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CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
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Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR
Khimaira lays Charlotte on the bed, her face tight. Her eyes scan Charlotte's body, her hands moving swiftly. “We need to examine her.” She says.As they work, I pace the room. What could have caused this? And how the hell did Charlotte get here? The thought that she may have seen my note and had set out to look for me crosses my mind and my heart sinks further. “Oh Charlotte,” I say beneath my breath.Alden enters the room, his powerful presence commanding everyone's attention. “What's the situation?” He asks as his gaze settles on Charlotte. Khimaira's voice is firm and it is strange to see her in such a mood. Her face, which usually wears a wicked smile, is blank and expressionless. “I'm not so sure yet, Alden. But there's no visible physical cause and judging from her slow pulse, I suspect poison.” Alden's face darkens and he looks over at me. His eyes speak volumes and I cannot help but think that he is withholding something from me.“Wait, what's this?” Herb's voice cuts thr
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE
As we walk through the forest, my heart is racing with every step. Knox walks beside me, his face etched with worry. Teon and Knox are in the shadows, following us from a distance. If all goes according to plan, they will not reveal themselves until it is absolutely necessary.“Cathy, I'm starting to doubt if this is a good idea.” Knox says, his voice low and urgent. “Master Alden would never forgive us if this goes wrong.”I reach out and gently place my hand on his arm. “Don't worry, the plan is simple. You're here to take the antidote back to the castle, remember. Herb and Teon will follow us until the time is right to distract Lena for me to escape.”I lean further until I am at eye level with him. “If all goes well, I will take the blame with Alden. He would never have agreed to this and Lena would definitely be expecting him to come after her.”Knox nods, his eyes still wary and worried.As we approach the clearing, I can see Lena waiting for us. She is with a strange woman. As
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTY SIX
I stay crouched in the darkness, as Herb and Teon work to pick the hinges on the window slit to enable me crawl through. My heart racing and fingers drumming against my thigh, impatient and anxious.“Come on, come on,” I hear Herb whisper under his breath. I glance at the direction of the cell entrance, willing them to go faster. Finally, the window frame gives way and the rusty iron bars open. We exchange a triumphant glance before Herb stretches his arms to pull me out. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I crawl out of the window space. “Quickly, Cathy,” Teon hissed, his voice like crinkling leaves. “We don't have much.”Once I land safely on my feet, we begin sprinting through the decrepit courtyard, our footsteps pounding the cobblestone. We run as fast as we can, the cool breeze whipping my face, a welcome respite from the dank dungeon air.As we get closer, the portcullis looming ahead, its iron bars looking like skeletal fingers in the moonlight. We reach the gate and Herb ya
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
Alden, Karken, Knox and Teon spend the next few hours poring over maps and strategies, finding the best way to advance on Lena and her allies. However, they knew they were outnumbered and this would be a Herculean task.“Perhaps we wait for Khimaira to return. We do not know their number and barging in there arms blazing will be a foolish tactic.” Karken suggests.“I agree, but the longer we wait, the longer Cathy is at risk. Lena is not a monster, she's still family. I plan to reason with her before all goes to hell.” Alden says, standing up with a determined look on face. “I think we should leave now.”Karken nods. Teon and Knox rally around gathering supplies and anything else they might need. “I'm coming with you.” Charlotte says, seemingly appearing out of thin air in the midst of the chaos. This stops everyone in their tracks. Alden moves towards her tentatively, “Charlotte…you can't. My sister is unpredictable and it will be too dangerous for you. If anything happens to you,
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
My heart hammered against my ribs, harder with each passing second. It was impossible to tell how long I'd been in this dank cell. There are some moments worse than others, when panic begins to set in. My only comfort is the faint, ragged breath of Herb sleeping on the ground across me, a reminder that was not completely alone. My thoughts strayed to Alden. Why hadn't he come for me? These were overshadowed by thoughts of Charlotte, my dear Charlotte. Had the antidote worked?These thoughts desperately gnawed at me. Every sound, even the tiniest jolt, sent a nervous anticipation through me. My eyes would immediately dart to the cell entrance, willing with all my might that it might be Alden who had come to rescue me. But each time, I was met with silence and a glimpse of the bleak cell hallway. Suddenly, the clanging of metal cut off my train of thoughts. A fragile hope fluttered once again in me. The sound faded quickly, followed by silence. Then came the unmistakable click of the
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER FIFTY NINE
Even as he said these words, I could see the flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes. He could tell that Lena had become unpredictable and would stop at nothing to get what she wants. The air cackled with unspoken threats. Time seemed to stretch slowly. I couldn't breathe, the thought of Alden getting hurt…my child getting hurt.Just then, a tremor runs through me from the top of my head down to my feet. My vision is blurred and a wave of nausea washes over me. It is apparent that the stress of the situation is starting to take its toll on me.A grimace flickered across Alden's face. “Cathy, are you alright?” He asks, his voice laced with concern. Lena moves closer to me. “Is something wrong?” I look up at her face as I am thrown off by her question. It was hard to tell what expression she had in the dim light. Maybe a hint of concern?“Don't worry about me,” I spat, forcing myself to stand up straight.She studied me for a moment, tilting her head. Then, with a slow deliberate movemen
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY
That single response sent a jolt through me. A sweet form of relief washed over me. We hadn't seen Karken since their supposed attack on Lena.Alden's head snapped up immediately, his eyes burning with a mix of surprise and joy, it would seem. “Karken?” He rasped. I nodded, the hope flickering within me refusing to be extinguished. I tapped again before asking, “Karken…are you alone?”For some reason, it took a while before we got a response. The silence stretched on, agonizingly long. Just when I thought we'd been ignored, the faint scratching sound resumed from the other side, followed by Karken's muffled voice.“Listen closely,” he whispered. “We need to stall them. We need to make sure Khimaira gets here before they finalize their plans.”A jolt of relief shoots through me. “Khimaira?” I whisper back. “Yes, she's on her way with reinforcements but she may not be here for a while.” Karken says. My mind was racing, there was hope after all. Khimaira was fierce and had an unwaveri
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY ONE
Charlotte's POVWe are seated in the meeting hall, the flickering candlelight casting shadows across the stone wall. It was another day of hoping and waiting. The sun had set and the night had draped its cloak, and with it our hope dwindled.There had been no news. Not even a whisper. Just this silence, a silence that gnawed at us, thick and suffocating. Teon and Knox paced the room like caged animals, worry lines etched deep into their faces. I observed these creatures, trying to distract my mind from the obvious. They were diminutive, horned and for some unknown reason, unclad. Their state of undress would have been of great interest to me, but for the situation we were in. My mind, once again, wanders to Cathy. My best friend who had chosen to sacrifice herself for me. This thought melts my heart and even though I do not believe in a God, I pray to Him that He brings her back safe. Her and her child. I have to admit that the whole situation still does not make much sense to me,
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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
