STEADY SILENCE || KLAUS MIKAELSON ¹

5 • night of terrors.

Six months into their marriage, just about a year after meeting Nell was convinced that all in her life was well, better than it had been since before Hill House 20 odd years ago. She hadn't woken up to an episode of sleep paralysis since the early days of her relationship with Nik, her medications were working well, her job was going well and most importantly her marriage was perfect. Things were just good. Or atleast they were. Until that night.

That night as the clock struck 3.03am her eyes shot open, her body covered in a layer of sweat and her body was frozen. Being paralysed was terrifying enough but what she saw as her eyes darted around the room lit up by the moonlight truly caused horror to sink into the very marrow of her bones. There she was, for the first time in a long time there she was standing at the end of the bed, her neck snapped to one side, her long dress hanging limply from her almost decaying body, her hair serving as curtains for her face and her mouth pulled wider than natural in a guttural scream. There bent neck lady stood.

As the horror seeped into her bones grunts of terror escaped her lips, the lips that she could not move, tears ran down her cheeks, streams of tears that she couldn't wipe. Upon hearing the noises Nik began to stir beside her as his eyes fluttered open and his hand reached over to touch her. It took him a moment to fully wake but as soon as he did he kicked right into action. The first thing he noticed was the terror in her eyes and the tears on her cheeks. He noticed her eyes firmly placed on the spot at the end of their bed and so quickly he moved his head to look only to find nothing there and so he turned his attention back to his wife.

He pulled her into his arms and reached over with one arm to flick on the lamp on his bedside table. As the light shone through the room he stroked her hair from her face and wiped her tears away as he held her in a solid embrace.

"Oh love it's been a long time since you've had one of these. It's going to be fine, whatever you're seeing just look to me, no matter what you see don't take your eyes off of me. You know I would never let anything hurt you" Nik softly spoke looking to his wife who flickered her own eyes towards him in panic.

"Clench your fist okay. Move your fingers and it'll get better. I promise" He continued as he reached down to take her hand in his own to help her clench her fist.

As she managed to softly clench her fist Nik began to smile softly in relief "good, thats so good" he said before pressing his lips gently to her forehead.

As she managed to slightly move each part of her body a little bit more she finally felt in control of her body again. It took a while but eventually she was in full control again and so she quickly moved to wrap her arms around Nik needing all of the comfort he had to offer.

"Okay love, I'm going to go and get your sleeping pills and anxiety pills okay. I'll be right back." Nik declared after a while gently moving her off of him so that he could go and get what she needed.

Just as he promised he was back in seemingly no time at all. He passed her a glass of water before he opened the bottles of pills and took the required amount out for her before replacing the caps and putting the bottles back down to the bedside table.

Without hesitation Nell took the pills and made quick work of swallowing them before Nik got hack into bed and pulled her body close to his in a comforting and warm embrace.

"Was it her love?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes. She's back Nik." Nell stuttered out.

"Maybe it's time to go and see another therapist?" He gently asked.

"Yes. I think you're right" she said and then that was it, her pills kicked in and once again her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing evened out and she was asleep.