Darcia's pov

Before, there was only me to care about. I never thought about other people. When she entered my life, something in me broke. After the longest and coldest years of eternity, I found warmness. I will never let her go, even if I needed to sacrifice everything. Even human blood.

When Elvira dug her fangs into her leg, my cold heart started to make a fire out of nowhere. I wanted to stop her myself, although she took all of my strength away. There wasn't even a drop of human blood in my system. Her motionless body signaled that her death was near.

My hope, my only hope, showed up right on time. He saved not only her but me too. Because if she died, I would be gone with her. The cold heart of mine would become frozen.

Nicoli was fighting with Elvira's complice; that's why he couldn't return home sooner. Once he defeated him, he ran as fast as he could to return home. His long hair was the one I noticed first, and how much the stone in my heart dropped.

What happened after that? I wish I knew. As a consequence of not feeding, my body shuts down. I dropped to the ground and couldn't see Nicoli helping Talia at all.

"Nicoli?" I examined around my room, looking for him. My fangs were incredibly hurting with my head too. The room was completely dark, and no one was near. I got up from the bed and slowly started walking towards the door. I opened them, yet I saw no one. I shifted to the second floor, opening the door to Talia's room. I was never nervous before, although it took me some seconds to open them.

The first thing I saw was Nicoli sitting on the bed right next to her. I ran at vampire speed toward them. Talia looked lifeless.

"Nicoli! Is she okay??" I almost yelled at him with my trembling voice. He remained quiet.

"She is not waking up, for fuck sake."

"Please, save her! Please!"

"Please, save her..." I burst out at him. He stood up and snatched my arms, pulling me close to him. His grip was tight, and his face was stern. I could tell he was trying to find the right words, but all that came out was, "She is going to be fine, Darcia. She needs time to recover. Don't expect her to wake up today or someday early. She lost too much blood..." He explained softly.

The walls were torn down, and everything around was falling apart. What if she does not wake up? What will I do then? I can't live my life without her anymore. I need her to open her hazel eyes at me and giggle as I smirk at her. I have to see her gorgeous smile, which makes me feel alive again.

"Darcia, please go to your room and relax. She would want you to do so." Nicoli spoke again, and I couldn't move my eyes from her face. He tapped on my shoulder and whispered, "Go." I left the room immediately and shut the door to my room.

The first thing I landed my eye on, I grabbed and threw against the wall. That wasn't enough for me to satisfy my outrage. The window was my next target to break. My fist broke through the hard glass, and I escaped to the highest point of the roof.

The moon was so bright and shiny with the stars around. I covered my face with my palms and almost started to cry. I couldn't make her state of health better. There was not a thing I could do, and that made me the weakest. I felt powerless and helpless all at once. I wanted to be able to take away her pain and make her better, except I couldn't. I knew I had to accept what I couldn't change and try to be strong for her.

Not to mention how starved I was. My mind was with Talia the whole time, and I didn't even have the slightest time to think about that stupid blood.

Every time I'm near someone, I ruin them. I took her from the orphanage, thinking I could make this work and maybe she would have a better life with me; however, I was wrong again. I only cause agony, nothing more.

How badly I wish I could turn back time and never enter that place and see Talia's photo. I want to erase her from my memory and heart.

My mind is telling me to leave this house and never return, but my heart says don't go. Who should I listen to?

Imagine a world without her; I simply cannot. To forget how her skin feels like and how sweet her lips are. Her voice, her laughter-they are a part of me. Without her, I would be incomplete. I can't bear the thought of her being gone.

"Darcia," Nicoli appeared next to me. I sighed, wanting to leave, but he grabbed my wrist. I tried to pull away, though he wouldn't let go. His grip was too strong, and I was completely weak.

"I know what you are going through; believe me. I lost the love of my life in front of my eyes. You think I have no idea what you feel inside?" He paused for a second, "Don't give up, Darcia. Don't leave and give up on everything here and her." He tapped me on the shoulder again and left at superspeed. I looked away, not wanting him to see my tears. I knew he was right, and I had to be strong and keep going. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears.

***

It's been two weeks since Talia opened her eyes for the last time.

Her condition got rapidly better due to Nicoli. He took care of her every single day. As for me, I was lying next to her all the time.

I found myself entranced by her presence, unable to look away until I heard her sweet voice whisper my name once again and her hazel eyes look into mine.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The last day of the week came, and Nicoli announced to me that she could wake up any time soon. Because of Talia, Nicoli spoke to the witches and made a deal with them so they could give him a special medicine to help Talia. The witches agreed, however, at a large cost. He gathered all his resources and gave the witches what they asked for.

I have not a single clue what he gave them for it. I didn't want to ask since he was behaving so strangely. When the witches ask for something in return, it's usually not a good sign. But I don't want to think negatively and just focus on my sweetheart.

Sunday was an extremely quiet day. The rain did not stop the whole day long, and the wind was refreshing to sense on the skin. I was peacefully standing next to the open window, looking around.

My patience is not too strong, and I badly wanted to see Talia do any sort of movement. Her whole complexion started to look like mine. Her reddish lips had almost turned blue. It was hard to look at her sometimes. You never want to see someone you love in this condition ever.

I sometimes laugh at myself when I notice how much I worry and care about her before considering that it was only me who I prioritized. My hunger, having fun...

Now all I see and all I want to do is be with her. She is like a drug to me; without her, I cannot function normally as before. I crave to hear her heartbeat skip a beat every time I get too close to her. How shy she gets around me but still wants me to do certain things. The way she looks at me. Nobody ever in those thousands of years had such eyes for me.

"Such nice weather," I murmured. I then closed the window and went back to bed with Talia. I took her into my arms, slowly stroking her golden hair.

"You are so gorgeous, sweetheart." I gently moved my head closer to her ear and whispered. While I was close, I put a light kiss on her forehead.

I continued stroking her hair when suddenly I felt her hand grip my arm. Da-," Talia mumbled in weakness.

"Talia!!!" I almost screamed and shifted on my knees, laying her down on her back. She coughed a few times, so I quickly put a blanket over her again and tucked it in.

She carefully opened her hazel eyes, and her facial expression changed once she saw my face above hers.

I could not help it. Tears immediately created in my eyes and couldn't stop flowing. From the shame, I placed my head on her chest and cried silently. Her hand traveled to the top of my head, and she gently patted.

"Talia- I can't even look into your eyes properly. I never felt such sadness. I promised to protect you and never hurt you again, but I did. You don't have to speak to me again; you can still heal fully. I will surely understand if you want to go back to the Orphanage." I reasoned. Knowing what her final verdict was going to be made my cold heart almost beat again.

"I-" Talia gasped for a breath, "I love you wholeheartedly. Would you let me leave this place once and for all, Darcia?" Talia whispered, then pulled my head up to look into my bloody eyes. More tears ran from my eyes.

All I do is put her in danger; even now, I am the only danger that could kill her. If she were away from me and if I never adopted her, she would live the normal life she deserves. My selfishness is too great to let her go. I can't ever let her leave this place, nor me.

I wiped the tears from my face, and in lust, I connected my lips to hers. Carefully, was lingering above her, not putting my weight on her body. But I couldn't make my kiss gentle. I desired for the longest time to feel them again. I even forgot about the hunger once I reconnected.

I stopped and said, "Open your mouth for me, sweetheart. I want to go inside." I glued my hand to her face, and in my struggle to get enough, my forehead creased. I heard how she was gasping for air, only I was craving more and more.

I broke the passionate kiss and gave her pecks on her forehead, cheeks, and nose at last.

"Well, well, well, I see our patient is up." Nicoli jokingly said, standing in the door frame. He walked to the bed and crunched down to be closer to Talia. He raised his brow at her and chuckled. Talia got a little red afterward.

"You should leave us. Can't do certain things if you're behind the door and enjoying our conversation." I teased him, grinning at him.

"You are so cold, love. Kicking out your brother? How awful of you, really. You have no shame, do you?" He teased back harder in a higher voice.

"Shame? Haha, what is that? I don't have this word in my vocabulary." I tried to hit harder because I'm never losing in such a conversation with him ever.

He quickly raised his eyebrows and glanced at Talia next to me.

"I should look at you now. How are you feeling, Talia? Any pain or discomfort?" He asked her. Talia shook her head, lightly smiling. She's trying to look painless, but I can sense her emotions.

He examined her, and everything seems to be fine. Talia still needs to remain in bed, considering she's still weak. But one thing bothered me.

His hands touched her skin...I couldn't help myself but peer at him. She is fully and completely mine. If I knew the things he knows, I would examine her myself.

"Can I take a bath? I'm sure I'm all disgusting even though I don't smell anything." She said and then laughed.

"Sweetheart, I took care of you the whole time you were asleep." I put my hand around her waist.

"You- gave me a bath?" She asked so shocked. But I couldn't let her stay like that. Because of the situation that happened, I wanted her to be clean again.

"Pardon me, but I'll be going now." Nicoli quickly said as he realized where this conversation was going and left.

I shifted beside the bed and took her carefully into my arms. I opened the door to the bathroom and placed her on a big, suede chair that I had previously input there.

"Why are you silent?" I wondered while I opened the tap, and the hot water was running immediately.

"You saw me totally naked?"

Well, I in fact did. But I wasn't looking at her in that way. My only thoughts were that she would get better and open her eyes soon, which she thankfully did.

I came closer to Talia and unzipped her hoodie. She didn't say a word about me doing so. I slowly pulled the hoodie off her arms, throwing it onto the floor.

Oh fuck.

I moved my eyes to her sweatpants and pulled them down as well. I scanned her face; her hypnotizing eyes looking at me. She wanted more of my touch. I could see the goosebumps on her body.

I closed the tap and stood there, deciding if I should continue undressing her. But she did not indicate it.

"Shall I leave, Talia?" I broke the silence. Her eyes dropped to the floor, her eyes moving side to side. I turned to the door and grabbed the handle, ready to leave.

"Stay." She quickly said. I traveled with my fingers to the key on the door and locked it. No sudden surprises while she's naked.

"Let me undress you fully."