Twisted Nightmares

3 - It Must Be Starting

As Beatrice began packing a few of her things that she considered she might need alone in her room until a aching pain reached her head.

Beatrice hissed in pain putting a hand over her forehead. "Hey, you okay?" A familiar voice asked. Beatrice took a rapid turn behind her to surprisingly find Liam standing right outside her room looking concerned. "What are you doing here?" Beatrice questioned but accidentally coming off a bit rude. Stop She whispered to the voice in her head that was slowly getting louder, that was slowly influencing her to be horrid.

"Just came by to see if you were almost ready to begin our mysterious journey." Liam said half jokingly as he took a few steps closer. Beatrice sighed taking notice that this quest was not going to be an easy one. "Let's wish ourselves luck!" She tried to say as cheerfully as she could. "It's not like we'll need it." A wide grin appeared on Liam's face as he tilted Beatrice's chin closer and leaned in to give her a quick kiss. Beatrice smiled and slowly pulled away.

"Hey, love birds! I would really like to watch you guys being cute and all but we have a quest to go on." Lilith teased interrupting the moment. Liam let out a laugh. Beatrice rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Everyone ready?" She asked picking up her bag. "Yep!" They both replied. "Let's do this..."

***

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Lilith questioned, very uncertain. "Positive." Liam answered. "This feels extremely bad that we just stole your mom's carriage..." Lilith continued. "That makes the two of us." Beatrice agreed.

"Eh, she won't care... I think..."

"You think?!"

"Technically we're borrowing it! Now stop sticking your head out the window." Liam complained gently slapping her head back down inside the carriage. "Ugh, you guys be quiet. I need peace and quiet!" Beatrice whined. "Is this you being a whiny baby or is this the effect of the Dark Breath?" Lilith wondered out loud. "Both!" Beatrice yelled but in an awful tone. Lilith sat there silently thinking about how Beatrice was now basically cursed.

Lilith and Liam glanced at each other in concern. It must be starting. "You know what that old guy down by the tavern always says? Darkness only infects the good ones." Liam said sweetly, and Beatrice couldn't help but smile. "Thanks Liam...I think?" She replied, poking her head through the curtain. Liam looked at her, and then back to the horses. He held the reins tight. Beatrice pulled back when she felt Lillith tapping her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lilith whispered, glancing at the curtain and then back to Beatrice. "Well, obviously not fully okay, but somewhat." Beatrice replied, offering a tight smile. Lilith sat back in her seat. "Stupid Dark Breath." She muttered, and Beatrice sighed, turning back to the carriage window. Beatrice relaxed as silence fell on the group until... "Hey B? When do you think we'll get there?" Lilith asked. "I don't know, Lily." Beatrice groaned. A few seconds passed before.. "Do you think this will be fast B?" Beatrice clenched her fists. "I don't know, Lily." And finally, just as Beatrice thought she had peace... "Oh my god, when will we get-"

"I DON'T KNOW LILITH, WILL YOU JUST BE QUIET FOR TWO MINUTES." Beatrice shouted, and the carriage shuddered to a halt. Beatrice's face was red and she was glaring at Lilith who was now tearing up. "Just for God's sake be quiet." Beatrice whispered, before hopping out of the carriage. Lily immediately started sobbing, Liam comforting her before catching up to Beatrice. "Hey, that wasn't cool, B." He said, hurt in his eyes. This wasn't Beatrice. Tell him to go away, a voice in her mind suggested. Do it. Beatrice gritted her teeth. "You know what's not cool? How you and Lily haven't been sensitive to my feelings this whole journey! You guys have been blabbering on about carriages, and when will we get there, I DON'T KNOW OKAY! Both of you just leave me alone."

Beatrice stormed off, leaving Liam stunned for words. He watched as she walked into the woods. Liam knew she'd find her way back. He walked back to Lilith who was still crying in the carriage. "Just give her time Lilith. It's not her. It's the darkness." Liam said, before turning to tend to the horses. Lilith nodded, and hugged her knees. "Just the darkness." She whispered.

***

Beatrice punched the nearest tree, shouting in frustration. "Get out of me you damned thing!" She shouted, hitting her chest over and over. It felt like darkness was oozing into her heart. Well, it was. She fell to her knees, crying in anger and sadness and every bad emotion you could feel. This darkness was going to ruin her life if she didn't stop it. She couldn't tell the other Nightmare Hunters or they'd kill her on sight. She needed that cure. Everything she knew depended on it. Liam, Lily, her family, her job.

It would all be be gone, if she became the monster everyone wanted to kill. "Goddammit!" Beatrice pounded the ground with her fist over and over. But something weird happened. Black sand slowly emanated from her hands. Exactly like her father's.

Except black as the night.