On my way to hell

chapter 10

Alexandra Bario

It mystifies me how you can love someone you barely know, yet here I am, falling for him.

In the dream
The room was swallowed by darkness, the kind that presses against your skin, suffocating any sense of safety. It was unnerving, especially for the 'Light Kingdom,' a place that was supposed to be filled with warmth and brilliance. But none of that existed now. All I had was Leonarion—my protector, my guardian. The white lion stood before me, his snowy mane glowing faintly, and his piercing blue eyes locked on mine, offering a silent promise of protection. His presence was the only thing keeping my fear from overwhelming me entirely.

I clung to that feeling, drawing comfort from the strength in his posture, the unyielding loyalty in his gaze. Yet, dread twisted in my stomach when the man in front of me stepped closer, his shadow looming impossibly tall, his presence like a black hole sucking the air from the room. I wanted to run, to hide, but my feet were frozen to the ground, every muscle paralyzed by fear.

His voice dripped with malice, low and mocking, "Little girl, who will save you from me? One of these days, I'll kill you... but first, I need to get rid of your little lion."

His words pierced through me like a blade, icy and cruel. My heart raced, pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. My body screamed to protect Leonarion, to do something—anything. But before I could react, a swirling portal appeared out of thin air, crackling with dark energy. Panic surged through me as I reached out, my hand trembling, desperate to stop what was happening. But the portal's pull was unstoppable. Leonarion's eyes never left mine as he was dragged away, disappearing into the void.

The moment he was gone, the room felt colder, darker, emptier than before. A sickening wave of fear washed over me, drowning me in its grip. I was alone now—completely and terrifyingly alone. My protector was gone, and all that remained was the chilling echo of the man's promise, lingering in the oppressive silence.

Dream ended

I woke up, fear gripping my chest, my eyes wide as I let out a scream. My heart raced, and my mind spun with panic. All I could think about was Leonarion—how I had to find him, had to save him. Desperation clawed at me, every thought consumed by ways to bring him back. But then, through the chaos in my mind, I caught the familiar scent of my love lingering in the air. It was comforting, grounding, and that's how I knew I had woken him.

Before I could even call out, I felt his presence beside me, strong and reassuring. His voice was a gentle whisper against my ear, "Nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here. Now, tell me what you need."

But words wouldn't come. The fear still clung to me, choking my voice. Instead, I buried my face in his chest, wrapping my arms around him tightly, clinging to the safety he offered. As I hugged him, seeking comfort in his warmth, I felt a gentle weight settle on my lap. I looked down and saw Ms. Zaa, her soft fur brushing against me as she curled up. Beside me, Nyxalith stood close, his golden eyes watching me intently, waiting patiently for a gentle touch.

Lightly patting their heads, I began to speak, "You've only met Ms. Zaa so far, but I had another pet. His name was Leonarion. He was a majestic lion with a mane as white as snow, thick and wild, and his eyes were a deep, piercing blue, like the clearest sky. I've had him since I was a child—he was my protector, my best friend. But that man, the one I've been running from, took him away that night, sending him somewhere I don't know."

Christopher's eyes widened, and he leaned closer, intrigued. "Wait... there's a lion in the back forest that matches your description. I think he might be Leonarion."

I felt a surge of hope. "Are you serious? You've seen him?"

He nodded, excitement building in his voice. "Yeah! I spotted him a few days ago. He was just lying there, looking around, but I didn't think much of it. I thought he might be a wild animal that wandered in."