Slaved to a Devil [lesbian] novel Chapter 24

Lauren

I didn’t feel anything when I regained control over my muscles. I refused to move though, to open my eyes. To acknowledge that many hours, possibly even days have gone by. An eternity where I had no strength over my conscience and allowed my inner demons to wreak havoc. I feared what I would find when I opened my eyes.

Slowly, my presence returned to me as well, and I could feel a weight on my chest, a comfortable weight that I quickly recognise as Elise. But I couldn’t feel any movement from her.

Guilt was already pooling inside me, clawing like hungry vicious tigers in a cage in my chest, in my throat and behind my eyes.

My beautiful Elise. Dead and sadistically left for me to witness when I fully come to and tear away the blindfold of my eyelids.

Dread plagues my senses but even so I can smell Elise’s blood. Is her throat torn apart? Did I drink her dry? Was she in pain?

The questions are endless and going unanswered until I find the courage to open my eyes and see her mangled body for myself.

But I can’t open my eyes yet. Seeing her will wipe away her beautiful face, her smile and most of all those beautiful dark pools golden browns that are her eyes. Her rare but equally distractingly perfect smile.

I don’t want to give these memories yet.

I feel tears crawl down my cheeks but I don’t move. I can’t. What if I move and she falls apart? Her body just crumples and bleeds out of my grip?

Oh lord. I can’t live with myself anymore. I need to find a way to stop myself. To end this pain.

I’m so ravelled in grief, I barely acknowledge the small movement in my arms.

“Elise?” I croak through silent restrained sobs.

Breath tickles my wet cheeks and I slowly open my eyes.

Here she is, peacefully, sleeping on her side. Her hair is splayed over the pillow where her head lies, but her body remains half tangled with mine.

“Elise!” I sob hysterically as relief floods my chest with emotion. I pull her tighter to me and she reciprocates unconsciously by nuzzling her face in further.

What I would have done if I had lost her. I would have been nothing. Broken and left to let emotions spill out of me, leaving an empty shell behind.

But I am not, and she is alive.

+++CHANGE IN POV+++

Elise

Shaking and the soft sound of sobs woke me. I recognised the feverish warmth as Lauren’s bare skin against mine, but the shaking and sobbing couldn’t be from her. She always presented herself so strong and controlled, especially controlled. She wouldn’t risk her demon side taking over again.

Keeping my eyes closed, I reach up and grab her arm, following it to her fragile and trembling hand. I hold it tightly in my grip and bring it towards my lips.

“I’m... s...so s...sorry,” she croaks out, pulling me in tighter to her bare toned torso.

“You didn’t do anything Lauren,” I say, pulling myself up and allowing my eyes to search for her tear streaked face. “Neither side of you did.”

Her black, shining eyes observe me for a while, analysing almost before her beautiful mouth stretches and forms into a frown as a new wave of sobs wrack through her.

She attempts to hide her face by turning away, but I escape her near death grip and straddle her. My hands land on both sides of her face and gently wipes away the fallen tears.

“You didn’t hurt me.”

She closes her eyes and attempts to keep another wave of emotions hidden, but hot tears stream down her cheeks and roll down the outlines of my thumbs holding her face in place.

I lean towards her face, and kiss each closed eyelid, then her soaked cheeks, her forehead and finally her soft warm lips.

As I move away from her, her hand grazes on the bandage from the scratches I had gotten from the shattered window.

“I did hurt you,” she whispers, her lips trembling.

I sighed, realising that trying to persuade her that I am unharmed and actually a little enlightened by meeting her other self, is going to take a while.