Chapter 27 The suspicion.
27
CATHERINE
The second I closed my door, the hairs on my neck rose. Someone was here. Sitting on my bed, facing away, was a tall figure that looked like....
“Who’s there?” I demanded, getting all scared.
The figure turned slowly, and as his face came into view. I felt a jolt of both anger and confusion. Damon. He sat there, staring at me with an unreadable expression but a piercing gaze.
"Damon?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper at first. “What are you doing here? And why are you sitting on my bed?”
My voice rose with every word.
He stood abruptly and his face clouded with irritation as he approached me. Before I could take a step back, his hand shot out, wrapping around my arm in a grip that was far from gentle.
I winced. “Let go! What is wrong with you?”
He ignored my words and let his fingers dig into my arm as he looked down at me with something almost different . Something I termed to be possessive.
“Why did you take so long to get back here?” His voice was low, yet there was an edge to it that sent a shiver down my spine.
My eyes narrowed, baffled. What's wrong with him?
“What do you mean ‘take so long’? What right do you have to question me about my time? And for that matter, why are you here, Damon?”
He moved even closer, his grip tightening as his gaze grew colder.
“I asked you a question, Catherine. Were you with Kane? All day?”
“Excuse me?” I snapped, tugging my arm, but he wouldn’t release me. “And what if I was? What business is it of yours?”
A dark, unreadable expression crossed his face, but he quickly masked it.
“So you were with him,” he muttered with a tone dangerously close to jealousy.
“Yes,” I replied, more defiantly than I intended as anger flashed in my own gaze. “I was. Kane wanted to spend time with me, and I didn’t think that required anyone’s permission to go; especially not yours. Now, let me go.”
Damon’s grip didn’t loosen. If anything, he pulled me closer as his eyes blazed the more.
“You really think he cares about you, don’t you?” His voice was quiet, but there was a bitter edge to it. “Kane will hurt you, Catherine. He’s not what you think.”
“And you are?” I shot back, my voice equally low, trying to shake free from his hold. “Damon, you’re out of line. Whatever is going on between Kane and me is none of your business.”
“Is it really none of my business?” His voice softened, but there was still a coldness to it that made me uncomfortable. “I’ve been by your side since you arrived. I’ve protected you—”
“Protected me?” I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Damon, breaking into my room and interrogating me doesn’t exactly scream ‘protection.’”
Something, maybe hurt or frustration passed across his face, but he quickly masked it.
“I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe,” he said. “Kane isn’t what he seems, Catherine. He’s dangerous.”
I glared up at him, feeling a rush of frustration and something deeper, something close to betrayal.
“And you think I don’t know that? I’m not naive, Damon. I know exactly who and what Kane is. But that’s my choice and not yours.”
There was a heavy pause, and I could see the muscles in his jaw clenching.
His hand finally loosened, but he didn’t back away. His intense, dark eyes, held mine.
“Catherine,” he said quietly, his voice almost pleading now. “You don’t know him like I do. You’re better than this. Better than him.”
I took a step back, folding my arms over my chest.
“I don’t think you get to decide that, Damon. Kane and I, whatever we are, whatever we might be, that’s between us. You don’t get to interfere.”
He looked away for a moment, balling his hand into a fist.
“So that’s it, then?” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “You’ve already made up your mind.”
“Made up my mind?” I shook my head, exasperated. “I haven’t made up anything, Damon. I’m just trying to figure this out. And you, barging into my room, questioning me like this, it doesn’t help.”
Damon’s gaze softened.
“I only want to protect you, Catherine,” he murmured, almost too quietly to hear.
“Then stop acting like you own me,” I replied, my voice softer now. “Let me make my own choices, Damon. If you care about me, you’ll respect that.”
There was a silence between us, heavy and charged.
For a brief moment, I thought he would say something more, something that might explain the possessiveness in his gaze, the jealousy simmering in his voice.
But instead, he simply stepped back, looking so serious.
“Fine,” he said quietly, his voice devoid of warmth. “Do whatever you want, Catherine. But don’t come crying to me when Kane destroys you.”
And with that, he turned and stormed out of my room. But I didn't let him.
Just as Damon was about to leave, I called outto him. How dare he? What dues he take me for?
"You can’t just walk away like that, Damon. Not after barging into my room. Why are you really here?"
He paused, his shoulders tense, but didn’t turn around. I could see his jaw clench before he finally shrugged, still saying nothing.
I took a step forward, unwilling to let him slip away without an answer.
“Damon, don’t make me ask again. Why are you here?”
His silence was maddening, and I could feel my anger beginning to increase. I was about to press further when, suddenly, the doorway filled with an unmistakable presence.
The door pushed open, changing the whole atmosphere.
“What’s going on here?” Kane’s voice was deep and edged with suspicion as he entered.