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CHAPTER SIXTY ONE
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY TWO
Cathy's POVThe cell door kept clanging like a death bell, each clang echoing loudly through the cell. I was anxious, it had been hours since Alden had attacked the guard and the leader had left. We had expected an aftermath but nothing or no one had come.Alden was fading fast, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Whatever Lena gave him was draining him like a leech and left a shadow of a beast. This caused me to wonder where he had gotten the sudden surge of strength to attack the guard. My own stomach growled, a reminder of the meager meal of stale bread and wilted apples we had had. It wasn't even enough to feed a mouse. “Cathy…do not worry,” Alden rasped, apparently noticing my distress. “Khimaira will be here soon.”I forced a smile. I wanted to believe him, to believe his words but I knew that our fates now rested entirely on chance. The die has been cast and we do not know if it will be in our favor. Karken's muffled scraping sound from the next cell pierced the silence. A mo
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY THREE
I could not believe what I'd just seen. A gasp escaped my lips as Alden slumped to the ground,his face drained of color. The defiance which has been prominent in his eyes was now replaced with an emptiness. The realization of what had just happened dawned on me. They had taken his essence, his strength. They had drained him of whatever made him extraordinary and left a shell.I watched as the northern leader looked on, leaning back in his throne, he had an amused look on his face, as though he was watching a play unfold. His gaze shifted between Lena and Alden's slumped figure. He seemed surprised by Lena’s ruthlessness and a smirk tugged at his lips.My heart pounded in a frantic rhythm as Lena let out a triumphant laugh. “Looks like the beast is tamed,” she declared, her eyes glowing with a dark hunger. She walked to Alden's almost lifeless body and knelt beside him.“You see, brother. It did not have to come to this. Do not think that I enjoyed this one bit. But your refusal to coo
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR
I crack open an eye, my consciousness slowly returning. I blink against the dim light from the single torchlight on the stone. The events that occurred before I passed out slowly came back to me and panic clawed at my throat. As I sit up, I am met with a searing pain in my head and a bone chilling cold that penetrates my core. I immediately lay back down, a choked sob escaping my lips. The cell was small and cramped and there was barely enough space to take a few shuffling steps. Not that I could anyways, as I noticed my legs had been bound with thick rope, the knots digging into my skin. Tears welled up in my eyes once again, this time hot and stinging. My baby. What had happened? What was that searing pain that had ripped through me? A different kind of fear gnawed at me. Not for myself or for Alden. But for my child's life. My thoughts were disrupted by the clang of a door unlocking, followed by the creak of a heavy door. I sat up immediately.My breath hitched as I made ou
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE
Lachlan's warriors were outnumbered and the tide of the battle was turning quickly in our favor. One by one, Karken, Herb and Alden broke free from their restraints, laying waste to anyone they could lay their hands on. Amidst the chaos, I looked around and realized that Lachlan was gone. In his place was a lone cloak figure who had crept up behind me without noticing. The figure’s eyes were glowing an unnatural color and I stood transfixed.It must be one of Lachlan's sorcerers, I thought. I made to run but the shackles made it difficult. Before I could scream, the figure's bony claws grabbed my arm and a swirling vortex of dark energy engulfed us. The only thing I could remember before the darkness was a vision of blurred figures and frantic screams. As I regained consciousness, my eyes opened to a dimly lit room. The swaying movement of the room indicated that I was in a carriage. I was alone and my heart began to hammer against my ribs. Where were they taking me?The swaying of
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY SIX
Charlotte's POVThe silence in the hall was heavy, punctuated only by the sound of my breathing. Eleanor sat perched beside me by the window sill, my fingers tracing nervous patterns on one of the dresses Teon and Knox had given me. I could feel Eleanor's eyes fixed on me, watching me intently with concern. “They'll be back, you know,” she said suddenly, with a quiet confidence out of nowhere.I let out a breath I did not know I had been holding, the sound heavy in the hall. “I know,” I said, my voice a little higher than a whisper. “But knowing and feeling are two different things…Especially in a world like this.” I added.Eleanor gave me a weak smile as if sympathizing with me. “True enough.” She said.A thought crossed my mind and I looked at her with a questioning glance. “Do you ever remember anything?” I asked, my voice soft. Her smile faded, replaced by a distant look in her eyes. “Not really,” she said, her brows furrowed in concentration. “Sometimes, I get flashes of images
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN
A heavy thud echoed through the meeting hall as the door creaked open, revealing the guard who had been sent to bring Lena. He stepped aside, leaving Lena who was bound and bruised.Her smug demeanor was gone, now replaced by resentment and bitterness. She looked around the room before finally settling her gaze on Alden, who sat at the head of the table, Karken and Khimaira by his side. “Well, well,” Lena spat, “If it isn't my dearest family. Did you miss me so quickly?”Alden ignored her banter, his face an unreadable mask. “Lena,” he said, his voice low and menacing, “You hold knowledge I desperately need. Knowledge of how to undo whatever dark spell you cast on me.” “And what makes you think I'll tell you?”Lena sneers, her lips curling into a sly smile. Anger flashed across Alden's face, but he quickly forced it down. He needed to be level headed and not give Lena the satisfaction of provoking him. “I can make you a deal. A deal you might find appealing.”Curiosity sparked in Le
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT
I glanced at Eleanor, who had fallen asleep on the cot next to the bed. I would need her, I thought. I knelt beside the cot, shaking her lightly. “Eleanor, wake up.” I whispered gently. She stirred, her eyes flitting open. I could see the confusion in them. “Charlotte? What is it?”“We need to go somewhere,” I say, my eyes scanning the room as though we were not alone. Eleanor's brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”“I want us to go to the dungeons.” I say, steadying my voice, despite how nervous I was feeling.Eleanor's eyes widened. “The dungeons? Why?”“I need to speak to Lena. I need to do something…anything. I need to help Cathy.” I say, my voice pleading.Eleanor stares at me for a long moment, I can see the conflicting emotions in her eyes. “Charlotte,” she finally said, “it's dangerous…Lena…she's dangerous.”I could hear the hesitation in her voice and I completely understood. This woman had trapped her and kept her captive in this world with no memory of her past life. It was
Cathy And The Beast CHAPTER SIXTY NINE
Charlotte's POVMy eyelids fluttered open with a dull ache behind them. The memories of the scene in the dungeon suddenly come rushing back to me - the realization that my plan had grossly backfired and now Eleanor was back in Lena’s custody.I tried to sit up but a wave of dizziness washed over me, my head was throbbing. I am forced to lay back down as a groan escapes my lips. “Easy there, Charlotte,” I hear someone say beside me. I gently turn my head to see the three dwarfed servants standing next to the bed I lay on, looks of concern etched on all their faces.Teon stepped forward. “What happened?” He asked, the concern in his voice mirroring his expression.Before I can answer, the door swings open to reveal Khimaira. She marches towards where I lay, a stern look on her face. “Good,” she says. “You're awake.” “Lena’s escaped,” She continued. “From all indications, you had something to do with that. What were you doing in the dungeons?”I swallow hard, wincing at the ache in my
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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
