Chapter 8 - The Weight Of Blood

• Alina
• I woke with a start, my heart beating wildly. The darkness of the room envelops me, and the cool of the night slips over my naked skin. Damon's gone. I can smell him before I even check. His musky scent, that mix of pine and leather, is still in the air, but his absence is obvious.
• I sit up slowly in bed, running a hand through my scattered hair. My heart is still beating too fast, a dull anxiety squeezing my chest. Damon's gone. But why has he gone?