The Sickness Within

The next morning, As Daemon laid on the couch, clutching his stomach in pain, Maya couldn't help but feel concerned. She had seen him at his best and now she was seeing him at his worst. She had seen the bravado and confidence he exuded in the face of danger, but now she saw a vulnerable side to him that he rarely showed.

"Can I get you anything?" Maya asked, as she sat next to him on the couch.

"No, I'm fine," Daemon replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't look fine," Maya said, concern etched on her face. "Let me take care of you. I can make you some soup, or get you some medicine."

Daemon looked up at her, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you," he said. "I appreciate it."

Maya got up and walked to the kitchen. She rummaged through the cabinets, searching for ingredients to make soup. As she stirred the pot, she thought about how she had ended up here, taking care of the man she secretly loved. It wasn't the life she had envisioned for herself, but she had grown to accept it.

As she served Daemon the soup, she couldn't help but notice the lines on his face, the weariness in his eyes. She knew that he had been through a lot, that he had carried the weight of the gang on his shoulders for too long.

"Thank you, Maya," Daemon said, as he sipped the soup. "You always know how to take care of me."

Maya smiled, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her. She knew that this was just a temporary reprieve, that they would have to face the harsh reality of their lives soon enough. But for now, in this moment, she was happy to be here, taking care of the man she secretly loved.

Within moments, Hailey woke up - She got up from her bed, put on her slippers, and decided to go down to the living room. She thought maybe watching some TV would help her relax.

As she descended the stairs, she heard a faint sound. She followed the noise, and it led her to the living room. There, she saw Maya taking care of Daemon, who was lying on the couch. Hailey was surprised by what she saw.

"What happened to him?" Hailey asked, trying to hide her surprise.

"He's not feeling well," Maya replied, with concern in her voice. "I offered to take care of him."

Hailey walked over to Daemon and noticed that he looked pale and clammy. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy that Maya was taking care of him instead of her.

"Can I do anything to help?" Hailey asked, trying to sound sincere.

"No, I think I've got it covered," Maya said, with a smile.

Hailey felt a pang of disappointment but decided not to let it show. She knew that she had to act friendly and supportive if she wanted to keep Daemon's attention.

"Well, let me know if you need anything," Hailey said before turning around and walking away.

As she walked back up the stairs, she couldn't shake off the feeling of jealousy. She knew that she had to find a way to get Daemon's attention back on her. But how?

Hailey couldn't shake off the feeling of jealousy and insecurity that had taken root in her mind. She had always considered herself to be the one that Daemon had his eyes on, the one he desired the most. But seeing him in Maya's arms, being taken care of by her gentle touch, made her question everything.

She tried to push these thoughts aside, to convince herself that it was nothing more than a fleeting moment, but the images kept replaying in her head, like a movie on loop. It was not just about Daemon being taken care of by Maya, it was also about the fact that he seemed to be enjoying it, his eyes closed and a faint smile on his lips.

Hailey knew that she was being irrational, that she had no claim over Daemon, but she couldn't help the emotions that were bubbling up inside of her. She had always been possessive, especially when it came to those she cared about, and now it seemed like she was losing control of the situation.

As she made her way back to her room, her mind was racing with thoughts of what she could do to win Daemon back, to make him see her in a different light. But deep down, she knew that it was not just about Daemon, it was also about her own insecurities, her fear of being left behind and forgotten.

Hailey lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind consumed with thoughts of what the future held. She knew that she had to confront her own demons, to face her fears head-on if she ever wanted to find happiness. But how could she do that when everything around her seemed to be falling apart?

For the first time in a long time, Hailey was lost and unsure of what to do. She knew that she had to find a way to get past this, to move forward, but she had no idea how to begin. As she closed her eyes, she prayed for the strength to overcome her insecurities, to find the courage to face her fears and to come out stronger on the other side.

After a few minutes, she decided to just wipe her tears and go back to the living room and join the others as she pretends that everything is fine.

As Savage came down the stairs, he noticed Maya sitting next to Daemon, who appeared to be feeling unwell. He let out a chuckle and said, "Looks like you two make a cute couple. Maybe you should consider ditching this life of crime and starting a family together."

Maya blushed and shook her head, "That's not even remotely funny, Savage. I'm just trying to take care of Daemon."

Hailey shot Savage a disapproving glare, "Can't you ever be serious?"

Savage shrugged his shoulders, "Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood around here. It's been pretty tense lately."

Hailey shook her head and got up from the couch. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the sight of Maya and Daemon together. She had feelings for Daemon, but seeing him in Maya's care made her feel like she was losing him.

As she walked to the kitchen to make some coffee, she couldn't help but think about the past few weeks. She had gotten in too deep with the crew and had even slept with Daemon. She knew it was a mistake, but she couldn't help her feelings.

Now, seeing Maya and Daemon together made her realize that maybe she didn't have a chance with him. Maybe it was time to distance herself from the crew and figure out her own path in life.

Lost in thought, she didn't even notice when Savage got up and followed her into the kitchen. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Hailey shook her head, "I don't know. Everything's just so messed up right now."

Savage gave her a sympathetic smile, "I get it. But you're a tough girl, Hailey. You'll figure it out."

Hailey forced a smile and poured herself a cup of coffee. She knew Savage was right, she had to figure things out on her own. But for now, she just wanted to take a moment to herself and gather her thoughts.

Maya then suddenly sees that Hailey is not okay, she stands up and goes to check on her in the kitchen while she's sitting with Savage.

Maya approached Hailey with concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked, taking a seat next to her.

Hailey looked up at her with a mix of confusion and anger. "Why do you care?" she snapped, her words laced with venom.

Maya was taken aback by Hailey's sudden hostility, but she refused to let it faze her. "I care because you're a part of this family," she replied calmly.

Hailey rolled her eyes and let out a bitter laugh. "Family? You mean this gang of criminals?" she scoffed.

Savage shot Hailey a warning look, but Maya didn't seem fazed. "Yes, this family," she replied firmly. "We look out for each other, no matter what."

Hailey looked away, her eyes filling with tears. "I just don't know what to do," she admitted softly. "I feel so lost and alone."

Maya reached out and took Hailey's hand in hers, offering her comfort. "You're not alone," she said gently. "We're all here for you."

Savage cleared his throat and stood up. "Well, I'll leave you ladies to it," he said with a grin. "I'll go check on Daemon and see if he's feeling any better."

As Savage left the room, Maya turned her attention back to Hailey. "Is there anything you want to talk about?" she asked.

Hailey shook her head. "No, not really," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maya gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Whenever you're ready, I'm here to listen," she said kindly.

Hailey looked up at Maya, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered.

Maya gave her a small smile before getting up to follow Savage to check on Daemon. As she walked away, Hailey couldn't help but feel a small sense of comfort knowing that there was someone who cared.

Savage walked over to Daemon, who was sitting on the couch looking dazed and confused. "Man, you won't believe what's going on with those ladies," Savage said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Daemon looked up, his eyes glazed over with a mix of exhaustion and confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, first of all, Hailey seems really off. She's been acting weird ever since she saw Maya taking care of you. And now, Maya's gone to check on her," Savage said, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Daemon's heart sank as he realized what Savage was suggesting. He couldn't handle the thought of Hailey causing problems for him and Faith. "What do you mean by weird?" he asked, trying to hide the worry in his voice.

"I don't know, man. Just...off. Like something's bothering her. Maybe jealousy, who knows?" Savage shrugged, clearly enjoying the drama of the situation.

Daemon sighed, rubbing his temples. He couldn't deal with this right now. He just wanted to be with Faith and forget about everything else. "I don't want any drama, Savage. Just let me know if anything serious happens."

Savage nodded, sensing the exhaustion in Daemon's voice. "Yeah, man. No problem. Get some rest, okay?"

Daemon closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch, hoping that everything would somehow work out in the end. But deep down, he knew that things were only going to get more complicated from here.

Moments later, Daemon walked into the kitchen where Hailey was sitting alone at the counter, staring off into the distance. He could tell that something was off about her, but he didn't know exactly what. He stood there for a moment, watching her in silence, until he finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"Hey, Hailey," he said softly, trying to catch her attention. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

Hailey sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "It's just... everything," she said, her voice breaking. "I feel so lost and confused, and I don't know what to do anymore."

Daemon walked over to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know it's tough," he said. "But you don't have to go through it alone. I'm here for you, and I always will be."

Hailey looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. In that moment, she felt a rush of emotions flood through her. She realized that she had been pushing Daemon away, when all he had ever done was try to be there for her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Daemon smiled softly. "It's okay," he said. "We all make mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from them and move forward."

Hailey nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she still had a long road ahead of her, but for the first time in a while, she felt like she wasn't alone.

"Thank you," she said, looking up at Daemon with a small smile.

Daemon leaned in and gave her a gentle hug. "Anytime," he whispered. "I'm here for you."

Daemon watched as Hailey sat across from him, looking down at her hands in her lap. He could see the sadness etched on her face, and he knew that something was troubling her.

"Hailey," he said softly, reaching out to take her hand. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

Hailey looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. "I thought I had everything under control, but now everything is falling apart."

Daemon squeezed her hand gently. "You don't have to go through this alone," he said. "I'm here for you, always."

Hailey looked at him, and for a moment, she saw the kindness and compassion in his eyes. She knew that he was speaking the truth, and that he truly cared for her. And in that moment, she felt a glimmer of hope that everything would turn out okay.

"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Daemon smiled at her, and she felt a warmth spread through her body. She knew that she was in good hands, and that everything would be okay as long as he was by her side.

Daemon headed back to living, he found Savage sitting there - and they struck a conversation.

Maya was walking down the hallway, lost in thought, when she heard voices coming from the living room. She hesitated for a moment, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she tiptoed towards the door. As she got closer, she could hear the voices more clearly.

It was Savage and Daemon talking in low voices. Maya couldn't make out what they were saying, but she could sense that it was something important. She wondered whether she should interrupt them or leave them be.

Just as she was about to make a decision, she heard her name being mentioned. Maya's ears perked up, and she leaned in closer to the door, trying to hear what they were saying.

"Maya would never go for a guy like me," Savage was saying. "I'm not her type."

Daemon chuckled. "You never know, man. Stranger things have happened."

Maya's heart skipped a beat. She knew that they were talking about her, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. She had always found Savage attractive, but she never thought he felt the same way about her.

She leaned in closer to the door, eager to hear more, but then she suddenly remembered that it was wrong to eavesdrop. She took a step back, feeling guilty, and decided to walk away.

As she walked down the hallway, Maya's mind was racing. She couldn't stop thinking about what Savage had said. Was there a chance that he was interested in her after all? She didn't know, but she couldn't help but feel hopeful.