CARLISLE.

　　I zip up my bag, finally done packing. Heaving a deep sigh, I sit o the edge of the bed and take a moment to breathe. Yet I cannot rest, as the urge for me to leave this place is strong, and I do not want to waste any moment.

　　Soon, I put on my jacket, and carry my bag with me, walking out of the room and shutting the door for good. This room will never see my face again.

　　As soon as I leave the room, I find myself being surrounded. I see a guard in front of me, eyes trained on my movements. I also see another by my side. I try my best to ignore them and keep on going, walking out slowly. However, the annoyance in me is slowly rising, as I realize that more of the guards have appeared out of nowhere.

　　Is this his plan? Will he not let me leave now? I feel the anger in me increase to a point that I clench my fists, and stop moving. The guards stop with me, and I turn and look around. There are five guards, and all of them are looking at me.

　　“Well, what is it?” I speak, not backing down. My voice rings clear and loud.

　　One of the guards steps forward towards me. I step back, giving him a glare, at which he stops moving.

　　“I asked a question,” I snap, and the guard takes a step back to his original position. “What is it? Why are you following me?”

　　I Know it is Damon’s idea. I do not need anyone to tell me that. However, I need to stall, to think of a way out. It is clear that Damon has decided not to let me leave without a fight. Why he thinks this is a great idea, I do not know. It only makes me want to leave this place even more. I am even more furious at him for trying this with me.

　　Before anyone can answer, a snap of the fingers is heard.

　　I turn towards the sound, as do the guards. I see Damon. “Alpha-”

　　One of the guards starts to speak, but he is interrupted. “Leave her alone, all of you,” Damon commands. “Let her be.”

　　As if a spell was cast, the guards quickly fall away, and the only thing I hear of their exit are the rustling of clothes. Before I know it, they are gone. I look around me to make sure, and confirm their exit.

　　I then turn towards Damon, and I feel my body tense as I meet his gaze. He is unreadable, and I have no idea what to make of it.

　　“Was this your idea?” I ask him, frustration leaking into my voice. I am still holding my bag on one hand, and I wish I can throw it at him. However, I caution myself, thinking of the guards from moments ago. I speak again, as he has not responded to my question, only looking at me with his arms crossed. “You set the guards on me.”

　　“I had, yes,” Damon finally relents and answers y question. “This was my idea.”

　　A wave of fury propels me to walk over to Damon’s side, intent on giving him a big slap. Damon speaks again though, which makes me pause.

　　“However,” he continues, softening his look at me. “I was advised that it was a very bad idea. So, I won’t fight you anymore, Carlisle.”

　　I step back now, intent on putting distance between us both. What did he mean? He was letting me walk out?

　　“If you want to leave, then I cannot stop you. It would be wrong of me to do so. As much as I want you to stay here with me, your wants are also important, and I do not wish to trap you here,” he is still speaking, and I am confused. Suddenly, Damon is doing what I do not expect him to. Who is this man, I think to myself.

　　“Good,” I finally find my voice to speak, and turn to leave his presence. But his voice stops me in my tracks once more.

　　“However, I must insist on one thing, and one thing only.” I turn back to face him, my brows furrowed. “And that is, you drink with me. One last drink with me before you leave. That is all.”

　　I stare at him, my mind turning over his words in my mind. This sounded suspicious to me. What did he mean by that?

　　I narrow my eyes at him, taking a step closer. He sees to sense my doubts at his words, and he raises his hands in surrender.

　　“Just as I have said,” he says, shaking his head at me. “I will not stop you from leaving, Carlisle. I cannot force you. Just a drink before you go, for my sake. Please,” The last word slips unbidden from his mouth, and it makes me stop.

　　After a brief moment, I nod, accepting his request. “Just one drink, and I will leave,” I affirm to him. His face lights up at that, and he smiles at me. I meet his glance with a stoic expression, and his smile dims a little.

　　“Follow me, then,” he speaks, turning to walk away. I keep my distance, two steps behind him as we walk over to where a half-empty bottle of whiskey sits on the table. He takes a seat and I take the other, dropping my bag and grabbing one of the glass tumblers.

　　Damon barely looks at me as he pours the whiskey into both our cups. I sniff my cup cautiously, do not find anything suspicious inside it. Damon glances at me then, and does not even blink when he drinks his whiskey. I take a sip, finding it tasting the same as I remember. I relax a bit now, and take another sip, then a third one.

　　Damon by now, has finished his first glass, pouring another bit into his cup.

　　“You should be careful with that,” I caution him, and he looks at me with a rakish smirk.

　　“I will be careful, don’t worry.” He downs the rest of his whiskey, but does not pour another glass.

　　I keep sipping, still on my one glass.

　　I taste the alcohol and my belly is now warm from it. I turn to Damon once more, who is silently looking down at his glass.

　　“Now that I drank with you, you will let me leave?” I ask him, and I see that he tries not to make a face at my question. That makes me relax fully – clearly, he is going to keep to his words.

　　“I am not your enemy, Carlisle,” he finally responds. “I will not do anything to hurt you. So, yes, you can leave after this.”

　　I nod at his words, finishing off the remaining whiskey in my glass, before standing up. However, I found myself sitting back on my chair. my legs feel weak. From the alcohol I wonder.

　　Damon looks at me with a brow raised.

　　“Be careful, you could fall over,” is all he says as I give him a glare. Why did he bring whiskey to drink anyways?

　　I take a deep breath and begin to stand up again, but this time, I am unable to get up. I blink, stunned at my inability to move my limbs. I turn to look at Damon but my vision is now blurry.

　　Now I understand what is going on. My mind is slow and I cannot help but place my head, which feels ten times heavier than it should be, on the table. I blink slowly, and my vision is even blurrier.

　　I can hear a faint voice as I slip into unconsciousness. A hand on my back.

　　I blink, and drift off.