Chapter 22: I'm not fourteen

Ashley POV

"No! Put it down! No that's mine you have yours!" Dimitri just held my chocolate smoothie higher. It's just been 3days since Alexander left me and I feel like shit, I miss him so badly and my heart hurts. I know he has work to do but I can't help this feeling. It's a feeling of emptiness, longing and sadness, I never knew I was attached to him this much till his black car drove away. I always wake up, waiting for him to come home but then I remember it's a one week departure. I miss him a lot, too much to say, his low chuckle, his intoxicating ash and mint smell, his devilish smirk, his deep velvety voice,  his silky black hair, his icy eyes, his hard face and Lord his kisses. I missed him so much and it scares me, I think I've fallen for him, no, I have fallen for him. I've fallen for his cold stares, his voice, his attitude, his elegance and the man that he is. Whenever Xander's around, I always feel alive, I feel on top of the world, I feel protected, his gaze makes me feel adored, I feel butterflies erupt in my tummy.

"You're so short," Dimitri teased and I paused. 'Did he just call me short?' I'm not short, I'm not in any angle short. I'm 5.4 and he's like 6.3 or so and he calls me short, he's the tall one. Why is he so tall? In fact he's too tall! "I'm not short, you're too tall!" I fumed and he just laugh, "Kitty you're short and also adorable" I felt my cheeks burn. He's been calling kitty ever since he came here, his words are so endearing and he's annoying the fuck out of me. He's cool and all but he's just different from Alexander. He's not cold, he doesn't have an evil smirk of his face, his eyes are not icy or cold, he doesn't have that ash and mint smell, he smelled like lavender and pine, it's a good smell but it doesn't soothe me like Xander's. "What the fuck is this?!" He asked, his eyes were wide and I took that chance to snatch my drink from him, he let me but his face was scrunch up, "That's too much sugar, you know?" I stuck my tongue out to him, he sighed. I finished my smoothie and it's close to noon and Dimitri is still here, I turned to him and his on his phone, "Aren't you going to work today?" He looked up, "I don't feel like, and besides I'm babysitting." He's babysitting? I looked at him but he only smirked back, I was waiting for an explanation and he didn't give me any, "Do you have a baby?" I asked

'What?! Don't blame me! I'm only curious'

He laughed like I'd said something funny and I just blinked, "I'm babysitting you. Alexander ask me to say here with you since you're too fragile... You're like a glass or rather an egg, once broke it'd be hard to pit back," I stared at him, he just compared me to an egg, he's talking like if I fall my entire bones would crush. He stood up suddenly, making me jerk slightly, "See what I'm saying?" I glared at him, "If you hadn't stood up like that, I wouldn't have jerk!" I said and he only muttered something under his breath. He walked towards the door but stop midway, he turned to me with a sinister smile decorating his face, "Wanna come?" I narrowed my eyes at his expression, he looked like he was planning something mischievous and I just wonder what but still I followed him... My curiosity is on another level.

We took the right side of the mansion and I stared at him. 'Is he going to that black wolf at the back? No, he's not stupid, or probably he's going to the garden.'  I sighed out of relief, I really thought he was going to the wolf and if he doesn't know about the wolf, I'll just tell him. We kept walking, and once we got to the garden, I smiled brightly. I've forgotten how wonder it feels here, the colours of the flowers were shinning brightly and I wanted to run to them but unfortunately, Dimitri didn't stop, he kept walking and I knew he didn't know about that wolf, "Dimitri?" I called and he looked at me, I was standing at the entrance of the garden and he was going further. "Where are you going to? I thought you wanted to see the garden?" I asked at the same time. I've never seen any smile as bright and dark as the one plastered on his lips. He looked innocent and still wicked at the same time, his eyes were playful but if you look closely you'd see the mischief behind them but I didn't, I didn't notice any wicked glint in his eyes. "I'm going to meet lamna(Shred)," he smiled sweetly, "I've not seen his in centuries and I miss him. Come with me I'm sure you'd love to meet him," he said and I could only nod... Again my curiosity will get me killed.

He took me further and I cling to him throughout the way. He or rather we passed the isolated space and we kept going towards the wolf's territory and I wondered what this lamna man is doing here, probably he's the one who feeds the wolf everyday. I held onto Dimitri's sleeve tightly, like my entire existence depends on it and maybe it does. My shoe kept making soft thuds while Dimitri seemed to be gliding on the air, his shoes didn't make a sound even when we were on the cemented ground. I didn't have enough time to ponder more because Dimitri suddenly called out. "Lamna!!" His voice echoed and I realised that we were standing, exactly where the wolf was laying the other day but it wasn't here. My racing heart calm down a bit but I was too quick to assume things because the next moment, my pretty butt is on the ground and the huge black wolf was staring at me with its red eyes. It bared its teeth, no, it bared its fangs at me, they were so huge and I just couldn't take my eyes out them. It was glaring down at me and I could feel every hair on my little body standing at attention, it growled and I thought I was going to faint but I didn't. I laid on the ground like a log, holding my breath, staring at it, I never knew I would die like this, that'd take my last breath like this. I never got to see my family again and I'll get to see them again, I'll never see Xander's playful smirk or hear his deep voice or cuddle with him or feel his cold, dark aura. As I thought about this, tears started leaking out of my eyes, I never knew leaving someone behind, someone like Xander behind would hurt, would hurt like I've been stabbed mercilessly, like a knife was driven madly into my chest, my tears session was cut short. The wolf dug its large head in my head and my lips released a shrilled scream.

I was suddenly pulled, and in a flash I was in Dimitri's arms. I totally forgot about him and once I was in his arms, I held him, my grip must be hard but he didn't complain. He was sitting with me in his arms on the ground and he kept rocking me back and forth, he cooed, rubbed my back but still I was crying like a lost sheep. I finally calmed down and my grip on his shirt loosened, I rose my head from his chest and the spot where my head rested was soaked. I snuffled, rubbed my eyes before staring at Dimitri's worried eyes. I looked behind him and the wolf wasn't there. "You're so fragile," he commented and I didn't bother to argue cause sincerely I am fragile. "He was just trying to sniff you and you freaked out," Who? I looked at him and he chuckled, "Lamna," he said as he nodded his head behind me. My eyes turned back and I jumped in fright, the black wolf was still here but it was far and was sitting like a good dog, "Shhh, it's not going to bite you. Trust me," so the wolf's name's Lamna, what sort of name is that? Dimitri slowly stood up with me in his arms, I stood on shaky legs, the wolf wasn't glaring at me, it was just staring. Dimitri held my hand and he looked at the wolf and just like that, it started bouncing towards us, I pulled my hand from his but he held it tight, "Just trust me. It won't bite you." I tried to calm my drumming, racing heart but it won't and  can't calm down, the beast walked till it was right in front of me and Dimitri, it made a bow like stanza and Dimitri stretched his hand towards it, he rubbed his head and he urge me to do the same, "No, I'm not touching it. It may know you but not me and I'm not dying anytime soon," I retorted immediately, Dimitri rolls his eyes at my words and he snatched my hands making me yelp in surprise, he placed my palm gently on its fur. Its fur were much and black and they were soft and I just couldn't pull my hand away, I kept rubbing its head, down to it back, I didn't realise I was now on my knees. Dimitri left me and Lamna and I enjoy petting him, he let's out strange noise which makes me giggle, its a big black wolf but it acts like a cub and it's fun, we played some more with it till after lunch, I left him to come back some other time.

***

I was texting Xander a good night text, I always sent him one every night even though he's not online but I know he sees them. I've had dinner since 8pm and its 9:56 and Dimitri's not yet back, he comes back late but not this late and I'm starting to get worried for him, I kept glancing at my phone checking the time. I sighed, it's 11:00pm and still he's not here, just as I stand up to got to bed, the door burst open and in walked Dimitri with a girl in his arms. She was unconscious and had blood stains on her, no, they're not stains... She's drenched in her own blood!!

I rushed towards Dimitri, "What the fuck happened to her?!" He doesn't reply, he eyes weren't glow, they were showing only one emotion. Fear. "Take her upstairs," he didn't wait another sec, he pushed pass me, racing to his room and I followed quickly. He laid her gently on the bed and he just kept staring at her, he looked so lost, so weak. "Don't just sit there! Let's get this stains off her," he finally snapped into reality, he got up, removed her shorts then her crop top, she was in her night wear. He left her in her panties before he carried her to the bathroom, he placed her in the bathtub and I rushed out to get clothes for her. She's bigger than me, I need a night wear too, I picked a loose PJ with a big hoodie. Dimitri didn't touch her, she was in the tub filled with warm water and he just kept staring at her, he's probably scared to hold her. I walked in, placed the clothes on the sink, "I'll bathe her," he just walked out without a word. I don't think I've ever bathe someone except myself but it wasn't hard, I removed every blood stain on her, her brown hair held a lot of blood and it took my some time with lots of shampoo to wash it off.

Dimitri walked in once I was done, he wrapped her in a towel like she was a present, like he didn't want to break her. I wore the clothes on her and we left her to sleep, I wondered what happened to her but I don't want to ask, Dimitri still look like he was in pain or something and I don't want to bother him. We didn't sleep, Dimitri sat across me, lost in his little world while I just sat there, thinking about the girl, "She's awake," I turned to Dimitri who was standing, heading for the stairs, "Where are you going to?" he stopped in his tracks, "To see her," is he kidding my right now, "Dress like that. Do you want to give her an heart attack?" I asked and he looked at himself, his shirt was still drenched in her blood and he looked like a mad man. "Go wash yourself, I'll take care of her," he nodded then went to the spare room here downstairs. I took the food Samantha made earlier, carrying the tray filled with soup and fruits, I gently walked up stairs. I knocked on her door but no one replied, I walked in, she was sitting on the bed, staring at me like I was Lamna and would soon pounce on her, I smiled at her but she didn't return it.

Dropping the food on her night stand, I noticed there was no light, flicking the bulb on, she shield her eyes before she opened them again. She had hazel eyes and they were beautiful but she didn't stop staring at me, "Hi, I'm Ashley. I brought you chicken soup," she only glanced at the food but didn't make an attempt to move, we stared at each other for some seconds before Dimitri entered, I stood upright, she was now looking at Dimitri and I felt like I was intruding with my presence. I turned to leave, meeting Dimitri at the door, "Make sire she eats, she looks scared." I said glancing back at her, Dimitri just hugged me and I was surprised, it wasn't one of his annoying hugs, it was genuine, it was a genuine hug when he lifted his head, he placed a kiss on my forehead making my cheeks burn, "Thank you." Again his words weren't teasing and his eyes weren't glinting with playfulness. I gave a nod before leaving them.

I went downstairs to get water when I heard loud voices. 'Is he scaring her?!'  I left my glass on water before racing upstairs. I got close to her, but I stopped I don't want to barge in like that, I'm sure he has everything under control, "Wait! Let me explain she's not m-" he didn't didn't his statement because I heard something smashing, it didn't stop there, another smash and I barge in. Dimitri move his head and something really really hard smack my head.

"Oww!"

They both kept quiet and Dimitri's face paled. Whatever hit my head hurt like a bitch, I held my side head, glaring at Dimitri. "What did you do to her?" He finally came back, "I didn't do anything! She amused you are my girlfriend," "You shouldn't ha-" what now?! I looked at him. "I'm not your girlfriend, why would you think that?" I asked the lady sitting on the bed, she was upset, "He said this is your house," well it's Alexander's house. I stared at Dimitri before answering, "This is my boyfriend's house and no, Dimitri's not my boyfriend." I said and she frowned, she looked at me up and down, she looked at me very very close and I felt conscious about her stare, they were studying me. "Aren't you too young to have a boyfriend?" I blinked, 'Me? Too young?'  I didn't reply to her previous question because she said something that had be seething.

"You like a 14year old," she said still looking at me. 'The fuck?! Me? Fourteen, how the hell do I look like a fourteen.'  "I'm not fourteen! I'm 20. And yes I have a boyfriend," I corrected her statements, she looked shocked and I don't blame her, I looked like a kid, I'm not short though but she's taller than I am. "Shit! It's swollen," I heard Dimitri, he looked like he's committed a crime, "What's swollen?" They both looked at me, "Your head. I'm sorry I didn't mean to throw the spoon at you," Oh! So it's a spoon. "Is it bad?" I asked, "Take a look for yourself," I walked into the bathroom. Right there, on the right side of my head, stood an attention seeking bump, it's turned purple and there's a little blood on it, I tried touching it and hell! That was a bad idea, I poured cold water on it but still the deed has been done.

"You need to rub some cream on it," the girl with guilt laced in her voice, I was about to reject her offer when Dimitri walked in with a cream in his hands. "I will. Ashley please sit down, I might also press that cause it's huge," I shook my head no, "Ashley don't run. It's just gonna take a few minutes and you're done. No pain," did he just lie to my face, that shit hurts like a bitch. I moved back, heading for the door, "Ashley, don't make me chase after you. You won't like that." I didn't heed to his warning cause I dashed out, racing for the door. I don't think I counted 5 when he grabbed my waist from behind, pulling me into the room.

"Alexander!!!!!!!"

'For some awful reason, this feels familiar.'