Shadow Realm

17

"Yes! I think I see a pair of eyes like I'm looking at me with anger .. but maybe it belongs to my grandfather, after all they used to be like mine, right?"

Cassie doesn't believe what she's hearing. Her brother remembers only part of what happened that night and Cassie is pretty sure Morgan wasn't lying. His expression was normal now, whereas that night nothing was normal. All that blood returned to his mind and his knees gave up.

"You killed my mother... " A moment before collapsing on the ground, someone hugged him and when he saw him he felt safe again. It wasn't that he didn't feel that way before, but now that Nathan was there as well, it was different. Part of him knew that Nathan wasn't leaving, that he was close. Nathan's scent was even stronger now that his chest was stuck to his back.

"Casalia, I told you it wasn't me, I didn't do it of my own accord, you have to believe me!"

"Morgan" said another boy in a cool tone.

"Whatever it is, it may be better than you go..."

"I'm just here to tell you how things I don't want ..."

"Go!" Nathan was beside himself, but he didn't let go for a moment.

Morgan looked at him one last time and, looking down, he ran away.

Unwittingly, Cassie cries. All the pain he tried to endure was now out. He hated himself for the simple fact that the cursed blood was flowing through his veins. She started shaking and Nate, to her surprise, hugged her tightly.

"Don't cry, I can't see you like this" And her warm breath around Cassie's neck made her heart contract followed by heat spreading all over her body.

"Then go..." Cassie tries to break away from Nathan's embrace but Nathan tightens his embrace and burrows his chin on Cassie's shoulder.

"I can't go and leave you alone in this state."

"Because you can't?"

"I can... What happened was I didn't want to..."

Nathan looked up and looked at him. Nate no longer gasped every time Cassie looked him in the eye, and now Cassie could hear the boy's breathing getting breathless.

Nathan slowly approached Cassie. Their noses touched and Cassie's back goosebumps.

"Then don't... " Cassie will take the longest step she can take, she realizes it, but what's the difference? She was a girl, still twenty years old, and she was able to do some crazy things once in a while. He narrowed his eyes and moved a little closer. He had an irresistible desire to feel the boy's lips on his and it wasn't the first time he thought about it. Now he knows if his kiss also feels like winter, but Nathan pulls away and lets go of his embrace.

Cassie jerks. She thinks that Nathan wants to kiss her too, but she has moved on.

"Why" he said in a whisper.

Nathan turned his gaze towards the door.

"I can't Cassie..."

"You didn't find me enough ..."

"Oh no!" Nathan said as he looked at Cassie again.

"I just .. I can't ..." Nathan lowers his gaze and Cassie realizes that this is the first time she has seen him so uncomfortable and embarrassed and that not only increases the desire to kiss him, but Nathan does. He was tired and all he wanted was to go home, take a shower and rest. There's nothing more.

Their lips touched gently for a few seconds. Nate thought she wanted a soft kiss, but she didn't. Their tongues meet. She felt every part of her body burn as Cassie sat on her lap and pressed harder. Nate's hand found its way to his side, squeezing it even tighter as he clung onto his body.

However, a strange feeling crept into his mind. What if he just acted like that because he was shocked by what happened? In that case, instead of feeling taken advantage of, he felt that he was taking advantage of it. That's not fair, that's not how we behave! His job is to keep an eye on Cassie until things calm down. After they finished training, they would split up. He will return to his role as a hunter and Cassie will start a new life, probably in Holding.

That's why Nathan doesn't want to spend one night alone with Cassie, knowing that sooner or later they will have to part ways. What he understood to feel, far beyond physical attraction.

Nathan pulls away and releases his grip on Cassiw. Cassie's expression was tense and disappointed, as if she didn't expect such a rejection, and in fact, she wasn't entirely wrong considering Nathan didn't mean to turn her down.

"Just..."

Cassie moved a little, but stayed seated on Nathan's lap "Did you not like me?"

Cassie's tone showed that she was feeling hurt. Nate wanted to say the right thing, but there was nothing right to say in this situation. Cassie looked him in the eye and decided that maybe the best defense was to attack.

"Why did you do that, Cassie?" And Nathan thinks that maybe he's wrong, that he didn't take advantage of it, that it was Cassie who used it to distract him a little. She likes Cameron, she has understood him from the first moment, she has seen Cassie cry for him...

The girl smiled. "It seems you have no regrets! And then I think that's what you want ..."

Nathan narrowed his eyes and anger began to appear "Since when did you know what I wanted? Until a few days ago you didn't even talk to me. If we find ourselves in this situation now and only because you are left alone! Otherwise, you would never have considered me!"

Nathan regretted those words as soon as he saw Cassie's confused expression. Then Cassie's eyes go back to what they used to be. They were cold and even the look on his face became as unexpressive as when Nathan met him.

"You're right" Cassie said without even looking at Nathan.

"I shouldn't have done that."

Cassiw got up and went to the bathroom leaving her there like an idiot. Nathan put his head in his hand and sighed deeply. What the hell is he doing? He had to protect Cassie and instead he just hurt her. A few minutes later, Cassie returned to her room. He wore a gray shirt and tight dark jeans that accentuated his curves. Caasie opened the closet and put on her leather jacket and shoes.

"Are you going out?" Cassie did not answer.

"Cassie...?"

"What do you want?" Cassie was not arrogant, but the cold attitude she responded to made her blood turn cold.

"You can't go out alone. It's dark and cold outside, then..."

But Cassie didn't seem to notice his words. "I'm going for a walk."

Nathan got up from the bed and walked towards him.

"Cassie, there's no need to do that! If you want me to apologize.." Nathan put a hand on Cassie's shoulder, but Nathan gasped.

"I don't want an apology!" Cassiw's eyes were glazed and red. Contrary to what he wanted to show, he was saddened by what happened and Nate felt like a fool. All this time she thought of her as a strong girl, unable to give up or despair, but she never thought about the fact that Cassie was still a girl and maybe Cassie had a different sensitivity than her. Nathan took a step back and let him go. If Cassie wanted to be alone, she definitely couldn't stop her. After all, it's her fault that Cassie is like this right now.

Cassie walks fast through the streets of Holding with no definite purpose. He needed to single-handedly ponder how stupid he was to take the first step. He thought that perhaps Nathan would fully understand how he felt about her and wanted to understand if he felt the same way ever since he saw her embarrassed and embarrassed that afternoon. But when, that night, he kissed her on the back holding her like that, he really thought she was reciprocating his feelings, that it wasn't just his impression. But instead he was wrong, and not just a little. Maybe he just sees it as a mission and not as a person.

Cassie knew that she did not go unnoticed among the boys, she knew that many looked at her as she passed by, but she never really cared. He never felt guilty with a man just to spend time, to experiment a little, and he was never physically attracted to anyone, even Cameron. However, since Nate's arrival, things have changed. He was the first boy he thought was very handsome, the only one that really interested him. Shaking his head as if wanting to cast away the shadow of the bare-chested man below him, he continued walking. He was too irresponsible and promised himself never to do such a thing again.

Cassie looked around, only to realize that she had unknowingly walked towards her house. He had not returned since he had brought his things to Robert's house, it was too painful for him. The air was getting colder and he could smell the rain. For a moment he thought maybe Nate was following him, but when a drop of rain fell on his face, he realized it was really raining and not him. Stupid as hell, he kept thinking about it after what Nathan said. He started running and reached the door of his house. He stood in front for a moment wondering if it was a good idea or not, but it was raining and he walked in, closing the door gently.

The smell of blood was gone and things remained in place. He walked slowly to his room and lay down with his jacket and shoes still attached. Turning to the side, he caught a glimpse of his mother's bedroom. It also looked neat and tidy, whoever Robert had told to clean up had done his job well and Cassie was very grateful. The first days were constantly thinking about her mother but, as soon as she resumed training, she realized that she was starting to not think too much about it, as if she was really starting to resign.

Slowly his eyes became heavy and he felt a chill reach his bones. He took off his shoes and lifted up the sheets. He needs to rest for a few minutes, long enough for his anger to subside, then he will return to Robert's house.

Just ten minutes...

It's almost three o'clock and Cassie's still not back. He tells Nathan that he only needs to walk around, but it has been hours since he left home. Hearing the key click, Nathan runs to the front door, but is disappointed when he sees it's not Cassie.

Robert was drenched from head to toe by the storm.

"Something happened? Cassie's still sick?' Nathan felt the weight of the man's gaze, but he couldn't answer it.

"Nathaniel... What happened?"