Page 31 of Monster's Past

I focus everything I can on the warmth and security of Cethin’s arm around me and down the potion in one go, barely tasting it.

My eyes flutter closed and I lean my head against his shoulder, all sense of reality being chased away by the encroaching mist. It swirls around me in an almost comforting way. Maybe because I’ve been dreaming of it so often that it’s become familiar.

The wailing begins, but it feels different than last time. Like it’s coming from multiple people and not just one. I turn around slowly, trying to make out what’s going on beyond the mists. I can make out several figures through the fog, but none of them come close enough for me to see clearly.

Not knowing what else to do, I make my way to the river, and to the woman who looks like me, but isn’t me.

“Hello?” I call as I get there and realise she isn’t around.

“You were not expected, child.”

I whip around to find the woman behind me. “This isn’t a dream, is it?”

“It is, and it is not,” she responds. “You must accept the part of you that you are running from.”

“How can I run from something I don’t understand?” I ask, trying not to be too frustrated about the crypticness. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I can’t.”

“Find a way, child. You know the way. I know that you feel the call.”

“The call?”

She reaches out and touches my chest. Everything tightens within me and I can feel the tension of a scream building. I want to tell her that I don’t want this, and that the screaming is too much when I don’t understand it, but she’s already gone.

My mouth is forced open by invisible magic, and the scream rips from me, filling the air around me with a strange sense of foreboding. My vision begins to blur, going black, but even then the scream continues. If I thought this part of my nightmares was bad, then this is even worse. Especially because I seem even more aware of it than normal.

I stop screaming and then there is only darkness and the echo of my own screams in my ears.

Warm arms tighten around me, only causing confusion. This has never happened as part of my dreams before. I force my eyes open, surprised to find Cethin looking down at me, his eyes glowing a deep shade of purple and a low growl coming from his throat.

I reach out and touch his face. “I’m okay.” My voice is croaky from the screaming, but I manage to get the words out.

It takes him a moment to realise what’s happening, and he shakes his head, his eyes returning to their normal colour.

“What happened?” I ask.

“I thought I was supposed to be asking you that,” his voice is raspy, as if he’s been shouting.

“That was before I woke up with you growling over me.” I shuffle so I’m sitting up, and lean back into him, half expecting him to pull his arms away.

But he only wraps them around me tighter.

I let out a small sigh and settled back into him.

“You screamed.”

“I told you that happened when I have the dream,” I point out, though I’m surprised he heard it. Maybe it’s because of the potion. “That shouldn’t have made you growl and your eyes glow.”

He clears his throat. “It’s nothing.”

“No, it’s not.”

He swallows hard.

I break his hold on me, but only so I can go onto my knees and look at him. “Cethin...” I reach out and touch his cheek, drawing his gaze back to mine. “Tell me,” I whisper softly.

“You don’t want to know.”

“Why would I ask if I didn’t?” I can tell that whatever is bothering him is important, even if he doesn’t want to say.