Chapter 45- Don't Wake the Beast

^^What I wrote this chapter to^^

"Wake the beast and you may never wake again."  (I literally just made this up lol)

Chapter 45

River's POV

What was I to do?

My heart raced as my eyes caught sight of the nearest door and just as the idea hit me my eyes closed.

Don't run. No more running.

"Please don't run," came a soft voice over my shoulder as a gentle pair of lips landed on my shoulder. "Please, love."

I was afraid to turn. Afraid of what I would see. The flurry of emotions I had no doubt caused.

His soft breath brushed softly past my shoulder as his lips drew away. A breath I hadn't realized I was holding choked from my throat in a sharp gasp. My mind raced along with my beating heart as it searched for a solution as his fingers brushed against my waist, waiting patiently as I struggled to calm my pounding chest.

You knew he was down there. You knew he was in a cage of some sort.

I had known, but seeing it firsthand was more horrific than I could have ever imagined. I knew he was down there, but I had stuffed it in the back of my mind the moment he was dragged during our mating ceremony. I had locked it away. Far. Forgotten.

Perhaps, deep inside I had thought if I were to lock it away in my mind it wouldn't affect me. If I don't think of it, allow it to take any of my time, surely it couldn't be able to affect me. If only that was true.

Not only did I come into contact with the physical form of all that stood for bad but the door, what locked the beast away, had the very name of all that stood for good to me. It was contradictory, oddly eerie. Like an angel's face painted across a blood-stained saber.

Something was wrong, very wrong. It made me begin to question my mate. If all I had thought him as was wrong. If perhaps there was a dark side to him that I hadn't fully been exposed to yet. The idea caused a cold shiver run down my spine and caused the once gentle hand on my waist grow strangely cold against my now shivering form.

"Love," Alastair's voice pulled against my aching heart, "What did you see?"

"W-what do you mean?" I managed.

His fingers twirled around a single, blond curl as he leaned closer, "Something changed. You're tense. You weren't tense last night. What happened? What changed from the time you had fallen asleep till the time I carried you from the revolting place my men pulled you from?"

"I-I," You, "I s-saw...things...vile things that I can no longer unsee," I choked as my hand pulled to my face, attempting to contain the mess of tears flowing down my face.

"What did you see?" His voice caught sharply.

I shook my head, a choked sob escaping my throat as my hand tightened around my mouth.

The singular sound of my choked sobs filled the garden, the occasional sound of rustling leaves and flowers chiming in as Alastair sat silently behind me. The sudden feel of his fingers brushing across the side of my face pulled another sob from me as he pulled me into his lap, turning me so his eyes could meet mine.

"I'm so sorry," his voice was so soft, too soft against my shaking form as his solemn eyes met mine. "I had hoped a gentle soul like yours would never have to lay witness to anything less than beautiful again. Yet, in my own presence, you have time and time again," a muscle ticked in his cheek as his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "I apologize, my love." A single finger brushed against my cheek in a swift, light manner as his eyes glazed, "I apologize for my incompetence."

My eyes widened as the words fell from his lips like a chipped rock down a sharded cliff, "N-no. You're not incompetent, Alastair." I wrapped my fingers around his hand that had just fallen from my face with an aching pulse against my cold wrist.

A small, half-smile pulled against his lips as his fingers knitted with mine. My pulse rose from my wrist, traveling like an electrifying current towards my heart as he leaned forward, brushing his lips ever so slightly against mine.

A small whine struggled against my softened lips as he pulled away, a singular thumb brushing below my eyes as he tilted his head. "You're not crying anymore," he released a relieved sigh as his smile returned with a breathtaking glow that caused my own to form.

I nodded just as a stream of sunlight streamed gently across his face, creating an angel-like glow across his handsome features.

He's so beautiful.

So beautiful.

The thought brought a sudden rush of emotions to explode forth, causing a small bundle of tears to build in the very corners of my eyes.

How could someone so beautiful be part of something so disgusting?

Perhaps I had imagined it. Perhaps it had said another name yet because of my mate's constant presence in my mind, I had interpreted it as the one name that filled every crevice of my being.

Don't be ridiculous. You're not delusional enough to have misconstrued a singular word to such a degree. You may not be as educated as most but you are not illiterate.

The sound of my rumbling stomach interrupted my rambling thoughts with a desperate outcry. Heat filled my cheeks as Alastair let out a light laugh.

"Hungry, love?"

I nodded. So my stomach declares.

As we entered the kitchen, Alastair went straight to the head cook as I stood by the entranceway, head tilted as Michael stood in the center of a group of maids by the front entrance, in a heated discussion. I couldn't hear anything because of my proximity but I could tell from his serious expression that it was no silly matter. Just as the maids curtsied and rushed out the front entrance, Isaiah descended the stairway. I raised a hand to wave but his eyes went straight to Michael, unaware of my existence across the hall. I dropped my hand awkwardly.

I thought of calling his name but decided it would be far too improper.

What would Alastair think if he stepped out of the kitchen to see you screaming like a fool across the hall?

I shook the thought away.

Michael muttered something against Isaiah's listening ears as Isaiah dipped out the door after the maids.

What is going on?

Just then, a maid appeared from the entrance with a large box in hand, slightly wobbling as Michael watched with a nervous expression. Several other maids followed shortly, each with boxes upon boxes stacking high. Isaiah followed after, taking stand beside Michael as he rubbed his back as Michael stood rigidly, leaning slightly forward as if ready to catch a box if a maid were to stumble and drop one.

A hand landed on my shoulder in a sudden motion that caused my body to lurch forward, almost face-planting to the floor if not for the muscular arm that wrapped around my waist, keeping me stably situated.

"Careful, love," Alastair whispered in my ear as he kissed me behind the ear and helped me upright.

Just as I gained the correct footing, a booming voice resounded down the hallway.

"Idiot!"

I peered up just as Michael exploded at the entranceway as a maid scrambled up from the floor, a fallen box beside her as the contents spilled across the marble flooring, broken glass shattered by the spilling contents.

Her eyes widened considerably as she laid eye to the mess she had created. She reached into her pocket, extending a wash cloth and bending down towards the mess.

A couple maids hurried to help her as Michael's glare cut into her back. Isaiah chewed anxiously at his nails, turning away. His eyes brightened as they landed on mine.

He peered at Michael then back at the mess before making a beeline in my direction.

"River," he sighed as he wrapped his arms around me. I waited for Alastair's usual growl but heard none.

I guess he views Isaiah as no threat.

"Where did you go last night? When Alastair came to my chamber asking for you...," he pulled away to look at me just as tears began to form at the corners of his eyes, "I was so scared River. We've just gotten you back and then you just disappeared."

I wrapped my arms around his waist as I peered up at him, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

He shook his head as he dabbed at his eyes with his sleeve, "Just...let us not have a repeat, yeah?"

I nodded.

"Where did you even-" Isaiah began.

"For fuck's sake!" Michael interrupted with a sudden growl. Isaiah turned in my arms, peering back as Michael yelled harshly at a group of nervous, fluttering maids.

"Goddess, he's going to kill someone." Isaiah muttered exasperatedly as he turned back to me, "I better go stop him..."

I nodded. "Good luck," I forced a smile.

"I'll need it," he managed as he ran back towards Michael.

"How my brother manages to handle such a fiery mate. I will never know," Alastair commented beside me.

I nodded as I watched Michael pull forward just as Isaiah pulled between the two with a flurry of waved hands and masked hysteria.

More maids rounded into the entrance with boxes, sidestepping the drama and walking hastily up the stairs. The girl on the floor looked so incredibly scared, eyes agape as she picked up each fallen glass, sweat dripping down her hairline.

Poor girl.

Michael fumed, arms crossed as Isaiah blocked his vision of the girl with a forced smile.

Amongst the chaos, I caught sight of Derek descending the stairs with a half-dressed woman by his arm. My head whipped back to Isaiah who appeared distracted, not yet aware of Derek's presence as he attempted to calm the furious doctor.

Oh, Goddess. Oh, Goddess.

It was like watching a scene play out in slow motion as Derek descended the stairs behind Isaiah's unknowing form. Derek eyes locked on Isaiah's form, a spark of emotion drawing across his eyes, disappearing the moment the woman's hand brushed against his arm seductively.

Bile pulled up my throat.

How could he? Right in Isaiah's presence? Has he no heart at all?

It seemed like karma took immediate action as an ascending maid crashed straight into him, a tube of medicine spilling across the front of his shirt in a nasty, green shade.

I would have felt bad if I wasn't so peeved at his presence.

A squeak resounded from the woman on Derek's arm as she pulled away. The maid's eyes widened as she turned back at Michael, fear present across her face as the doctor's eyes narrowed. Isaiah turned at the sudden sound, catching eye of the dreadful stain across Derek's shirt and then to the woman by his side.

Isaiah's face grew stone-like. His posture grew rigid. Though his eyes never wavered from the scene, continuously switching from Derek's mattered shirt to the half naked woman by his side. I could only imagine the places his mind was taking him as emotions played like an endless orchestra across his eyes.

Derek's expression was unreadable. No matter how much I squinted and tilted my head I couldn't figure out what he could have possibly been thinking.

"Well, well, someone had fun last night," a cheerful, jolly of a voice turned into the room.

Isaiah's eyes pulled from Derek as he glared at Hyde's obnoxious form leaning against the doorway.

"Good thing I came back for a bite, huh?" He laughed, "I would've missed all this action," he rose his hands in Derek's general direction.

Alastair's form remained silent beside me, merely watching as I turned to see his reaction. I turned back in Hyde's direction as he walked further into the entranceway, stepping upon a shard of glass with a crack.

He peered down with a raised brow, lifting his foot as he peered down at the shattered shard where his foot had just been.

"What happened here?" He peered up just as Michael ground his teeth together and stepped forward with a shaking fist.

My eyes widened as I turned back at Alastair but again, nothing. I was just about to take action as Hyde eyed Michael's furious form.

"What happened to you? Bad fuck?"

And just like that, Michael lunged. It all happened so fast that none could stop it as Michael's fist connected with Hyde's face, knocking his head to the side. I expected him to fall to the ground but nonetheless he kept his footing as a fit of laughter escaped his throat.

He is insane.

It seemed that Michael agreed with me as he lips pulled into a scowl.

"I'll take that as a yes?" Hyde's voice rang as his head snapped forward with a crooked smirk.

Michael growled just as Isaiah stepped in, "Don't provoke him, Hyde. He just had some of his works spilled across the palace floor. This is not the time to be snarky."

"Is that a request?" Hyde raised a brow.

Isaiah nodded, though his face read as slightly puzzled.

"Very well," he declared, stepping towards Isaiah, "anything for you, Isaiah." He lifted a finger, brushing it lightly against Isaiah's cheek as Isaiah tensed, eyes wide.

My head turned toward Derek standing tensely on the stairs. His eyes burned holes into Hyde as he stood at a distance from the woman, ignoring her as he began descending the stairs.

Oh Goddess, this can't be good.

Suddenly Hyde turned, eyes drilling into Derek's as Derek descended the stairs.

"Now that you've occupied yourself with the nearest warm body," Hyde eyed the woman on the stairs, "I'm to assume you don't mind me pursuing Isaiah?"

Derek's eyes dug into Hyde like an arrowhead to a wooden target.

"You seem well occupied with another, after all," Hyde implied towards the uncomfortable woman on the stairs.

Derek stopped a good few feet away, "leave him the fuck alone," his growled out.

Isaiah appeared to visibly tense beside Hyde.

Hyde's smirk grew with every dagger Derek threw at him, "A bit defensive, aren't you? Especially for a friend."

And just like that, the second fire struck.

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