Chapter 18: My Consequences Part 1

After Rosemary had speedily healed my wounds, however best she could, Celine returned with fresh clothes and wolfsbane as she said, without talking or looking at me once.

After I changed, Celine led me out of the basement, which in turn led into the kitchen.

From there, she walked me to Darius' room, where she stood outside the door as usual.

Except this time, I'm being shunned.

I still keep thinking to myself how I will ever get her to stop hating me.

But I can't let that be all that fills my head.

The burning questions and pain resonating in my heart about the ones I love so are making themselves ever-present.

I don't know when or how Elias will be able to tell me everything that transpired that day.

But I will hold him to his word.

Hopefully, I won't be asked to leave this castle like I just did again.

But if it's what it takes, I will do it.

After a hot shower, I make my way to bed, never once losing sight of the totem I was given.

Which is now in the pocket of my shorts, which I wear underneath my nightgown.

The mild sun protruding out of the thick black curtains tries to dissuade me from resting my mind and body.

But I don't let it.

I shield my eyes with a pillow and force them shut.

After just a second of quiet and calm, I hear struggles, and muffled voices which grow in volume by the second.

My thoughts tell me to rise and check what is going on.

But it would seem I had drifted off further than I had thought.

A second that follows the voice, is a *THUD* which does a fine job of waking me.

When I open my eyes, I find two broad men, wolves to be exact.

Breaking the ground with each mighty step, as they head for me.

I am not exactly sure how to react before they pull me off the bed callously.

"What is going on?" I finally ask, now feeling a mix of emotions.

"Darius wants to see you." I feel something inside me shatter.

My heart starts to pound erratically, filling my ears, but unfortunately not my thoughts.

Darius, he, he knows.

I see Celine, standing by the door.

She watches with a neutral expression, as these brutes drag me by my arms.

The gaze she shoots me accentuates the fear running wild within me.

And also, a semblance of pain, as to how she can just stand and watch, bites at me.

I am dragged all the way to the massive hall, where I find Darius, standing at the elevated platform just above the stairs to the far end of the hall.

Every single part of me still trying to cling together breaks apart and further breaks into several thousands of pieces.

He knows, he knows, he knows.

If he doesn't yet, he will know.

He can tell when anyone is lying.

What am I going to do?

I search my head for anything, anything whatsoever that can help me out of this.

But my mind keeps running into a blank over and over again.

When we get within nine feet of Darius, I am pulled up to my feet, and the wolves that did so stand at either of my sides.

He shoots them a glance, and they both nod and walk away.

He just used a Neuropath, I can tell.

But that is just me trying to distract myself, I...I have to...

*THUD*

My breathing becomes irregular when I hear his footsteps coming towards me.

I try to steady my heartbeat, but how in the world can I?

He stands very close to me, that I can feel his breath on my hair.

And, I can smell him as well, that smell, that smell of meat, and blood covering him like a cologne

He raises his left hand to my face, grabs my jaw, and pulls my head upwards, so I look into his sinister red eyes.

As I am this close, I forget for a second the situation I have found myself in, and I get lost in his eyes.

I catch him raising his right hand as well, which he uses to caress my cheek.

But then, I wince, as his claw lines my cheek, opening my flesh and drawing blood.

He pulls his claw to his mouth, then he licks the blood off.

After which, he smiles.

"Did you leave this house?" His words cut into and through me, and at once, I freeze and stop breathing altogether.

I feel a presence walking beside me, and I soon realize the smell to be Celine.

Darius lets go of me at her presence, and they both make it to the elevated platform above the stairs, where Darius had been standing a few seconds prior.

They meet each other's gaze, and for several seconds, border lining a minute, they hold their gaze.

Neuropath, I force myself to think.

To think past the churning of my stomach, the pounding and aching of my heart.

And the erratic frenzy of my thoughts.

Why did I do this? Why?

You did it for your family.

I think, and somehow, I find some semblance of strength.

But that strength leaves me in a second when Darius returns his gaze towards me.

"I asked you a question." He says, voice more stern now.

"I...I..." I can't speak, what should I say?

"If I ask again, you won't like it." He says, and I swear I feel his gaze burning into me.

"I...did." I say, biting my tongue as I do so.

"Why?" He asks, anger coating his tone.

"I...I...went, to..." I gulp, trying to calm my heart, which I cannot hear my voice over. "I went...to see, my...my mate."

I tell him, the truth, in bits and pieces.

"Your...your mate?"