Chapter 20: My Consequences Part 3

Fur lines Celine's face and hands, and her claws and teeth extrude.

She grabs Darius' hand and pushes him against the railing of the stairs.

'Darius, you have to calm down.'

'Don't tell me to calm down.' He breaks free from her hold and thrusts her into the ground, back first.

I dart my eyes to Rosemary, and her gaze is still blank, more so for the wolves holding her down, but for different reasons.

I return my sight to Darius and Celine, unable to do anything but watch.

'Darius, just let this go.'

'She's already channeling powers from me which I didn't permit.' My attention is piqued upon hearing this. 'If I let this go, she will grow too bold.'

'Darius, I can promise you that won't happen.'

Darius gets off of her.

My heart continually fails me as I watch him pick up the cleaver on the ground and head for Rosemary.

'How do you expect me to believe that?' Darius asks, not even slowing his pace, but again, in the blink of an eye, Celine is in front of him.

'I admit, that was my mistake, I trusted her too much. But I swear it won't happen again.'

What she says bites into me.

'I can't have her or anyone thinking I am weak.'

'She doesn't, no one does. You prove that time and time again.'

'Celine,' My heart eases a little as I feel the tension dying down between them.

And so do their fur, claws, teeth, and golden eyes.

'If she were to get killed...'

'I know Darius...'

'No, you don't. You couldn't possib...' I keep my head low to the ground, despite the fact that Darius' Instinct, keeping me grounded is lifted.

But I don't want to draw attention to myself as I listen in.

What are they talking about? Does, does Darius care about me?

'I don't have to experience it myself Darius, I see the terror in your eyes, and I know. Trust me, I know.'

I wonder to myself what they are talking about, but, that ceases to be important as of now because, at the forefront of my eyes, I can see Celine taking the cleaver in her hand.

Darius growls, then he hands over the cleaver, which I sigh way too loudly for.

'Make sure you keep an eye on her. If anything of a sort repeats itself, I will kill that maid, her mate, and then, every member of Abigail's pack.' He walks away.

Heading up the stairs without once shooting anyone a glance.

Except, for me, when I stupidly look, he leers at me with a gaze that sinks me deep into the ground.

I focus my attention on Rosemary, who is being let go by the wolves on Celine's instructions.

I don't stay immobile anymore, I dash over to Rosemary and crumble to the floor as I rush her in an embrace.

I can't help myself, but cry my eyes out at this moment.

"I'm so sorry Rosemary, I'm so sorry."

It takes a few heart-wrenching seconds, but, Rosemary returns the hug, and I feel cold pats of droplets on my back.

Rosemary had never let go of me, even when we walked to her room.

She held onto me tight, even though she wasn't crying anymore.

But it's not like I want to let go either.

"I'm sorry Rosemary." I say again, for the hundredth time now.

Trying to get a response out of her, and perhaps, ease this guilt and pain in my heart.

"he..." She finally speaks up, which calls my full attention. "he...said, if...if I tried to escape..." She stops.

Her voice is very minute, that if I wasn't a wolf, I wouldn't have caught any of it.

"What would happen?" I ask, but a pit in my stomach knows already where she is going with this.

"he'd kill harry, if i struggled, if i tried to escape, if...if i helped you again." Her voice breaks into a sob again, which breaks my heart.

"Ro..."

"They showed me a video, a live video of Harry. He was just there, unknowing. They could've done anything to him, and I'd just watch, helplessly Abigail." Her sobs transform into a wail again, and I hold onto her tighter.

"Forgive me Rosemary, this was my fault. I promise I won't do anything to put you or anyone in jeopardy again."

"Don't do that." She pulls away from me and makes to ease her wails on her own.

"I don't..."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I never..."

"I know how this is going to go Abigail, I've seen that look in your eyes. You won't stop at anything until you find out the truth."

"Rosemary, no I would nev..."

"Just save it Abigail." She shifts to the opposite end of the bed, where she lays, grasping at her pillow. "I know you too well. It has always been like this, and it..."

"Shut up Rosemary!" I explode, anger becoming me. "I know I suck as a friend, I know I'm a terrible person, and I know I've put you in trouble more times than I can count. But I would never do anything to risk your life."

"Is that so?" She sits up and turns to meet my gaze. "Then why do you still have that?" She points at my waist, and I know at once what she is remarking to.

"What do you think will happen when Darius finds that?" She asks, and all of a sudden, I'm at a loss for words.

"I thought so." Rosemary returns to her position on the bed, backing me.

At this instant, Rosemary has hurt me to a degree that I want to shatter.

Am I that selfish, will I really risk her life, or that of Harry's, just to get the answers I seek?

These questions run rampant in my head, which unbelievably, scares me, and immobilizes me for an hour.

The time is 6 am, the sun is completely out now, and it shines upon us through the balcony to our left.