Chapter three
1316 Words
Cassie's POV
I didn't know what had come over me. I normally wouldn't dare to speak to anyone like that, especially not with my social standing. Despite me being the Alpha's daughter I would never dare to speak to the Beta's son like that and it didn't feel as if it was the alcohol talking like Kathleen had assumed. Something was wrong but I didn't know what.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" everyone yelled and as soon as they had reached 1, the fire lit up.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Kathleen gushed.
"It really is," I agreed as I watched the flames dance around on the wood that had been tied to the pole in the middle.
Somehow, it seemed as if I was able to see the flames so much clearer than normal. The beautiful orange color mixed with the blood-red from the glow where the button of the flames met with the wood and the way it turned white the closer it got to the hot spot, was beautiful. So detailed and so enchanting.
"See I told you, you wouldn't regret going out," she grinned a little too satisfied, snapping me out of the daze I was caught up in.
"Yeah, fine, you win this once," I said in surrender, not really wanting to argue about whether or not this had been a good idea or not.
"Want to go home now or?" she asked with a hidden undertone in her voice telling me that she hoped I'd say no.
"We can stay a little longer if you want," I shrugged.
It wasn't the worst of the worst to be out and I knew she enjoyed it and that, I didn't want to ruin seeing as she never really got time with me like this, so I grabbed two drinks from the table and handed her one.
"I like this side of you Cass," she smiled. "Cheers."
"Cheers."
Only a few minutes had passed. Kathleen was dancing in the same spot as she stood before and I was beginning to feel uneasy and lightheaded. Not the usual uneasy feeling I had when I was in a crowd, but a different one, one that soon turned into nausea.
"Are you okay?" Kathleen yelled over the music.
"I'm fine," I tried to assure her, but she knew me better than that and before I knew it she had grabbed my hand and started to pull me away from the party.
She continued walking, my hand in hers, as she dragged me along even though my feet felt like caving in, and she didn't stop until we reached the other side of the pond.
"Kathleen, I am fine," I said once again when we finally came to a halt, trying to convince her even though I knew I wasn't and that my words didn't even convince myself.
"You are not fine," she stated. "You look pale and you are... sweating," she said as she wiped her hand over my forehead. "Are you sick?"
"No, I'm-"
"If you say fine one more time," she warned.
"I don't feel too good," I admitted, not only to her but to myself as well, and just like that, everything set into motion.
I bent over with a groan, grabbing my stomach, trying desperately to stay on my feet.
"Cassie!"
It felt as if my body was on fire and yet I felt so cold. So unbelievably cold.
"I'm going to get your dad!" she said trying to calm me.
"No! No, don't, please!" I begged. "Just stay," I managed to groan out just as another wave hit me.
My eyes started to see the blackness from around the corners, the ground feeling as if it would cave in any second and so I fell, collapsing into a pit of pain. Everything hurt all at once. It wasn't something that started in one place and then spread to another, no, it was everything as if my entire body was set on fire all at once. Every feeling, every touch from Kathleen when she tried to calm me down, and every single sound around me, enhanced so much that it was hard being in my own body.
"Oh my god, what is happening," I whimpered. "It hurts!"
"s**t!" Kathleen cursed under her breath. "Cassie... I think you are..." she trailed off.
"What? I am- f**k- I am what?"I panted.
"I think you are shifting," she exclaimed shocked.
"No! I cant be! It is not my birthday yet!" I protested, but despite my efforts of denying it, I knew there was no reason to.
It all fit. The burning, the feeling of losing control, the heightened senses... I had only been told what it was like during your first shift and I had been warned by many that it would be different for me seeing as I had my special powers, but this... This was on a level I had not prepared for, let alone already.
"Shh, it is going to be okay," Kathleen cooed, bending down and gently stroking my back.
"You shouldn't be here," I managed to force out through my gritted teeth.
"Shut up, I am not going anywhere," she said and the concern in her voice was evident. "You are my best friend and I won't be leaving you in a situation like this."
"You dont know what will happen," I pushed. "What if I hurt you?"
"You won't," she assured me.
"Please go," I begged.
"I'm not going."
"Kathy..."
"Cassie..."
"Plea-"
I was cut off by my own voice screaming into the darkness.
"We need to move you," she said slightly panicked. "We can't have the others hearing you."
She grabbed my arm and tried to pull me to my feet, but my legs simply wouldn't work which resulted in her lifting my entire weight.
"Come on," she pleaded. "We need to go further into the woods. I know it hurts but just a little more and you'll be out of hearing range. We can't have the others knowing about this or they will get your dad."
I pushed myself beyond every limit as I let her drag me further away from the curious ears that could hear everything better than anyone.
"Just a bit further," she breathed, clearly struggling with my half limp body, and just as we got far enough away, my back bent the wrong way, and a cracking sound echoed through the dark woods followed by my painful cries.
"Please pass out," she whimpered next to me as more bones cracked. "Please pass out."
And I wished for nothing more than that. Passing out sounded like heaven right now compared to what my body was experiencing.
"It shouldn't take this long," she said as she started to pace around. "What if something is wrong?"
"Kathy..." I breathed. "Calm... Calm down."
I tried to get her to calm down, so I could calm down, but the pain was so intense. I felt myself break apart, every muscle and every bone, and then, after what had felt like forever and a day, I felt myself grow back together as if everything suddenly had snapped into place and, with the last breaking sound, the darkness surrounded me completely.
"Tatiana?"
"Tatiana? Where are you?"
"Come out, come out, wherever you are."
And then the room filled with sobs from a child sitting in the corner of the room.
"Please or mamma will be sad," the same voice spoke.
That gentle, soothing voice.
"Oh, there you are," the woman spoke as she bent down. "What are you doing hiding here? Did the thunder scare you?"
"Yes," the small girl whispered, hugging her knees tight. "Darkness too."
"Oh sweetie," she cooed. "The darkness can be a scary thing, but remember that I will be there lighting up the way for you."
"Always?"
"Always and forever."
And then, my eyes opened at new.
- Writer
