Nightmare

"Do as she says," Sebastian instructed calmly. Reluctantly, the maids, trembling with fear, carried the tray inside the enclosure. They moved slowly, eyes wide with apprehension, and carefully placed the tray behind Kat and King, maintaining a safe distance.

As the maids tried to retreat, King's gaze shifted from Kat to them, his eyes narrowing into a threatening glare. The intensity of his look was a stark contrast to the gentle demeanor he had shown Kat. The maids froze, terror-stricken, then quickly fled back to the gate, their hands shaking as they struggled to close it behind them.

Kat, still focused on petting King, noticed nothing of the exchange. She only became aware of the maids' hurried movements when the gate clanged shut. Turning to look back at King, she saw that his gaze had softened once more, his eyes warm and affectionate as they met hers.

The maids, pale and breathless, shut the gate with a clang and exchanged looks of relief and lingering fear.

Kat stood up, brushing herself off, still in awe of the unexpected bond she had formed with a lion. She smiled warmly at the lion, patting his head gently. "Okay, King, it's time to eat," she said softly. "Come on, boy, come have breakfast."

She gestured towards the large tray of food the maids had brought in. "Come on, King," she called, her voice light and encouraging. The lion responded with a slow, deliberate stretch before rising to follow her, clearly understanding that it was mealtime.

As the morning wore on, the sun climbed higher, casting a golden light across Hawthorn Castle. Kat spent the hours with King, lost in their surprising companionship. At one point, she left briefly to fetch some book and returned to King's enclosure, settling down on king soft fur, as he let snuggle comfortably on him while she read.

By the time afternoon arrived, the castle had settled into its usual quiet rhythm. In his study, Lucian sat behind his desk, surrounded by stacks of documents and parchment. Lucian, engrossed in his work, sifted through the papers before him with practiced efficiency.

The door to the study opened quietly, and Sebastian stepped in, his expression calm and composed, as always. He carried a tray of steaming tea and bowed, coming to stand beside Lucian's desk, placing the tray gently on the desk. "A governess has been found for Miss Katherine, my lord. She has a good reputation among the royals, and as per your instruction, she is strict and well-refined," Sebastian informed as he poured the tea.

Lucian did not respond immediately and hummed. "That is good. She would be a good match for the little birdie," he said. Sebastian cleared his throat. "My lord, that is good, but don't you think you are being a little too hard on miss Kat?, Perhaps a more gentler approach to be suited"

Lucian took a sip of the tea, its warmth briefly interrupting his concentration. He looked up at Sebastian, a question in his gaze. "Too hard?" he echoed. "She is no less than a stubborn and spoiled child therefore needs an equally stubborn grip, or she won't listen."

Sebastian's smile widened at Lucian's words. "Children tend to be mischievous, but sometimes all they need is a little soft coaxing. It worked great for Lady Josephine, you would find that miss Kat is quite sweet and attentive, perhaps if you could be a little nicer, she would listen to you my lord."

Lucian chuckled, the image of Kat's glaring and nagging face came to Lucian's mind, she was far from docile like Josie, she acted like a tigress always ready to pounce, and he deadpanned. "My decision stays the same."

Sebastian sighed softly, not being able to get through to Lucian. He though to himself that Lucian had never changed, even as a child; he was as cold as ice, only with Josephine as he seen a soft side to him, but he was intrigued to see him showing that same side to Kat. "Yes, my lord," Sebastian bowed.

"Where is she?" Lucian asked, his tone indifferent but curious.

Sebastian's slight smile remained, a part of his usual demeanor. "She is still in the enclosure with King," he replied. "She did leave briefly to go back to her room but returned with books. She's been reading and spending time with King since. I observed you've been getting more interested in Miss Kat lately," Sebastian commented.

Lucian again didn't respond immediately, but he didn't seem bothered by Sebastian's comment. If it were to be someone else speaking to him with such a casual tone, they would have long regretted.

"You felt it too?" Lucian asked instead of responding to Sebastian's comment. Sebastian nodded in response. "Miss Kat is overflowing with that strange aura. It's hard to ignore, it almost feels like the energy was drawing me in " Sebastian stated thoughtfully.

"For one, she seems to be human, but I always felt there was something else to her. With the kind of energy flowing from her, it's only a matter of time until she attracts unwanted guests, and I have a feeling it's only just beginning, the energy was faint but as been growing with each passing day" Lucian continued, picking up another parchment. "She could see the kelpie's mark, and she saw it's mane wet."

At this information, Sebastian's demeanor and expression changed slightly; a mix of surprise and intrigue, before returning to normal. "King also takes a liking to her," Sebastian said, but more like he was talking to himself. "Perhaps there is more to miss kat than I thought it to be and she doesn't seem to be aware of it"

"Keep a watch out," Lucian instructed. Sebastian watched him for a moment longer, then, seeing there were no further instructions, bowed slightly and left the study. The door closed softly behind him, leaving Lucian alone once more. Lucian's gaze moved to the mark on his wrist that only he and Kat could see. he wondered if he should tell her that as he had noticed the way she dressed today try to hide it. and he chuckled lightly.

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As night descended on Hawthorn Castle, the corridors grew dim, with many candles flickering out, leaving pockets of shadow. Kat, having enjoyed her day with Lucian's pet, spent the rest of her day with Vivian. She also tried to get Vivian to pet King, but it didn't go too well, as Vivian was terrified, and Kat just had to drop the idea. After quite a day, Kat now headed back to her room after dinner, she wasn't sure if it was her but Lucian seemed oddly calmer during dinner. As Kay made her way back to her room, the castle felt unusually silent, the usual hum of activity replaced by an eerie stillness.

Walking through the darkened halls, Kat couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The air felt heavy, and the usual warmth of the castle seemed replaced by a cold, unsettling aura. She hugged herself, rubbing her arms as if to ward off the chill that had nothing to do with temperature.

Her footsteps echoed softly against the marble floors as she hurried along the familiar route. The odd sensation gnawed at her, making her glance over her shoulder more than once. Shadows seemed to dance just out of her vision, and the silence grew more oppressive with each step.

Despite wanting to ignore the strange atmosphere, Kat's pace quickened. The flickering candlelight cast long, wavering shadows on the walls, creating an illusion of movement. The feeling of being watched, of something lurking just beyond the edge of her sight, grew stronger.

Finally, she reached her door. She exhaled a sigh of relief, her hand reaching for the doorknob. But as she did, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye, a figure standing at the far end of the corridor she had just walked through a moment ago. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned to look directly at it.

The figure's eyes glowed faintly in the shadows, fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

Fear gripped her, and she fumbled with the doorknob, just then the figure also moved with intense speed towards her. her hands trembling subconsciously. With a desperate push, she managed to swing the door open and dart inside her room, slamming it shut behind her with a resounding thud.

Gasping for breath, Kat stumbled backward, her gaze fixed on the door she had just locked. The sanctuary of her room, usually a place of comfort, now felt suffocatingly oppressive. She scanned the room frantically, half-expecting to see the shadowy figure materialize before her. Times like this, she wished this dimensions had phones or something.

As she stood there, trying to steady her racing heart, the doorknob suddenly began to shake violently, as if someone or something was trying to force their way in. Panic surged through Kat like a tidal wave. Without a second thought, she dove under her bed, clutching a long object she had grabbed in her trembling hands, stifling her breath in an attempt to remain undetected.

The door continued to rattle ominously, each jolt sending shockwaves of terror through her. Kat prayed silently for any sign of help. Again, the only person she could think of was Lucian; he always showed up, so where was he!? She prayed he would come to her rescue. But the castle remained eerily silent outside her door. The banging and shaking of the door became more violent, and for a moment, Kat thought whatever it was would break the door down. "Leave me alone!" she screamed in frustration. As if responding to her demand, the shaking ceased abruptly, followed by complete silence.

Just then, the silence was replaced with a loud scraping sound that shook the whole room and caused Kat to cover her ears. Just like the banging on the door, the sound ceased, replaced by silence once more, leaving Kat trembling in her hiding place, too terrified to move. She dared not even breathe, a while had passed and no sound came from the door. Kat didn't intend to go out of her room anymore, straining her ears for any sign of whatever it was outside her room, but she heard nothing.

Relief washed over her as the silence persisted, broken only by the sound of her own ragged breaths. Slowly, cautiously, she shifted, intending to get out from under the bed, her muscles tense with lingering fear. But as she moved, a soft crackling sound caught her attention.

Turning slowly, her heart leaped into her throat as she saw a shadowy figure looming beside her. It was humanoid yet grotesquely distorted, with eyes that seemed to drink in the darkness around them, leaving an unsettling void in their wake.

Terror seized Kat once more as she stared at the creature, sensing its malevolent hunger for something beyond mere flesh. It was merely a few inches away from her face. The creature's mouth opened wide enough to fit her whole head, and it let out a loud, terrifying screech that echoed through Kat's eardrums, causing immense pain.

With a strangled gasp, Kat jolted awake, drenched in sweat and shaking uncontrollably. Her eyes were wide, filled with terror, and her breath came in rapid, shallow gasps. The remnants of the nightmare clung to her, leaving her paralyzed with fear. She squeezed her eyes shut again, trying to block out the horrifying images that still lingered in her mind. The darkness behind her eyelids only intensified the fear, making it hard to pull herself together. It all felt so real, just too real.

When she finally dared to open her eyes again, Lucian was there, sitting beside her bed. His expression was calm, though his eyes showed a flicker of concern. Kat could barely speak, her body still trembling from the terror that gripped her. She couldn't meet his gaze, her eyes fixed instead on the blankets she clutched tightly in her hands.

Lucian watched her quietly, a frown forming on his face as he noticed how completely terrified she appeared. His usual indifference softened slightly as he struggled to find the right words. "You fine, It's just a nightmare," he said softly, his voice a touch more gentle than usual. He wasn't sure if his words would help, but he hoped they might bring her some comfort.

Kat nodded weakly, her breath still coming in rapid, uneven bursts. She closed her eyes again, focusing on her breathing. Inhaling and Exhaling. She kept her head bowed, trying to banish the lingering fear and find some semblance of calm.

Lucian hesitated, feeling out of his depth. His frown deepened. He didn't know why, but he hated seeing her like this, and he wanted to stop it. Comforting others was not something he was accustomed to, and he struggled to navigate the unfamiliar territory. But seeing Kat so vulnerable triggered a memory from his past, one he had almost forgotten.

Tentatively, he reached out and, in an uncharacteristic gesture, pulled Kat into a gentle embrace. The embrace was awkward at first, but Lucian held her firmly, offering a rare moment of comfort. Kat, caught off guard despite her state, didn't protest and stayed quiet. Slowly, she began to relax in his arms, finding solace in the unexpected warmth.

Lucian's hand moved to her back, patting gently in a soothing rhythm. It was an awkward gesture, yet he repeated it with care. Lucian wasn't used to offering comfort, but he remembered how his mother used to calm his sister, Josie, when she was distressed. After their mother's passing, Lucian had often found himself mimicking her gentle touch to soothe Josie during the times she cried and clung to him.

Kat felt the soft pat on her back, a hesitant and unfamiliar touch that slowly steadied her breathing. It took a few moments, but she began to feel a small measure of calm. She didn't move, but the repetitive gesture and the warmth of the hug helped her focus on something outside the nightmare's grip.

Lucian continued the gentle motion, his hand moving in a steady rhythm. He wasn't sure why he was doing it now, but something about Kat's fear made him act instinctively....