Hazel and Maeve

Chapter 3

-Maeve POV-

“Have you gotten everything planned out?” Our mom asks us while scooping food onto our plates.

This is another reason for keeping my nightmares a secret. She is so damn excited for this party. She also thinks of us having mates and babies and living out our dreams. I wish that would be able to happen for the both of us, but she will get it in one. And for now, things are normal when you look at Hazel and I.

I just side-eye my sister. “Yes! Everything is all done. All that needs to be done is the actual decorating. I cannot wait!” Hazel squeals with excitement.

“Aren’t you excited, Maeve?” Dad questions me with a teasing tone.

I stop mid-bite with my fork hanging right in front of my mouth. I cut my eyes over to him before they narrow. I can see the smile threatening to form. He knows I am not excited about this party. I don’t want to be the center of attention for a whole night, and he just loves to tease me about it.

I drop my fork back on my plate as I give him my best fake smile. “Of course, I get to spend the whole night celebrating with random people.”

This causes my dad to crack. Busting out a deep belly laugh, causing my mom to scold him. Hazel just shakes her head while giggling. Mission accomplished. I have gotten the conversation off of our party onto other things. Everyone makes small talk while I just eat in silence. My mind runs the whole time. What is going to happen? That question plays in my mind over and over again. Something wants me, wants my sister and me, and I have no idea who it is. I have no idea when they are coming or what kind of supernatural creature it is. All I know is that I will do everything in my power to keep my sister safe.

Exhaustion fills me, but I push it away. I do not have time to let everything weigh me down. I have to remain strong. Even though my body craves just one night of peace…

Dinner is soon over, the kitchen is cleared, and my ass is in bed. Pulling the covers over me, I let sleep overtake me… knowing the nightmare is coming.

“What the f*ck?” I whisper.

Something is holding me down. I can’t lift my arms or legs. I snap my eyes open rapidly, looking from my left to my right to see some kind of chain around my wrists. I can only imagine that those same chains are around my ankles, too.

What the actual f**k.

This is nothing like any of my other dreams. I have never had this happen before. Quickly using my brain, I take in my surroundings. Taking in the grey walls with black trim. The walls are bare, from what I can see, as only a lamp is the only light I have. I want to lift my head up to see more, but I don't allow myself. Something in me is stopping me from doing it.

All of a sudden, a dark chuckle fills the room. The chuckle causes my ears to ring. My skin crawls as my blood runs cold just from the sound. Goosebumps pop up all over my skin before I can stop my body from reacting to the sound. I don’t know where the chuckle came from, but I cannot let this person see any sort of weakness. That thought is the only thing stopping me from franticing looking around. Slowing my breathing, I try to will my body to calm down.

“Ah, I knew you would be the perfect one.”

A presence says to my right causing me to cut my gaze to the sound of their voice. My eyes widen when I take in the blurred face. F*ck, how are they blurring their face out?

“Don’t think so hard. You will ruin my fun.”

I don’t have time to process his words before a hand is being laid on my stomach.

“F*CK!” I scream out in agony from the amount of pain that fills my body.

It feels like someone just poured molten silver all over my stomach. The smell of my burning flesh fills the air. Trying to control my breathing, the bastard just laughs at me while pressing harder into my skin. Tears run down as I break. The pain is just unbearable. I try to wiggle my body to get away from the blazing pain, but nothing is helping.

“F*ck you.” I whimper out with malice in my tone.

“Awe, I do love your fight, little one.”

“Why do you want someone like me, huh?! I am nothing.” I try to spit out, but you can still hear the whimper in my tone.

All of a sudden, the creature's hand ripped away from my stomach. I suck in a deep breath as the pain slowly starts to fade. All too soon, the pain is back as a hand is wrapped around my throat. The pain sears through me, which causes me to cry out.

“Do not ever utter those words again. You are not nothing. You are MINE. No one is going to take that away from me, not even you.” The bastard sneered at me with nothing but venom in his voice.

SLAP.

I gasped out in shock mixed with pain, as I was not expecting it. The slap caused me to bite the inside of my cheek, and I could taste my own blood. F*ck. I must have bitten down too hard as blood started to fill my mouth. I went to spit it in this bastard's face...

“Fuck.” I gasped out as I shot up in bed. I clutched my chest while trying to control my breathing. Forcing myself to calm down, I finally started to take in some deep breaths, only to be met with pain. S*it.

I rushed out of bed and stumbled into my bathroom. Flicking on the lights so I can get a look at myself. I freeze upon seeing myself. There is a huge handprint covering my neck. It looks as if someone burned their own handprint into my skin. How is that…wait. Frantically, I shove my shirt up, only to let out a sob. Covering my mouth, I collapse to the floor. Another handprint covers my stomach.

How the f*ck did this creature burn me to the point that it lasted outside of the dream?

My wolf, Mia: You need to mindlink Apollo. You have to see him right away. He needs to be informed of this.

Me: I don’t know... I mean.. (She ends up cutting me off)

Mia: SHUT UP! Go to Apollo. You need to break down, and he can hold you. I cannot.

Me: F*ck, Mia. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. How was that bastard able to touch me? How is it possible that his handprint is still on my skin?

Mia: I do not know. I wish I did. I wish I could help you when you dream, but I am trapped. I hate it.

Me: I know...

Mia: At least this creature slipped up this time. That is something to hold onto.

Me: How?

Mia: It showed us that it is not a wolf. Or at least not a full wolf. This could help us with narrowing down who could be behind wanting to kidnap you. There must be something in the library that tells us what sort of creature this could be. That is something to hold onto.

Me: I guess. F*ck, I need to go so I can mindlink Uncle Apollo. If I don’t go now, then I know I won’t go at all.

Mia: Okay. Remember, I am always here for you. No matter what. Lean on me.

I gave Mia a slight nod before I cut off the mindlink. I use the sink to pull myself up before I end up clutching to it. I just stare at myself for what feels like forever before I get my butt moving. I feel like I just go through the motions as I throw on a hoodie before slipping on some sweats. Shoving my feet into my sneakers, I finally sneak out of the house. I make sure to mindlink my Uncle on the way to his house as I just move in a trance.