FATED TO MY OWN NEMESIS

Tessa's POV.

“It's… it's right here.” I stuttered, blinking my eyes rapidly in surprise as I glanced at the strange mark on my wrist. “I know it sounds absurd, but it's right here.”

“What do you mean by that?” — Esme asked, turning to face me with a raised brow. “What is where?”

“The mark. It's on my wrist.” I said, lifting my face to her as I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I—I don't know how it happened, but it's on my wrist.”

“You must be mistaken. It can't be on your wrist.” she said, her eyes suddenly moist with tears. “It could be something else but not the mark.”

“I am afraid it is.” I said, meeting her gaze. “The half-moon mark is on my wrist.”

Finding it rather difficult to believe my words, she walked over to where I was standing, gripped my hand and glanced at it. As her gaze fell upon the mark on my wrist, I felt an icy chill as a drop of her tears landed on my arm.

“No, this can't be true.” she said, shaking her head in disbelief as she lifted her face to me. “What games are you trying to play here, Tessa?”

“I am not trying to play any games here.” I said, blinking back tears. “I am as surprised as you are too.”

“No, this isn't happening. It's meant to be on my wrist and not yours.” she said, pushing her fingers through her hair as she turned away as if to gather her thoughts. “This isn't happening.”

“What is wrong?” — the rather familiar voice asked.

As I lifted my gaze, I found Damon standing in front of me. Judging by the look in his eyes, I could tell that he had an idea of what was going on. Perhaps, he wanted me to tell him by myself.

“The mark…” I paused, my voice husky with tears as I dropped my eyes to my wrist again.

“No, tell me that's not true.” he said, shaking his head in disbelief as a sob seemed to strangle his throat. “Tell me that you don't have the mark.”

“I am sorry Damon.” I said, swallowing the sudden dryness in my throat. “I don't know how it happened, but I just found it on my wrist.”

“No, I won't take that.” he said, turning around as he charged towards Edward. “This is all his doing.”

“Damon no…” I said, lifting a hand as if trying to stop him and at the same time attempting to take a step forward.

However, I froze, rooted to the spot as he paused and turned to face me.

“Don't try to stop me.” he said, his voice matching the hardness of his gaze. “This is all his doing, and I'm going to confront him now.”

As he continued on his way towards Edward, Esme turned to face me and forcefully gripped my hand.

“I can see what you're trying to do, but Edward is mine, and you can't take him away from me.” she said, as her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I don't know how the mark appeared on your wrist, but it's best if you clean it off.”

“What do you mean sister?” I asked, narrowing my gaze at the words as a look of confusion seemed to mask my face. “Do you really think that I would fake something as this just to take Edward from you? I mean, I don't even love him.”

“You lie!” she shot back, her eyes glittering with anger. “Do you think that I don't know? You've had your eyes on him all the while but whatever scheme this is, it's not going to work.”

“Can you listen to yourself right now?” I asked, with an edge to my voice. “Why on earth would I want to steal your happiness? It just doesn't make any sense.”

“Says the girl who's always wanted everything I ever had.” she said, her voice as hard as steel. “However, you aren't getting this one.”

“What?” — the retort sprang from my lips as the shock on my face deepened.

“You heard me right. You aren't getting this one.” she said, scrubbing her palm against my wrist vigorously as she tried to clean off the mark. “You can't take him away from me.”

In all honesty, I didn't know what was happening. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that the half-moon mark appeared on my wrist. If anything, the mark was supposed to appear on her wrist and not mine because she ought to be his mate, and not me. There's no reason for me to steal her happiness. Besides, the person who she considers to be her happiness happens to be my worst nightmare, so I don't see any reason for me to fake the half-moon mark on my wrist. The last thing I would want in life is to be with Edward. No, I despised him with every nerve in me. Moreover, I've got the love of my life in Damon so, there's no reason for me to hurt her in any way. For goodness’ sake! Why would I want to hurt my own blood sister? Or why would I even want to steal her happiness? It just doesn't make any sense.

“You are hurting me!” I yelled, retrieving my hand from her and hiding it behind me. “You should stop this already. There's no point doing this because the mark isn't going to come off. Do you think I want any part in this? I don't.”

“You want me to believe you right now?” she asked, letting out a laughing scoff. “There is nothing that you say right now that I'm going to believe other than the fact that you want to take Edward from me.”

“Get a grip of yourself sister!” I thundered, framing her face with my palms as I stared into her eyes. “The same way you don't want to believe that any of this is true is exactly how I want to believe that this isn't happening right now. However, in as much as you're trying to deny this reality, you should accept it.”

“So this is what you've to say.” she said, meeting my gaze as a tear trickled down the side of her nose. “Why won't you allow me to be happy?”

“You shouldn't be saying this.” I said, shaking my head as the words left my lips. “Or do you think you're the only one here who's got something to lose? This mark means that I can't be with Damon anymore. I also have something to lose.”

“Can you compare your loss to mine?” she asked, with ice in her voice. “Answer me!”

To that question, I didn't think I had the answer. The same way she loved Edward was exactly the same way that I loved Damon, if not more. Speaking of him, I noticed that he was standing at a distance through the corners of my eyes. Dropping my hands from Esme's face, I turned to face him. As I did, I noticed a slight cut at the corner of his lips.

“What happened to you? Your lips.” I said, my voice laced with concern.

As if he didn't know that his lips had broken, he lifted a hand, pressed his thumb to the affected area and then glanced at the blood on his thumb.

“It is nothing. I'm fine.” he said, lifting his pain darkened eyes to me.

“No, you aren't. I should—”

“Don't.” he shunned, cutting me off. “It is over between us Tessa.”