Chapter 177
Cassie
I didn’t meet Julian like I was meant to. Even though I knew he would be worried and send a search party out when I didn’t turn up. Instead I ran, I ran away from the library and Kip who was acting weird and menacing around me and straight into the forest.
I ignored the people who had called after me, asking if I was ok. Because inside the spacious pack house I couldn’t breathe. It was suffocating me.
My feet took me where I needed to go. North. Towards where I had seen that worn down cottage. I didn’t know why I needed to go there but I knew I did.
I didn’t shift and going on my human feet was slower but that was ok as well. I needed to go there, I wanted to but I was in no rush to run off to my doom.
Except maybe I was because any sane person would have gone straight to Julian and shown him the book. Told him all about the dread that had filled my heart by just looking at it.
“I knew you would find your way back here Cassie.” An elderly woman stepped silently out of the trees. Wrapped in shadows.
I skidded to a stop. No not wrapped in shadows. She was just wearing grey. She wasn’t some super natural boogie man. Just an elderly woman who had taken me by surprise.
“You knew?” Warily I took her in from head to toe. There was nothing scary about her. She was just an elderly woman with a smiling face and sad eyes.
So why did she give me the creeps? Why did I want to run screaming back to the safety of my mates arms.
She cocked her head to the side. “You could do that Cassie.” She said softly.
I blinked rapidly at her in surprise. “How did you do that? How did you read my thoughts?” I asked.
“ I didn’t Cassie.” She said with a twitch of her lips. “You did.”
Confused, I took a step towards her. “Stop answering in riddles. How do you know my name?” I demanded. She didn’t back down. Instead tilted her head up to stare into my eyes.
“Of course I know you Cassie. We all do. The real question is do you know yourself?”
More riddles. Frustration flowed through me. “Why was you watching me with the king?”
A small shrug. “It’s my job to make sure you are well. My job to make sure you open your eyes and -“
I thrust the small red book out in front of me like a shield. It was so heavy in my hands. “What does that mean?” I asked.
She glanced down at it and her smile fell. Instead her face darkened. “Lies.”
“What does lies mean?” I demanded.
The strange woman didn’t answer me. Instead she turned on her heel and walked away quickly. I stared at her back for a minute before rushing after her.
She was leading me away from help. I knew it. She had tried yesterday and failed but we both knew she wouldn’t fail today. I needed answers and she was the only one who would them to me. Maybe the only one who could
“Lies are all around you Cassie. You just need to wake up and realise the truth.” She called back over her shoulder.
“What the hell does that mean?” I rushed after her, catching her by the shoulder I spun her around. “Stop talking in riddles and tell me what this means.” I demanded. The book fell to the floor, a splash of blood red leather in the white snow. Taking her shoulders in both of my hands I shook her.
“You know what it means. You wouldn’t have found it if you didn’t. You wouldn’t see the word you do.”
“Tell me, tell me something.” I begged even though I hated myself for doing it. “Why did Scarlett tell me to not come after you?”
The old woman paused. “Because she knows that truth and she knows what will happen when you finally open your eyes. She is afraid.” She said softly. “They are all afraid because it’s already starting. Everyone here is on borrowed time?” She shook her long grey hair around her face.
“Is there going to be an attack? Will our enemies-“
She threw back her head and laughed. Loud rambunctious laughter that echoed through the trees.
“What is so funny. Just tell me what you know.” She was really starting to drive me insane. Why couldn’t she just answer honestly. Why all the secrets? My life was full of them. They swirled around me, casting an ever wider net that soon I wouldn’t be able to detangle at all.
“Tell me what -“
“You don’t have any enemies,Cassie.” She said softly, cutting me off. “Not really. Right now your biggest enemy is yourself. But hasn’t that always been the case?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about?”
“Lies.” She hissed and my eyes snapped to the book before I could help myself.
That’s what the book said as well.
Lies.
But what were lies and what was the truth?
“The truth is right in front of your face Cassie.” Reaching out she touched a finger to my heart. “It’s right here.” She tapped her finger three times in time with my heart beat. “The truth lies in your heart you just need to open your eyes to the real world and see it.” She smiled sadly. “I know the lies are easier. I know that. Just like I know it’s frightening to peel back those lies to expose-“
Opening my mouth I screamed at her. “Just tell me.”
“I can’t Cassie, I can’t tell you. You need to work this out for yourself but-“
“No more excuses. I want to know.” I demanded
“And you will. It’s already starting and that’s why you are so afraid.” Tenderly she cupped my cheek in my hand and smiled. “You can’t fight it now. Go back to your mate. He needs you and I’m sorry Cassie. I really am.”
“Sorry about what?” I asked under my breath but I didn’t want to know the answer.
“Sorry that this is going to be so painful for you. I’m sorry Cassie but the worse is yet to come. You are going to have to be brave.”
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