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CHAPTER EIGHT
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Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER NINE
To say that I am shocked to my core would be the understatement of the year. In fact, I do not think that there is a word in the English Language that captures how I feel exactly. Perhaps if I spoke French or Chinese or any one of the more expressive languages, I would find a word that perfectly explains this feeling. It is a deadly combination of excitement and dread. It feels as though I desperately want this to go on while but also desperately want it to end.If I’m being honest with myself, the ‘dread’ part of my feeling makes absolute sense. After all, Alden is a monster who is actively keeping me here against my will. It makes perfect sense that I am afraid. Add that to the words he is saying, telling me explicitly that he intends to breed me to produce his young, and that there isn’t much that I can do about it. I would be a fool not to be afraid. What does not make sense, therefore, is the simultaneous excitement that I feel. How is it that these same words and actions that ca
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER TEN
Although I now have an answer as to why exactly he is keeping me here; he has chosen me as some kind of mate, I am grossly unsatisfied with the situation. The manner in which he makes it clear that it is beyond my control makes me uncomfortable. I want to be able to make my own choices. I want to stay only because I want to. And knowing that that will be impossible on Alden’s terms means that there is only one thing I have to do. I have to find a way to escape this place. I don’t bother myself with undressing or sitting anywhere. Not when a million and one thoughts about how to break out of this prison rush through my mind. Most of the scenarios I come up with are scenes from horror and thriller movies flashing through my mind in quick succession. This does not surprise me much as I have never been in a situation like this where I had to plot my own escape from prison. Besides, they don’t exactly teach ‘How to Break Out of Prison 101’ where I went to college.Usually, in moments like
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER ELEVEN
As we walk down the hallway, I take note of all the doors I have been through so far. There’s the one that leads to Alden’s study. I imagine that he is there right now, writing or reading something, his smell and presence thick in the air like fumes. There’s the other door that leads to the dining hall which I am sure I will soon go through again to eat while Alden watches me. And then, there’s the uncanny one that leads to the dungeon, behind which lies only darkness, fear and loneliness.I realize that I have seen and know so little of this place. There are about fifteen other doors leading to rooms or possibly other areas that I have yet to be led through. Surely, one of these other doors has to lead outside this place. In a perfect situation, all I would have to do is open each door and try it out until I find the one that I am looking for. But as I have been shown multiple times already, this is not a perfect situation and nothing is being done according to my terms or wishes. T
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER TWELVE
I dip my right foot in the water, starting with the big toe. The water is the same exact warm it was the last time I was here. How exactly these people keep the water at a steady temperature is beyond me. I have so many questions that I fear may remain unanswered. I submerge the rest of my body in the water and turn to face the servants. Knox’s right-hand falls to his side at my swift turn. Was he touching himself watching me? I smile at him and then I look away. “I haven’t seen the sun in days,” I say as the three servants start to make their way into the pool. Knox fetches the soap while the other two position themselves on either side of me. “That cannot be normal. Humans need the sun or we get depressed. What do you think, Knox?”At the mention of his name, Knox stumbles and the jar of soap he has in his hand falls back to the edge of the pool. Thankfully, the jar has a very tight lid so nothing spills. If Herb and Teon notice the awkwardness of our interaction or the effect that
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The dress Herb and Teon bring to me has a similar style to the one I just took off except that it is in yellow. Yellow has been my favorite color since I was a child so seeing it puts a little smile on my face and I say a little thanks to the universe for small mercies. Once again, I am unable to fasten the lace of the dress completely by myself. This makes me a little worried because Alden will have to do it for me and I know how weak I become when he is that close to me. Still, I am determined to not let anything derail my newfound determination to get myself out of here. My plan is simple and easy. I will go to this dinner with Alden and eat enough to give myself strength but not too much that I feel full. I will behave as nicely as I can and maybe even engage Alden in conversation. It will be a ploy to convince him that I am liking this place and am on board with his breeding plan so that he does not suspect a thing and maybe even lets his guard down concerning keeping me secured.
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Sit,” he says. “This meal is yours.”I sit in the exact same spot I sat in the last time and take a quick glance at all the food spread on the table. “I made sure that they prepared more of the things you liked from the last time and less of those you did not touch,” he says as I begin to put some food on my plate. “I also added a few new things so that we may properly determine your taste.”“What?” is the only thing that manages to escape my lips. Is Alden really changing the food he serves me based on my preferences? What is this monster doing when even my own ex-boyfriend could not have bothered to try to learn what I liked while we were going out? I remember once, right before our third anniversary, he decided that he was going to make me dinner, which in itself, was a surprise and gift enough because Brad never did anything for someone else. Unfortunately, the evening took a downward turn when I realized that he’d made something with fish when I’d told him so many times before
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I don’t know when it happens exactly but at some point, while Alden is carrying me back into the castle on his shoulder, I stop fighting. Around the same time, I notice that I have stopped hitting or biting him, I also notice that his hand is on the small of my back, stroking me gently. My brain makes a quick connection between these two actions; his soothing stroking on my back is possibly the reason I have become calm and stopped fighting. Or maybe I am just exhausted and it has nothing to do with him.When we get back to the room, Alden places me on the chair on the right side of the wall and then he leaves. I remain in my completely soaked dress, shivering like a leaf with my arms wrapped around me and just staring into nothingness. How could he just leave me like this, soaking wet and so fucking cold? Granted, I did run into the storm with my own two legs but I would not have had to do that if he would just give me my freedom. This is all Alden’s fault.The door bursts open and A
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A few feet from the pool, a mat has been prepared with several pillows and layers of sheets placed upon it. At the head of the mat, there are jars that appear to contain different kinds of liquids, and the perimeter of the mat is marked by white flowers sprinkled about it.When we take a few more steps toward the water, Alden opens his eyes slowly and looks right at me. “I warned you about that storm. I said you would get cold and you did not listen. You chose to bite me instead,” he says with a smirk.“I-I,” I try to talk but nothing intelligible comes out of my mouth. Between my congested airways and the sight of a naked Alden, there isn’t much energy left in my body that can be allocated to speaking.“Lay on the mat,” he says.Once again, I oblige without argument. Alden watches me as I change positions on the mat at least four times, still trying to find a position that allows air to come into my lungs. I eventually settle on lying on my right side.“Leave us,” I hear him say an
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Cathy And The Beast EPILOGUE
Eleanor's POVEleanor stood at the edge of the path leading to her childhood home. The house looked exactly as she remembered it. It was as if time had stood still here, but Eleanor knew that everything had changed, especially her.She took a deep breath, her heart pounding heavily in her chest, each step forward feeling heavier than the last. As she approached the house, all the memories came flooding back. All those moments seemed distant now, like they belonged to another life.Eleanor hesitated at the foot of the steps leading up to the front door. Her hand trembled as she reached out. It felt surreal, standing here after everything she had been through. Would they recognize her? Would they believe the story she had to tell? She wondered if they had moved on, if they had accepted her disappearance, or if they had kept hoping for her return.She now regretted turning down Charlotte's offer to come with her, her presence would have helped her nerves. She shook her head, trying to d
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER NINETY ONE
Alden held me close as we made our way inside the castle. The walls of the castle seemed to close in around us as we rushed through the corridors, each step a struggle as I fought to keep myself together.“Just a little further,” Alden whispered, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. “We’re almost there.”Teon and Herb flanked us, their faces etched with concern as they helped guide me down the hall. Eleanor and Charlotte followed closely behind, whispering words of encouragement.We reached the small room just off the main hall, where a large bed had been hastily prepared. I barely registered the soft sheets and the warmth of the fire as Alden helped me onto the bed, his hands never leaving mine. The room was filled with the scent of herbs and flowers.Khimaira bustled in closely behind, her demeanor calm and composed. She took one look at me and nodded, as if she’d seen this a thousand times before. “Let’s get you comfortable,” she said gently, her hands working quickly.Th
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER NINETY
I stood at that altar, lost in Alden's eyes. The world faded away and the only thing I felt was the warmth of his hand on my cheek. But then, a mocking cough from somewhere around us pulled us back to reality. We turned our heads slightly to see Lorin standing a few feet away, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Alden, ignoring my protests, had decided that he would officiate the wedding. “Shall we begin?” Lorin asked, his voice steady, as he proceeded to stand between us. This was really happening. I took a deep breath, calming my nerves. Alden's hand dropped from my cheeks, but he didn't move away. Instead, he took my hand in his, his touch reassuring. It was as though he knew exactly how I felt and I was grateful for that. The garden was silent and it felt like the only sound I could hear was my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. As Lorin began to speak, his voice carried a solemnity that settled over us all. “This union is more than a marriage,” Lorin began, his words measured.
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE
The sun rays filtered in through the large window, casting a soft glow over the room. Charlotte and Eleanor flanked my sides, adjusting and readjusting different parts of my dress. We were gathered in front of a large mirror in the largest room in Alden's castle. I could hardly believe this day had come- my wedding day. It had been three months since the chaos with Lachlan and Lena. Three months since we returned home and had settled into a peaceful routine. But even with the calm, I still found it hard not to look over my shoulders. The weight of the past months still clung heavily to me. “I can't believe it's really happening,” I say gently, almost to myself. “I'm getting married in a few hours.”Charlotte, who had been focused on arranging my hair in the right bun, paused and smiled at me gently. “Neither can I,” she admitted, her voice soft but steady. “It all still feels like a really long dream.”We both turned our attention to Eleanor, who was fussing with the lace of my gown
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT
Cathy's POV Lachlan's fortress was a hive of activity as we prepared to leave. The halls which were once cold and silent, buzzed with the clatter and murmur of voices. It felt strange indeed. Alden had wanted some time for me to recover fully before we left. His arm was wrapped firmly around me, supporting me as we walked through the halls. This place had been home to me for weeks now, but I had never freely walked these halls. We were waiting for the final preparations before leaving, and in the meantime, Alden had called for a meeting with Lorin. We were the last to arrive, as Karken, Eleanor and Charlotte sat around a large polished table in the hall. Lorin, dressed in black robes, stood afar off. The air was thick with tension and I could sense that the moment was heavy with unspoken weight. “Lorin,” Alden began, his face set determinedly. “I believe you have honored our agreement.”Lorin inclined his head in agreement, stepping out of the shadows. “Indeed,” He took another wa
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN
Lorin's departure left a heavy silence in the air. There was a wave of unanswered questions running through my mind and I could not shake my feeling of unease. I was happy to be conscious and reunited with the ones I loved dearly. However, given the events of the last couple weeks, I couldn't be comfortable in my happiness. Paranoia. That was the word. I was expecting something ominous to happen, some bad news or enemy to pop up out of nowhere. Alden returned to my side, his face etched with a mixture of relief and something else i couldn't quite decipher. He took my hand in his once again and I felt a tremor run through me. His presence beside me was a reassuring comfort. Perhaps I was overthinking. Perhaps all I needed was just answers. Maybe, just maybe, our happily ever after had come. “What happened?” I rasped, looking intently at him. “How are you here? Where's Lachlan?” I did not mean for the questions to tumble out in a rush, but I was overwhelmed. Alden squeezed my hand, h
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX
Cathy's POVI hear chaos in my surroundings from my unconscious state. The clatter pulling me back to reality from a dream I was having about me and Alden and our baby. It was a girl. A beautiful chubby little girl running around the garden to our delight. It was a dream I did not want to wake up from. There was a sudden burst of white light and I could feel warmth radiating through my body. The garden and Alden and the child had all vanished and I was left standing alone surrounded by nothing. I stood confused in this state for a moment before hearing a faint voice calling my name. The voice was unmistakably Charlotte's. My eyelids flutter open, the harsh light of the room making me squint. My head throbbed with a dull ache. I try to adjust my vision to my surroundings, the events of my last moments before passing out come flooding back. Panic claw at me as I remember our failed escape attempt. Eleanor. What had happened to her?As my vision unblurs itself fully, I am in utter shoc
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE
The journey north was long and filled with tension. Every rustle of the leaves sent a jolt of panic through Alden, reminding him that they could all be walking into a trap. But he pushed on, fueled by the need to reach Cathy. Finally, they reached the northern fortress. The sun was setting, its rays casting long skeletal shadows on the fortress gates. There was an unsettling quiet in the air as they trooped in through the gates. There were no guards patrolling the gates. It was as though they had heard of Lachlan's defeat and had deserted the fortress. Lorin, seemingly unfazed by the atmosphere, led them through the fortress gates and into the castle. No one spoke, the only sound was the echo of their footsteps on the cold stone floor. It was clear that they were all feeling the weight of the tension that hung heavy in the air. They finally reached a large chamber at the end of a long passageway. Lorin pushed the heavy door of the chamber, letting them all in. The air inside was
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR
Alden stared at Lorin, his mind reeling. The sorcerer's words had caused a heavy silence to hang in the air. His actions were no doubt justifiable but they had only his word to support his claims. “Enough about ancient grudges, Beast King,” Lorin rasped, regaining his composure. “I believe you have more pressing concerns.” He added, staring intently at Alden, his yellow eyes gleaming in the torchlit meeting hall. “The whereabouts of your queen, no doubt?”Alden's ears perked up as he shifted in his seat. His gaze flickered to Charlotte, whose knuckles had turned white as she firmly gripped her seat.“She lives,” Lorin said, his voice taking on a strange sympathy. “For now.”Charlotte gasped, her grip tightening on the chair. The words “for now” dripped with an ominous weight. “What do you mean ‘for now?” She demanded, her eyes widening. Lorin finally shifted his gaze from Alden to her, a flicker of something akin to pity crossing his face. “Her life is…in grave danger.” He said slow
