The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

- KATALEYA ~

I sit there pondering on the words that Jose had spoken, the picture he had shown me... but I feel like I've seen it before... not exactly, but... there's something.

A familiarity about it, but I don't know where or how... I am sure I've not seen it but then my mind is saying something else.

I don't know!

It's... infuriating.

I sigh, pouting as I try to calm my mind, which is spinning.

Goddess... what am I missing?

I glance through the shaft out to the darkened sky. My impatience is partially because I have already concocted my plan to help him and although I asked Jose, he said he would not be able to defy his Alpha's command. That's alright because I plan to heal him, regardless.

The time to put my plan into action has come.

Ok, Kat, you have got this! You are going to get up there to the Stubborn Alpha's bedroom and fix this. Yes, you will!

Ok, let's do this.

Standing up, I take a slow, calming breath before I walk over to the door.

This is something that took time... but I learned to do it after observing a trick that Leo first showed me. I just added a little touch of my own. And it became even more convenient with the use of my powers.

Ok...

I slip my hand through the bar, moving the chain slowly, the sound loud in the air. I flinch, praying no one is in hearing range. I grab the padlock in one hand, pressing myself closer to the bars. They're made of silver too...

I slip my other hand through the bars, struggling a little as my arms don't go too far out. My eyes blaze as my pink aura wraps around my fingertips, and I direct it into the keyhole. Almost there...

I close my eyes, spreading the flames slowly inside the hole, feeling the mechanisms through my powers, forcing them the way they would turn until I hear the lock click as the padlock springs open. Perfect! I did it!

Quickly removing the padlock, I unwrap the chain and slip out. Quickly snapping the padlock shut, I quietly make my way back the way I had been brought down here.

The reminder of Enrique's hurtful words crushing me a little.

Did I really anger him that much?

Why... unless... unless he knows who I am, he can't treat all women like this. I refuse to believe that. My Enrique wouldn't.

But he isn't mine... I have no right to think like that. I came to help him... nothing more.

Pushing the thoughts away, I remind myself that I knew he could be mated, in a relationship or more... regardless of my feelings.

I pause, as I hear two people walking somewhere close by and remain still. No one will sense me, but if they see me, that's another story.

I quickly make my way up the stairs, and into the dark room that led to the cells.

Unlocking the door that leads out to the main pack house in the same way, I make sure to open the door as quietly as possible.

I tip-toe out, shutting and locking the door behind me before I head down the hall, stopping a few times before I reach the stairs, making sure no one walking in and around the pack house sees me. But I also have to make sure I use my powers sparingly. The Crawlers will be close, and they know where I am now... and so will whoever sent them.

We've faced Apophis... who will be next?

I push the dark thoughts from my mind as I hurry up the steps. It's not too hard to get through the halls with ease. The place is huge.

When I finally make my way up to the top floor, it's even quieter than before. I guess because there is no one waiting outside the room I was in. I silently make my way down the hall. His scent is stronger here. Enrique...

I push open the door slowly, but the moment I see the man drenched in sweat on the bed, I gasp in panic. Rushing inside, I shut the door behind me and lock it just in case someone decides to pop upstairs. "Enrique!" I gasp as I check his pulse. He's burning up!

There's not enough time. How much hatred is he harbouring?! I brush his wet locks off his forehead, wiping the sweat.

Goddess, ease his pain.

I need a knife!

I glance around the room frantically before I get off the bed quickly and begin searching the drawers, until I find a collection of small daggers in one of the drawers, next to a selection of belts. These will do!

Hurrying back to the bed, I pull down the bed sheet and begin creating little incisions along his bruised arms and shoulders.

Hearing the hiss as the darkness escapes his body, I feel anger at those monsters for doing this to him!

A Crawler's injury continues to feed and fester on darkness, and it can be fatal if it continues to spread, because once it touches your vital organs it will begin to kill you.

I create twelve incisions, seeing the black blood drip onto the bed.

Enrique groans as he turns his head violently, clearly in pain.

"It's going to be alright," I whisper soothingly as he lets out a pained grunt, his upper body lifting from the bed.

I gasp, grabbing his shoulders and pin him to the bed. He needs to calm down!

His eyes fly open, blazing gold as he lets out a menacing growl, but he isn't there. His body is writhing with pain, his canines elongate, and I can feel his body tense.

My heart skips a beat and I glance at the door, forcing him to stay down and hope no one heard.

He's trying to shift!

"Enrique, no!"

If he shifts now, it will be for nothing. I need the darkness to leave his body and I'm not even done yet...

"Enrique, look at me." I whisper, hoping he hears the calmness in my voice. He can't see me, I know that, but he's being pulled into the dark visions that the Crawlers feed you.

Depraved, dark, and deadly visions that will want you to kill yourself just to end the madness.

That's what I heard anyway... and... we did have someone kill himself as he lost himself to the madness of the Crawlers touch. We learned the hard way... but that's it now. We have to keep striving and figuring out how to deal with new threats. But I won't let anyone die from a Crawler's touch again. Never again.

I look down at the handsome man before me, as I sit beside him, my legs tucked under me, and I wipe his forehead.

He's sweating profusely, and with every passing minute, it's becoming worse.

"Enrique, relax," I whisper, I need him to still so I can finish this.

He snarls as he swings his arm and I duck. It misses me narrowly as he tears into the bedding, his claws out.

He's muttering something and I lean closer, trying to understand.

"Padre no! Please no! Madre!"

My face drains of all colour, my stomach plummeting as I listen to his anguished muttering.

"No... Please, Padre! Please..."