Chapter 140 2-12 - YELLOW CODE
\-VALEN'S POV -
"Argh!"
Releasing a discordantly frightening shout that disturbed the quietness of the night, I jolted up in bed,
shuddering, terrified, and in a cold
sweat.
Clutching at my heart where the mermaid had clawed the life out of me, I was wrestling with the other hand, the void of impassive air.
Staring wide-eyed in the darkness, a gentle palm cradled my cheeks. As my chest erratically heaved, I saw nothing until the hallucinations wilted.
Goosebumps rose all over my body from the overwhelming arctic chill that loitered. My head ached and my hand moved to my forehead to wipe the beads of perspiration that tarried.
I wasn't aware that someone had rushed into my large bedroom to be at my side. My thoughts were jumbled. I could not tell whether I was alive and in the pitch darkness of my bedroom or had I died and crossed into the gloomy blackness of death.
I blinked a few times before being
certain that this was real.
"Valen!" Her forehead pressed on mine and warmth embraced me. Suddenly, I felt safe and loved. My racing heart slowed and I placed my hands atop the soothing ones that were touching me. "It's okay, Valen. You are home. You are alright."
One of the hands went to my chest and purled pure white essence into me. I leaned my head just below her chin and ardently swung my arms around her for a tighter embrace. She always sensed whenever I needed her.
Stroking my back, she hummed a
sweet comforting lullaby that
gradually led my lost jelly brain into
reality.
This melodic voice resembled my Mom. Either I was in her embrace, or the disgusting mermaid was, once again, fucking with my mind. Beautiful
but deadly, the half fish's face was stuck in my head, seeing nothing but
her.
Flustered in hot and cold tremors, my black silk hair dripped sweat. I was drenched. It was like I had joined that mermaid in the deep sea and drowned after she gutted me. Death had claimed me again.
At least once a week, I endured these horrendous night terrors.
Without seeing them, I could sense my
Elysian guardians. Nyx, my white guardian lion, walked over to check on
me. I extended one hand to massage his head through the mane of his hair as he huffed, inquiring about my mental status. While my guardian bald eagle, Zuzu, sat on her perch stand
observing the interaction.
Finally, my delusional brain caught up
with my chagrin reality.
The bedside lamp was on and the curtains at the Palladian window were
drawn to let in the natural slivery moonlight into my room. Slowly, I was able to identify the woman sitting at my side with her long violet silk robe knotted at the waist, long wavy black hair rolled into a messy bun at the top of her head, and ice-blue eyes on striking features that studied me.
Violet. I detested anything related to purple because it reminded me of the malignant mermaid's eyes. Mom ought to wear other colors. I'll entreat her to do so in the morning.
"It's the same nightmare," I told them breathlessly. Mom sighed in sympathy as Zuzu flew to the bathroom and returned with a hand towel to wipe the
sweat from my body. "Her scent and blood linger in me, and she touched me this time. She felt so real."
"Are you alright?" Mom took the towel from Zuzu and began patting my forehead. I nodded and she asked, " How did she die?"
"She didn't die. I was the one who
drowned. She killed me herself." I
shook my head, trying to stabilize my thoughts.
In spite of my demise in that dream,
this night was better than the others. Because Mom had to call for Dad to
hurry in here to restrain me to the bed or force me to shift out of my wolf form to prevent me from leaving the room and attacking anyone who came near me. As a result of being ensnared in a nightmare of battling rogues and
other species to save that woman in 1 my dark fantasy.
Yes, I saved her multiple times until tonight, when she murdered me because the earlier dreams portrayed
her as a damsel in distress. Without fail, my mother's presence and the essence she used to encase me always
soothed me and roused me from sleep paralysis.
Every other night, the mystery woman was either shot or beheaded, and as usual, I felt her death as though it was my own. They were nocturnal terrors. Notwithstanding that, I had the impression that I knew her. Despite
never having met her, I sensed a
familiarity in her that cannot be defined.
However, this nightmare was unique.
How could she transform into a mermaid and yet I drowned in her
place? Mermaids cannot drown. It was illogical. Their upper half was human while their lower part was a fish tail. For God's sake, they breathed underwater. The most plausible interpretation left to me was that she was in danger and needed my assistance. Initially, I thought they
were visions. Now, I'm not so sure anymore.
Where are you, little mermaid?
"The woman is from the mer-tribe
that
and I must find her." It was the answer I believed would cure my situation. Meeting her was not favorable but it might be beneficial to
know her purpose in my life, or what the hell she wanted from me. I got the least amount of sleep out of all the
werewolves on the planet. It was unhealthy.
Mom's disapproving look came from a
place of concern. "I won't let you leave
the pack until these night terrors are under control."
"Mom, I have to find her," I repeated with firmness and took hold of her hand with the towel, taking it from her. "I can search the ocean for her." "No," Mom replied just as strongly
with the austerest set of blue eyes fixed on me. "You just saw yourself drown and there are several other factors to consider."
"The reality is that I am alive." In stubbornness, I clenched my fist and looked away from her. A frown pleated
my smooth black brows. That woman was important. "It's in my bones. My dreams won't end until I confront her."
Raising from the bed, Mom folded her arms across her chest and adamantly stated, "You are sixteen years old and this is not up for discussion." She flounced out of my bedroom and hesitated at the threshold to leave me with a warning look before she closed the door and went back to bed.
Raking my hands through my wet hair, I sighed. "Mom does not understand." "Neither do I," Nyx hummed, "The
mermaid is someone that we will cross paths with."
Zuzu piped, "Time will unfold all that we need to know about this girl. There is no need to rush."
Though my bald eagle and white lion guardians were visible, no one could hear them when they talked except for me, their master. They do not have a human counterpart. They are pure magical power for my use only.
"She's definitely in trouble," I wiped down my muscular torso with the same towel. "I have to know how I'm
connected to her life and the meaning behind my nightmares."
"If it is your destiny to meet her, you
will." Nyx's voice echoed in my head. Zuzu perched on the head of the round white lampshade.
Flopping back down on the pillow, Nyx
crawled into the bed beside me and sagged the mattress. Without pulling up the covers, I stared out the Palladian window at April's half- moon in the sky and mulled over thoughts about this girl that plagued me in my dreams. Was she an integral part of this exaggerated destiny that everyone kept buzzing about?
At sixteen years old, the weight on my shoulder was almost burdensome. It would be four years before I can publicly acknowledge my mate. She
was more important. So, I should not have to deal with this blasted mermaid who haunted me. Therefore, I wanted to get this saga over and done with.
Though Mom prohibited me, I'll find a
way, soon.
It's not easy being the werewolf crown prince. The standards and expectations
were unreasonably high. I tiredly sighed. Somehow, I managed to clear
my bustling brain and sleep reclaimed
me.
"Valen!"
I jerked up from my slumber. "What the-"
My emerald irises acknowledged the perennial darkness still covering my room. What the fucking hell? It was
not even daylight and Mom was calling me. What's going on? Damn, it was actually a nice dream
this time.
"Valen, get up now! We've got a code
yellow. Meet me downstairs!" Groggily, I stretched my hands up and
pushed out a long boring yawn. Quite frankly, if it was a minor alert, why the heck do I need to leave my
bedroom?
"Now, Valen!" Mom shouted irritably
in my head. I had to shut my eyes and
scrunch my face from the pain that jabbed through.
"Fine!"