CatalinaMy mind was buzzing and I heard faint voices in the distance. It was dark and unwelcoming where I lay, but every now and then a gust of air filled my lungs. Where was I? Why did my body feel weightless?I felt like I was floating in a sea of black ink. I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel things around me. There were other people but we were all trapped in our own little worlds and couldn’t talk to each other. I tried to call out but my voice was weak. It didn’t sound like me at all. The only thing I could do was float around and try to find someone who could help me.I felt a hand grab onto mine and I looked over to see Ella who had passed away months ago. She smiled at me and waved goodbye while she floated away into the darkness. What is this place? I felt myself being pulled down. Like I was sinking into the black ink and it was swallowing me whole. The last thing I remember was screaming as loud as I could, but no one heard me.I woke up in an unfamiliar place. It w
Catalina I wake up to the sound of my daughter's cries. The nurses had taken care of her and me for the past few days, but now it was time for me to take care of her. I couldn't believe she was here--I never thought this day would come. She was so tiny and fragile, but she had a will stronger than anything I'd ever seen. She looked like me, with her dark hair and eyes. But something about her reminded me of Malcolm: his smile, his laugh... It made me wonder if maybe she inherited those things from him as well. I tried not to think about him too much because it hurt too much when I did--but every once in a while something would trigger a memory of when we were together and it took over my whole mind again: how we met; how happy we were together. how much fun we had; how serious he was about our future together. It was hard for me to believe that it all ended so quickly and without warning.I felt so alone.All I wanted to do was cry. I had a lot of things on my mind, and crying did
Malcolm It was a fate worse than death. The mother of my child, the woman I loved more than life itself—doesn't even remember who I am anymore! I was half-tempted to pay those witches a visit in jail and make them pay for what they had done to my family. I would have, too, if it wasn't for the fact that I had a child to look after. My daughter needed me more than ever now and I couldn't let her down again. I was a good father, I knew that. But this was the first time in my life that I had been forced to grow up and accept responsibility for my actions. It wasn't easy—but it was something I would have to do until the day I died if it meant keeping my daughter safe and happy. I pulled up a chair and sat next to my daughter's incubator. She was asleep, swaddled up like a burrito. Zyria looked so peaceful—so innocent. I couldn't help but smile at how adorable she was when she slept like that. I reached out and gently ran my finger down her cheek. Zyria smiled in her sleep, obviously enjo
CatalinaWhoever said breastfeeding was easy and such a joyous experience was a liar. Breastfeeding was hard work, and it could be painful. It was not always easy to get the hang of it, especially if you’re not prepared for how much time and effort it took to breastfeed effectively. Especially since I couldn't have the bonding time required to produce the breast milk, a pump was not the same. I felt like a total failure as if I wasn't producing enough for our precious baby girl. I had been working with a breastfeeding consultant but I felt like I wasn't making any progress. I wanted to scream. I wanted my baby to be able to nurse like a normal baby. I wanted her to be content and satisfied, not crying because she was hungry.I felt like a failure as a mother and that was very difficult for me. I was depressed and anxious, but I didn’t want to admit it. It took some time before I realized that my feelings were normal. I was not a failure as a mother. I was doing the best I could and th
MalcolmI admired Catalina's determination to breastfeed our daughter. That was one of the many things I loved about her. She was persistent, that was how she got me to fall for her in the first place. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and she was mine. Or at least I hoped she was still mine.I knew that she was falling apart when I saw her crying with our daughter in her arms. I wanted to take her pain away, but I didn't know how. She wouldn't let me help her, and that hurt me more than anything else ever could have.I was worried that Catalina was going to give up on breastfeeding, and I didn't want that for her. I wanted to support her in any way that I could, but she wouldn't have it. She didn't want me there when she tried again. I felt like a failure as a boyfriend because of all of this. I felt like I didn't know how to be there for her, and that hurt. It was making me feel like my whole world was falling apart around me.Then she finally agreed to let me help h
My mind was fuzzy, but my body remembered how we used to make love—a rush of emotions came over me as Malcolm and I were entwined in passionate bliss. It was as if we were two magnets that had been pulled together by some unseen force. Even if I tried to resist his allure, his presence was too powerful for me to ignore. It was like a drug; I was hooked.I hadn't realized how much my body craved him until that moment when we were together again. It was like the missing piece of the puzzle had finally been found, and now everything made sense. This man was the beginning and the end of me. I wanted him to be the father of my children, I wanted him to be my everything. Malcolm was the king, and I was his queen.Our lovemaking was like a dance, one that we had perfected over time. There were no words needed as we moved together in perfect harmony. "I moaned, biting into Malcolm's shoulder to keep from screaming. I felt every single one of his movements, my body trembling with each thrust.
How could those witches be alive when we all watched them die? My heart was racing in my chest as Malcolm, my brother Roman, and I drove toward where they were buried—the location where we'd previously encountered the Death Stalker. Was I prepared to face that monster again? Even thinking about it gave me nightmares. The stalker was about to kill Emily and me the last time we saw it. Now I was returning there—and I wasn't sure I was prepared for what we might find. The sun was setting when we arrived. I knew we had to find something soon if we were going to find it. We got out of the car and exchanged glances before proceeding to the cabin where the witches Amelia, Syliva, London, and Eden were buried. As we walked across the field, I felt a chill run through my body that had nothing to do with the wind. As we got closer to Eden's grave, I noticed that it was the only one that was open. When I fell backward into a sitting position against the cabin wall, alarm bells went off in my he
MalcolmMy panther spirit, raging within me, had been unleashed in a fury and was on the hunt for a certain witch who had been trying to destroy me since the moment I met her. That's when I realized she had to be a descendant of the witches who cursed my ancestors. She was going to have to pay. They were all going to pay. I'd had enough of being the nice guy in this scenario. It was time to get down to business. I had no idea what kind of powers this witch possessed, but I knew if she wanted a fight, we were going to give her one."Eden!" I roared into the sky as a scent of perfume found my nose. I knew she was around somewhere, hiding like the pathetic coward she was. "I know you're here!" I shouted as a flock of birds flew out from the trees behind me. They were probably startled by my voice and took off in a panic. A chill ran down my spine as the wind blew against me. There was something about this place that made me feel uneasy yet at home at the same time. I stood there for a mo