Friend Or Foe

~Anita's P.O.V~

I kept my gaze on him as I waited for his response when he didn't immediately reply, I asked again. "What's your project?" He looked taken aback by my question and seemed hesitant to answer and for a split moment I saw a bit of fear in his eyes before quickly disappearing "What, you don't trust me?" he asked and I felt a little guilty for that but it only felt fair since he brought me here. He gently squeezes my hand, a soft smile playing on his lips "Same as you". I narrow my eyes as if I'd be able to decipher if his lying. He continued to gaze down at our hands, drawing small circles with his thumb "I remembered what you had said and realized that what I'm searching for and what you searching for may be the same thing".

I doubt it. I kept quiet and allowed him to talk.

"I figured why not bring you with me and we look together, who knows we just might find the answers we need together."

And that's what I'm afraid of.

I turned my gaze to the books, I could hear the small voice in the back of my head panicking. It's too dangerous to let anyone know what I may or may not be let alone someone I barely know and only seen in my dreams. Rodney and I are the only two who know and I want to keep it that way but curiosity has me thinking. What is he searching for, he said that it could be the same thing and what if it is?

As thoughts raced through my head, my stomach began to churn and I felt an ice-cold dread wash over me. How can I be so careless, what if he knows and he led me down here where no one will find me? Suddenly it felt like someone had turned up the volume and all I could hear was the sound of my own racing heart. I try to keep myself calm and not show the fear that's rising inside of me. I remove my hand from his and fold my arms.

Chaviv looked worried and tried reaching for me and I shifted back. The look of hurt flashed across his eyes "We have to go".I turn to leave but Chaviv immediately grabs my arm and I flinched, he pulls his hand away like he just touched something hot "I'm sorry, is everything okay?" he looked as if he wanted to hug me but was fighting back. I simply nodded fearing that if I spoke, I might say something that might give away too much. Before Chaviv could question further the sounds of footsteps echoed throughout the library and we both froze.

Without wasting time, Chaviv grabbed a couple of books off the shelf and stuff them into his bag before grabbing my wrist and leading me further into the library. I wanted to pull away and run but whatever was approaching seemed to be right behind us. Chaviv just kept walking, taking turns, I had to focus on not falling on my face with the speed he was walking "This way" he says taking another turn, the footsteps seemed to stop but he kept going. "Chaviv..." he just kept going, focused "Chaviv, wait..." I spoke up a little louder but that didn't do anything, with one final attempt I yanked my arm as hard as I can out of his grasp "I said wait!" He immediately stopped, I covered my mouth with my hand afraid I might have shouted a bit too loud and that whoever was down here heard me. After what seemed like forever, I breathed a sigh of relief I was finally able to catch my breathe.

Chaviv remained silent, his back still facing me. I could see how tense his body was and that put me on edge. I don't know what he's thinking or planning to do or why he brought us so deep into the library instead of directing us back to the exit.

There's so many questions that it's giving me a headache. I need answers and it seems like there's no other way to get them then right here and now. "What's really going on, why did you bring me here, how do you really know about this place and who are you really?" Chaviv remained silent, the uneasiness in my stomach grew with each passing second "Chaviv, answer my-"

Before I could finish my sentence, he spun around and pulled me into a hug just as something came crashing through the shelves. Chaviv pulled me closer to protect me from the fragments. My heart was beating in my throat, Chaviv, still holding me in a protective hug, looked over his shoulder to see what landed, I could feel how tense he was. I looked over his shoulder to see what he was looking at, through the dust a large dog emerged, eyes glowing as red as hot coal, it had flames from the top of it's head ending to the tail that was on fire, I could see it's tail bone.

I froze as I watched the hound growl at us but I heard a growl closer to me and I immediately looked back, fearing another hellhound was behind us but nothing was there. As soon as I realized my blood froze, I slowly turned my head to look at Chaviv and saw him snarling at the hell hound, his canines looked longer then before and his eyes were goldish yellow.

The two beast's in front of me squared off each other, preparing themselves to fight. The hellhound leaped towards us and Chaviv immediately jumped over it, I buried my face in his chest afraid to look at the scene then heard rushing wind, I was about to turn my head to see when Chaviv stopped me, keeping my face close to his chest. My heart was pounding, I felt like I couldn't breathe. The moment the wind stopped I pushed myself away from him, stumbling as I do so. My head was spinning, I tried taking in a couple of deep breathes, my hands clasped tightly around my chest.

"Ani-"

I raised a finger to silence him, what felt like fear turned to rage as realization came to me. Chaviv tried opening his mouth to speak again but I silenced him, not wanting to hear anymore lies from him. Tears streamed down my face and I furiously wiped them away."W-why did you bring me here?" My voice croaked and that only seemed to upset me more."I told you, it's because-"

"Liar!"

The pained expression on his face made me want to scream at him. Why the hell does he look hurt?! This was his plan all along! "Anita, please listen to me, I didn't lie about my reason bringing you here, I meant what I said, I really want to help you find the answers you're looking for and hoping to find my own along the way."

"But you lied about what you are! You made me believe that you were an elemental but you're a vampire! And I believed you, against my better judgment I believed you!"

"Anita, please-" I slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

Chaviv stood in place not sure of what to do, he looked like he wanted to say more and I felt a peng in my heart. Why should I care about what he's hiding, why do I care? And why does it hurt? Why do I want him to reach out and just hug me?! "Why..." it could have been any other girl he could have brought here, why did it have to be me, why did I have to have those visions? Why?! I felt the energy leave my body, I felt too tired all of a sudden and before I knew it, everything started to fade out, I could hear Chaviv call out my name before darkness came over.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

I slowly opened my eyes, the sound of dripping water drawing me in. I slowly sit up to find myself laying in a large bed, with silk sheets covering my body. I look over to my right to find the side empty. I let out a sigh using the sheets to cover my body, I clambered out of bed and walked towards the dripping tap and closing it properly.

A soft breeze fluttered in through the large double window, the curtains fluttered gently through the breeze revealing a large figure with its back facing me, gazing up at the night sky. I make my way towards them, the moon light revealing their raven black wings. I wrapped my arms around them from behind, planting a small kiss between their wings.

"Come back to bed."

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"You wouldn't have woken me if you were in bed."

He let out a deep chuckle before turning to face me. I immediately frowned upon seeing his face, the scars that run across his face made me want to hurt the creatures that caused them. Seeing my expression, he took the hand that rested on his cheeks and kissed my palm. I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing very well what his trying to do but still couldn't hide the soft smile forming on my face.

"Do not be angered my love, it only serves to ruin your pretty face."

"But what about yours, you didn't deserve what they did to you."

"You know these wounds will heal." He stated.

"But what about in here?" I placed my hand over his heart, he only smiled softly, placing his hand over mine "That wound has healed because of you."

"No fair, you can't always do that."

"Do what?" he chuckled.

"Make me feel like world is brighter, even when it seems against us."

"Well, you are my sunshine after all." he pulls me closer to him before planting a kiss on my forehead and the world seemed to disappear. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar room. I slowly sit up and met with a sharp pain running through my head, I wince and held my head. "You're awake. I brought you some food."

He placed a white paper bag and a bottle of juice next to it before sitting on the edge of the bed, he reached over to touch my face, and I inched away. He froze for a moment looking hurt by my reaction. My head was throbbing, and the racing thoughts didn't help either. I held my head as the questions pounded in my head. I decided to lay back down to hopefully ease the intensity. I laid there with one thing repeating on my mind: he's a vampire. He lied about the one thing I feared the most, I let my guard down, he tricked me into believing he was an elemental. I should have known better, I allowed a vision to consume my thoughts and judgment, I allowed it to control me.

"You should eat. I'll leave you alone."

Without waiting for a response, he got up and walked out. Probably to eat something with a pulse. I looked over at the white paper bag and sighed. I probably should eat something if I want this headache to go away. I gently hoisted myself up, leaning onto my arm and reached for the paper bag and there is a tuna sandwich inside, I sigh and place it back on the bedside. I don't think I have the stomach for food.

I just ended up curling into the sheets and try to get some sleep and hope the headache goes away on its own. I don't know when I dozed off but when I woke light was barely peeking through the curtains. My head wasn't throbbing as much, I sat up and I was still in Chaviv's room. I looked over at the bedside table and found a note.

I brought you some food and some Aspirin.

I'd like us to talk, please. 

 Chaviv.

I looked over at the table and saw the familiar brown greased bag and next to it was a small white cup with a white pill. I looked back at the note, reading the second line again. Do I want to even talk to him? What if it's just more lies from what's really going on yet I feel like that's not the case. My mind keeps going over the events and everything screams not to trust him yet my heart is telling me to trust him. Trust someone I barely know all cause of a vision and these weird dreams I keep having. All this thinking is just not going to help, especially on an empty stomach. I placed the note down and take the Aspirin to lessen the headache.

I looked over to the curtain, how long was I asleep for? It looks like I was out for a few hours and the sun is beginning to rise. I got out of bed and walked over to the curtains and opened it my heart dropped. The sun wasn't rising but setting. I missed a whole day of school. I immediately started looking for my phone realizing that I hadn't called or texted Rodney and he must be losing his mind.

I checked through my school bag, his desk, my jacket including my pockets, but it was nowhere to be found, and panic was really setting in. What if it fell in the library, oh god what if they went through conversation and figured out who the phone belongs to. But if they did then they would have been here already or maybe they don't know I'm here and they trying to find me and it's only a matter of time before I get caught and be interrogated or worse get expelled! 

The door swung open, and I jumped out of my skin, I felt my soul leave my body as I clutched my heart. Chaviv stood there almost surprised, "Jesus Chaviv you scared the hell out of me" I breathed "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you'd still be asleep" he says closing the door behind him. "Well, you should be careful next time" that came out harsher than I intended

"Yeah, sorry about that, I brought you some notes from all your classes. Figured I should make sure you don't miss any lessons" he says pulling out some notebooks and handing them to me. I looked at them like a deer in headlights, I wasn't expecting him to even do any of that, I looked up at him and I could see the softness in his eyes and something else.

"Thanks" I took the books from him and just held them "You didn't have to do this" I added "I know" he shrugged "I just wanted to help" he gave me a soft smile. Suddenly the room felt tense and awkward almost suffocating as we just stood there staring at each other, waiting for the other to address the large sized elephant in the room.

"Listen..."

"I'm..."

"Sorry you should go first."

I took a deep breathe to calm myself and get my thoughts straight. This week has just been a whirlwind and I feel like I haven't been giving the chance to properly go over everything. But I know one thing meeting Chaviv has open my eyes to a lot of things and to possible risks. I have to do what's best and safe.

"Listen, I just want to start by saying thank you for the notes and the other things but I think it's best that we don't be around each other, and we go our separate ways. I'm sorry." I clenched the books tightly, keeping my gaze down to the floor.

He took a deep breathe and dropped onto the bed, burying his face into his hands as if he was thinking before running his fingers through his hair and coming to a conclusion "Okay."

"What?"

He looked up at me with determination in his eyes "Okay, if that's what you wish, I won't persuade you but on one condition." That filled me with uneasiness and my mind raced back to that moment in the library, he seemed to sense what I was thinking and chuckled a little "I promise it's nothing like that" he says and gently pats the space next to him, I slowly sat down, my eyes facing my feet.

"On one condition, you allow me to explain, and I will stay away from you. I will answer all your questions truthfully and no half-truths. You have my word." I looked over and saw him staring at me with more determination but there was something more in his eyes, desperation? But why? The sense of urgency in his voice had me on edge like something bad was about to happen if he didn't say whatever was on his mind.

"All of them?" I questioned and he nodded. Well, no turning back now.

"What are you?"