Chapter 224 Chapter 224

Chapter 224 Chapter 224
Violet
He slightly angled my face to the right and I followed his gaze, turning my head slightly to look at the now-open elevator doors.
Three security guards stood there, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion. Behind them, the hallway of the parking garage stretched out normally. 
Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, concrete walls solid and unremarkable.
“Calm down. You’re safe” He repeated as I still didn’t let go of his shirt.
The security guards were staring at us. At me, specifically, still clinging to Elijah like he was a life raft in stormy seas. Their faces were carefully neutral in the way of people witnessing something awkward but trying to be professional about it.
"Leave," Elijah ordered, his voice brooking no argument. "Now. And get maintenance to check this elevator immediately."
"Alpha, but you are…" One of them began but Elijah repeated in a stern voice.
"Now!!"
The security guards nodded and hurried away immediately, leaving the two of us in the still open elevators. I heard radios crackling as they reported the situation to someone, but the words didn't quite register.
My brain took a few moments to register that I was truly safe and in the arms of my boss.
I tried to pull away from Elijah, tried to separate myself and regain some dignity. But the moment I moved, my necklace caught on something.
I tugged gently but the chain didn't give. I tugged harder, starting to panic again.
"Hold still," Elijah said, his hands coming up to carefully examine where we were tangled. "Your chain caught on my watch. Just... hold still a second."
His fingers worked at the snag as he looked down, his hair brushing my cheek. But the delicate chain seemed determined to remain caught in the intricate mechanism of his expensive timepiece.
"Almost got it," he murmured, his face close to mine as he concentrated on the task.
I could smell his cologne, the scent that would drive me mad, and saw the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw. I could count his eyelashes if I wanted to.
It felt like decades since I had stood this close to him, been wrapped up in his arms.
The chain finally came free with a small click. I started to step back, but this time my bracelet caught on one of his shirt buttons.
"Oh, for heaven’s sake" I fumbled with it, my hands shaking too much to be effective.
"Here." Elijah's hands covered mine, gently moving them aside so he could work at the snag himself.
His fingers brushed against my wrist, and I tried not to recall what it felt to be held by him, to be kissed by him.
The button was apparently more stubborn than the watch had been, requiring careful manipulation to free the delicate links of my bracelet.
"Sorry," I whispered, feeling heat creep up my neck.
"Don't be." His voice was soft, focused. "These things happen."
Finally, blessedly, the bracelet came free. I stepped back quickly, putting space between us before anything else could get caught.
Except I stepped wrong, my heel catching on the edge of the elevator, and stumbled.
Elijah's hand shot out to steady me, gripping my elbow until I found my balance.
"Vi!," he shouted, not letting go until he was certain I was stable.
"Thank you," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Vi.
He called me Vi after all this time. My heart started racing and it was an effort to bury all the emotions before they would come to surface.
He released me slowly, his hand sliding away from my elbow with clear reluctance. Then he gestured toward the open elevator doors.
"After you."
I stepped out into the parking garage on shaking legs, grateful to be out of that small space, away from the elevator that had become a nightmare.
My legs didn't want to support me. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind exhaustion and tremors I couldn't control. I looked around for somewhere to sit and the marble staircase at the edge of the garage caught my eye. 
I walked over to it and sank down onto the bottom step. My hands were still shaking, my breathing still too fast.
Elijah appeared beside me moments later, carrying a water bottle he'd apparently retrieved from somewhere. He offered it without a word.
I took it gratefully, fumbling with the cap until he gently took it back, opened it, and handed it to me again.
"Thank you," I whispered, taking a long drink. The cool water helped because my throat felt like sandpaper.
Elijah leaned on the railing beside me. Not too close, but not too far either.
I finished the entire bottle and lowered my head and that is when I saw something I hadn’t noticed earlier.
There were drops of blood in front of me. I slowly followed the trail and noticed they led all the way back to the elevator where a small pool of blood had already formed.
My eyes widened as I looked back at Elijah again.
His brows furrowed as I shot up and reached for his arms.
“What are you…” He began but I pushed the sleeves up to see blood trickling down his arms. He pulled down the fabric to cover it immediately.
“You are bleeding again. Why are you always bleeding?” I asked, my eyes growing wide with fear.
“It's nothing” He shrugged it off.
“Don’t tell me it's nothing. What is going on? Did I…did I hurt you?” I asked and his face scrunched.
“No Violet. The bracelet got caught in something”
Hot tears pricked my eyes.
I reached for his arm again, yanking it forward.
“Violet, no, stop” Elijah tried to pull his hand away but then I reached for his coat and pushed it away, almost taking it off him.
“Violet, people are around us!” He immediately pulled his coat over himself as if we were doing something indecent but not before I had seen how his shirt had been torn, clawed like it had been put through a shredder.
And there were angry claw marks all over his body.
I gasped, placing both hands on my mouth.
“I did it. I made you bleed!”
“No Violet, relax, you’re getting it all wrong”
“Dont fucking lie to me, Elijah Lockwood!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, my voice breaking with the effort to stay calm.
I stumbled back, tears streaming down my face as I tried to process it.
“I’m going mad” I mumbled to myself.
“No, you aren't,” Elijah said, straightening and taking a step towards me.
But I shook my head.
“No, I’m going mad. I am literally going mad. Stay away from me”
But he took a step closer.
“I told you to stop. I’ll hurt you, kill you like she told me to. Go!” I motioned for him to leave me alone but he took another step towards me, then another until he was directly in front of me.
“Just go.” I repeated in a choked voice.
“Like hell I will!”