26. Izzy

Itried to unstick my eyes as I slowly came to. Pain throbbed against my temple. I attempted to move, but I found myself bound. I blinked a few times, but immediately realized something was limiting my sight. I could only make out vague shapes past whatever rested over my face.

I had just a few moments of complete confusion, before memories flashed through my mind. Yara's phone call. The mystery man. His black desolate eyes.

"Sebastian?" I called out.

"Oh, so now we are on a first name basis, dear Bel?" Smooth, clammy fingers stroked my hand and I did my best to contain my disgust.

I remained silent.

"We're back where both of our lives changed forever. Who knew that you would be another stupid, stupid girl." He ripped off the material covering my eyes and I found us back on our school's roof. The full moon shone brightly over us as I examined Sebastian. He looked positively unhinged. Eyes widened, hair in disarray, a dark stain covering his white shirt. Mouth opened showing sharpened teeth that glinted in the moonlight.

How did my stupid self ever think this man was anything but evil? Oh that's right, I was a teenager that he preyed on.

"Wearing another man's clothes. Covered in cum. You were always a whore. But that's why we ended up like this, isn't it?" A knife suddenly appeared in Sebastian's hand glinting before swiping downwards, slicing my shirt in half.

The material fell open, baring my chest to the disgusting predator. A thin line of blood dripped down from where he nicked my skin. The pain was a stark reminder of the monster that stood before me.

His lips curled cruelly.

I was going to be okay. Oliver and Maddox were going to find me. This was just a bad nightmare. When in doubt, bullshit my way out. Except neither of them knew about Sebastian. Only one other person did. The one that saved me all those years ago. When I was a stupid na?ve girl.

It was my senior year of high school. Oliver was once more overseas and Yara had her first ever boyfriend. I felt exceptionally alone and I was being targeted by bullies. Frequently.

I was sitting anxiously in my calculus class when it finally hit a breaking point. The rest of the class left, but I stayed behind, staring at an empty wall. Wishing desperately for an escape. For a light to shine through.

"Are you alright, Miss Kane?"

The honeyed voice dragged me from my thoughts and I met our teacher's concerned eyes. "Sorry, Mr. York. It's just been difficult, I feel lonely." I offered up a sheepish smile. I knew high school wasn't the place for people like me.

At the time I didn't notice the glint in his eye, the way the word lonely brought forth the demon that hid beneath his skin. "Oh, Miss Kane, I understand. I am very much an oddity both here and in my day-to-day life. I'm heading to the coffee shop right outside of school, let me buy you a coffee?"

I started to protest.

"It's fine, I do this for all of my students when they need extra help in their studies. It's where we meet for tutoring." He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I learned later it was all a lie. He was just trying to make me feel more comfortable. Easier to manipulate.

It worked.

It went on and on like that for quite some time, until the coffee turned into gifts. His hand on my shoulder that day gradually drifted downward to my thighs as the time progressed. He did it slowly, but even still, I began to realize there wasn't something quite right with his attention. I was ashamed to admit it, though, because it would show how useless I was without Yara and Oliver.

It hit a boiling point when he walked me up to the roof. He wanted to show me the view as the sun was beginning to set. I should have known better. He kissed me. He played it off as an accident.

"I think we should stop this. I appreciate your company, but I need to focus on myself. On graduating and college." I backed away slowly until I reached the door. Reaching behind me to open it. It wouldn't budge. The terror I had been keeping at bay began to consume me.

"Now, now, now." It was the first time I truly saw Sebastian York for what he was. A demon. "You are not leaving here without letting me have a taste. I have been patient with you, but it's time. You need to let this happen."

He attacked before I could move, ripping me from the door and pushing me onto the ground. I did my best to scream, but he quickly covered my mouth so hardly any sound could escape. He was much larger and stronger than I was. I hadn't learned self-defense; I didn't know what to do.

I found myself giving up. I numbed myself to his cold fingers as they pried my clothes from my stiff body. I let the tears fall as I heard him unzip his pants. I was fully naked when the door to the roof slammed open.

I didn't expect my nerdy quiet classmate Emilio to be there, I most definitely didn't expect him to be holding a gun.

"Get the fuck off of her!"

I couldn't believe I ever thought this a nice man, he dripped poison in everything that he did. He did whisper such sweet lies, but it didn't matter. I should have known better.

If not for Emilio, I would never have escaped Sebastian's clutches. Emilio and I were inseparable after that.

And that horrible day on the roof was the last I had seen of Sebastian.

Until the reunion.