Truly, it is in the darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us.

~Meister Eckhart

Ariana's POV

I felt my heart hammering in my chest loudly as I took backward steps.

"You're...you're a..."

Words just won't come out of my mouth. Terror clawed each inch of my soul by just staring into his golden-red eyes. A lone ray of light fell on the sharp canines of his mouth.

"Get out of here, Ariana," Daniel pleaded. His voice was filled with pain and torture which made me stop dead on my tracks.

The Daniel I know would never plead to me for anything and if he's doing this then something is definitely wrong.

My eyes took into his features. Daniel's expression was that of torment. His wrist were struggling to get rid of the chains but at the same time, he was trying hard not to move. It was like his body was moving on it's own and he didn't have any control of his actions. His hair was wet with sweat as they dripped from his head down his body.

His usual blue eyes had turned golden-red indicating who he truly is-A vampire/werewolf hybrid. Hybrids are considered to be an imbalance of two species and an abomination to the nature's law. They're killed the moment they're found alive so that they don't continue the lineage. Though, In order to give birth to a hybrid, both the parents should be hybrids too.

I gulped down the fear and took a brave step ahead,

"Daniel, are you okay?" I asked whilst my heart thudded so loud that I could practically hear them and I'm sure Daniel can too.

Daniel shifted uncomfortably against the chains.

"Don't come near me! Just get out of here!" his voice echoed in the study ringing in my ears like bells.

He wriggled against the chain, his posture looking lethal and I dare not move a step ahead but neither did I back away.

Everything in me screamed to run away but there was this part of me -so stubborn- that didn't agree to leave him here all alone, in this condition.

He was there for me when I was going through that horrible nightmare. And whatever his reason might be, he still managed to get me out of that fright. Even if he rubbed it in my face later, it doesn't change the fact that he unknowingly helped me.

So, with determination in my mind, I took a step ahead. This time with a much more steady heart.

"You don't look fine," I took another daring step ignoring the sudden increase in my pulse.

"I. Said. Get. Out." He gritted through his teeth followed by a loud resounding growl which made me flinch back in fear.

I still stood my ground taking alert steps ahead until I was in front of him.

I was taking a huge risk here. A risk that could cost me my life. But I was willingly to take it. So that I can uncover the mystery that Daniel is—piece by piece.

By now, my pulse had increased ten fold and sweat beads formed on my forehead. I slowly and carfully bought my hand to place it on his shoulder.

"Daniel, you're not okay. Is this what Ariel was talking about?" I felt his muscles tense beneath my touch.

He stared at me through his golden-red eyes as his dark hair fell on his forehead making him look so much godly.

The next moment, everything happened so fast. Daniel broke the thick steel chains wound around his wrist with one powerful yank and gripped my waist in a harsh grip.

"Don't you know the meaning of 'GET OUT'?" His fingers nails dug into my skin making me yelp in pain, "You being here isn't helping me. Right now all I want to do is dig my fangs into your skin and suck you dry. Do you want that?!" He yelled in my face, his grip tightening on my waist.

"Daniel, you're hurting me," I let out a strangled cry.

He quickly backed away, his eyes widening in shock like he couldn't believe what he was doing. His fists clenched and unclenched as his jaws set in a firm line. His eyes softened when he looked at me.

"I didn't mean to do that. I just don't have any control of myself. So, Get out of here. Please," he was pleading me to leave the study this instant.

"Is it blood that you need to control yourself? You can take my blood if that's the case," I offer despite his request.

His eyes widened hearing my words and he stared at me as if I have lost my mind.

Believe me, I think the same. It's just that the will to help him is stronger than the will to run away.

"No. I don't want anything from you. You can leave now," he replied curtly turning his head in the other direction.

His posture looked tense and rigid. He was visibly shaking but at the same time he was trying hard to control his thirst.

Why is he trying so hard? I did offer my blood. Oh, but he doesn't want my blood, right?

Would he agree to drink if it wasn't me?

It sort of hurts that he would prefer anyone else rather than me. Sort of. Still, would he be able to deny his thirst if he smells my blood?

I don't know what came over me or whether I have really lost it considering what I'm about to do.

I bought my wrist to my mouth. Just as my werewolf canines appeared much different from Daniel's fangs, I bit on the vein on my wrist with my canines letting it peirce the tender skin.

My own blood burst into my mouth and I had to force myself from not cringing at it's taste. It was normal for vampires to drink blood but it's still gross for welewolves since we have a very different food source.

I pulled my canines away from the vein letting my blood to bleed out of the wound. This will awaken his thirst. If this doesn't work than I have blood in my mouth...

Daniel's head immediately snapped in my direction. His eyes shone brighter and he looked like he was vastly affected by the scent of blood but he still stood his ground, not daring to take a single step ahead.

Ugh...Why do you have to be so stubborn? Now I don't have any option. Gosh, I wish you don't kill me after this.

"What do you think you're doing? Are you out of your mind-"

His words were cut off as I grabbed his face and enclosed my lips on his. Parting his lips, I let the blood from my mouth to flow into his.

His eyes widened with shock at first before he gripped my waist tightly, slowly and steadily moving ahead making me take backward steps with our mouths still connected to each other.

My back hit the wall as Daniel removed his mouth from mine, "Why did you do that? Want to die by my hands?"

He looked calmer than before but his body was still rigid. I sighed internally. He will need more blood.

"You won't kill me. I trust you on that. Just...do it. Drink from me," I almost pleaded him.

He didn't look fine at all and if blood is what was needed to make him calm then so be it.

"You aren't going to go, are you?" I shook my head stubbornly which bought an amused smile on his lips but it disappeared the moment it came.

I felt a weird kind of happiness looking at him smile due to me and all the doubt I had about him drinking from me just vanished out of the window.

He bought his hand upto my neck and tucked away all the hair to my other shoulder exposing my bare neck.

"You sure about this? You still have a chance to back out," he said running his index finger through length of my neck which ignited a fire where his finger touched my skin.

He's probably checking the right artery to sink his fangs in but he doesn't know what he's causing me.

I felt my heartbeat quicken but this time it wasn't because of fear. It was something else entirely...

I nodded my head, "I'm sure about this, Daniel."

Daniel stared at me for a while before he snuggled his face in the crook of my neck. His lips grazed over the skin of my neck ever so lightly which was enough to awaken tingling feelings in me.

"This is gonna hurt. You sure you don't want to back out?" Daniel's breath fanned my neck causing my attention to waver from his words.

I'm more concerned with the position we're in right now. Daniel's body pressed against mine. His one hand on my waist and the other trailing down my collar bone. His face snuggled in the crook of my neck. If the blood wasn't included, this would seem quite romantic or rather intimate.

"Just get over with this," I spoke through ragged breath when his words finally registered into my mind.

Without any further word, he sunk his fangs into my neck as excruciating pain rushed through my neck.