SWEET CREATURE [ Ramsay Bolton ]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

     She's been hungrier than usual lately, more aggressive and quick to feed. People were timid before; now they hide away during the quiet of the night. The flesh gives away quickly under her teeth; she feeds because she's hungry, because she's tired, because she's angry and scared. She feeds because she can.

She hardly feels the weight in her hands yet the body drops quickly to the ground with a resounding thud. She brings her hand up to swipe away the blood from the corner of her lips, before popping her finger into her mouth. She's still savoring the taste when she hears a shaky gasp.

A man huddles near the entrance of the Great Hall. He appears frozen, as if unsure whether he should go back or venture forward. His hands clasp his cloak tightly around him, his fingers shining pale through the dark.

"Oh," Katherine says in mild surprise. "Hello."

"H-hello," he stammers, eyes never pulling away from the corpse at her feet.

"Lets pretend you didn't see that." She steps in front of the body, hoping to hide it behind her skirt. "I'd like to chat without you looking so frightened."

The man doesn't reply but his gaze slowly moves up to meet hers. His breaths are shaky and his body still trembles.

"You must forgive me," Katherine says stiffly. "I havent paid much attention to recent politics. I do know you're very important to Ramsay." The boy still looks terrified, so she tries a gentler approach. She softens her voice, sounds sweet as she asks, "So, who are you? What's your name?"

He's quiet when he finally speaks, but Katherine's hearing is excellent and she makes out his muttered, "Reek, m'lady." His pulse grows less frantic; whatever he's so terrified of, it isn't her. Surely he knows who she is but her presence seems to be more agreeable than the alternative.

Katherine's eyes narrow. "What's your real name?"

He shakes his head, breathes in sharply. "Reek."

The man is mad, completely destroyed by Ramsay's brutal torture. She's seen the damage left by Ramsay, all of the flayed corpses and terrified victims. And still, the extent of his cruelty went far greater than she could have known. For the first time, Katherine realizes that she may have underestimated Ramsay Bolton.

"You poor soul," she whispers. The wild look in his eyes disturb her, and she clutches at the cloak around her shoulders. "Why are you so frightened?"

This time, he doesn't hesitate. "Monster."

"I am not here to harm you." It's true. Ramsay has shown him enough cruelty. Though, perhaps Reek would be better off dead.

"Monster," he repeats. Slowly, he raises a shaking hand to point at the castle he had run from. "In the halls." He points towards the east wing, and as Katherine looks in the direction, she understands that the monster is heading directly to Sansa Stark's chambers.

. . .

The eery silence inside the castle is incredibly loud. He can hear the wind whistle outside, the sound of a rat scurrying in a corner. The doors creak as the settle in their hinges, humans breathe gently in their sleep. A dead man walks amongst them.

Sansa Stark has not yet gone to bed. She sits at her desk and combs her hair, staring at the wall in front of her. Her mind is too busy to sleep; she thinks of the days to come, imagines her brother's victory over the bastard that holds her captive. Her dreams will become reality any days now, she knows it. Until then, she must practice patience. She must stay alive.