Kaleidoscope of butterflies

Lauren took one step closer after another but she stopped when he followed the suit. He sat straight on the bed and pulled the IV out of his arm before throwing it somewhere far away.

He also stood and walked towards her with slow steps and get this, he was moving so slow that it was almost like he was teasing her. He didn't stop when he was almost near her, moving one step forward.

Lauren took a step backward, feeling confused. She continued to take a step backward with each of his movements until she was caught between him and the wall. She felt the pressure of the wall pressing into her back.

And even though there was nowhere to go, even though she was stuck right here in front of him, he leaned closer still, got closer still, until she could feel his warm breath on her cheek and the brush of his silky black hair against her skin.

"What are...?" With little breath, she has managed to recover from the catch in her throat. "What.... are...you doing?" Lauren questioned him as he reached past her. He gently brushed aside her small strand of hair that was covering her forehead. His complexion was noticeably pale.

He didn't answer at first. But when he pulled away, that single eyebrow of his arched provocatively and answered. "Ms. Warner, you're the one who wanted to see the demon again."

"Who... said I wanted to see..." The voice Lauren used to shriek with was gone somewhere in her throat as she shuddered. Lauren's heart raced as she realised that she had been caught. She tried to compose herself, but her body betrayed her, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to him once again.

"Yeah, well, you said." He argued. With him so close to her face, she could see the swirl of red in his eyes, which were prominent.

At the same time the darkness held in a few specks, she saw herself reflected through his eyes. The smile on his face had vanished. His eyes were staring at her and catching every movement of hers, which she was aware was making her queasy but not uncomfortably.

"Yeah, well, I didn't!" The words came out more strangled than she had intended, because Elliott may have taken a step back, but he was still standing too close. So close— that Lauren could feel his breath on her cheek and the warmth radiating from his body.

Her heart was racing as she tried to come up with a plan to protect herself from his manipulative ways, but her mind was clouded with confusion and fear. She knew she had to act fast before it was too late.

"Get away," she managed to utter. The closeness set off a whole new kaleidoscope of butterflies deep inside her. "And I didn't ask your help! I'm not afraid," she claimed while those dark, fathomless eyes of his watched her every move.

"But aren't you seeking for? Also, what if you stand behind me in the future so that I can protect you," he was complicating things.

Lauren tried to read Elliott's expression, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking. She wondered if he was upset with her for something she had done or said.

Because Lauren may be, she sure wants his help if something happens in the future. But did he have to make it obvious and embarrassing for her?

She want to rant back the way he was doing. She would have given it some thought, but with the way he stood right in front of her face, staring into her eyes. Lauren was finding it hard to think.

"What do you want?" Her undemanding voice came as she locked her gaze on him.

He tilted his head to left side and the smile bigger than before as he replied.

"This is a dangerous question, Ms. Warner." She took in a large, audible breath, her throat contracting as she did so.

They just stood there, staring at each other, neither one saying a word. It wasn't like she was scared or anything, but let's be real, who wouldn't be scared of a vampire at first? But now, it's like they're just two people standing in a room.

The way they can just look at each other and communicate without saying a single word. It's like they have their own secret language or something. It takes a lot of confidence to just stand there and stare someone down like that. And these two have got it in spades.

Elliott leaned back as he smiled smugly while making his mouth move to answer her. "Or make you leave this place, away from me—" He divulged in his deep voice. This made every corner of her skin stand at his command.

Silence stretched between them for one minute and twenty-five seconds before he frowned and asked, "So if you aren't afraid of things that go bump in the night, what are you afraid of?"

The familiar anguish welled up inside her, but Lauren did what she has been doing for weeks now. She shoved it back down. She pretended it didn't exist before she could form anything to say in her defense. Hazel spoke.

"She can't go. The shield is already broken... and who are you to force her?" Hazel's startled voice spoke behind them, making them realise that they weren't alone.

Lauren almost forgot that Hazel was with her as she smiled proudly that she saved her from embarrassment.

Lauren's eyes, which were looking at Hazel all lovely, turned to stare at Elliott, where she met his dark, jaw-clenched expression. She almost gulped nervously but didn't show the nervousness she was feeling.

"Please!" Lauren put her hand on his chest to push him away. That's when, he took a step back and then two, making enough space away from her personal space. He stared at her for the last time as if he were thinking deeply about something.

Elliott opened his mouth, closed it, changed his mind, swallowed, and then, without saying anything, he walked out of the room. Leaving the girls alone.