“What?!” Donna shrieks. I look at my mother’s bewildered expression. Even Chris looks confused at her outburst. “Dorian, you know what that means, don’t you? Why would you do that?”
“To show her how much I love her. No matter the circumstances. She has my heart.”
“But if it is true, then what? What will you do then?” Ok, now I’m confused.
Dorian furrows his brow, mulling over her question. “That is for Gabriella to decide. My life is in her hands.”
We stand in silence, glaring at each other with apprehensive eyes. “We’ll meet you at the car, Kiddo. Don’t take too long,” Chris finally says to break the tension.
“What was that about?” I ask Dorian once my parents are out of earshot.
“What have you done to him?” Aurora interjects before I get my answer. I roll my eyes at her rude interruption.
“Stay out of it, Aurora,” Dorian says between gritted teeth.
“No, I won’t stay out of it. She’s draining you. You look like you’re going to drop at any moment!” Aurora puts her hands on her hips and glares at me fiercely. “Gabriella, you have to see what you’re doing to him. Someone is going to end up dead.”
I look between my visibly annoyed lover and his painfully gorgeous ex as they exchange menacing stares. “What is she talking about, Dorian? Have I hurt you in some way?”
Dorian sighs and shakes his head, turning his gaze to me. “No, you haven’t. We have just been spending too much time together. I’ve been giving you so much of me just to ensure I don’t weaken you. It isn’t your fault.”
I digest what he’s telling me. Dorian has given me too much of himself and now he is suffering. Aurora is obviously seeing his true self, the part of him that he’s keeping from me. My poor Dorian is deteriorating right before my eyes, all because we can’t stay away from each other, and I can’t even see the damage I’ve caused. Ever since we discovered that he could penetrate the wards around my house, I’ve demanded to see him every night. That was only a little over a week ago yet he is already perishing.
“Oh my God, Dorian! Why didn’t you tell me?” My hands fly up to his beautiful face, searching for any sign of pain. He doesn’t look like he’s hurting. He looks a little bit older but not much. I just wish I could see him.
“I’ll be fine,” he responds. He nods towards a large window. “It will rain soon.”
“Yeah, but that won’t be enough. And you know it. You need help, Dorian,” Aurora chimes in.
I look to her, suddenly terrified and desperate. “Tell me what to do. How can I fix him?”
Aurora smirks coldly and leans forward. “You could let him breathe you. But for what he needs, it would surely kill you. You are still pathetically powerless.”
“No!” Dorian growls. He takes a step forward, his eyes flickering with disgust and hatred.
“Well then, he’ll have to drain someone,” she remarks simply. She looks at her meticulous manicured nails as if the whole conversation of saving Dorian’s life bores her. “A power source. Someone like your adopted mother, perhaps?” Aurora smiles as if the notion is humorous.
“Watch it, bitch!” I spew angrily. A few nearby people look in our direction but the roar of congratulatory cheers has masked our conversation.
“Ok, ok, settle down,” she giggles. “There is a way. It’s your only other option. But you won’t like it.”
I look to Dorian, reading the regret on his face. It must be bad. But not worse than losing him. “Anything,” I whisper.
“I can transfer to him. He can breathe me,” she coos wickedly.
“Absolutely not!” Dorian seethes.
“You and I both know there is no other way, Dorian. I am your last hope. Come on, if Gabriella loves you so much, she would understand. She would do anything to save you. I know I would.”
I look at my lover’s torn expression. He knows this is our only option. He is suffering because of me, because of my intense need for him. I have no other choice but to save him.
“Let’s do it. Tonight,” I murmur, hanging my head in shame.
“No, baby, we don’t have to do this. It’s ok,” he pleads, gripping me by the shoulders.
And then I see it; there is a crack in his mirage. For just a second, I see what I have done to him. His eyes are flat, sunken in, lifeless. His skin is pale and dry. He is only a ghost of the man that I love. My heart instantly shatters at the sight.
“Yes we do,” I croak, through trembling lips. I clear my throat and look to Aurora, shrugging out of Dorian’s hold. “We’ll do it. I’ll be over at 7.”