The enemy within 09

9

 

„Hi Eric,“ Lena picked up her phone. „How are you? I expected... you know... Shaggy... yesterday... Where have you slept?“

 

„Hi, I'm OK, thanks. I couldn't sleep so I was outside.“

 

„I just arrived home. I'm going to make something to eat so you can come for dinner. What you think?“ she put her purse on the kitchen table and opened the fridge. „Just don't tell me it's late.“

 

„I don't know. Are you sure?“ his voice was unsure. „What will be for dinner?“

 

„Some vegetables, sausage and mashed potatoes,“ she laughed shortly. „You're hungry, don't you?“

 

„Yes, I am,“ she sensed his smile. „I'll be there in half an hour, OK?“

 

„OK. Oh... Eric? Take some clothes to change with you. And swimming trunks.“

 

„I will. But you have to explain,“ he demanded and hung up.

 

*

 

„Hi. Come in,“ she opened the door and hurried off back to the kitchen. „It will be done in several minutes.“ He walked in and dropped his bag next to the kitchen door.

 

„It smells good,“ he leaned over her shoulder, peeking in a pot. She stirred the meal and put the pot aside. „I hope you'll like it. I put in the pot what I found in the fridge,“ she chuckled. „We should go shopping tomorrow. Weekend ahead and my fridge is almost empty.“

 

„What about the swimming trunks?“ he asked, lifting his eyebrows, watching her moving around the kitchen.

 

„Well, I thought we could go on the beach tomorrow afternoon,“ she placed two plates on the counter and put the meal on them, while talking to him. „Of course we have to go shopping first,“ she glanced at him. „Could you set the table, please?“ She showed him where she had knives and forks, then continued. „And in the evening we could make a campfire outside to roast some sausages,“ she put the plates on the set table. He stood there and watched her without move. „We can eat,“ her voice trailed off as she looked up at him. „What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?“

 

„Absolutely not. You take my breath away,“ he ran his hand through his hair. „No one has ever treated me like this. Except my mom and it was a long time ago. You invited me for dinner, you make plans for tomorrow with me and I don't know what else...,“ he took a deep breath and she could see his emotions. She stepped closer and caressed his upper arm. „I've never felt like this before. You're just... fantastic,“ his lips twitched as he attempted to smile, overwhelmed by emotions.

 

She had a feeling that words were useless in the moment so she hugged him, caressing his back with her hands. She listened to his heartbeat. It made her happy to help him. Her heart was full of love for him. In a few minutes she pulled back to look at him.

 

„Are you still hungry?“ she pointed at the table. „It will be cold.“

 

„I am. Let's go to eat,“ he took her hand and pulled a chair for her.

 

*

 

„You wanted me to take some clothes to change. Why?“ he asked as they took a seat on the back porch.

 

„It's Friday. I thought you could stay here for a weekend,“ she glanced at him. „If you don't mind of course. I don't want to push you. But you've been all alone so long...,“ she shrugged and looked at him.

 

„You know I can't stay here...,“ he started speaking but she interrupted him.

 

„Eric, you can,“ she took his hand in both of hers. „Shaggy's blanket is still on its place. I'll go outside when your transformation comes. It's not that I want to see this. I just want you to feel as comfortable as I can give you.“ He stayed silent, staring at his hand in hers. She let go of his hand, unsure how he felt now. She got up in the end. „I'll bring some coffee.“ She went inside.

 

She poured coffee into two mugs and her heart dropped. Perhaps she should have discussed it with him first. He couldn't have liked that she manipulated him. She put the mugs on the tray, took it in her hands and said to herself to let him go. It would be his decision if he wants to be with her or not. Even though she felt sad she knew she had to do it. It was his life and she couldn't tell him what to do. She turned around and went outside.

 

Putting the tray on the table she was surprised when she didn't see him. It was just half past eight he couldn't yet... She looked around and saw him sitting on the steps. She stepped to the banisters, resting her hands on it.

 

„Eric, I'm sorry. Sure you can leave whenever you wish,“ she whispered. „I didn't want to manipulate you. It's your life.“ He rose up, went upstairs and stopped standing behind her. She felt his hands on her shoulders as he turned her to him.

 

„Lena, you don't understand,“ he put his index finger under her chin and she raised her eyes to him. „I'd like to stay here. I'm just scared to involve you in my cursed life. But believe me that I'm just a heartbeat from doing just that. You're tearing me apart. You stepped into my life like a fresh wind. You try to heal my broken wings and make me fly towards the sun. You're the most beautiful person that I've ever met. I mean not only on the outside,“ he swallowed, looking in her eyes. „Even though I'm aware that I shouldn't have allowed you to get closer I did. I'm afraid of what's next but listen to me, Lena Gilbert, I have to reveal one more secret hidden deep inside of my heart,“ he broke off for a moment and stroke her cheek seeing fear in her eyes. „I love you. You can't imagine how much,“ he whispered.

 

She breathed out and he smiled seeing her relief. He pulled her closer to hug her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Slipping his hand in her hair he pulled her back a little and pressed his lips to hers gently. In a moment their kiss changed into a passionate dance of two tongues as they started tasting each other hungrily.

 

„I love you, too,“ she breathed out as they separated in need of air.

 

„I just hope you won't regret the day we met one day,“ he kissed her on the crown of her head.

 

*

 

The sun woke him up with its rays in the morning. He turned on his back, stretching his body. Sitting down he saw his clothes, that he'd undressed yesterday before his transformation, folded on the ground. He got dressed and went to the kitchen. It was eight a.m. and he felt refreshed. He slept all night on the blanket as a wolf and two more hours as a human. He looked around and after a short search he started preparing breakfast.

 

„Good morning,“ Lena was standing in the kitchen doorway, watching him.

 

„Good morning, sunshine,“ he smiled, glancing at her over his shoulder. She joined him to help him.

 

After breakfast they went shopping to refill the fridge and pantry. Then they had lunch in a restaurant next to the beach and went for a walk along it. They just had a good time, swimming in the sea, talking, laughing and both of them forgot about any problems.

 

At eight p.m. they arrived home. Lena tried not to give him any reason to be nervous. On their way home they bought pizza so she put it on two plates and brought them on the back porch. She spent most of her time outside, she loved to look at the grass and trees, having a sky above her head. Stepping to the banisters she looked at the horizon, watching the sunset. It was beautiful especially in summer.

 

„It's so awesome, isn't it?“ she said softly, feeling his hands on her waist as he came to stand behind her.

 

„It is,“ he whispered in her hair. „Like you are.“ She laughed lightly and turned to him. She stroked his cheek, smiling.

 

„If I am a sunset, you are a sunrise then. Your eyes shine like a rising sun every morning.“

 

„Thanks.“

 

„You're welcome,“ she took his hand and led him to the table. „Our pizza's waiting.“ They ate and he watched her discreetly. He couldn't believe how naturally and lovingly she accepted him and involved him in her life even though she knew that he's been cursed.

 

Later she walked down the stairs to check on Shaggy. She smiled. No, I can't call him like that anymore. Actually he is still Eric. She didn't see him. The blanket was empty. She went to the kitchen, collected his clothes, folded them and put them next to the blanket on the ground. Then she stepped outside and saw two glowing eyes among the trees.

 

„Come inside, Eric,“ she descended the stairs and waved at him. He darted out of his shelter right against her and shoved her with his forelimbs so that she fell on the grass. She got scared as he stood in front of her, growling unfriendly, showing his fangs. She didn't move, waiting. In a moment he turned around and ran into the forest. With her heart beating in her throat she lifted herself slowly and walked inside. She couldn't understand what happened to him. Yet she left the door slightly open and the lights on on the back porch before she headed for the bedroom, tears pricking in her eyes.

 

*

 

Walking downstairs at eight in the morning she found Eric sleeping on the blanket. She let him sleep, went to the kitchen and poured coffee into a cup for herself, then she settled on the back porch. She had mixed feelings. They had so much fun yesterday, it was a perfect day and evening. On the other hand she was confused, pondering how wild he was as the wolf. Basically he attacked her without a reason. Why?

 

At noon she set the table after she finished cooking, and put two plates on it. She stepped to Eric and touched his shoulder.

 

„Wake up, Sleeping beauty. Lunch is on the table.“ He slowly opened his eyes and turned to her.

 

„Lunch?! What's the time?“ he mumbled.

 

„It's five past twelve p.m. You had a wild night, didn't you?“ she rose up and retreated to the kitchen, leaving him space to fully wake up and get dressed.

 

„What do you mean?“ he asked when he joined her ten minutes later.

 

„I don't know exactly but I guess you stayed up all night,“ she shrugged.

 

„You're right,“ he swallowed a bite and shook his head. „I couldn't sleep. I felt kind of unease. I've never felt like this before.“

 

„Do you remember what you were doing all night?“ she asked, glancing at him attentively. She finished eating and put the empty plates in the sink.

 

„Yes, I do. I was in the forest and at the lake,“ he stepped closer. „Why are you asking?“ He put his hands on her waist, turning her to him. She decided not to tell him what happened in the night if he didn't remember. Not yet.

 

„Because I didn't saw you on the blanket. You had to arrive in the morning. You slept half of the day,“ she put her hand on his cheek reassuringly. But inside she felt concern about it. How come? Didn't he remember what he did? She didn't show him her concern and gave him a small smile.

 

„I came inside around five a.m.,“ he nodded. „That's when I fell asleep.“ He helped her put the dishes in the dishwasher. „What plans do you have for today?“ he winked.

 

„A campfire and barbecue,“ she smirked. „We can go for a walk into the forest and then we'll prepare everything for making a fire.“

 

„Sounds great,“ he smiled.

 

They walked in the forest hand in hand and she almost forgot about the last night event. Coming back they took the different way she suddenly trod on something soft and thousand flies flied in the air right in front of her eyes. She startled and stepped back.

 

„What the hell...,“ she lowered her eyes and saw remains of something that might have been a hare yesterday. It was ripped out, the most of the flesh was gone, just bones remained. She covered her mouth with her hand. „It looks like we have a predator here. I've never found here something like this here. What kind of animal could do that?“ she glanced at him and a thought crossed her mind. No, he couln't do it. He hates killing animals. She rejected the thought. These things happened.

 

„Let's go,“ she offered and looked at him over her shoulder, noticing he didn't follow her. He was standing there, staring at the carcass, lost in thoughts. „Eric? What's wrong?“ she stepped back, touching his upper arm. He looked away from the carcass and took her hand.

 

„Nothing, pure hare,“ he mumbled. She felt his unease but she said nothing, just led him away.

 

*

 

She walked outside, down the stairs and to the campfire, a tray with meat and bread in her hands. Eric was sitting there on the bench, staring in the flames. She put the tray on the other bench and took a seat next to him. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer without looking at her. She said nothing, placed her arm around his waist and on his chest the other. She felt that something was bothering him but she knew he would have told her if he wanted her to know so she didn't ask.

 

Later when they finished eating, they stayed sitting by the fire. Eric was mostly silent. Even though Lena expected him to start speaking he didn't. Anyway she knew he needed her by his side because he showed it by touching her all the time. She touched him back to let him know she was there for him.

 

She just wondered what it was that caused his silent and thoughtful mood as she went to check on the wolf several minutes after ten p.m. Just like the day before she was upstairs in her bedroom when his transformation came. The blanket was empty like yesterday so she stepped outside. She descended the stairs on the back porch seeing the wolf sitting on the grass.

 

„Hi, how do you feel? Are you OK?“ she got down on his level, keeping distance between them. She reached out her hand with her open palm up, waiting for his reaction. But his eyes were different than they usually were. He looked dangerous as he stood up. She stepped closer and he growled. „Eric, what happened to you?“ she sighed as she pulled her hand back. „I know you can't tell me. How can I help you?“ As she rose up she saw him jump against her. She staggered, felt that she was falling down on the grass and she lifted her hands to cover her face. Once she fell down on her back she ceased to move even though her back was hurting and she felt his weight on top of her. Her eyes were closed even though she felt his breath on her face.

 

When she was sure he was gone she opened her eyes and tried to get up. She slowly walked inside, shocked, her body shaking, tears flowing down her cheeks. Before she went upstairs she automatically left the door open and the light on on the back porch.

 

As she changed to her nightgown she noticed several scratches on both of her forearms. He had to scratch her with his claws. They weren't deep but this scared her. She treated the scratches and walked out of the bathroom. She crawled under the covers knowing she would have to do something. He was wilder than yesterday. What if his wildness affected his human body? So far his human behavior was rather silent but she felt he changed the last two days. She worried about him not knowing if she was to blame for the change. She just wanted to help him. She realized she needed someone‘s help. But who should it be? She couldn't tell anyone about it.

 

Closing her eyes she let her tears falling down on the pillow, her heart clenched with worry and fear.