The Beast And The Blessed

Eighty-Four: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

It was time.

The war was here... or rather, we were going to it.

There were a lot of people depending on me not to fail. I couldn't stay in that room. If I did, I would want to touch Killian, to know that I was safe and hadn't been transported back to the darkness.

I needed to fight through it, to stand on my own as a powerful descendant and not as someone who couldn't go more than a few minutes without touching someone to ground me to their realm. It was humiliating that our people had to see me that way, and I refused to let them witness me acting so weak.

If Killian's father was trying to send me a message, then maybe instead of resisting, I needed to listen.

Killian wanted to ignore what happened and tackle one issue at a time, but I knew in my heart that they were connected.

My pace increased as I stormed down the hall, and Tobias shot me a worried look when he realized exactly where I was heading.

The infirmary doors were still open at the end of the hallway, but there was no movement inside.

I paused just outside Lillian's room.

I didn't know what I was looking for, but my eyes scanned the hallway anyway.

"You have a message for me. I'm listening." I said as firmly as I could. But I still swallowed hard as I waited for a response, terrified that I was making the wrong decision.

my hair flew up as Tobias placed his hand on my arm. For only a moment, I allowed

going to hide away, scared

will not be pleased." George said as he

acting like a protective barricade. But it was pointless as I knew the biggest threat was in

have our parts to play in this war. This is mine, and I will not let my people down." No matter

thought to myself, not needing to encourage them that this was a bad idea any more than they already believed. The air wrapped around us violently, and I felt the darkness threatening to take me back

see the debate on his face as he tried to decide whether to shift. We could see no enemies, but that

the same urge. He nodded his head once, and I knew without him speaking that he was telling me that no matter what happened, he would stick by my side. He understood that I needed to do this... even if he didn't like it. We were a team, and I nodded back

realm with me. I didn't want to go at all. But

my ears. My guards

"Darkness runs free."

speak again. Even during my short nap on Killian's lap, I heard the phrase repeatedly. Bound in the blood, darkness runs free. He was saying nothing new, but I didn't know what he meant by that.

"Darkness runs free.”

but there was nothing else here with us. The shadow men were absent, and the hallway stayed brightly lit in

understand. Bound in the blood, darkness runs free. What does that mean?" I turned once more, prepared to push open the door to Lillian's room and face my fears. But

"It's too late."

with me, and now we were all going to face my demons together. Somehow that

before us, letting out

distance, I could hear a stampede of people running toward us, but my glare stayed

you. Speak! Why is it too late?" I demanded, stepping toward the figure and pulling my arm

"Darkness runs free!"

from the creature. It echoed around us from all angles, and I gritted my teeth as I pushed down my terror. "You've already said