Chapter 13
Trapped in Shadows
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Cater walked into the castle, his steps heavy as he trudged through the quiet halls toward his small room. His father's hateful words echoed in his mind, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.
"A disgrace can never be my son. Since you want to protect a human, then you will also need to protect yourself… and everyone you hold dear."
The memory burned like fire in his chest as he pushed the door open. He stepped inside and sat on the edge of his bed, burying his face in his hands. Doubt gnawed at him. Was I wrong to defy him? he thought. But no matter how much he questioned himself, one truth remained unshaken—he couldn't leave Alric. He wouldn't.
The silence of the room was deafening as he sat there, lost in thought, unaware of the door creaking open behind him.
"Cater!"
The familiar voice jolted him, and he turned to see Alric standing in the doorway, arms crossed, his brow furrowed with a mixture of frustration and concern.
"Prince Alric," Cater said, standing quickly.
"Where have you been?" Alric demanded, his sharp tone barely masking the worry in his eyes. "I heard you left the castle. You didn't tell anyone—no guards, no protection. Do you have any idea what could've happened to you?"
Cater froze, startled by the genuine concern etched on Alric's face. For a moment, the prince's words didn't register. Then, to his own surprise, he smiled.
"You care this much about me?" Cater teased lightly, his voice softening.
Alric rolled his eyes, brushing past him to sit on the bed. "How do you even feel comfortable in a room like this?" he muttered, looking around the small space with mild disapproval. "Don't worry. Tomorrow, I'll tell my father to give you a proper room."
As Alric stood to leave, Cater reached out and grabbed his hand. The prince turned, his expression puzzled.
"Thank you," Cater said, his voice sincere. Then, without thinking, he pulled Alric into a hug.
Alric stiffened, his arms awkwardly pinned to his sides. "O-okay," he said, blinking in confusion. "This is… interesting. I think you're getting too comfortable hugging me."
Cater chuckled softly, releasing him. Alric shook his head, muttering something about Cater being "too emotional" as he left the room.
Once the door clicked shut, Cater turned the lock and sat back down on the bed. He took a deep breath, his thoughts racing. He didn't know how he was going to get through this. His father had made his intentions clear—he would destroy Alric himself.
"Will I be strong enough to save him?" Cater whispered to the empty room, his fists clenching.
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Hours later, the castle felt unnervingly still. Cater stepped into the hallway, his unease growing with each passing second.
Something was wrong.
The halls were eerily empty, the usual hum of activity replaced by an unnatural silence. As he walked, his footsteps echoed loudly, the sound almost mocking him.
"Jane? Alric? Anyone?" Cater called out, his voice carrying through the void-like halls.
No answer.
He broke into a run, heading toward the front doors. But the more he ran, the farther away the doors seemed to stretch. It was as if the hallway itself were warping, twisting to keep him trapped.
He stopped, panting, and looked around in confusion. "What is going on?" he muttered.
Then he saw it—a room he didn't recognize. The door was slightly ajar, a faint, flickering light spilling out into the hall. Slowly, Cater approached and pushed the door open.
Inside, he froze.
Jane's lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor, her chest ripped open, her wide eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Around her were the broken, bloodied bodies of castle guards, twisted in unnatural positions, blood pooling beneath them.
"No," Cater whispered, his voice trembling.
He turned his head and saw Alric. The prince was chained to a chair, his head slumped forward. Beside him lay another body—the king, his throat slashed.
"Alric!" Cater shouted, running toward him. But no matter how fast he ran, the distance between them didn't close. It was like running in place, the room stretching endlessly before him.
Panic clawed at his chest as he stopped, his breath coming in short gasps. He looked around, his fangs extending as his rage boiled over.
"This isn't real," he growled through gritted teeth.
A slow, mocking clap echoed through the room. Cater spun around to see Vara stepping out of the shadows, her smirk as infuriating as ever.
"You," Cater snarled, his voice dripping with anger.
Vara shrugged, her wings gone but her aura of menace no less potent. "Did you think tearing off my wings would stop me? Your father gave me a second chance. And now, my purpose is clear—punishing you."
She gestured to the horrifying scene around them. "Welcome to my nightmare world. Everything you see here? It's what will come to pass. And don't think you can escape. No matter how strong you think you are, you are nothing here."
Cater lunged at her, his sword igniting with flames. But before he could reach her, she vanished, leaving him standing alone in the darkness.
"Vara!" he shouted, his voice echoing endlessly.
Silence.
Cater tried to move, but the darkness itself seemed to hold him in place, a suffocating force pressing down on him. No matter how much power he summoned, it was useless.
"Vara!" he yelled again, frustration and desperation mounting.
Then, faintly, he heard it—a voice cutting through the darkness like a lifeline.
"Cater. Cater, wake up!"
It was Jane.
"Jane!" he shouted, his head snapping up. He tried to reach for her voice, but his efforts were met with nothing but the endless void.
Then another voice joined hers, familiar and warm. "Cater, get up! Why isn't he waking up?"
"Alric?" Cater whispered, his heart pounding. He could feel their worry, their fear. But no matter how much he tried to break free, the darkness held him tighter.
He looked up, his fangs bared and his eyes glowing with determination. "I'll find a way out," he said, his voice low but filled with resolve.
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