Karin: The Demon Sleeping Within

Chapter 17: Withering Hope

My eyes flickered open as I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above me. I lifted the soft covers off of me just to notice I was only half dressed with a lacy bra and its underwear pair on. I was too weak to care too much or question it.

I stretched my arms around me, and then, I arched my feet as I stretched my legs.

"Oh, good. You're up." A low feminine voice had greeted me. Satania gazed admiringly at me as she held a tray consisting of a tea pot, two cups and honey. Smiling, Satania walked over to my side of the bed and placed the tray on the nightstand. She then hovered over me and pressed her lips against mine.

"Yea," I breathed, my lips curving into a minuscule smile as she then pulled away.

"Are you feeling any better?" She creased her brows, her expression resembling hope.

"A little, yea."

She nodded, sighing a breath of relief.

"Do you still get headaches?"

"I just woke up, so no."

"Right," she chuckled. "Well, if you do get one, tell me."

I nodded. "Where are we?"

"We're at Leone's house," she spoke, before continuing with, "This is only temporary. We will stay here until we can find a more permanent way to keep the queen from taking over you again."

She poured the hot tea into each mug, before opening the top of the honey bear and stirring it in with a spoon. The aroma of mint filled the air.

"Are you able to sit up?"

"I think so," I voiced, tuning in to my strength that I was slowly gaining back. It didn't take too long before I was fully sitting up with my back against the bed frame.

Satania smiled as she held a spoonful of tea. She blew on it before feeding it to me. She stared at me, her smile seemingly growing, her cheeks flushed as she watched me drink the tea from the spoon she was holding. It was a settle growth in her smile. If I wasn't paying attention, I could have missed it.

"What?"

Her lips parted as if surprised of my discovery.

"Oh no, nothing."

I smirked as I gazed at her, reading her expression.

"You were staring at me. What is on your mind?"

"Oh, was I?" Her cheeks reddened, before she gave in. "I'm just really glad that you are okay. I thought I almost lost you." Setting the tea down, she carefully and gently wrapped her arms around me. I could tell she was refraining her urge of tightening her arms around me because I was still just gaining my strength back. "I promise I will protect you. No matter what I have to do."

I reciprocated her embrace, my hands stroking down her back, as her words resonated through my mind.

***

A week had passed, and my recovery was going seemingly well. I could move around more freely, and my head was feeling more clear. The buzzing was quiet, and the migraines only came when the queen wanted to say something. Lately, she had been quiet.

The last words she spoke to me was less of a warning and more of a resolve.

"Don't be foolish, my child. They are just using you because they want to get rid of me. As long as you're alive, I will be, and you will always be watched and controlled."

Those words resonated through my thoughts, day by day. We would always be one. Though Leone, Gabriel and Satania were working effortlessly for a more permanent fix than the little medicines I was taking, they weren't getting very far.