done anything good for me, so why am I running back to my trauma for him?

No, I stop myself. This is much more than Nikolai. I must do this. Also, I am legally bound to do whatever it is to help him. Although, after that night we kissed I'm sure that those rules have shifted a little.

"I thought you'd cancel our date." I freeze. I feel him behind me and I regulate my breathing. I push my shoulders back and I fake my confidence. Maybe I'm a good actor after all.

"I've never been one to reconsider. What do you want for me?" I ask, crossing my arms.

My eyes dart around as I wonder if Nikolai will appear. Zeke said that he was supposed to come back at dawn but he never did. He's not truly dead so where is he?

Parker's brows raise and he smirks, "You've gotten bold, haven't you? I'm loving it."

I try resisting the urge to cower and hide in fear. Since Parker is a vampire, I'm sure that he can sense my fear but not if it's in small doses. I never knew he was a vampire until I was already under his spell. By that time, he could've told me he was a serial killer and I wouldn't have cared. I was in love. Or so I thought. It's not love, it was him manipulating me.

I raise my head high, "What do you want, Parker?"

He takes a step toward me and I take one back. He stops, "I'm not going to hurt you," his brows bunch together and he looks almost sincere. However, I know that's only a tactic he uses to make me feel safe. I'm not. I'm never safe around him.

He sighs, holding his head low, "Fine, I'm here because I want you. I miss you, Adara. Why did you leave me?"

Unbelief sets within me, "I left you because you were manipulating me. We are ten years apart. You're twenty-six and I'm sixteen. Our relationship was every bit illegal. Not to mention you were emotionally abusing me."

He scoffs, "You've let those people get in your mind, haven't you? I told you they were no good for us. All they wanted was to split us apart."

"And for good reason. You hurt me more than anyone ever has."

A flash of red goes through his eyes but it quickly vanishes. He's getting angry. That's not good. Either I need to get him to calm down or leave. If I stay here and become the fixation of his anger it won't turn out well for me.

"More than your neglectful parents who don't care about you?"

I stagger back and try to regain my confidence, "They care about me."

He raises a brow, "Are you sure? They work seven days a week, never have time for you, and didn't even know you were dating me. You know, you're right, I'm sure they love you."

My eyes gloss over as I think about what he said. A part of my brain screams at me, telling me not to listen to him but I can't help it. What if he's right? He's either telling the truth or trying to manipulate me again. Which I wouldn't put past him.

I remove my parents from my thoughts, "We're not here to talk about my parents. It's not their fault they have busy schedules. They work for the king and queen, of course, they work a lot. You still haven't told me what you want."

"Oh but I have, I want you. Come with me, Adara, and you and I can win this thing together. We can imprison and kill the prince together. We'll be known as heroes. Then we can take on the king and queen. And eventually, we'll become the royals. Wouldn't you love to wear a crown?"

I shake my head, "You've gone insane. Why on earth would you think that I'd join you?"

He walks to me but I hold my hand out. "Don't come any closer."

He obeys, "Okay. But come on, Adara, why are you defending him? You know all the things he's done. You know that he's a terrible person so why to defend him?"

"Because the bad things he's done were centuries ago, isn't there a law that says if it's been a while and the case is cold the perpetrator can't be punished? He hasn't done anything illegal recently. You are accusing an innocent man." I say.

Parker throws his head back and laughter roars out of him. "He's gotten you wrapped around his finger doesn't he?"

"No, I'm just stating the truth."

He ignores what I said, "And to think you would've learned your lesson with me, but no. You still want to get with dangerous men. I have to say, I'm amused. This entire thing is fake to him but he's willed you to believe that it's real. On one hand, I'm sorry for you but on the other," his smile drops, "You'd get everything you deserve."

I flinch. He did always pair sympathy with not-so-gentle jabs at me. It's a wonder I never noticed what he was doing. To think he wanted me to stay with him even while insulting me. He was truly gifted at complimenting and degrading me in the same sentence.

I was so blind.

"Is that why you called me here? To blabber?" I place up my walls to hide how I truly feel. To hide my racing heart, my sweaty palms, and my slightly quivering lips. He taught me a trick a year ago on how to hide my true feelings from a vampire.

He said that the greatest mask is confidence. If you distract a vampire enough with your confidence, that's all they'll focus on. He said that vampires' greatest weakness was their pride. It hurts them to think that there's someone else who's confident with their life because to them, vampires are superior. Everything else is terrible.

Parker doesn't seem to notice my true feelings and I would breathe out in relief if they wouldn't come out shakily. He grants me something, a true diamond, a genuine smile. His smiles were always great, but that was before I knew what he was. And before I took off the blindfold, shielding myself from the truth.

"No, will you join me?"

I shake my head, "No."

That smile disappears as quickly as my hope does. My confident act falls and the scared girl I didn't want to let out, forces her way out. My lip quivers and my heart beats so fast my chest heaves up and down.

He steps toward me with a wicked scowl on his face. I continue taking steps back. "Do you have any idea how merciful I've been to you?" He asks, darkly.

His eyes have gone blood red and his fangs peek out through his lips. Tears build up in my eyes and threaten to burst. I knew I shouldn't have come here. This was a bad idea, I don't want him to hurt Nick but I also don't want him to hurt me.

I continue stepping back and I contemplate running away but he's a vampire, he'd catch up. And Lord helps me if he does. "You've made me so angry but I've never hurt you. Ever. And heaven knows I wanted to. I don't know why I want you to join me when you're with him," he takes another step toward me and my back hits the chipped cement wall, "You've allowed him to drink from you, haven't you?"

I shake my head frantically and I pray that he doesn't try to do it. He places his hand around my waist and I shiver. I try pushing him away but he grips me tightly. The uncomfortable feeling travels around my entire body and I try my best to push the tears away.

His head dips down to my neck and his sharp fangs scratch against my skin. My breathing hitches and my eyes shut tight. "You taste so good, Adara. I remember how you did that night. I never wanted to let you go," he whispers.

My brows crease and I open my eyes. I never allowed him to feed me. I've allowed no vampire to feed from me. I've been fed from once and that was by a random vampire not— It was him. He was the vampire who fed me that night.

The night that started it all.

He sees that I have put it all together and he smirks. "I was about to take you with me when that prince came and ruined everything." He spits.

Tears spill from my eyes. He's the one who fed on me. The one who made it difficult for me to fall asleep without fear of it repeating. Why am I not surprised?

"Why can't you just leave me al-alone?" I hiccup as I force a sob to stay down.

He tilts his head as if he doesn't understand why I'm upset. "Because I love you."

I shake my head and more tears fall. "No, you don't. Just leave me alone. I don't want you in my life, Parker."

He frowns, then he pats my hair, "You'll change your mind. Once you come with me, you'll feel differently. I'll give you everything you could ever want. What's better than that?"

"I don't want you. Leave me alone. Just stop, please." I cry.

His frown deepens. It's as if he truly doesn't understand why I don't want him. I suspected it before but denied it. There is a great chance he has an antisocial personality disorder.

"No." He says and more tears fall.

His hands sink deep onto my shoulders and I squirm. His eyes blank then his fangs plunge into my neck. I take in a deep breath as my eyes grow wide. Blood trickles down my neck down to my shoulders and I shiver from the pain.

Nikolai told me that ages ranging from birth to sixteen years old can't take the hormone necessary for the process to be painless. I don't turn seventeen until next May. My neck flares up in pain and it spreads throughout my entire body.

I want to cry out in pain so badly but I can't. It hurts too much. Parker continues feeding from me and small whimpers escape my lips as I squeeze my eyes shut.

Just then, he's ripped off of me and he stumbles on the ground. "Don't touch her!" My eyes grow wide as they see Nikolai standing right in front of me. Standing in all-black clothing with messy hair, his anger-filled eyes angle down at Parker. He looks as if he clawed his way out from the clutches of Death just to hurry and get back to me.

Parker gets up from the ground with a nasty scowl on his face but Nick punches him so hard he falls back down. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a gun. My brows crease as I watch their interaction. Parker's a vampire just like Nick. If Nick didn't die then neither will Parker.

He aims the gun at Parker's chest and shoots. Bright red blood splatters over the ground then Parker drops dead.

He lies in his blood as his eyes stare up at the ceiling. Nick tosses the gun aside and comes to me. His frightened eyes examine my wound and for a moment I completely forgot about the immense pain I'm in. He licks his thumb and then presses it against my wound. It closes instantly and the pain retracts itself.

"Are you alright, darling?" He places his hands on either side of my cheeks.

I nod, staring into his worried eyes. "Won't he just come back?" I mumble.

He sighs, "No, this is a bullet that can kill vampires, love. He's dead."

My breath catches in my throat and I slightly push Nick away. I walk away from my ex's dead body and I try to catch my breath. "H-he's—"

He walks closer to me, "It's gonna be alright. This entire thing is over now. He won't ever hurt you again, I promise."

I nod, trying to believe it. I close my eyes, trying to regulate myself. "B-But what about you, Nick?" I turn to him with wide eyes, "Won't you go to prison over this?"

For some reason he doesn't look bothered at all, "We have all the proof we need to take this organization down. No one knows about him, love, don't worry about me, please." He says then he kisses me on my forehead.

"So, it's over?" I look at him with tired, red eyes.

He nods and my shoulders slouch. Everything that has happened with Parker pours out of me like a never-ending stream of pain. Nikolai brings me close to him and I fall in his arms, crying my very soul out.