CHAPTER 24: DEVOID OF AIR

Lara opened her mouth to scream but no sound escaped her lips. She hung in mid-flight. The pain was too much to bare. It was scorching! Her blood was boiling and the hot red liquid spilled from her ears and nostrils, her lungs were devoid of air. Her breath congealed, she could no longer breathe and it felt like her chest was going to crack open. She tightened her closed eyes as her soul screamed in anguish.

The numbing pain began to reduce but she was certain Forneius hadn't stopped cooking her. Her organs were failing, she was dying.

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Damien laid on his back with his hands behind his head. He was deep in thought. Willow was his favorite mistress and he relished laying with her, however, today was different. He couldn't touch her. His heart wouldn't allow it. Every time he tried to, pictures of Jeanette would invade his mind. What was this passion he felt for the human? He had an extremely beautiful lady on his bedstead, but he'd rather be with the nurse. He smiled as he closed his eyes, his own thoughts amused him.

Hours later, he found himself still awake. His body was tired, but his mind was alive and soaring. For some reason, he had a strong desire to see Jeanette. He needed to see her! So there he was lurking in the darkness of her bedroom, standing right in front of her, watching her sleep. The view was soothing to his soul. He watched as she curled, tossed and turned. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her legs combated gently with the bed sheet.

She was evidently having a bad dream. He reached for her face and removed the strands of her hair that covered her cheek.

'Calm down,' he smiled as he whispered to her ear, compelling her to wake up from the dream, but not to wake up from her subconscious. As soon as her movements on the bed became peaceful, he covered her properly with the blanket and shut her window tightly. She looked very comfortable having a good night's sleep. Something that she had unknowingly denied him. Soon she began to drool on the pillow with her lips partly open. He smiled in his heart, his work here was done. He crouched and used his thumb to clean her saliva from her lips. Then, he kissed her forehead and headed to the door.

'Goodnight Jeanette,' he said as he closed the door. He stopped compelling her. He was sure there was no need for that anymore. Now it was his turn to get some rest, hopefully he could get a few hours of quality sleep.