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"Sounds good." Richard smiled, just happy at the thought of getting his pajamas on. "I'm going to get a little lotion on my shoulders or something, they're still a bit sore from the sunburn." He chuckled with a smile, before giving her quick peck, and heading to his own room so he could do as he said.


"No. ...no it wouldn't..." She replied shortly, furrowing her brow. "I'm fine..really..." She looked up at him, giving him her biggest smile, which at the moment, wasn't that big. "I just need...soemthing. Something to distract myself..." She sat herself up a little, giving him an innocent shrug. "I want you to sleep... I think I'll just go grab some aspirin, maybe even a sandwich or something." She smiled, leaning over to kiss his forehead.

Raquel blinked blankly, looking him directly in the eye. She said nothing for a moment, a strained silence setting in. "...I'm going into town tomorrow. There's this used bookstore down near the mall that has- ...some stuff I want to check out..." She just gave him a big, innocent smile, trying to get him to loosen his grip.

"It's nothing to worry about."

Raquel sighed, rubbing her temples vigorously. "Then don't." She stood abruptly, feeling slightly light headed but shook it off. "And if you so desperately want an answer, then yes, it's the damned nightmares." She shot him a look.
She didn't mean to snap on him, she was just strained and frustrated with herself. She wasn't even realizing she was taking it out on him, despite him being the one she was so worried about.

That struck Raquel. Hard. It was obvious on her face that his words cut her a little. But she bucked up slightly, standing firm. She said nothing for a moment, no words coming to her that seemed right.

When she finally composed her thoughts, she made herself calm down so she wouldn't yell. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I crawled in here because I just needed to be with you..." Her angry eyes teared up as her voice wavered despite the sharp, tense tone to it. "Me crying before I got in here, as well as the reason for me wanting to hold you... That has nothing to do with the nightmares. Alright?" She spoke shortly, her words actually true. Only when she had been laying in the silence had the pain started up worse.

She felt rather ... stuck. Her insides were knotted up in frustration and guilt. She had been wanting to keep Damian from saying what he had just said. She didn't want him to die for her, yet he had put himself on the line to save her. Maybe she should have just left. If she had, Damian wouldn't have nearly died, and she could have been free from these wretched bonds.
Though during this thought process, her anger had swelled up, shooting a little bolt of pain thorough her head, making her wince slightly. Though she refused for Damian see, so she kept her composure. "...I need a drink..." She mumbled more to herself, turning for the door.

Raquel stopped before she reached the door. "Damian... This is something you can't fix. Ok? You just...Can't. So ... just...drop it." She said evenly, without turning around. She paused only a moment longer before leaving, shutting the door loudly behind her.

Meanwhile Richard was wearing his pajama bottoms when he heard the slam. He poked his head out the door to see a miffed looking Raquel stomping off towards the kitchen, wearing only her tshirt and underwear. He tried to dismiss this second part, focusing on her face. "Is everything-"
"No." She cut him off, not even stopping to look at him. "Sorry if we disturbed you.. Goodnight..." She called over her shoulder before disappearing entirely.


Raquel found herself going through the various cabinets, finally retrieving a bottle of what resembled gin, or maybe vodka, in taste and strength. She grabbed a shot glass, pouring herself a little, before throwing her head back, her skin crawling as her throat and mouth tingled. She set the glass own witha clank and held her breath. It did help. She hated admitting it, but almost instantly, she was focused on the tingling sensation the average left, instead of her anger and pain.

Richard merely shrugged, opening the door for her. "I have no clue. I thought I heard yelling, then she just stormed out." He shook his head sighing as he rubbed his face. "We should probably just let them cool off...I'll bet you they'll have kissed and made up by morning..." He offered her a smile, kissing her forehead.


Another drink. Raquel was feeling a bit fuzzy, but she liked it. She took low even breaths, the graphic and abundant thoughts in her head causing all of this slowly growing blurred, and softer. She smiled. Though it was quickly replaced with a frown when she realized she had just pissed Damian off. "Oh...God...What did I do?" She asked no one in particular,rubbing her head. What had she done?
Make Damian regret he had almost died for her? kept her from being taken away? proposing? All the options made her heart throb in pain as she slowly sunk to the floor, taking another drink, this time straight form the bottle.

Maybe she had made the wrong decision a week ago. Damian- being the night in shining armor he was- was willing to let her go. They both knew deep down that leaving could help her, even if it meant she'd never remember Damian or get to be his wife. But- ... maybe that was it. Maybe when she thought she was thinking of his best interests, she thought that meant her being in his life. Maybe that was wrong.
Should she had just left? Was it selfish for her to want to stay and cling to him? Maybe it was. She should have just left that engagement ring on the floor of her bedroom, picked up her suitcase, and walked out the door. Damian would hurt yes, but would it be as much as he was now?
He'd be able to get over her somehow...he'd pick himself up and dust himself off, because he was strong like that. Raquel on the other hand would be getting the help she needed even if that meant having part of her erased. The very thought made her cry.
Another drink. She looked down at her hand, the green gem shining brilliantly even in the pale moonlight. She didn't deserve that shining lovely on her finger. She didn't deserve to spend the rest of her life with Damian. Who was she but an exprostitute with emotional and psychological problems? She wasn't worth Damian losing his life. Not by a long shot. What had she done truly, to deserve him? Just happening to show up in front of the hotel he was staying, in hopes for some extra cash?
Maybe it was Damian making the mistake in wanting to marry her.
More what ifs and maybe's flooding her head now as more tears flooded her eyes, and more alcohol flooded her glass.


She got herself so hysterically crying, she felt sick to her stomach. She got herself o stand, just barely, feeling so light headed, her vision grew dark a moment, almost passing out. But she managed toilsome how wall surf, still clutching he bottle with one hand, back to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her, before going to collapse in her own bathroom.

Richard sighed, also thinking the same thing. "I honestly don't know... I was wondering about that..." He spoke softly, staring up at the ceiling. "Do you think we should check on him or just let them be?" He asked, glancing down to her.


Meanwhile, Raquel finally managed to sit herself up, laying against the side of the bathtub, feeling sick. Not just from the alcohol, but more from the guilt and regret that get bashing her over and over. She looked at the half empty bottle in her hand, letting it slide to the floor, just a little spilling out. You need to snap out of this... What would he think if he saw you like this? She asked herself,rubbing her face, not realizing she was still crying. He'd probably finally realize he shouldn't have given her that ring, and will probably want it back...
No. She had to shake these negative thoughts. They were the main cause of her pain. If she could just figure out how to control them...
Raquel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt her body grow heavy as she could practically feel her eyes turning. Just concentrate... just concentrate... she told herself over and over as she tried to find a way to just eliminate the constant images of hers and others emotions. But the more she did, the more intense they became. Then some started to move out of the way, only showing her Damian. It intensified his pain, emotional and physical. His sorrow and grief. It got stronger and stronger till Raquel practically screamed, muffling herself as she opened her eyes, not knowing they were a slight white instead of black. She crawled over to the shower, reaching up blindly to turn it on. As soon as the icy water hit her shaking body, everything went blank. The shock to her system interrupted the steady stream line of pain, making her gasp breathlessly as she just sat there, letting the water run over her.

Richard furrowed his brow. "I think I'm going to check on Raquel before I sleep... I'll just poke my head in..." He promised, also getting out of bed. He went down to the kitchen not finding her, only spotting the turned over shot glass on the floor. He furrowed his brow. He decided to try her room next, but the door was wide open. He heard the shower running, but there was no light on, and no other sounds, which worried him. "Raquel?" He called out softly, coming up to the bathroom floor. He knocked a few times. "Raquel is everything alright?" He asked, though still no reply. Another knock. Still nothing. Richard panicked slightly, reaching for the door which he realized was unlocked. Another bad sign.

He opened the door, finding it too dark to see much, only seeing what the light from opening the main door illuminated. He saw the turned over bottle on the tiled floor, then looked to the shower where a crumbled Raquel lay. He immediately rushed over, turning the water off. "Raquel!? Raquel are you alright?" He knelt down trying to sit her up. She was smiling softly, her face pale and lips slightly blue. She blinked her eyes open as if she had been sleeping.
"Mm? Richard?" She seemed groggy and confused to see him. Richard reached up, grabbing a large towel hanging form a near by hook, wrapping her up in it.
"What on earth were you thinking!?" He asked in a hushed voice, trying to warm her up again. Raquel just smiled.
"I was sleeping..." She replied calmly, confusing Richard more. He had no clue about her Amaranthine trouble deep down, so finding her asleep, somewhat intoxicated in a freezing cold shower was just a bit odd to her. It was the blue blood in her calming itself down enough to let her rest.

Richard merely shook his head, still confused. "We wanted to check on you two...Raquel... have you been drinking?" He asked, though it was all too obvious. She even had the smell of it on her, but only slightly.
Raquel furrowed her brow, managing to sit up a little on her own as Richard pulled the towel around her better.
"Please don't tell Damian..." She pleaded suddenly, looking up at him with large eyes. "Don't tell anyone....please..." She begged, searching Richard's eyes for trust. She knew Damian would probably figure out the drinking on his own. That she didn't mind so much as blacking out in the shower.

Richard studied her for a moment before sighing. "Drinking is a serious problem Raquel... I wont say anything, but I'll be keeping a close eye on you. If you start to overdo it again... I will say something... alright?" He looked at her with all seriousness, Raquel merely nodding as she tried to stand. Richard was about to object, thinking she'd be too weak. Though She managed it on her own, leaning against the shower door. Her rich, almost pure blue blood could soak up and tolerate alcohol more than a human can. It essentially meant she could drink twice the alcohol, but only have a mild to somewhat bad hangover either immediately after, or by morning. It was something she grew up with, since she had been a heavy drinker in her later teens.

"I promise... Though... Is Damian alright? I left him all alone and-" She rubbed her head, the effects of the drinking already taking a toll. "I need to go see him..." She mumbled, stumbling out of the shower bu Richard caught her.
"Here...if anything...you just need to dry off. you'll catch your death..." He warned softly, helping her down and out of the bathroom. "Here...dry yourself off...get something warm on...then sleep Raquel. you're pushing yourself ridiculously hard." He warned, turning around to give her privacy. "And I wont mention this just- ...please be careful. Damian loves you...and doesn't want to see you like this. Whatever he said, whatever you said... he does love you..." He let that thought hang as a soft silence set in.
"...Thank you Richard." She stood, still a bit wet, and gave him a quick hug. "Goodnight..." She nodded before he smiled, returned the nod, and left her to change.

Raquel changed into a soft white night gown, just finding it at the back of her closet. She had never really wore a night gown, usually preferring the simplicity and comfort of Pjs. Once she was dressed, she combed through her damp hair, trying to make it look as if she just took a regular shower before bed. Once she was ready, she headed back down to Damian's room, finding the door cracked slightly, hearing Lorey and Damian's voices within. She knocked lightly, barely pushing the door open, not saying a word, afraid to even look up at them. "...c-can I come in?" She asked softly, after a moment.