Blood Of The Luna

Chapter 6

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Time seemed to stand still as Damian kept his hand wrapped around Justin's neck. The entire parking lot had gone deathly silent, and everyone had turned to see what exactly was going on. A few were whispering to others, and those who recognised Damian had gone pale at the sight of him.

Justin was rapidly turning purple, and as he tried to fight his way out of the chokehold, he only managed to cause Damian to squeeze even harder.

I was so stunned that for a moment, I didn’t even know what to do. The sight of Damian strangling someone was so odd and confusing that it felt like I had wound up on a different planet where everything was upside down. The murderous look in his eyes was terrifying, and he stood as rigid as a statue, every fibre of his body poised with malice.

I blinked away the shock and stepped forward immediately, and Damian's eyes turned sharply towards me, golden pupils glowing menacingly. There was nothing in them but hatred, and when his lips twitched, I saw that his fangs were already protruding. His anger was swift and terrifying, and it didn’t waver even for a second.

"Let him go," I said in a calm voice, trying to diffuse the situation before it got out of control. "He didn't do anything wrong."

Damian didn’t move. He kept his hands around Justin’s neck, and I could see that he didn’t want to let go. He was trembling slightly, as if he was physically unable to contain his anger.

“Damian, I said let him go. You’re going to kill him.”

"He was touching you," Damian growled. "And I do not like the sight of him touching you. Perhaps I should teach him a lesson why that is unforgivable."

"Damian, let him go," I said. "You've made your point. Now drop him."

For a moment, his nostrils flared and he looked like he was about to yell at me or something. But then, very slowly, he dropped Justin to the ground. The latter collapsed with a thud and a very loud cough, and he began to gulp in copious amounts of air. Damian turned to look at me, and the glowing in his eyes somewhat dimmed. He was still furious, and even though I was trying to hide it, I was as furious as he was. Maybe even more.

I knelt down beside Justin, and I tried to check up on him as best as I could manage. Damian's grip was bruised into his skin already, and the area had gone dark where he had squeezed into his neck. His nails had pierced the skin, drawing blood in ten different spots. His eyes were bloodshot as well, and he was gasping for air as if he was finally appreciating it for what it was. My heart broke at the sight, and it made me want to punch Damian in the gut for being such an ass.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

He coughed loudly, and his eyes began to water as he looked at me. I was fully expecting him to be angry with me, and probably scream and yell at me. But he merely nodded, his hands still around his neck. He looked almost apologetic, and I felt sorry for him and the unfortunate situation he had found himself in. He avoided looking up Damian, perhaps afraid that if he did, it would result in another strangulation and he didn’t look like he could handle another one.

I pulled my bag around and brought out my water bottle, which I handed to him slowly. He took it with a faint smile, and he began to gulp down the water quickly. Most of it poured down his front, but he didn’t seem to care. He was shaking all over, beads of sweat manifesting across his brow.

I could feel Damian's burning gaze on my back. He hadn't moved an inch, and he was was probably livid with what I was doing. But I couldn't care less about what he liked or disliked. I was so furious that I could punch him right in the face. Who the hell told him that he could do what he had just done? He had no right to attack anyone because they had spoken to me or touched me. I hadn't even known him that long, so how could he assume that he could interfere with my life?

Not that knowing me for long would give him the right to do that, but you get the point.

Once Justin managed to get his breathing under control, I helped him to his feet. He wobbled slightly as he stood up, but when he finally managed to balance on his own feet I smiled at him.

“Justin, I’m really sorry,” I said. “I had no idea this i***t would do something like that.”

He flinched when he heard me calling Damian an i***t, but the latter did not move. He was frozen with rage, and that was exactly how I wanted him to be. I didn’t even look in his direction as I threw Justin’s arm around my shoulder and led him away.

“I got him,” Joaquin said, hurrying forward. He and Ethel had just stepped out of the building, and they were only now realising what had happened. Joaquin looked like he was going to flip. But he was more concerned about his friend, and so he helped to pull him off my shoulder and onto his.

“Thank you,” Justin whispered, his eyes still wet with I shed tears. My heart broke at the sight, and it only fuelled my anger towards Damian even more.

I turned around and walked away, leaving him standing there with his eyes narrowed and his hands balled into fists. No one said a word, and no one even dared to move except for me. I wanted to put as much distance between myself and him, because I just couldn't tolerate the sight of him. I needed to get away from him, because that was the only way I could avoid lashing out at him. I wanted to scream at him and pull his hair out, and I wanted to tell him how stupid he was. What in God’s name would give him the idea that I would appreciate this. How could he be this cruel and heartless?

I didn't realise how fast I was moving until I nearly jumped right into the middle of the road, where a car was just flying past. I turned in horror at the last second, and I was about to scream as the car nearly ran me over. But then powerful arms suddenly wrapped around me, and I felt like I was teleported out of the way.

My scream died in my throat, and when I looked up, it was to find Damian holding me, his eyes staring down at me with a panicked look in them. He was holding me like I was a precious egg he was afraid would c***k, and instead of feeling thankful, nothing but resentment came to the surface.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I demanded.

"Saving your ass," he replied. "What else does it look like I am doing?"

I pushed away from him, bristling with anger. "I don't need your help, Damian. I can handle myself without you around me."

"Doesn't seem like that to me," he replied. "You nearly got run over. What would have happened if I wasn't here?"

“You’re so full of s**t,” I spat. “I’m not some charity work that you can bestow upon yourself to fuel your fragile masculine ego. I don’t want or need your help. As far as I’m concerned, you are no better than a glorified stranger. If you think this relationship that were being forced into somehow gives you custody over me, then I hate to burst your bubble but you’re way off.”

He looked like he was about to say something hurtful, and for one fleeting moment I saw this ugly rage in him, completely unchecked and plain as daylight. It was a stark contrast to the man I had spoken to yesterday, and the one who had occupied my thoughts all day long.

“What would you have me do?” he asked, immediately casting away the hateful look. He looked like he was trying to contain some inner beast that was about to spring out at any moment. The sight was very strange, and it made me wonder if he had been pretending the entire time that he was with me.

“Nothing,” I said. “I just don’t want you strangling everyone that gets close to me.”

“I can’t promise you that,” he said.

“Then this conversation is over.”

I turned and walked away, before I said something I might end up regretting. I was absolutely enraged, and I felt like I needed something to rip apart. Maybe his head would be nice to rip off from those insanely broad shoulders of his. Maybe I could find a nice saw in the garage when I got back home. Then maybe I could lure him in there, and while he wasn't looking, I could knock him to the ground and just saw his head clean off his shoulders. That would surely solve nearly all of my problems.

I could hear him walking behind me, and even the sound of his footsteps was beginning to irritate me. He walked like an ox, his footsteps heavy on the sidewalk. He was close enough that anyone who looked in our direction would see that he was walking with me, but not so close that I would be able to reach out and punch him.

"Why are you following me?" I demanded.

"Because I want to see you get home safely," he replied. "We were supposed to go somewhere right now, but I'm guessing you are not in the mood to go anywhere with me. So I'll try again another time."

"I'm not a little kid, Damian," I said. "I don't want you to follow me. Just stay away from me. And as for me going anywhere with you, maybe you should strike that out of your agendas because it is never going to happen."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," he said. "It is my responsibility to make sure that you are safe, and that is simply what I am doing. Part of the agreement was that I would keep you safe until the wedding, and I don’t know about you but I am fully committed to my responsibility."

"Since when?" I demanded.

"Since I found out that you and I are going to end up together," he replied. "Now, I have to make sure that nothing harms you. Otherwise, I will have no one to blame but myself."

"You're joking," I snapped.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Listen to me very carefully, Damian," I said through gritted teeth. "You and I will never work. I don't even know why I considered you in the first place. You are a horrible person, and I do not want anything to do with you. Do you understand me? You can go and find some other clueless girl who will fall head over heels for you, but I am not that type of girl. I will not tolerate you hovering around me like a vulture and attacking my friends like some wild animal. I mean seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?"

For a moment, he said nothing. His eyes were fixed on me coldly, and he looked like he hadn't even heard a single word I said. We had stopped right beside a bright red sports car, and it was the only pop of colour beside what was otherwise a dark and foreboding appearance around Damian. He looked absolutely furious, even though he seemed to be trying to manage his temper. I didn't care one bit about how he felt in that moment. I was too pissed to give a damn, and I would have happily told him to piss off and swivel on it if I didn't think that would be too far.

Suddenly, he moved with blinding speed and pinned me against the car, his hands grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the side. I let out a small yelp, stunned by the sudden movement. He was so pressed up against me that I almost couldn't breathe, and his hard body was pinning me against the car.

"You think this is a game, don't you?" he whispered, his voice so low and dark that it sent a shiver down my spine. "You think whatever there is between us is nothing more than a joke? Do you think I gave up so much about myself just to have you turn your back on me at the first chance you get? Well I won't allow it, Alyssa. I will not be humiliated by you, do you understand me?"

"Damian, let go of me," I said, struggling to push him off. He was too close for comfort, and a low growl was erupting from somewhere at the back of his throat. I desperately needed to get him away from me, and I almost kneed him in the balls when suddenly I looked up and saw Joaquin standing behind us. His eyes were aglow, and his fingers had already turned to claws. He looked like he was about to murder Damian, and when he took a step forward, it was obvious that that was his intention.

"I think she told you to get away from her," he said in a cold voice, one which I had never heard before. Damian froze in front of me, and his own eyes began to glow as well. His grip on my wrists loosened significantly however, and he slowly turned around to look at Joaquín.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

"Someone who's about to kick your ass if you don't unhand her," Joaquin replied. "Now will you step away from her, or do you need me to show you how to do that?"

Damian grinned wickedly, and he turned around to glare at Joaquin while he released the death grip he had on me. He stood directly in front of Joaquin,so close that their noses were practically touching. The electricity crackling between the two was palpable, and it looked like they were about to punch each other.

But then, Joaquin took a step back, and it looked like he had yielded to Damian. He turned his gaze to me instead, and he raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Do you need me to walk you home, Alyssa?"

"I'm fine," I replied through clenched teeth. "Thanks for the help though, Joaquin."

We both walked away, leaving Damian standing there alone on the sidewalk. He turned to look at me, but after glaring at him so heavily that I nearly burned holes through his skull, I turned around and walked away. His heavy gaze followed me as I finally turned the corner, and only after I was safe from his sight did I finally release the breath I had been holding. I couldn't believe what had just happened, and I needed to get as far away from him as possible so I could clear my head. Ethel had been right; Damian was nothing like I expected. He was absolutely terrifying, and I would have to speak to father about it. This wedding could not go ahead, otherwise I would be in big trouble.

Tears stung at the corners of my eyes, and I wanted to bury my head under a rock and never come out again. How could father think that this was a good idea? How could he suggest that I marry this psychopath? He wouldn’t do this to me, and I would tell him about it the moment I got home.

But the question was, would he listen to me?

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