Chapter 49

I couldn't stop shaking.

Even as I sat at the table beside Vanessa, sipping wine disguised in our water glasses-just in case her mom glanced over-I couldn't stop thinking about Bella. The way her silver eyes burned with hatred... like a warning. Or a promise. And not a good one.

It didn't matter that the ballroom was filled with music, laughter, and political chitchat. I was cold. Not physically, but in my gut. That girl-no, that thing\-looked at me like she knew how my story would end.

Vanessa must have noticed how tightly I was holding the glass because she leaned in and whispered, "You okay?"

I gave her a tight nod, barely managing a smile. "Yeah. I just... I can't stop thinking about what happened in the bathroom."

Vanessa scoffed softly, brushing a curl off her shoulder. "She's dangerous. I don't know what she is exactly, but she's not just some pretty vampire chick. There's something wrong with her. Something off."

I took another small sip. "You really scared her, though. Whatever you did-"

"I didn't do much," she said quickly. "I just focused my energy. Instinct, mostly. I wasn't even sure it would work."

We were silent for a beat, watching partygoers laugh and clink champagne glasses.

Then I scanned the room and frowned. "Where the hell is Chloe?"

Vanessa looked too. Her eyes narrowed. "Good question. Also-Adam's gone."

That got my full attention. I stood up, alarm slicing through the pit of my stomach like a blade. "You don't think...?"

"Oh, I definitely do," Vanessa said, setting her glass down. "Wherever Chloe is, Adam's close by. They've been attached at the hip all night."

"I need to do something," I said, my voice tight.

Vanessa raised a brow. "Like what?"

"I'm going to talk to Damon."

Her reaction was exactly what I expected-pure disbelief. "Wait-what?"

"Trust me," I said quickly. "He's the only one of them who's ever actually listened to me."

She didn't look convinced but nodded. "Okay... but be careful. I don't like the way Bella's been watching you."

I glanced across the room. Damon stood near a marble pillar, dressed in black from head to toe, sipping whiskey like the whole event bored him. He looked effortlessly dangerous-exactly the way you'd expect a centuries-old vampire to look. Sharp edges wrapped in smooth charm.

As I approached, he looked up, already smirking.

"Elizabeth," he drawled. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

I didn't have time for his games. "I need to talk to you. Privately."

He tilted his head but gestured to the terrace. "Ladies first."

The air outside was cooler, crisp against my bare shoulders. I turned to face him fully.

"It's Chloe," I said. "Something's wrong with her. And I think your brother Adam has something to do with it."

Damon raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You think?"

"I know," I snapped. "She's not acting like herself. She's practically his shadow. Skipping classes. Lying. She's-God, she's not Chloe anymore."

He regarded me for a long, tense moment. "Why tell me this?"

"Because you're not like the others," I said quietly. "You've helped me before."

He chuckled darkly. "Oh, love. I'm exactly like them."

"No," I said, standing my ground. "You're not. Please, Damon... if there's any part of you that gives a damn-help her."

He stared for another beat, and something in his expression shifted. "Fine. I'll look into it. But I want something in return."

I blinked. "What?"

"A dance."

I rolled my eyes. "You've got to be kidding me."

He shrugged. "I never joke about dancing."

Before I could throw a sarcastic retort, Vanessa burst through the terrace doors.

"Something's wrong," she said, her voice sharp.

"What do you mean?" I asked, adrenaline rising.

"I don't know," she said. "But I feel it. Something's... off."

And then a scream sliced through the air.

Not just a scream. A wail. Gut-wrenching, bone-chilling.

The music inside stopped abruptly. Crystal glasses clinked. Murmurs turned into chaos.

Another scream.

"Behind the building!" someone shouted.

People surged like a current, and we followed, hearts thudding, heels pounding across stone.

The cold night air suddenly felt heavier. I pushed through people as my heart clawed its way into my throat.

Then I saw it.

Blood. So much blood.

Spilling out over concrete. Pooling like a nightmare.

And at the center of it-Chloe.

She lay crumpled by the trash area like a discarded porcelain doll. Her lavender dress soaked in crimson. Her golden curls matted to her pale cheeks. Her lips parted. Eyes closed.

My knees buckled.

"No," I breathed. "No. No."

Vanessa screamed-loud, guttural-and ran to her.

I stood frozen, a buzzing in my ears. My heart couldn't comprehend what I was seeing.

She was so still. Too still.

People began gasping, whispering in horror. Chloe's mother wailed. Her father, the mayor, looked like he'd been punched in the chest.

I felt bile rise up in my throat.

Then I looked into the shadows-

\-and saw her.

Bella.

Standing just outside the light, her silver eyes glowing, blood smeared across her lips. She didn't look remorseful.

She looked satisfied.

My mouth dropped open. I staggered back.

Damon was suddenly beside me, steadying me.

"She-she did it-" I stammered.

"I know," he said. His voice was colder than ice.

"You have to do something-" I turned to him, grabbing his suit jacket, wild with panic. "She's dying. Do something, please-please!"

"She's not dead," he said, voice low. "Not yet."

"Then help her!" I cried.

"I can't," he growled. "Not here. Not in front of them."

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stared at Chloe's limp body. Vanessa knelt beside her, holding her hand and sobbing. "She's cold-Elizabeth, she's so cold!"

"She's our best friend!" I screamed.

"I know," Damon said quietly. "But if you want her saved, you have to trust me."

"I don't know if I can," I whispered, trembling.

He looked at me, pain flickering across his features. "Then pray she survives the night."

And just like that, he was gone.

I knelt close to Vanessa in tears, Vanessa looked up at me, red-eyed. "Liz... she's barely breathing. I think-oh God, I think he's been feeding from her for days."

I held my knees in defeat, reaching for Chloe's other hand. "Chloe, please. Come back. Please-don't leave us."

People yelled for an ambulance. Phones lit the scene like flashlights. Sirens wailed in the distance.

Everything was chaos. Screams. Crying. Confusion.

I looked around again-Bella was gone.

But I would never forget the look in her eyes.

She didn't just hurt Chloe.

She sent a message.