Chapter 62 Sixty Two
DANIKA
The words have barely left Tyler's lips when suddenly goosebumps appear on my skin. Startled, I turn around to see three figures hiding in the shadows, their eyes glowing white. My heart sinks. Instantly, I tug at Cora's arm.
"You feel them too," she breathes, and I nod. She exhales softly, grabbing my hand.
"Dani," she utters. "Run!"
We both take off at once, my heart threatening to leap out of my throat. Tyler must be stunned. Well, serves the bastard right.
"Don't look back, Dani! Whatever you do, don't look!" he yells, and I grit my teeth. My wolf's strength eases into my bones until I'm practically on par with Cora's vampire speed. It's insane, I can barely feel my toes.
Suddenly, Cora and I skid to a grinding halt, three more ghostly figures appearing in our path.
"Close your eyes, Dani!" My best friend tells me, her voice trembling with worry.
Quickly, I squeeze my eyes shut, tightening my grip on Cora's. I'm slowly losing my mind, unsure of what's going on. There are still students around, so how are we being attacked right now? Cora's back collides with mine, our fingers entwined.
"What are those things?" I ask her.
Her voice shakes when she speaks, her trembling fingers squeezing mine.
"They are fearwraiths," Cora whispers. "Creatures that feeds on fear. The more terrified you are, the stronger it becomes. And when it takes enough fear from you... you fall into a coma. Then eventually..." Her breathing shudders, "...eternal sleep."
My heart plummets. Eternal sleep? Like... death but worse?
"W-why can't other students see them?" I ask, and she sucks in a sharp breath.
"Because they are not the target."
A soft hiss echoes around us. My skin prickles with unease, sweat forming on my forehead.
"What happens if we—" I swallow hard, "—look at its eyes?"
Cora's nails dig into my palm.
"Don't," she rasps. "If you look into its eyes, it drags your consciousness straight into the dream realm. A place you can't wake up from. Ever."
My stomach twists into a painful knot.
"But—Cora—" my voice breaks, "—I already made eye contact. I looked straight at one before I knew."
The silence that follows is worse than the creatures' soft hissing. Cora goes rigid behind me.
"Oh no... Dani..."
Suddenly, a wave of heat sizzles up my spine. My blood feels like it's boiling, rushing too fast.
"Cora," I choke out. "I—I feel strange. It's like something is crawling under my skin. I'm burning."
Panic chokes me, tears stinging my eyes behind my closed eyelids.
"Dani, stay with me," she pleads, and I can hear the fear in her voice.
My legs wobble, and the heat keeps rising. It feels like I'm about to combust.
Oh...no...Kaziel.
He's going to be so upset if something happens to me.
I suck in a trembling breath and try to reach for him through my mind. I'm a werewolf, it's supposed to work, right?
But I can't feel or sense him. Who am I kidding? I'm probably deceiving myself. But I have to try.
'Kaziel...' I try communicating through telepathy. 'I don't know if you can hear me, but...'
I bit my lower lip so hard, it's a miracle I don't taste blood.
Another surge of blazing heat floods me. My knees buckle.
'Cora can't stop them... and I...something is wrong. Please... Please help me.'
The shadows hiss louder, and the heat swallows me whole until everything goes black.
...
Someone presses a kiss to my lips, stroking my hair. The familiar scent of dark chocolate floods my nostrils, and I moan, reaching for the source until my hand rests on a familiar broad shoulder. He peppers kisses on my forehead, my cheek, my nose and my jaw. Then he chuckles.
"Come on, sweetheart, that's enough sleeping," he says, the sound of his deep voice tickling my insides. I open my eyes, and there he is, hovering over me. He's only wearing a pair of grey sweatpants, the defined lines of his abs mouthwatering. His hair is mussed, his beautiful blue eyes holding my favourite devilish glint.
"Morning, beautiful," he whispers, planting a kiss on my lips.
Smiling, I ease my arms up his shoulders, locking them behind his neck.
"Morning, gorgeous," I say, running my fingers through his hair.
"Did I wear you out last night?" he asks, and I arch a brow, struggling to remember exactly what happened yesterday.
"What happened yesterday?" I say, and he flicks me lightly on the nose.
"Our three-year wedding anniversary. Did you forget already? Do you need the kids to help you remember?" He replies with a cocky smirk.
My eyes go wide.
"W-wait, kids?"
He frowns at me, reaching up in an attempt to feel for my temperature. But then the shiny ring on his finger catches my attention. I grab his hand, my eyes going wide.
"What is this?" I rasp, my heart rate spiking.
He wiggles his fingers slightly. "My wedding ring. Don't you remember? You put it on me yourself. Dove, is something wrong?"
A lump forms in my throat. We are...married? What's going on?
"I...I don't—"
I pull away, and he does the same, sitting back on his knees. The frown on his face has deepened.
"Did I...do something…?" He questions, and I look around the room, my gaze resting on the photo on the nightstand. Me in a wedding dress and him in a suit…
Holy moly.
A spike of pain shoots through my head, and I slip out of bed, confused.
"Dove?" Kaziel calls, his voice laced with concern.
"I need to clear my head," I croak. Just then, the door opens. A mini Kaziel strides in carrying a toddler.
"Mama, goo morni'!" The little boy quips. He has to be at least three. Kaziel quickly goes to carry the little girl from the boy's arms.
A warm, fuzzy feeling washes over me. That's our kids? They're gorgeous. Tears well up in my eyes, and suddenly I'm crying.
"Oh dear," Kaziel breathes, moving over to hug me with our toddler still in his hold. "It's okay, let it out. I'm right here for you."
Those words stick to my mind even as I sit in front of the vanity a while later. My reflection in the mirror warps for a second, and I frown in confusion.
Suddenly, I hear an ear-piercing scream. Quickly, I hurry over to the sitting room only to find my toddler on the floor. But her head is missing. I look up and find Kaziel in the corner with my baby's head in his hand. His eyes are black, his hands covered in blood. I shake my head, terrified.
"No...no...this can't be happening," I whimper, tears blurring my vision.
I turn away in an attempt to flee. But he's suddenly standing there in front of me, black blood oozing from his eyes.
"K-Kaziel...honey...please..."
He tilts his head. "He's gone. Don't you recognize me? It's the hollow."
Terror paralyzes me to the spot, and when I part my lips to speak, pain rips through my chest.
"This is your fate. You can't run from it," he deadpans.
I cough hard, blood spilling from my lips. And when I look down, his hand is in my chest, his fingers wrapped around my heart. Then he rips it out, and my vision whites out.
The kisses come again, Kaziel's scent hitting my senses. He peppers kisses on my face.
"Come on, sweetheart, that's enough sleeping," he says, and my eyes fly open. I frown at him in confusion.
Wait...is this some kind of loop?
"Morning, beautiful," Kaziel grins, and my stomach tightens.
Mortified, I hurry out of bed, rushing to the bathroom. My hands tremble, warping as I stare at them.
"Dove?"
I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear the voice behind me. And there he is again, Kaziel. He's soaked from head to toe, his eyes bloodshot.
"H-how are you—"
He hurries over to me and holds my hands together. He's freezing.
"Listen to me, you are dreaming. You have to wake up! I can't lose you," he says, his voice cracking.
"I don't understand. You were just in the bedroom. I didn't hear the door open—"
He shakes his head. "That bastard, Tyler, he planned it. They meant to keep you in a coma to extract the core that makes you the vessel. They want your power. You must wake up."
A gasp slips from my lips. My head is spinning as I struggle to process everything he's just said.
"How do I wake up?" I croak, gazing desperately into his eyes.
His Adam's apple bobs in his throat.
"You have to kill me," he breathes, and my eyes go wide.
"W-what?"
"The version of me in your dream isn't real. It's a fearwraith in disguise. You must kill it—"
Suddenly, there's a loud banging at the door.
My blood runs cold in my veins.
"Help me, Kaz. Please," I croak, and he cups my face, wiping my tear away with his thumb.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm powerless in your dreamscape. Follow your instincts, Dani. Please."
"Sweetheart? Open the door," the eerie voice speaks from outside, and I shiver, turning back to look at the man in the bathroom with me. My heart plummets instantly when I see that he's gone.