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In the Darkness is a constant work in progress. Everything you read is subject to change as I continue to add more to the story. Also, please note that this means this is not the final peice.
In the Darkness: Chapter 4
After stopping in the kitchen for a quick dinner, Kathern went back to her room for the night. When she glanced at the clock beside her bed, the tiny gold hands pointed to 11:00pm.
Her little nap left her wide awake as she clicked off the overhead light and sat in front of the large bay window. The courtyard was plunged into darkness. The sky was cloudy and the moon could not be seen.
As Katheryn stared into the darkness, the clouds slowly parted. The half moon lit the courtyard. She blinked when she saw what she was staring at.
Several people were gathered below. Katheryn guessed them all to be vampires. They were discussing something and Katheryn only wished she could hear what it was. One of the vampires gracefully waved a hand at Katheryn�s window and her heart skipped a beat as a few of them looked up at her. She slowly moved back to hide in the shadows, hoping they wouldn�t see her. It was obvious she was the topic of conversation.
It drove Katheryn crazy as they continued to talk; a few of them keep glancing up at her. Glancing at the window itself, she noticed two small silver locks that weren�t there earlier. She thought about opening the window, hoping to catch a word or two. But she was afraid that they would notice. And she knew well enough not to make a vampire angry.
Katheryn paced around her room for what seemed like hours. She heard the floor creak outside her door and she froze instantly. The footsteps kept moving down the hall and Katheryn sighed.
�This is crazy.� She told herself, shaking her head. She glanced at the clock. The clock glowed 11:58 pm. She yawned and decided to get some sleep. Or at least try to. As soon as the clock struck midnight. She was plagued with dreams...
A girl sat on a windowsill, over looking the town below. It was a beautiful sight.
It was midday and the streets was full of people. The girl sat in the sun, over looking the busy town. She did this almost everyday. She only longed to be with them. But instead she was stuck in this castle where her mother kept her prisoner.
The girl left the window and passed in front of a full-length mirror. She stopped, only for a moment, to look at her own reflection.
Her hair was brown and it flowed over her shoulders. Her eyes were brown, framed with thick exotic lashes and her skin was flawless. She looked just like Katheryn...
Katheryn sat up quickly. Her heart racing. She jumped as the curtains flew open.
�Good Morning, Milady.� Lily said cheerfully as she opened the curtains. �Sleep we--� She turned and saw Katheryn�s pale face. Lily rushed to her side. �Are you all right, Milady?�
Katheryn�s eyes flickered around the room. �It was just a dream.� She whispered, sighing deeply.
�Did you have a bad dream, Milady?� Lily asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Katheryn leaned back against the headboard and closed her eyes. �It seemed so real.�
�What did, Milady?�
�The dream.� Katheryn opened her eyes and absently looked around the room.
�You should talk to Michael about this.� Lily suggested.
Katheryn looked at Lily, vague confusion written on her face. �Why?�
�I believe he would like to know about your dream.� Lily replied as she stood up. �I�ll go get him.�
�Why would Michael be interested in my dreams?�
�Why wouldn�t I?� Michael had just entered the room.
Katheryn�s head quickly turned towards his voice and she pulled her blankets closer to her. �Don�t you ever knock? I could have been getting dressed!�
�I knew you were still in bed.� Michael replied as he walked towards the bed. Katheryn instinctively edged away from him as he got closer. Something flashed in his eyes as he eased himself into the chair next to her.
�I heard you had an interesting dream?� Michael asked as he relaxed into the chair, but the action seemed forced.
�Nothing gets past you, does it?� Katheryn snapped before she could think otherwise. She noticed that Lily was no longer in the room but there was another sundress hanging over the back of the vanity chair.
�Of course not.� Michael replied, emotionless. Katheryn pulled her blankets closer as her eyes bore into hers. The silence seemed to stretch on forever because she jumped when he finally spoke. �So what was this dream of yours?�
�It was nothing.� Katheryn replied as she turned her head to the window.
�It doesn�t seem like nothing.�
Katheryn didn�t say anything. She just stared as a ray of sun stretched over the window seat and across the floor.
�Katheryn...� Michael�s cool breath crawled over Katheryn�s shoulder and across the back of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine as her heartbeat once again tripled in speed. He felt too close. Katheryn turned her head back towards Michael and gasped as his lips briefly brushed hers. �Don�t hate me, Katheryn.� He whispered.
That simple kiss was all she could think about for the rest of the day. She kept trying to convince herself it was nothing. A mistake. But some traitorous part of her mind hoped he meant it.
Micheal was pretty good looking. Okay, he was gorgeous. With his casually tousled midnight black hair, contrasting perfectly with the fairness of his skin. His dark eyes that seemed to be made of liquid onyx. Not to mention his wonderfully sculpted body.
Stop!
Katheryn forced herself to think of something else. It was ridiculous to think of him that way. Not like anything would ever happened between the two of them. After all, he was immortal.
So why couldn�t she get his voice out of her head? Why did her heart insist on racing whenever he was nearby? And why did she want nothing but to run into his arms? Right now.
Pondering these thoughts, Katheryn found herself out in the courtyard again. It was a beautiful place to be. She already found her favorite spot on the rocks. Lying back, she stared up into the sky. Once in a while, she�d close her eyes. Just for a moment. And bask in the warmth of the suns rays.
Time seemed to pass quickly, because when she opened her eyes she was bathed in moonlight. The cool night air crept over her skin and she curled up to stay warmer. It wasn�t long before she realized that Michael was nearby. She was getting used to his sudden presence. It didn�t bother her as much anymore.
Silently, he moved to sit beside her. When she looked up at him, she noticed that his expression was carefully composed. She wondered briefly what emotion he was trying not to show. As if feeling her stare, he turned his head and met her gaze. Her breath unwillingly caught in her throat and a small smile tugged at his lips.
Slowly, she forced herself into a sitting position. She shifted to sit next to Michael but was careful to keep enough distance between them so they weren�t touching. Her eyes skimmed over the pond�s surface as she watched the moon�s reflection shimmer in and out of focus.
�How do you manage it?� The words were out of her mouth before she even realized she was speaking. Absently, she watched his reflection on the water.
�Manage what?� A frown crossed his lips as his gaze shifted to meet her gaze on the surface.
�Living by night.� She curled her legs and hugged them to her chest, lying her head on her knees.
Something flickered across his eyes, but he adverted his gaze before she could analyze it. �After so long, you adapt. You learn to live without certain things.�
Something in his voice made her believe that they weren�t just talking about his sun adversion.
They both sat in silence for a few minutes. Occasionally his eyes would flicker towards her.
�Why do you call me, Princess?� It was a question she�s been meaning to ask. Her father used to call her that and the memory was still painful.
�Because that�s who you are.� He answered.
Katheryn frowned. She didn�t understand. �What--�
�This isn�t something I should be explaining.� He said, cutting her off.�
�Why not?� She demanded. She was getting frustrated with his cryptic answers.
Instead of answering, he abruptly stood and held his hand out to her. She glared up at him. He sighed. �I can�t help you, but I know someone who can.�
Reluctantly, she placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. The sudden flow of blood in her legs caused her to stumble into him. He gently righted her again, his hands lingering on her hips until he was satisfied she could stand on her own. A grin played across his face. �Sorry.�
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to look angry but all she could think of were his hands on her hips. Her heart was beating rapidly and she wouldn�t be surprised if he could hear it.
Suddenly his grin faded and he released her, taking her hand as he led her back inside. His hand was surprisingly rough in hers and cool to the touch. He kept his grip loose, as if she was a porcelain figure that would shatter at the slightest contact.
Michael led Katheryn through a part of the house she had never been in before. The hallway so dark, she had to keep close to avoid losing her way. Michael stopped in front of one of the doors and turned to Katheryn.
�Gabrielle will tell you what you need to know.�
�Gabrielle?� Katheryn mused but Michael had already disappeared.
Katheryn found herself staring at the empty space Michael vacated until she forced herself to turn towards the door. It was another carefully etched door. In the dim light, Katheryn could make out a large rose and a few words in Latin.
Hesitantly, she knocked on the door. The door creaked open and a feminine form filled the doorway.
�Gabrielle just stared at Katheryn for a moment before a gentle smile rose on her lips. �I�ve been expecting you, my dear.� She reached forward and took both of Katheryn�s hands then leaned down and kissed both of her cheeks. The smell of roses filed Katheryn�s nose. Gabrielle gently pulled her across the threshold and into the room.
The room was lit with only candle light, bathing them both in a warm glow. Gabrielle was tall with a lean, but motherly figure. Her long dark hair fell in ebony waves down her back. She wore an elegant satin dress that hugged her beautiful figure, Katheryn couldn�t tell the color. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the dim lighting. The room itself was equally stunning. Bookcases lined the walls, each filled to the max with ancient looking books. A small table sat off to the side with a pair of velvet lined chairs on either side. Gabrielle led her here.
�Have a seat, my child.� Gabrielle motioned towards a chair then circled the little table and sat down in her own chair across from it.
Katheryn hesitantly took a seat, feeling a bit uneasy and nervous.
�Michael informs me that the awakening is beginning.�
�Awakening?� Katheryn whispered, afraid to break the silence that hung in the room. �Who�s?� She wondered aloud.
�Yours, my dear.� Gabrielle smiled.
Katheryn stared at Gabrielle, her confusion showing plainly on her face.
Gabrielle smiled. �Your dreams seem like memories, don�t they?� Katheryn nodded. �And did you see what this girl, in your dreams, looked like?� Again Katheryn nodded, her mind wandering back to the dream. Gabrielle watched her for a moment before continuing. �Have you met Diana?�
�Diana?� Katheryn frowned as she searched her memory for a girl named Diana. Then one of her recent dreams came drifting back to her. �The gift to that girl? It�s a tiger, right?�
�Diana is a very special animal.� Gabrielle stood and wandered to the bookshelf behind her. She took one of the heavy books off the shelf and sat back down, placing the dusty book on the table. Katheryn looked from the book to Gabrielle and back to the book.
�How so?� Katheryn heard herself say, even though her mind was on the book in Gabrielle�s hands.
Gabrielle opened the book and the old pages crinkled when she turned the page. Katheryn watched closely. The pages held writing in a language that Katheryn couldn�t read. Probably more Latin.
�Long ago, the beings that surround you--�
�Vampires?� Katheryn interrupted.
�More than that, my child. Vampires, shape-shifters, and witches.� Gabrielle listed automatically.
Katheryn fell against the back of the chair. �And... which are you?�
�I am a vampire. One of the oldest that live within these walls.� Gabrielle watched Katheryn process this information. Katheryn eyes fell to the book again and Gabrielle continued:
�Long ago, the beings that surround you took a white tiger and injected their blood into her. Before the dark blood attacked her system, she gave birth to your Diana. She was a beautiful cub. Her fur shined in the moonlight and her blue eyes were like crystals. She was a true creature of the night.�
�Was?� Katheryn eyes were unfocused but her mind was still attentive.
�She still is.� Gabrielle ammended.
Another frown. �Still is? What do you mean?�
�The blood that flows through Diana�s veins comes from the elders of different covens.� Gabrielle paused and studied Katheryn for a moment. �We don�t know all of her gifts. But one thing she inherited is immortality. She still lives. However, her other gifts, only the princess knows.�
Katheryn didn�t know what piece of the information to be baffled by first. The fact that this tiger was apparently still alive and well. Or�. �The princess?�
�Yes, the princess whose soul lies dormant within you.�
Katheryn looked at Gabrielle. �Within me?� Her tone was dripping with disbelief.
�Yes, you are the reincarnation of the moon princess.�
Katheryn just shook her head. �I can�t be a princess.�
�Why do you think that your dreams seem like memories?� Gabrielle pressed.
Katheryn couldn�t answer. Gabrielle just smiled.
A clock chimed behind Katheryn and she jumped. It rang midnight.
�Midnight?� Katheryn gasped. She didn�t realize how much time had gone by.
�It�s getting rather late, isn�t it?� Gabrielle stood up and walked across the room. She pressed a small button on the wall and a bell rang in the distance. Almost instantly there was a small knock on the door and a girl entered. �Samantha, please take Katheryn back to her room. She�s in the goddess suite.� Gabrielle told the girl.
�Yes, Milady.� The girl nodded and turned to Katheryn.
Katheryn nodded and stood, almost in a daze, but something stopped her from leaving the room. "Why couldn't Michael tell me this himself?"
Gabrielle hesitated, a small frown flickering across her face as she looked away. "Michael had a very... strong relationship with Princess Selene." She explained softly after a moment.
Strong relationship? Like brother and sister, or... Katheryn blushed a deep crimson. Gabrielle's gentle smile at this proved that a mere sibling relationship was not what she meant.
"You must be tired. Samantha will show you to your room." Gabrielle guided the dazed Katheryn towards the waiting girl. "Sleep well, Princess."
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