Lahat ng Kabanata ng Cathy And The Beast : Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

I step into the silence that engulfs the dining hall, like a raging fire had been extinguished and only smoldering ashes remain. As I stand in the doorway, I shift from one foot to the other, my eyes wide, taking in the scene before me. Anxiety swells in my chest until I finally feel locked onto a figure across the room – it’s Alden. His presence is like a beacon, and I can feel his intensity from where I stand. I don't even know why I am suddenly so nervous. This is just dinner and I don't even know anyone here. I also don't need to prove anything to anyone.The entire table seems to be sizing me up, as if waiting for something to happen. I have never felt so intimidated in my life. Alden sits at the head of the table with a calm exterior. But beneath his mask is a menacing presence, and he stares at me with warmth and desire. I am not wrong, I can see it in his eyes. To his left is an almost identical man, sharing the same horned species but with hair of platinum blonde and a wicked

Before I hear Alden speak, his presence radiates with a powerful intensity and the air around us shifts. Karken’ attempts to keep me in a state of high alert evaporate as soon as Alden walks in. “What are you doing, Karken?” he growls, fury searing into the very fabric of his being.“Brother,” Karken says, a smug grin crawling up his face as if their encounter was an elaborate plan to have them reunited. “We were just talking about you.”“Leave us be,” Alden demands coldly. “Cathy and I are in the midst of something.”“Of course,” Karken responds quietly, an eerie stillness settling over him as he raises one hand in submission even though no battle has been fought. “It is your castle. C'mon Khimaira, let's leave them to ignite their passion.”“Goodbye Cathy,” Khimaira says as she stands to leave her icy words cutting through the air like a blade. With a swift, almost deliberate movement of her wrists, her fingers trace the necklace around my neck and the back of her hand harshly brush

Lena's lips pull tight as she places the vase back on the shelf with a heightened precision, her eyes locking on every angle until it's back in perfect symmetry to the way she found it. The action instantly sparks a memory that shatters Lena's fragile facade of composure. She turns to me and speaks through gritted teeth, “My brother wanted this room, wanted it for himself like some sort of trophy. He was never content with his own chambers, three times the size. He'd hunt and then force our father to hang up the heads of whatever creatures he killed on my walls – something about him being the heir or some other nonsense that I never cared for. I just wanted my own space, somewhere I could be free from his intrusions, but they refused to let me have that."I try to fill the void of silence and offer a feeble response, “Sounds like you two wouldn’t have gotten along as children.” Lena's face softens and a genuine smile spreads across it as if she is reliving fond memories. “It was nothi

Of my four audiences, Alden is the only one who looks horrified while the other three seem like they are having the times of their lives. I truly do not care what any one of them thinks as I have said my piece so I just turn around and walk out of the room. Alden is the only person in the room who looks distressed; the other three seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Out of my four spectators, he is the only one who wears a look of dismay. I don't pay any attention to the thoughts of the others in the room as I spin on my heel and march out. On my way out, the only sound is the sound of my shoes echoing off the walls, as the room remains deathly silent. I don't even bother to glance back, confident in the fact that I've just gained some ground with Alden. The moment I step out, I exhale the breath that I hadn't even realized I was holding. All the tension, fear, and anxiety that had kept me from expressing my true feelings suddenly come flooding out. My head spins, and I grab

That night, a storm blowing outside prevents me from falling asleep. The cracks of thunder and the flash of lightning accompanied by a violent sound of rain and wind, keep my eyes wide open and cause me to flinch every other second. Ever since I was a child, I have been scared of heavy downpour but more recent events have even compounded this fear. As I lay still, I feel my heart pound harder and harder against my chest until it starts to hurt and my throat starts to constrict. I sit up immediately, knowing that my breathing is getting harder and my vision is getting blurry. But the storm does not let up so the condition that is making me panic only gets worse. In a matter of seconds I can hear my breathing coming out as whistles, loud enough for me to hear despite the windy storm. I might actually die tonight. Just then, the door swings open. My first thought is that somebody is about to attack me during this storm when I will be unable to scream for help so I shift backwards on the