Read Online Avowed (The Manipulation Trilogy Book 3) by Alicia Taylor, Natalie Townson - Free Book Online

can focus. My beautiful Ella. I killed her, destroyed her.
    Like I knew I would .
    Finally making it to her, I pull her into my arms, brushing her bloodied brown locks away from her face. She’s dead. She’s fucking dead. I already know it by the lifeless weight of her body. I choke on tears as they blur my vision and block my throat.
    “NOOOOOO.” I reach for her mouth, checking her airway. I need to save her. Pressing my lips to hers I blow air into her lungs, trying to breathe life back into her. “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. God no.” I feel arms on me, pulling me away from her, but I struggle, refusing to be moved.
    I won’t fucking leave her. I won’t give up.
    I look back down and now Ella is dying right before me as she gasps for air. I try to pry myself away from the grasping hands, but there are too many. I’m pulled away and a strangled cry escapes me, but then I hear my name being called. I fight and get free, rushing back to my beauty.
    “NO!” I choke out. Silence settles around me and I rub frantic fingers over Ella’s beautiful face. I need to see her face. I need her to breathe, for her, for me, for us.
    Pressure pushes down on my heart, squeezing the life out of me. I can’t live without her, without them. A blood curdling scream shatters the otherwise silent room and I turn to see Lydia with a knife in her hand. She waves it around maniacally as she continues to scream. I back up, pressing my back against the wall and place my body over Ella’s, not wanting her to come to anymore harm. 
    “You killed us. It’s entirely your fault,” Lydia screams. “You’re a murderer. You don’t deserve to live.”
    “I didn’t do this. I love her,” I argue.
    “You did,” Lydia spits. “You killed Ella like you killed me and the baby.”
    “NOOOOOOO,” I roar.
    Stepping forward, Lydia thrusts the knife towards me and I shut my eyes waiting for the inevitable – waiting to feel my life drain away, to escape the pain of not having Ella in my life.
    Nothing happens.
    I open my eyes and find black, nothing but black. The room is cloaked in darkness. I’m disorientated, not knowing what’s happening. My hands frantically search around me, trying to locate Ella in the dark, but she’s not here. She’s gone.
    “No, no, no, no. NO!” I’m drowning in panic as I continue my blind search. The tightness in my chest is excruciating, I feel like I’m having a fucking heart attack. My life is slowly, and painfully, being drained from me.
    “NOOOOOO!” I won’t accept it. I need to find my beauty.
    I fumble and stand, trying to find a light switch to help me see, gasping for air. Bright light suddenly illuminates around me. I squint as I try to see where I am.
    “Damon.” Someone screams.
    That voice. I know that voice but it’s not possible, it can’t be real. I strain my ears to see if I can hear it again, before looking back down to find the floor empty. Ella is gone.
    “Damon.” I turn and start running in the direction I hear her calling me from. 
    I shout out to her, needing her to hear me, so I can find her. I need to be with her. I fight to get to her, struggling to free myself from grappling hands trying to hold me back again, desperately needing to hold her, to bring her back to me. I feel trapped. I’m suffocating in the pain taking over my body.
    I’m drowning in despair.
    “Damon.” I turn and run in the direction I hear her calling me from. “Damon, wake up.”
    I shout out to her, needing her to hear me, to help me find her. I need to be with her.
    My eyes snap open, I’m gasping for breath. I see her beautiful face in front of me. I'm frightened she will disappear so I grab her arm, and hold her to me, trying to catch my breath as I pant. The look on her face is alarmed, her eyes wide with panic.
    “Ella?” I question, needing to be sure she’s really here.
    “I’m here Damon.”
    I sink back into bed, holding her to me. My beauty is safe.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    October 2 nd