Chapter 124 I want your eyes

Chapter 124 I want your eyes


Maureen Laskovic:

I didn’t want to wake up at all, but sleep refused to hold me down any longer. My eyes opened slowly to the quiet darkness of the room, and for a moment I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the stillness settle around me.

Vuk slept beside me, completely unaware, his breathing deep and steady. One arm rested across the bed where I had been lying earlier, his fingers slightly curled as if even in sleep he expected to feel me there. A faint smile tugged at my lips at the sight of him like that—peaceful, relaxed, finally resting after the madness of the past weeks.

Careful not to disturb him, I slipped quietly from the bed and wrapped my robe around my shoulders. The castle at night always felt different—quieter, softer, almost sacred in its stillness. The celebrations from earlier had long faded, leaving only silence and dim lantern light stretching across the hallways.

I stepped into the corridor and began walking slowly toward the babies’ nursing chamber, my steps light and unhurried. I wasn’t rushing. I simply wanted to check on them. It had become a habit lately—waking in the night just to see their faces, to reassure myself they were still there, still safe.

As I approached the nursing chamber, I heard it.

A cry.

Soft at first.

Then louder.

Lauren.

I pushed the door open gently and stepped inside.

“There, there…” I murmured softly, moving toward her crib. “What happened to my little warrior tonight?”

Lauren’s tiny face scrunched tightly as she cried, her fists waving weakly in the air. The moment I lifted her into my arms, she clung to me instinctively, her small fingers curling into my robe.

“Oh baby… I’m sorry… what’s wrong?” I whispered gently, rocking her against my chest.

Her cries softened slightly, though she still whimpered against me.

I swayed slowly from side to side, pacing the room with practiced ease. The movement always calmed her. I pressed a light kiss to her forehead, inhaling her soft scent, letting the warmth of her small body melt into mine.

“That’s it… mama’s here,” I whispered.

Lucian and Adrian remained asleep in their cribs, their tiny chests rising and falling peacefully. I glanced at them briefly, relieved to see them undisturbed, before shifting Lauren higher against my shoulder.

She still fussed lightly, restless in my arms.

“Alright… let’s walk a little,” I murmured softly.

Sometimes movement helped more than anything else.

I stepped back into the hallway, rocking her gently as I walked. My footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floor, the sound quiet but steady as I moved along the corridor.

“Shhh… that’s it… you’re okay,” I whispered.

Lauren whimpered again, her small face pressing against my chest.

I adjusted her carefully and continued pacing, humming softly under my breath. A simple tune—nothing special, just something gentle enough to soothe her.

And then—

Something strange happened.

Not frightening.

Not loud.

Just… strange.

White fog.

Thick.

Sudden.

It appeared without warning, spreading across the floor like spilled milk, rolling outward from the far end of the corridor. At first, I thought it was smoke, but there was no heat, no smell—just cold mist creeping along the marble floor.

I frowned slightly, pausing where I stood.

“What is this…?” I murmured quietly to myself.

The fog spread faster than it should have.

Too fast.

Within seconds, it climbed higher, curling around my ankles and rising toward my knees. The air turned noticeably colder, brushing sharply against my skin.

Lauren whimpered again, her small body twitching against mine.

I shifted her closer, holding her protectively without thinking.

“Alright… alright…” I murmured softly, though confusion tugged at my thoughts now.

The fog thickened further, rising higher and higher until it surrounded me completely. The hallway disappeared behind the white mist, swallowing the walls and lanterns until nothing remained visible except shifting shadows.

My breathing slowed unintentionally as the air grew heavy.

Not painful.

Not burning.

Just… heavy.

My head suddenly felt light.

Strangely light.

I blinked slowly, trying to focus, but the fog blurred everything around me into shapeless white.

“Hello?” I called out quietly.

No response.

Lauren whimpered weakly again, her cries fading into soft sounds against my shoulder.

My vision dimmed slightly.

Not all at once.

Slowly.

Like a candle losing flame.

My knees weakened without warning, my strength draining from my body as if something unseen had reached inside and pulled it away.

“What… is…” I whispered faintly.

The world tilted sideways.

The fog swallowed everything.

My grip on Lauren tightened instinctively as darkness crept into my sight.

And then—

Nothing.

Everything vanished.

Sound.

Light.

Thought.

Gone.

And I slipped into complete darkness.

_ _ _

Gods…

I didn’t know how long I had been asleep, but whatever sleep that was… it had been the deepest rest I’d had in weeks. My body felt strangely light, loose, almost weightless, like I had been floating somewhere far away from responsibility, fear, and noise.

Too peaceful.

Too comfortable.

For a moment, I allowed myself to stay there, drifting lazily between sleep and waking. My mind clung to that warmth, that strange quiet comfort that wrapped around me like soft blankets.

Gods… when last did I sleep like that?

A faint smile almost touched my lips.

But then—

A thought slipped in.

Slow.

Confused.

If I was sleeping this peacefully…

Lauren was sleeping too… right?

She had been crying.

I remembered that.

Her small body in my arms.

The hallway.

Walking.

Rocking her gently while humming…

And then—

Fog.

White fog.

My eyes snapped open instantly.

Not slowly.

Not gently.

Sharply.

My body jerked forward in sudden panic—

Only to be yanked back violently.

Rope.

Tight.

Rough.

My wrists burned with sudden pain as I realized they were bound tightly behind the chair. My ankles were tied too, secured firmly against the wooden legs beneath me.

Cold dread spread through my chest like poison.

No…

No—

My breathing turned sharp, uneven as I forced myself to look up.

And that was when I saw her.

Celeste.

Standing just a few feet away.

Calm.

Composed.

Holding Lauren in her arms like she belonged there.

My baby.

My daughter.

Lauren rested against her shoulder, wrapped in soft cloth, her tiny face relaxed as Celeste gently patted her back in slow, soothing motions.

And she was singing.

Softly.

A lullaby.

Low.

Gentle.

Like a mother comforting her own child.

The sound made something inside my chest twist violently.

“Good morning, mama,” Celeste said lightly.

Her lips curved into a slow smile as she lifted Lauren’s tiny hand and waved it toward me.

Like it was a joke.

Like this was a game.

My stomach twisted violently.

“I don’t like that, Celeste,” I said immediately, my voice tight but steady.

My eyes never left Lauren.

Not for even a second.

Celeste tilted her head slightly, pretending to think.

“Why not?” she asked lightly. “Isn’t she a cute little moon?”

She bounced Lauren gently, adjusting her hold with practiced ease.

“I like her very much,” she continued softly. “Especially her eyes…”

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

No.

No.

No.

Fear crawled slowly up my spine, cold and suffocating.

“Listen…” I said carefully, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the terror clawing at my throat. “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can work this out… you and me.”

Celeste’s smile widened slightly.

Dangerously.

“Leave Lauren alone,” I continued quickly. “I… I forgive you. Okay? Whatever happened before… whatever you did… I forgive you.”

The words felt heavy leaving my mouth.

But I would say anything.

Anything.

To keep her safe.

Celeste froze for a moment.

Then slowly turned her head toward me, her eyes narrowing slightly as if tasting the words.

“Awwww…” she cooed softly.

“You forgive me… really?”

Her tone dripped with mock sweetness.

“After everything I did?”

I nodded immediately.

“Yes,” I said firmly. “I forgive—”

She burst into sudden laughter.

Sharp.

Ugly.

Mocking.

“Ohhhh, the forgiveness of Lady Maureen has given me eternal light and redemption!” she declared dramatically, lifting one hand theatrically while still holding Lauren securely with the other. “I am no longer a child born of darkness!”

Her voice twisted suddenly.

Dropped.

Turned cold.

“Bitch,” she spat venomously. “Is this what you think this is?”

My heart pounded violently.

“What?” I whispered, confusion mixing with dread.

Her expression snapped instantly into something darker.

Colder.

Unhinged.

“This isn’t some stupid fairytale!” she snapped sharply. “There is no redemption here. No forgiveness. No happy endings.”

She stepped closer slowly, each step deliberate, controlled.

Lauren shifted slightly in her arms but didn’t cry.

Didn’t even stir.

That scared me even more.

“I want your eyes,” Celeste said quietly.

Her voice dropped low.

Deadly calm.

“Or your daughter’s.”

My breath caught violently in my throat.

No.

Gods no.

“Pick one,” she continued softly, smiling slowly.

“Who goes blind…”

Her fingers brushed lightly across Lauren’s face, dangerously close to her tiny eyes.

“…and who gets to see the sun rise.”

My chest tightened so violently it felt like it might collapse.

Fear wrapped around my throat like ha
nds squeezing tighter and tighter.

But I forced myself to speak.

Forced myself to breathe.

Forced myself to think.

Because panic wouldn’t save her.

Thinking would.

“Celeste…” I said quietly, forcing strength into my voice despite the terror crawling through my veins.

“You don’t want this.”

Her smile widened slowly.

Dangerously.

“Oh,” she whispered. “But I do.”