Chapter 13 - Midnight

Nathaniels POV (present time)

I stare at my mate and sigh with a heavy resignation.

I would do anything for her but why does she have to be in a coma again?!

That's all she's been doing lately. Falling into a coma and not waking up. And when she does wake up she's always in a daze asking for Fang.

Where is he? She'll ask with teary eyes.

And I won't have an answer for her. Either way, she's going to pass out before I give an answer.

At some point, she woke the whole castle screaming bloody murder. She kept calling out for Ari and Fang. And then nothing but anguished tears.

Ari and me have been by her side but she always reaches for Ari's hand in her sleep. His eyes always soften and he squeezes back and holds. At first, he was hesitant but after it happening many times he gave in.

The shit hurts to see but I can't get mad at her subconscious slumbering.

I can however get mad at Ari; which I did for the first few weeks but now I just don't give a fuck.

What am I to do?

"What do you suppose she's dreaming about?" I ask aloud to Ari.

His head slowly rises and he gazes at me with resignation etching his features.

"Honestly, I have no clue. I just know that I'm going to have to leave once she awakens permanently." He says devoid of emotion.

My head shoots in his direction, confusion etching my eyes.

"Why do you say that?" Curiosity apparent in my tone.

He gives me an are you freaking kidding me look before scoffing.

I wait patiently for him to tell me but all I receive is a bitter laugh.

"Isn't it obvious by now?" He speaks softly a few minutes later.

"Not really. I may be a supernatural creature but I don't really pay attention to the affairs and things that happen in different dimensions." I say choosing my words carefully.

I get a hmph from him and no more was said between us.

I sigh and get up.

"I'm going to see her father. Please watch her for me." I say to him leaning down placing a kiss on her forehead. I linger for a few seconds and enjoy this tender moment, then I pull away and leave the room.

Something is going on and I know it. Everything around me is familiar but I can't place why. I've asked and all I get is evasive responses.

Just when I feel like I have an understanding of everything, I'm grasping at straws again.

I find my way to where the original king has been residing in the castle and knock on his door.

He opens it automatically and I walk in.

He's an old king of Slymethius but I'm the king of werewolves. He's supposed to answer to me but this stubborn old coot won't budge or give any responses.

"You shouldn't have left her alone with Ari." He says matter of factly as he pours himself a glass of whiskey and tosses it back like water.

"She was never supposed to come back." He rambles on with dead eyes.

"I'm so happy she's alive but she wasn't supposed to come home. She wasn't supposed to come home..." he rambles on that last sentence multiple times and I sigh with resignation. He's been this way since Midnight fell back into a coma.

Her injuries and trauma are a part of it yes, but she had gotten some pretty nasty infections from where Chen had wrapped silver around her wings and yanked at them in an attempt to pull them out.

Unfortunately, he didn't succeed in pulling her wings out, but he did however break them both in various places and dislocated the left wing.

I'm not really aware of all he did to her, but when I see the many criss cross lashes on her skin, I know she's also been whipped. The red burn marks on her wrists tell a story of her being chained up.

I clench my teeth and finally explode my frustration. The crescent moon on my forehead begins to glow and I speak: "I, Nathaniel Whiteclaw, King of Werewolves, command you to tell me everything about Midnight and what's been happening. No more games." I growl with absolute authority

.

.

.

I frantically rush back to Midnights room and barge in hoping she's still there with Ari.

Unfortunately, I come back to an empty room.

I punch the closest wall and a deep mournful howl escapes my lips.

I walk over to her closet and yank the double doors open to her walk in closet; I shove her clothes side to side in search of it.

Frustrated, I continue to push shit aside and kick stuff out of the way.

Come on!

Tears spring to my eyes and I push them aggressively away.

No time for that shit. 

I have to stop him!

Midnight hold on! I'm coming I promise!

At the very back wall of her closet, I push the clothes aside and cry out bitterly.

I sink to my knees and I bang my fists against the wall and hear a hollow resonate.

I freeze and slowly look up. I bang my fists against the wall again and I hear the hollow bang resonating back to me.

I start to scavenge around and finally notice a small difference in the wall.

I try grasping at the small sliver difference and nothing.

So I push and punch and finally throw my body into the false wall.

A small click and the wall slides up, just barely big enough for me to crawl through.

Filled with disbelief and determination, I crawl through and tumble downwards with a gasp as the sickening feeling of no gravity hits me.

I hit solid ground a few minutes later with an oomph, I take a few moments too long to catch my breath.

I finally scramble upwards and cautiously proceed; taking in the fact it's tall enough for me to stand.

A narrow tunnel and pitch black surrounds me save but a couple flames that dance around every now and then.

My heart picks up speed the further I go down this tunnel but I push forward.

"Ari, what are trying to do?" I query with a shaky voice.

I walk further and further and realize I haven't actually moved at all.

Dammit it's a glamour! I growl to myself.

I take a moment and will the crescent on my forehead to glow and then, "disperse!" I command with a loud authority.

The glamoured hallway disappears and to my dismay, I haven't even sat up from the fall I took down here.

What the hell?!

I push myself up and this time I actually know I'm moving. I take off running down the hallway and finally come out into a giant dome like clearing and that's when I see them.

Ari is flying in place up above holding Midnight by her throat; I watch her unconsciously dangle from his grip.

No...I'm too late aren't I?

Ari turns my direction, his turquoise hair whipping over his eyes; as if he sensed my presence, a cynical grin takes over his features.

"It's time." He says tauntingly.

I shake my head furiously and as I start to protest he turns back to her and places his lips on hers.

And he begins sucking from her mouth.

In horror, I watch as his black feathers fall off his wings and they take on the form of a bats wings... slowly...two large horns begin to protrude from his skull.

I let out a yell as an intense headache splits across my head causing me to pass out.

Angel....your mommy...she's...