Chapter 110 - IT'S INEVITABLE

Everyone wants happiness, no one wants pain.

But, you can't have a rainbow without a little rain.

-Nico Edogawa-

**************   

"Don't get close to me," Damon spoke rather harshly.

After saying that, he was in a rush to close the door since he didn't want to have further questions from the girl in front of him. Damon still has this mixed feeling toward Tarsa, even after a month has passed. 

It was his duty to protect her, an obligation, yet that was it, he didn't want to get close to her, or knew more about her. 

Aside from guarding her, he guarded himself up toward her. 

He knew it was not right because as the protector you should know more about the Kairi that you protected. Be present for her, body and soul, yet Damon's soul was very heavy to accept Tarsa. 

"Why can't I?" Tarsa stretched out her hand right at the same time when Damon closed the door, thus it was inevitable for her fingers to get caught in between the door and the door frames. "Aah!"

Hearing Tarsa's sharp scream and the sound of the boxes of chocolate falling to the floor, Damon turned his body quickly and saw Tarsa cradled her hand, in a split second he realized what he had done. 

"Are you okay?" Damon immediately came to her and gently took her hand. "Let me see it," he said, worried on his face. 

"I am fine," Tarsa muttered, she tried to push him away, because she felt irritated with his response earlier, but Damon held her hand firmly. 

The protector frowned when he saw the skin on the back of her hand was red, if not treated immediately then it would become a bruise. 

"Come here," Damon said, he pushed the door open and entered his room with Tarsa, who was still flustered with his sudden change. 

Damon talked to her rather harshly earlier, but the way he treated her now was a hundred and eighty percent very different. He touched her lightly and spoke to her softly. 

This was the first time Tarsa entered his room and watched how clean and tidy Damon's living place was, which put her into shame, even as a girl, her room was not this neat.

At first, the people in the Duvessa were adamant for her to stay there, but because Tarsa refused, as that place was totally strange for her, they relented and let her back to her own house. 

Yet, the thing that caught her attention the most was how this room smelled. The scent of Musk, which was the same scent that Tarsa smelled from Damon, lingered in the air and for some reason, this scent became her favorite. It smelled nice and calming. 

Damon let her sit on the single sofa, then went somewhere in his room and returned a minute later with a first aid box, he then knelt before her and took her hand gently. 

"You don't need to do this, I am fine." It was her heart that was not fine. Her heart was beating so fast. 

Tarsa had never encountered a moment like this. Wasn't this scene too romantic? She watched this kind of scene in the movie and could only imagine it, yet it happened to her now. Or, maybe she was just overthinking things when she saw concern in his dark eyes? He looked… sad. 

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, as he dabbed cotton, which had alcohol on it, against Tarsa's back hand. 

"It's okay, I know." And then silence, because Damon was too focused on treating her hand. "If we are going to see each other often, can you stop ignoring me?" Tarsa felt awkward every time Damon did that. 

It almost felt like Damon actually didn't want to be with her, but because of his obligation, he was forced to do so, and for having someone who didn't want to be with you, yet did it regardless, the feeling was so awful. 

"I didn't ignore you," Damon replied plainly, he blew the back of her hand after he put some ointment. 

"Yes, you did." Tarsa retrieved her hand, she felt her heart would explode if he treated her any nicer than this. "You always did."

Damon raised his head, but he was still kneeling before her, the way that they were at eye level proved how tall this man was. 

"I am sorry if you feel that way, but I never meant it." He stopped for a moment to gauge Tarsa's reaction and then added. "I just don't want us to get closer than this."

"Why?" Tarsa's voice was very soft, it almost sounded like a whisper. "Because I stole the heart of the previous Kairi?" 

Tarsa stared deep into his eyes, looking for some change when she mentioned the previous Kairi, but all she could see was only coldness. 

"No," Damon said, he stretched out his hand to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ears. "Because I don't want to get attached to you."

Damon didn't get to see Xierra for the last time since he was detained at the time she was cremated and was not able to say even a single 'goodbye' and how sorry he was for failing her. 

The attachment was something painful when you knew it wouldn't last and there would be times it was severe. 

"It's inevitable," Tarsa said, drowned in the sadness in his eyes. "Do you miss her?"

"Whether I miss her or not, it will not change anything," Damon replied and he meant his words. "It's time for you to go to bed." He stood up and stretched out his hand to help her. "Don't get your hand wet."

Tarsa took his hand, it felt warm and nice, and then stood up. Damon accompanied her until in front of her bedroom door. 

"Good night Damon," Tarsa said. 

"Good night Kairi," he replied. 

"Can you just call my name? I am not comfortable with that title."

Damon did what she said. "Good night Tarsa."

***

Tarsa didn't know when it began, but the first scene that she remembered was seeing Damon's back, the protector was standing in front of her, with his back facing her.

She was unsure where they were at this moment, as far as she could see was only vast barren land with red sunlight shining brightly above their heads.

Tarsa was amazed by the scene before her eyes, though it was scary to be in a place that she didn't know, but since Damon was there, she thought they would be fine.

"Where are we Damon?" Tarsa approached him and nudged his back. "Why are we here?"

Damon didn't answer her, nor did he turn around to see her.

"Damon?" Tarsa called his name again. She pulled his shirt to get his attention, yet he didn't budge. "Do you hear me?"

In the end, Tarsa stepped aside to see his face and find out the reason why he didn't answer her.

However, as soon as she saw him, an eerie scream slipped off her lips. What she saw was very horrible. This man was not Damon.

This man was a devil.

Tarsa didn't know how she came up with that conclusion, but her mind worked on its own, as if the information was already there and she was just being reminded again.

She could see the horn in the middle of his forehead, fangs as sharp as a newly sharpened knife, dripping with blood, and his claws curled in such a way, ready to tear her apart.

No.

He was not Damon.

Tarsa turned around and was about to run, but somehow, she couldn't move her body. Her body was numb.

She struggled to get away from him. She needed to run, as she felt malicious intention from this devil, yet no matter how hard her attempt, the result was not in her favor.

Tarsa could feel his rough hand clasping her wrist and her shoulder, shaking her body, as his hot breath fanned her nape.

The claws scratched her skin, dug deep into her flesh.

"No!" Tarsa's voice trembled in fear and something extraordinary happened. The red sun fell on the horizon and everything around her turned dark.

All of that happened only a split second and Tarsa didn't have time to grasp the sudden change when she shouted louder when she felt the rough hand wrapped around her neck, ready to strangle her to death.

"NO!!!" Tarsa screamed at the top of her lungs and opened her eyes.

For a moment, she thought she was only having a nightmare since she woke up in her own bed, but when she looked above her, she saw something unreal.

There was thick black smoke above her head, floating like clouds, yet there was something vicious about this thing that made her shudder in fear.

Tarsa was stupefied to see how the dark smoke moved and formed a face, with white eyes.