CHAPTER FOUR — IT BEGINS.

Tessa's POV.

I'd actually returned to my room to get myself prepared in order to leave for Edward's chamber since I was now his mate. However, even after Damon said those words to me, and even after I'd asked him that question which he refused to answer and instead, left, it felt like there was some part of him lurking around the house. More like he was dead, and his ghost was lurking around trying to get across a message to me. Or better still, trying to find peace. Perhaps, with the decision that he made. However, one thing was certain — I could feel his presence and the evidence of that were the goosebumps that appeared on my skin.

However, I shrugged off the feeling and instead, strode towards my bedside table, picked up the picture frame which he was staring at a moment ago and then reclined on the bed as I began to stare at it. That was the only picture we had taken together, and he allowed me to keep it. If he had tried to take it away from me earlier, then I would have confronted him about it. However, it seemed like someone talked him into breaking up with me or perhaps, he was trying to hide a few things from me. Whichever it was, something was definitely not right.

I lifted my face and swept my eyes all over the place. Each corner I turned to brought back memories of him. However, just as if they knew we were no longer together, they began to fade away one after the other. And as they did, my eyes became moist with tears until the very last one which made a drop narrow down the length of my face.

“Tessa, are you alright?” Vivian asked, pushing the door open as she stepped in.

On the other hand, as I noticed her presence, I wiped off the tears on my face, righted myself from the bed and then dropped the picture frame on the bedside table where I picked up it from.

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat, pressing a fist against my lips. “Yes, I am. I was just trying to put together my stuff, and you know, go over to my new place.”

She took a few steps more and when she came this close to me, she paused.

“I know that it must be so difficult for you right now because I just saw Damon walking out of here not quite long.” she said, taking my hands into hers. “I guess he came to say his goodbyes.”

“Yes, he did.” I said, trying to steady my voice. “But can we not just talk about him, please?”

“Of course. I won't speak of him anymore.” she said, rubbing my hand as if to ease the pain that I felt. “I won't speak of him anymore.”

“Thank you.” I said, smiling at her with a meaningful look in my eyes.

Since he'd chosen for us to go out separate ways even when I pleaded with him not to break up, then I didn't want to hear his name again. Moreover, for the fact that I asked if he was going to return to me should I find a way for us to be together again, but he refused to say anything just made me realize that beyond this, there was something more, and he had made peace with his decision. However, I'm glad that I don't have to go through this alone. I'd Vivian by my side. Even though I would have loved for it to have been Esme but with the situation of things, I knew that it was impossible. Besides, I haven't set my eyes on her since what happened back there. On the plus side, I could consider Vivian a sister too since we've known each other for over a decade now.

“So, where should we start from?” she asked, with a shrug of her shoulder as she swept her eyes all over the room. “You know quite well that you should be in his chamber before dawn, right?”

“Of course, I do. But, I don't know if I'm ready for any of these.” I said, heaving a sigh. “I never saw this coming.”

“Neither of us did.” she said, flashing a smile across my worried face as she gave my shoulder an encouraging squeeze. “It might not be as bad as you think. So, don't try to imagine the worst yet until you get there.”

“I know, but you know how much I despise him because of what he took from me.” I said, managing to quell the sob rising in my throat. “He took my parents away from me, and I'm not going to forgive him for that.”

“I know that story too well, so you don't have to remind me of it again.” she said, shaking her head as the words left her mouth. “You will just have to find a way to live with him now. Perhaps, you'll find it in your heart to forgive him someday.”

“No, that's not going to happen.” I said, with a note of firmness in my voice. “There is no way that I'm going to forgive him for killing my parents.”

“I know, I was only saying.” she said, with a subtle nod of her head.

“There is something I want to ask.” I said, with a look of seriousness masking my face.

“Alright go on.”

“I know I said that we shouldn't talk about him anymore but don't you think he's acting weird?” I asked, with a tinge of curiosity in my voice. “I don't want to believe that it's just me, but it felt like he was trying to hide something or better still, get as far as possible away from me. Please tell me that I'm not sounding so weird right now.”

“Alright, you aren't sounding weird.” she said, even though the words seemed to drag themselves from her throat.

“I thought as much too.” I said, turning away as if to gather my thoughts. “I knew that I wasn't the only one feeling this way.”

“Uh, I actually said that because you asked me to tell you that you weren't sounding weird.” she said, with a shrug of her shoulder.

“Come on Vivian.” I said, slapping a hand against my forehead. “You should have known better. However, I really do think that there's something he's keeping away from me. Or perhaps, he didn't want to cause any trouble.”

“I would say that he didn't want to cause any more trouble because he knows that you must be going through a lot right now.” she said, with a knowing look. “Damon is a good guy and I don't see any reason why he should hide anything from you.”

“Do you really think so?” I asked, narrowing my gaze at the words. “Do you think he wouldn't hide anything from me?”

“I do not think so. I know he won't keep anything from you. So there's nothing to worry about.” she said, with a smile on her lips. “If there was any chance that he was keeping something from you then he would have me contend with.”

As the words fell upon my ears, I laughed low in my throat. She knew how to make me smile even in difficult situations. However, I knew that I'd to start packing up my things so that I would go over to Edward's chamber.

“I guess it's time to start packing up now.” I said, letting out a sigh as I swept my eyes all over the room while hanging my hands on my sides.

“I guess it is.” she said.

But as I took one, two and was about to take the third step, I felt a sharp pain in my head as if I'd been pricked with a needle.

“Argh!” I groaned, gripping the sides of my head as if to cover my ears.

“Tessa, are you alright?”

“Argh!!” I screamed, pushing my fingers through my hair as I went on both knees. “Make it stop, please!”

“Tessa? Tessa!”