Chapter 10 Nothing unusual.
CATHERINE
Damon stood by the door, unmoving, like a shadow cast in the dim light of the corridor. His arms were crossed over his chest and eyes were narrowed as he stared at the floor. I didn’t care for whatever mood he was in, not after the day I had.
I heaved a sigh and made to walk past him, determined to ignore whatever drama he was about to start.
"Are you okay?" His gruff voice broke the silence.
I froze for a moment, then shook my head and continued toward the door.
"It's none of your business."
He stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "I'm not asking for pleasantries. I want to know if you're unhurt."
I shot him a cold look, my patience running thin.
"And why would you care? Do you usually stand guard for the women your King drags into his chambers?"
His jaw tightened. "If you’re trying to provoke me, it’s not going to work."
I scoffed, stepping closer, not backing down. "Then stop pretending you care. I can handle myself."
"Handle yourself?" he muttered under his breath. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."
I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms in defiance.
"Oh, I think I do. A brute of a king and a loyal dog at his heels."
Damon’s eyes darkened. For a moment, he didn’t speak, just stared at me. Then, with a low growl, he muttered, "I still have my dagger, you know. I’m not afraid to use it."
I tensed, my heart skipping a beat at the subtle threat in his words. But instead of fear, I got angry.
"Go ahead," I whispered coldly. "It would be more merciful than whatever this twisted game is."
For a brief moment, neither of us moved. Then, Damon sighed heavily, breaking the tension as he stepped aside.
"Just... watch your back," he muttered before turning and walking away, leaving me standing alone in the doorway.
Something about the way he mentioned the dagger stirred a memory at the back of my mind.
I blinked, trying to focus, but the image was blurry, like something from a dream, or a nightmare.
I saw Damon standing over me, but the dagger in his hand gleamed in the moonlight. He was poised to strike, his eyes blazing with anger? No. Fear.
The vision hit me like a wave, crashing against my mind, but just as quickly, it slipped away.
I tried to reach for it, to pull the fragments back together, but they scattered and got me confused.
"When did that happen?" I whispered to myself, rubbing my temples as the pounding in my head grew worse.
The harder I tried to remember, the more painful it became. My skull felt like it was being split open.
I stumbled, gripping the doorframe for support as my knees buckled beneath me. The pressure behind my eyes was unbearable, like something was fighting to get out.
"No... please..." I muttered, but the pain intensified.
Everything around me blurred into darkness, and before I could even cry out, I collapsed to the floor.
The darkness surrounded me. I was running against the damp forest floor. The trees loomed tall, their twisted branches reaching out like claws, trying to grab me as I fled through the woods. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I continued running.
Behind me, the growl of the beast echoed closer to me by the minute. I couldn’t see him, but I could feel his presence.
My legs burned with exhaustion, but the terror in my chest kept me moving.
I glanced back only to see a pair of glowing gold eyes pierced through the darkness, locking onto me.
His massive form crashed through the underbrush, snapping branches like twigs as he gave chase. It didn't take long before I knew I couldn’t outrun him.
“Get away!” I screamed, but my voice felt small. I pushed forward but tears began to roll down my eyes. My muscles ached and my lungs screamed for air, yet the beast was relentless.
Suddenly, my foot caught on something and I fell. Pain shot through my knees and palms, but I didn’t have time to recover. The beast was almost upon me.
Desperate, I scrambled to my feet, but it was too late.
A massive paw slammed into my back, throwing me to the ground again. I cried out and the beast pinned me down.
I tried to move, to fight, but I was trapped.
“No!” I screamed, clawing at the ground as I tried to pull away, but the beast leaned closer.
"Please, stop! Someone...help!"
My voice echoed, desperate, but there was no one to hear me. I couldn’t escape. He would kill me. I was going to die.
With one final cry, I jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Heaving a sigh, my palms cupped my head as I tried calming myself.
I blinked, disoriented, staring up at the familiar ceiling of my room.
I was safe.
It was just a dream.
But it had felt so real. My skin still tingled where I imagined the beast’s claws had pinned me down. I touched the area instinctively, half expecting to feel the marks, but there was nothing.
I exhaled shakily, forcing myself to sit up in bed. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, trying to shake off the memories.
“How...?” I muttered aloud, looking around the room in confusion.
I was in my bed, under the covers, yet the last thing I remembered was talking to Damon. My hand instinctively went to my neck, as if to check for the dagger I had seen in my mind. But the skin was smooth. Untouched.
Had it really been just a dream?
I tried to piece the events together, but everything was a blur. One moment I had been standing in front of Damon, and the next, nothing.
“How did I get back here?” I whispered to myself, looking around the room for any sign of what might have happened. But there was nothing unusual. Everything was as it had been.