CHAPTER 003
1055 Words
CHAPTER 003
We both fell, and I could feel my body slam into the ground. Everything around me went blurry for a brief moment. I tried to catch my breath, gasping. My heart was pounding in my chest, my hands trembling, but my mind couldn’t focus on anything except Laura—how she had just shoved me with all her might.
Next I realized we were both falling off the edge of the balcony; it was a rapid drop I wasn't aware of. My instincts kicked in. I reached out and grabbed her arm before I could stop, pulling her closer and listening as we both tumbled uncontrollably.
Splash.
I was hit by the cold water like a shock, a jolt through my body. I spluttered, coming up for air as water poured down my face. I saw Cassian before I could even figure out what was happening. Laura jerked her head around to see his eyes pinned to her with desperation. Without thinking twice, he jumped into the pool and swam straight to her.
My heart was racing, a strange helplessness rushing through me, and I pushed myself up out of the water. I couldn’t look away; my hands shook. Cassian cradled Laura in his arms, pulling her from the pool, right there in front of me.
"Are you okay?" His voice sounding worried, his hands cupping the side of her face, his eyes filled with worry.
Laura nodded, looking up at him like a helpless little thing. “I’m fine, Cassian. Just a little shaken.”
Jealousy washed over me. Why did it seem like everything with him was about her now? His eyes never left her, and when she curled up in his arms like she needed saving, I felt rejection burn me all over again.
I stood dripping wet, my heart sinking with every second that passed. I felt the world closing in on me.
Then I heard a voice behind me.
The maid’s voice shook. “I saw her,” she said. Lady Laura was pushed down the stairs by her. I swear, I saw it happen.”
I turned to her, and my stomach twisted. “What?” My hands were still trembling, and my voice cracked. “I didn’t—”
Cassian’s eyes narrowed at me. His face flushed with anger; he was on his feet. “Sienna, what the hell are you talking about?” His voice was harsh, like a blade through me.
I tried to explain, to tell him the truth, but he didn’t let me.
“You pushed her?” he growled. “Why? Why would you do that?”
I shook my head, trying to make him understand. It was not like that, no, Cassian. She pushed me first. She mocked me, telling me that I wasn’t fit to be Luna, and came after me.” I persisted, my voice breaking. “I swear, I didn’t push her on purpose; it was an accident.”
He didn’t listen. His eyes were cold, as if he didn’t believe a word I said. The words stuck in my throat; I could feel my chest tightening. He was angry, but at the wrong person. It was all pointing at me.
Laura’s voice broke into his calm, soft, and spoken. “Cassian, it’s okay. I’m fine. Don’t be frustrated with Sienna, please.”
The way she said it made it worse, though. Her soft eyes, her calm smile, like she knew she had him wrapped around her finger. I was no longer breathing, my heart racing in my chest as I stood there, useless.
Cassian didn’t even glance at me as he pulled Laura back into his arms. He muttered low and reassuringly, “I’m not upset with you, Laura.” “I don’t get it; why would she do this?”
The tension in the air was thick around me. Every word from his mouth dug deeper into me; my heart ached. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him he was wrong and that he wasn’t seeing the truth. But I couldn’t. His eyes were too far gone, focused only on Laura.
The words that emerged from his mouth struck me deeply.
His voice hardened. “I can’t have this happen again.” “Sienna, you’re a danger. You've gone too far.
“What?” I stepped back and whispered. “Cassian, please—”
He snapped, “I don’t want to hear it.” “You’re going to be locked up in the dungeon.” I’ll deal with this later.”
I heard the words, the shock paralyzing me. He sliced through my heart with his words; he cut me open. The pack dungeon? For what? For an accident?
My whole world shifted beneath me. I was slipping from my tight grip on my place here.
“Cassian!” I yelled, stepping forward. “You can’t just—”
He didn’t even look at me. He completely turned his back on me, his attention on Laura as he led her away from the pool. I couldn't move; I just stood there, staring at their retreating figures.
I wanted to follow them. I wanted him to see that I wasn’t the villain. Everything felt too heavy, though. The world had lost its meaning.
In the silence that followed, I was aware of my knees starting to weaken. I began to tremble as I sank to the ground, feeling the weight of everything sapping the energy in my body. My Cassian, my mate, had just sentenced me to the dungeon without hearing a single word I said. He believed Laura’s lies, believed that I was the one who had pushed her, and no matter what I said, he wouldn’t change his mind.
I couldn’t let him see my chest with silent sobs. He wasn’t going to listen. He never had. Not to me.
How had it all come to this? Why did he believe her and not me?
I looked down at the ground, trying to hold back the tears. I couldn’t let myself break. Not here. Not now. Darkness was coming in, and I felt like I was drowning.
I knew in my heart that I was losing him. Losing everything.
Would he ever look at me like that again? Would he ever understand?
- Writer
