Red String {EDITING}

Chapter Fourteen | Poisonous Breadcrumbs

Blagmoor Castle passed around her in the blink of an eye, Rylan all but sprinting to a part of the castle she had yet to see. The room was painted a soft, eggshell blue, the ceiling above her as white as could be. Dimly, she heard her mate curse as she lay on a bed in what she realised to be a medical room of sorts. There were cabinets on one wall, locked by the looks of them, each of them stocked with various bottles with labels she couldn't make out. Her leg throbbed, a whimper escaping her with every surge and ebb of pain. It was different to before. Venom and poison hurt her far worse than any blade, or so she was discovering. "Lyra?" A hand patted on her cheek, and she could only blink blearily as she stared up into those icy blue eyes. They were so terribly beautiful, even with worry shining within their depths. "Lyra, stay with me..."

Dimly, she could hear something ringing, and she stared blandly at the object in her mate's grasp. A phone, pressed flush to his ear as he called someone. The door slammed open then, the sudden noise making her flinch as spots danced about in her vision. Familiar blue locks appeared in her sight then, and a wordless mumble escaped her then. "What happened?" Blu asked, and Lyra thought he might have actually looked the slightest bit concerned. "You only went out for a run. An impromptu run, but a run nonetheless."

"There was a snake—Dammit, Hunter!" Lyra blinked then, realising Rylan was answering the phone instead. "Are you close to Blagmoor?" Her eyelids felt heavy then, chest feeling heavy and Lyra wasn't entirely sure why. It was a different pain to that of her leg. "My mate was bitten by a snake... Yes—We're inside Blagmoor Castle Grounds... A black and red one, I think—I didn't get that clear of a look—Lyra, don't close your eyes!"

His voice sounded far away, as though it were coming from underwater. Were her eyes closed? Her brow furrowed then, and she wrenched her eyes open.

Purple greeted her, glowing as they peered at her from murky waters. He was there again, and unlike the time in those waters before, she couldn't move. Her body hurt, muscles seemingly locked as she struggled to piece things together. Where was she? She was supposed to be in that pale room with Rylan watching over her. So how had she ended up there? She didn't understand. How was it possible...? Unless...

"A dream?" she whispered, voice sounding crystal clear, despite the apparent water surrounding them in those murky blue waters which always seemed to sap away every colour except purple. "Who...?"

Chains rattled then, a wrist bounded by a shackle and chain reaching out to brush against her face, even as she hung there, suspended upside-down by the greyish, clouded waters. "My herald," he whispered again, the word spoken so lovingly. "I must say... you do get grievously injured far too often, love..." His fingers brushed the back of her head, a strong arm pulling her closer. "My clumsy, insecure little herald..."

Lyra blinked slowly, her mind groggy as she stumbled over her memories. Everything felt clouded and murky. Her body felt as though she was trying to move in thick, gooey treacle whenever she tried to muster up the energy to swim or do something. Anything. But all she could seemingly do was squint at him, unsure of anything and everything which had been going on in her life as of late. "Who are...?"

"Oh, little herald, you know who I am," he purred, purple eyes lighting up in delight. "How could you not?" Purple lightning flickered then, rolling around his body in little crackles, and Lyra frowned because—

Because he was familiar. Beyond the one weird dream she'd had. "Where have I—?"

"Shall I remind you then?" he asked, a roguish grin curving at his lips, and then the murky waters all around her started to bubble. Lyra stared at him though, uncaring as to the strange phenomenon occurring around her, transfixed on that smile on his face. One which sent shivers down her spine. One which told her the man before her was undoubtedly dangerous. He radiated power – a kind which was intoxicating and addicting – but Lyra couldn't get much of a feeling for the strange spectre beyond that, because it was then everything shifted.