Chapter 4 BURNING UP.

CHAPTER 4: BURNING UP.

The meal progressed smoothly, after Vanessa's disrespectful actions. The Morgan family was seeing the Shawn off. Vanessa tried desperately to catch Vintage's attention, but he only ignored her. He had no use for her now, Damon wasn't there for him to show off and didn't want to reveal his intentions.

"Thank you, for the meal. It was delicious." Vintage said, turning to the Morgan couple, who were walking behind him. His parents didn't even bother to talk to or thank them. They weren't happy about his actions today. But he didn't care, he would spend his money or do however.

"It's nothing. Vanessa prepared the delicious meal." Mrs. Morgan said, trying to paint her daughter in good light. It was true that she could cook delicious meals. Vanessa who was pleased with her mother's words, smiled sheepishly and looked up at Vintage, she knew he liked to be fed well.

Vintage wasn't moved a bit, he didn't need a woman to feed him. He had the money, to buy enough food from high class restaurants in New York, if needed. He only needed her to show off to Damon. He wanted to make him feel pain of losing his wife.

He had only lost friends, not a wife. Vintage chuckled to himself, when he thought about how he had made good friends, with those who hated Damon. He didn't know when, where his hate for Damon, started from. He broke out of his thoughts and talked to the Morgan couple.

"I'll be back tomorrow. We will be staying at an hotel tonight." Vintage said, politely. It was dark, hours had passed since the time they arrived. No one cared to check on Damon, it was like he didn't exist in their lives, but Vintage had him in his dark heart.

"Oh, it's okay. The guest room would be ready for you, by tomorrow." Mrs. Morgan said, enthusiastically. There was no guest room, but she intended to convert the big store room downstairs, to a guest room for him. If Damon had a room, she would have kicked him out already.

The Shawn family, proceeded to where their car was parked. It was actually Vintage's car, he was driving the latest Audi Q1. Mrs. Morgan gawked at the car, greedily. She hoped she could touch it, kiss it to her satisfaction. She came out of her trance, when Vanessa nudged her.

"They are gone, mum." Vanessa eyed her mother, slightly irritated at her mother's attitude. She had also seen his ride, but she didn't want to show her greedy side yet. Vanessa turned to the side, to see her father, giving her a stern look. She had to pacify him now.

"Dad, I'm sorry." Vanessa cooed softly, she ran into his arms and snuggled to him. Smiling slightly, she knew her father couldn't resist her pleas. Mr. Morgan looked at his daughter in his arms, he stern face, turning soft. He sighed, tiredly, he had also noticed his daughter's subtle actions.

"You better explain to me what was going on in there. Let's go inside." Mr. Morgan said, they were still outside, and it was cold. There was wearing thin clothes, he didn't want his wife and daughter to catch a cold. Taking his wife's and daughter's hands, they walked in.

They settled into the house, sitting on the couch. Vanessa suddenly remembered Damon. "Mum, have you seen Damon, after he left the kitchen, drenched." She wasn't worried about him. Looking up to her room, it had been too silent in there. 'Had be finally committed suicide.' Vanessa thought, standing up.

She wanted to check on him, "Dad, I'll be back in two minutes." She knew about his unfair treatment, with his foster family. She had seen old and new bruises on his body, by chance. "If he wants to die, he shouldn't die here." Vanessa muttered, rushing up the stairs.

Vanessa banged the door to their shared room open. She could see a figure, curled up on the bed. He had been curled up like that, for hours but he had stopped shivering. "Hey, wake up, right now." Vanessa shouted, rushing towards the bed, she noticed he hadn't committed suicide.

Damon was sleeping motionless, on the bed. He wasn't aware of his surroundings, he was having a nightmare but couldn't wake up. His body was burning up, and he was sweating profusely. Vanessa pushed him, and she jerked her hands back. Her eyes widened, at how hot his temperature was.

Vanessa jumped on the bed, taking his body in her arms. She didn't want him to die here, if he had to die. Damon's body was stiff, due to being in the same position, for hours. "Mum, Dad...Mum." Vanessa shouted, her voice echoing through the house, which wasn't sound proofed.

Mrs. Morgan heard her daughter's scream, she rushed up the stairs, to her room. "What's wrong?" She was worried that the scum, Damon, had done something to her daughter, after he tried to kill her earlier but failed. She was relieved when she saw her daughter was alright, "What happened?"

"Mum. Can you get the first aid kit?, we need to take his temperature." Vanessa asked her mum. She pushed Damon's body, back on the bed, slightly disgusted. Standing up, she grudgingly, removed the dried up clothes on his body. She stopped to admire his body, and barely visible muscles.

Mrs. Morgan had already rushed downstairs, cursing loudly at Damon. She couldn't believe she was running around for that scum. She grabbed the kit from the kitchen cabinet. Mr. Morgan, seeing what his wife carried, hurried after her, worried for his daughter. He didn't know that his daughter wasn't hurt.

They both rushed into the room, Mrs. Morgan noticed Vanessa gawking at Damon's body and she cleared her throat. "Stop gawking at that scum, who tried to kill you." She said harshly. She had waited to deal with him, after his foster parents were gone, but he had fallen sick.

Mr. Morgan eyes widened at his wife's words. ''This scum had tried to kill you?" His voice boomed through out the room. Both of them never questioned how the weak Damon, could muster up strength to kill Vanessa. He wanted to continue ranting, but his daughter, cut him off harshly.

"Dad, we will talk about that later." Vanessa was guilty, about lying against Damon. She had to raise her voice, to sound confident. She dashed towards her mother, and grabbed the kit, taking out the thermometer. She put it in his mouth and she took it out after few minutes.

Her eyes widened at the reading of the thermometer, his temperature was 40° degrees Celsius, high. "Mum, we need to take him to the hospital." Vanessa blurted out, she was slightly scared. He could get his brain fried, at that temperature. She frantically moved towards him, to dress him up.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mrs. Morgan, said harshly. She wasn't going to spend a dime on him. She still had to prepare for Vintage's coming, tomorrow. And also, how could she save the life of someone who attempted to kill her daughter?. She rolled her eyes at Vanessa.

Vanessa was surprised at her mother's words. 'At least, they should have saved him.' She thought. She ran towards their shared bathroom, she got a big bowl and filled it with water. Taking out clean towels, she rushed back to the bed. She wanted to lower his temperature, at least.

Vanessa didn't want to become a widow yet, she was too young, to carry that title. She had to divorce him first, before he dies. She frantically wiped his pale body down, wringing and changing towels. "You better pay me back, after this." She said angrily, harshly slapping his shoulder.

The Morgan couple, only looked at their daughter's actions and shook their head. "If he dies, we could dispose him off quickly and effortlessly." Saying that, Mrs. Morgan walked out of the room, to make preparations for tomorrow. Mr Morgan glared at the unconscious Damon and followed after his wife.

Vanessa was still trying, to lower his temperature. She also remembered that he hadn't eaten that day. She gritted her teeth at his foolishness, 'Couldn't he just get something to eat?' She folded a towel and placed it on his head. Standing up, she walked towards the door but halted.

Damon opened his eyes, slightly. His vision was blurry, it was like he was in a trance. He could see the bloodied scene of his family's living room. His biological parents, lying in a pool of blood. The walls were stained, blood red. He saw himself, wailing by the side.

"Dad...Mum. Don't leave me." Damon cried out weakly, and he lost conciousness again. Vanessa who had halted in her steps, because of his words, sneered in disdain. "Hmmph, Pathetic." She couldn't believe a grown man, was crying for his parents. She walked out of the room, and banged the door.