63 – Time Running Out
Ione.
I opened my eyes and found myself staring not up at the ceiling of a shed in the snowy woods, but at the castle ceiling in my room. I rose to my feet and looked down at my hands and legs. It felt surreal. I was back. I had escaped the void. I had returned to the real world.”
Then I heard a commotion outside my door. But it was not one of panic or trouble; rather, it was the opposite. The maids were chatting and laughing. I tuned in to what they were saying, afraid that this would all melt back into the nightmare.
“I have never seen the hall so decorated,” one said to the other.
“It’s to be expected. It’s the coronation, after all,” she chirped.
My heart dropped. It could be true. It could just be happening. Without a second thought, I ran to my door and opened it. My eyes widened at what
I saw.
The halls were decorated with expensive ornaments and gems. Every surface gleamed, and all the maids were walking back and forth with goblets and platters. The guards‘ armor looked like it had been shined and polished for a special event.
All of a sudden, my chest did not have enough space for my wildly thumping heart. I felt lightheaded but could not dare faint. Today was the day. It
was Cassian’s coronation, the day that it all went to hell.
I looked around, panicked, until a few maids noticed.
“My lady,” they greeted. “You are finally awake. You must be looking for Sir Alaric,” one said.
At the mention of Alaric’s name, my panic only rose. This was what happened before. After he had rescued me, I had brought him to the castle. It had taken just a few days, and he was taken as an ally. Some frowned at our relationship, but he was accepted, given a room and a title. All because he
had ‘saved‘ me, all because I had fallen for him.
I brought him to the castle because he would become wanted in the werewolf packs for having ‘helped‘ me. At least that was what he had led me to believe so that I would have no choice but to bring him through the castle walls.
My mind was reeling. I had thought that I had more time, but it looked like the void had other plans. I would have to relive the tragedy quicker than
I should have. I could not let it happen, not when I knew better now.
I had to find Alaric. Without giving the maids, who were still looking at me, any answer, I burst into a sprint down the halls. As I ran, I was looking for
any sign of Alaric. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of the urgency of the situation. The opulence of the castle seemed to mock my desperation, the beautiful decorations a stark contrast to the dread building inside me.
I burst through the main hall, nearly colliding with several guests who were already arriving for the coronation. They looked at me with a mixture of
surprise and curiosity, but I had no time to explain. I had to find Alaric and stop him before it was too late.
I turned a corner and nearly crashed into Cassian. His eyes widened in shock as he grabbed my shoulders to steady me. “What’s wrong?” he asked,
his voice filled with concern.
“Alaric,” I gasped, struggling to catch my breath. “I need to find him.”
Cassian smiled at me, his gaze teasing. I looked up at my brother, the way that he had been before the curse, before the tragedy of his coronation. His eyes were dark without the dreadful red of Vorax. His arms were void of those accursed black veins. His eyes seemed to shine with an inner light. My heart clenched painfully in my chest. Even if the curse had changed him, what Alaric had done, I had done much damage as well. One that I
had facilitated.
“You just can’t stay away from your lover, huh?”
I gulped, unable to look away from this pure visage of Cassian.
I managed a shaky smile. “Brother…”
“You are looking for him even on my special day,” he pouted.
But I could see the anticipation in his eyes. He did not want this throne; it was never meant to be his. He knew what it meant, what it would do to him. But the throne had been thrust upon him, and he had accepted it, because that was the person that he was. Remembering this by having to relive it brought tears to my eyes.
Cassian looked slightly panicked now, his eyes widening. “Oh…you miss him that much?” he asked. He turned to the crowd around us and raised his voice, trying to lighten the mood. “Someone find Sir Alaric for my sister! It seems she can’t bear to be apart from him even for a moment.”
The guests chuckled and murmured among themselves, some of them moving to search for Alaric. Cassian turned back to me, his expression softening when he saw the tears in my eyes.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Cassian, there’s something you need to know. Alaric… he’s not who you think he is. He’s dangerous.” I wanted to tell him just in case I could not find Alaric myself and stop him.
Cassian’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about? Alaric saved you. You love him,” he said, trying to defend the man who had
made an attempt on his life, which made it hurt even more.
I shook my head, the memories of the past overwhelming me. “No, he tricked us. He tricked me. He’s the reason everything went wrong.”
Cassian’s grip on my shoulders tightened. “You’re not making any sense. What do you mean? What went wrong?” he asked.
Setting
21:05
Time Running Cm
“Hes hurt was cut off when my ears perked up at a sound. We all turned to the clamor. An armor had fallen. 149 blood ran cold as the mAWNEY Hooded hack This was it. The attack was about to start
Cun of the corner of my eye, I saw Alaric slip into a corridor. My heart pounded even harder when I saw Polen walk after him, Amo es dedite was following him. This memory was not part of my former one. Did Bolan suspect Alaric and was following ham to see what he was up to? He was in danger I had to act. There was no time.
Without a word in Cassian, I bolted towards the corridor. Cassian called after me, but I couldn’t stop Boery step 1 took felt like ‘cond make on break the future. As I entered the corridor, they both entered a room. I hurriedly walked there, and 1 heard voices, I stopped dead in my tracks when I realized it was Itolan speaking. He sounded harsh and commanding, his voice echoing slightly.
“I will kill that bitch if you don’t do as I say!‘ be ground out.
