Chapter 28 You Will Pay Dearly For This!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
She was back.
She was back in that dreary, godforsaken warehouse.
“No!” She breathed, her eyes wide with terror, and her breath coming out harshly as she looked around her.
She made to move but found herself strapped back to that same chair.
That same chair where she’d suffered in for three days.
Elara shrieked and struggled, trying hard to untie the ropes at her wrist but it was all to no avail they dug deeper into her skin, making her cry out in pain.
She was in full blown panic now, as she looked around wildly.
Everything felt so real.
The pain at her wrists and her back, the humid air in the old warehouse which stank badly, the sweat which dripped down from her hair and stung her eyes.
She could feel every single thing.
“What is happening? Why am I back here?” She muttered in a frenzy, her eyes wild with fear, “Why am I back here? Help! Help me!”
The shadows in the warehouse jumped at her, scaring the life out of her.
She screamed, and then the shadows suddenly morphed into Kurt Eugene and Vera Hale.
They laughed at her, their mouths unnaturally wild and curved at the edges.
“Stop!” She yelled, “Stay away from me, you bastards!”
Tears stung Elara’s eyes and she fell to her knees, still strapped to the heavy chair.
She tried to escape, but the chair made her immobile.
When she looked up once more, there was her parents lying before her, a single gaping hole in both their heads.
They stared at her with lifeless eyes, and their lips seemed to be moving.
“This is all your fault,” Again and again, chanting in otherworldly voices, “This is all your fault!”
Elara shrieked with horror at that sight, backing away at once.
“Mom, Dad!” She uttered, “I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! Please! Please, anyone! Help!”
Suddenly, the the shadows morphed into Kurt Eugene and Vera Hale once more.
They stared at Elara with devilish smiles, “Who’s the one begging now?”
Elara closed her eyes and shook her head, but suddenly, she was like them. A single falling hole in her forehead, her eyes wide with a dead stare.
Blood flowed out from their depths as she muttered feverishly as well, “You will pay dearly for this, Kurt Eugene. You will pay dearly for this, Kurt Eugene.”
As she chanted, the shadows grew larger and larger, and swooped down on her, covering her in its dark mass.
She jerked awake with a scream, thrashing about wildly on the bed.
Lucian was awake in a heart beat, “Aria!” He called, as she thrashed about, sobbing outloud with her eyes closed, “Aria, wake up!”
Aria paid him no heed, but continued crying and struggling with something unseen on the bed.
Lucian’s heart was in his throat with fear.
He grabbed hold of her hands and pulled her into his arms, “It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair, holding her tightly against him, “It’s okay. It’s only just a dream.”
Aria had her eyes closed as she struggled in his arms, “No please!” She sobbed brokenly, “Please do not kill them.”
Lucian frowned in puzzlement at those words, but he continued soothing her.
Gently, he caressed her back, smoothing back her hair as he continued petting her, “It’s okay, Aria. You’re safe now.” He murmured softly, “You’re safe now. Do not cry, okay?”
Soon, Aria’s thrashing reduced but she was still trembling in his arms.
Lucian watched her in puzzlement, “Aria?” He called softly but she did not seem to be awake.
Her eyes were still tightly closed and tears spilling out of them. They soaked his nightwear, and he could see that she was sweating profusely.
What kind of dream did she have that she was so terrified?
Without another second delay, he pulled her closer into his embrace and wrapped the blankets securely around them both.
Soon, she was breathing softly in deep sleep after been snugly wrapped against his body. Her head nestled comfortably on his chest, while Lucian gently caressed her hair.
His own heart rate slowed down finally, and he heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that she was sleeping.
He frowned as he recalled how he’d almost jumped out of his skin when he woke up to find her crying and screaming.
He had never been so scared in his life as he had a few minutes ago.
And he was not one to be spooked easily.
But seeing Aria in such…anguish, had made him almost lose his mind.
He looked down at her sleeping face, mesmerized once more by her beauty.
Her soft, full lips were slightly puckered.
Her lashes were wet with tears and they looked like dew drops.
Her face was calm, but there was a slight crease of worry on her brows.
He frowned, wondering if she was having another nightmare. She whimpered softly then, and he drew her tighter into his arms, making her whimpering cease immediately.
Suddenly, her fist tightened on his shirt, and he became tensed once again. She started mumbling, so lowly that he could not hear anything she was saying.
He lowered his head to her face as she continued mumbling.
“Kurt Eugene, you will pay dearly for this!”
Lucian froze, his face hardening at the mention of that name.
Kurt Eugene?!
He looked down at Aria’s face, his brows drawn in puzzlement.
“How on earth does she know Kurt Eugene?” He thought.
Kurt Eugene was that slimy bastard who had Elara Vaughn in a chokehold.
Lucian’s fist involuntarily tightened as he thought about Elara Vaughn and Kurt Eugene’s relationship.
Elara would practically do anything for the bastard, even though he was not even worthy to kiss the ground which she works on.
His expression became grim as he remembered how Elara had no other man in her heart or eyes except Kurt Eugene.
How on earth had he managed to pull her?
He shook his head to clear his thoughts as they were going into overdrive trying to place a connection between Aria Beaumont and Kurt Eugene.
But that was hard because he knew practically nothing about this woman in his arms.
He only knew that she was getting into his head and blood, and he would do anything to protect her at this moment.
That realization made him pause for a brief moment, shock etched on his face.
He would do anything to protect her?
This woman whom he barely knew?
At that moment, Aria whimpered again and Lucian’s immediately smoothed her hair, making her relax once more.
He laughed softly in disbelief and wonder at what he’d just done.
“Aria Beaumont, what exactly have you done to me?”