Make Your Move Katherine

Back At Castle Wen

Kat woke up holding her throat and gasping for breath. Another nightmare of Oscar killing her again- this time inside the old house from her dream. As usual, she had been running for her life, soaking wet in her stupid dress while some black monster chased her. She knew it was Oscar, however, but still, her dreams didn't conjure up his image. He remained a dark, black, shadowy beast. She made it to the house and was covering behind the small dinner table, between two cupboards when she heard his knock.

“Katherine!”

At first, she had covered her ears when his knocking persisted, with both hands, eyes closed but she could still hear him outside. The house shook with his banging and eventually, she got up, and with shaky legs, she unlocked the door not understanding why she did. She only knew that she had to.

“Invite me in,” he had said and she did. And that was the end of her again.

 Sunlight had her blinking as it enveloped the room and Kat felt the pain in her neck. Oscar did bite her last night! Jumping out of the bed she ran into the bathroom and looked into the mirror and her eyes widened. A plaster had been placed over the wound and Kat fingered it before she pulled off one side. Indeed, two red dots were on the side of her throat, with a yellow stain, just where Oscar’s lips had feasted before his teeth.

So, it wasn’t a dream- yes it was- no. The nightmare was the dream and the fresh punctures had really happened. She gawked at the reflection and poked at one of the openings with her index finger, sucking in a gagged breath when she felt the sharp pain.

Promptly, she replaced the plaster.

Gosh, why did her dreams have to be so stupid? She cringed. “Invite me in?” Why was her mind still wrapped around movies based on vampirism where one had to be invited in? Not once had she remembered inviting the man and his hoard into her apartment.

Turning back, she peeped out into the bedroom and seeing no one, she hurriedly walked back out to grab some of her own clothing, for she still wore Oscar’s jacket. Her eyes got teary with the sun's bright rays and Kat's body jolted to a stop.

'Do I dislike sunlight now? Am I a vampire too?'

She wrestled with her weird thoughts a bit, wondering if this is how one converts a human to a vampire. Not like how they had to swallow the vampire's blood first or during- Oscar did say that whatever she thought before was wrong. She held her hand outside the window and squinted her eyes from the glare. Nope still human.

But Oscar walked in daylight too. So did Nuwa.

‘Am I still human or am I a vampire too? Do vampires drink each other’s blood like in the movies?’

She shook her head vigorously and closed the door and showered all the while thinking she would know if she was still human if she did not like food again. She would know then she would crave blood…eww. That thought was dissolved when she remembered Oscar ate food. In fact, he loved it.

Twenty minutes later, her soft indoor slippers almost silent with her steps, she met Oscar in the kitchen with Eric.

Which one and taken her to her room? Eric wasn’t her so it had to have been Oscar. But Oscar does not do lifting she thinks. He probably had called Eric over to carry her. Did he sleep here or at his own place? Highly unlikely that he would leave her alone so she figures that after Eric took her to her bed, they both stayed here.

They won’t chance to leave her alone and her waking up and making a phone call or worst- escaping.

“Your Majesty- Katherine, good morning. You look chirpy today,” Eric called out to her, flashing her a bright, porcelain teethed, smile and Kat looked from him to Oscar whom she noted had also showered and changed. He, like her and Eric, was dressed in plain t-shirts and jeans.

“Good morning,” Kat returned and almost grimaced when she smelled coffee. She hated that smell and never understood how people could drink something that tasted like poison.

"Welcome back sleeping beauty," Eric joked and tapped the counter in front of him, indicating to her, to join them. He took a long sip from one of the cups in front of him. Oscar got up, smiling widely and walked over to the coffee maker to pour himself a cup- wait. Kat didn’t have a coffee maker. Unless- she looked on top of the higher cupboard and saw the box that her mother left there. She always told Kat that one day she would love coffee and well…that day hasn’t arrived yet.

Eric grinned when he saw the direction of her eyes, “Yup that's the one. He will die without coffee.”

That one, Oscar, grabbed a spoon from the top drawer next to the stove and smiled at them both when he turned around and rejoined Eric at the counter.

“I got you a smoothie,” Eric said happily and held out the large cup for her. Kat sighed thankfully and returned the grin they all seemed to be sharing today.

She pulled the cold cup in front of her but stared wordlessly at Oscar. He seemed so different somehow. Almost ...nah. He definitely was not boyish or happy.

"Drink it, woman, you slept for almost two days," Eric interrupted her thoughts. She smiled a bit first for she like Eric’s warm mood now. He was addressing her as a regular person. Then her smile slowly evaporated when his words sunk in.

'What? That's impossible.'

"Yup, out like a light," he went on and Kat gawked at her husband who was busy stirring his coffee. Meeting her eyes, he nodded confirming Eric's words.

Wow. Her body needed that much time to recuperate?

Looking down to her hands, she cupped her drink and muffled her words, “Thank you for cleaning erm, my, erm neck,” she muttered when she remembered the yellow, she had seen. She was uncertain about who had sanitized her and even who had taken her up to bed but this was one way to know. Whoever answered.

“Yeah, sure.” It was Oscar.

She looked at him wide-eyed, for a while not too overly shocked, she still was- for he hates her. She remembered then how his lips felt on her neck and closed her eyes. That made it worst, for she could feel his moist touch even more then. She reopened them and took another long drink from the straw taking another peek at the man and looking away when she met his eyes.

‘This is so awkward.’ Oscar likes his coffee black she noted.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” she muttered not looking at either man as she swallowed her chilled drink, her cheeks flushed.

“Home,” Oscar answered.

While Kat’s old cell phone was returned to her; the day after they made their return here, she no longer needed it. Her father is dead. The phone she would use now is the one that was given to her to replace her actual phone- a local mobile. Her Armedian phone would now be used simply for the pictures and the limited gaming apps that she frequently used.

Kat was alone. Freedom had its price she mocked herself with, for she remembered wishing for her phone so badly that she had even said, “I would give anything.” She did not mean the death of her father nor did she think the universe worked that way but still Kat felt guilt for her careless words.

Kat had messaged Simon directly after she saw he had messaged her yet again during the time she didn’t have her cell, that he had been to her place. It was then she remembered the coat on her bed. The same coat had vanished however- she figured Oscar had gotten rid of it thinking she hadn’t seen it.

A new fear filled her. That was part of their deal- no Simon and she couldn’t ask him even if she wanted to.

So, she messaged her friend back, that all was well and yes, she saw he was at her place but don’t drop by unexpectedly again for she was a married woman now and her husband didn’t like it when men just walked into ‘their’ apartment.

She was literally saving Simon’s life.

Dominique was next for she had dozens of messages, voicemails and missed calls from her as well, like Simon. She called her best friend via video chat and sobbed about her father. Dominique had been to his funeral that’s why she had been so worried when Kat wasn’t there, she had said. But Miriam had assured her that she had been well- despite the blood seen in her apartment. Yes, Simon had freaked and so had everyone else. Seeing her friend had made her miss her so much that everything came out- everything that is; except her contract marriage and the vampire part.

“A king, Kat? What the hell?” Dom had squealed. “Goodness, when can I see him? Is this real or are you pranking me?”

She made an excuse of he’s busy and she doesn’t know if Dominique bought it or not. Technically it was not a lie for Oscar was indeed busy, and even if he wasn’t- he was still busy doing ‘other’ things.

Kat then took a short walk around and shown Dom the guards and maids, to the men training on the other side- which was a long walk with one guard trailing less than six feet behind her. Dom had covered her mouth and screamed even louder.

She had ended the call, making her promise to not tell Simon or her stepmother. “Nobody Dom,” Kat had warned and the woman swore. She then gave her, the new Demkas number that was given to her.

The next day Simon called, obviously he didn’t believe her message, he said, and made the video call to confirm. Dom had told him that she had called her, he said and Kat was glad she could trust her friend for he did not mention the castle and its events that now surrounded her daily life. Dominique had kept her promise and not told him about her whereabouts. They chatted about a few minutes before Kat had to end the call, for a knock was heard on her outside door and Oni who was in the outer room opened it.