011

~Cat~

I awoke as the sun began poking its golden mane above the horizon and spread sleepy tendrils of orange and yellow ribbons across the sky. Rolling over I watched through tired eyes as the ribbons journeyed their way across the hard-wood floor, creeping towards where I lay, washing the room within their announcement of the new day.

Within the sun's kiss, the room lightened and brightened, as a particularly persistent ribbon of light climbed up and onto the bed. It continued to methodically inch its way towards where I lay until it bathed my face in its warm golden touch, forcing me to hide beneath the spare pillow again in an effort to blot out its radiant smile. However, only a few seconds later, I found myself suffocating within the insulated heat of my own breath as the confined space around my head became overbearingly warm and stifling.

Letting out a low, frustrated groan, I gave up and threw off the pillow as I pushed back the sheet and sat up. Afterward, rising, I began wiping the crystallized bits of sleep from my eyes as I made my way to the bathroom. A few minutes later, having relieved my nagging bladder, I stood facing the mirror, giving the features before me a cursory glance as I picked up my hairbrush and began tackling the kinks and knots.

As I worked out the snarls, my eyes took on a distant look, my mind wandering back to the grimoire and the spells that called to me. They were like sirens in the night, their sweet allure almost too much to resist. I knew that I had to be careful. The power within the book was not something to be trifled with, and I had already seen what happened when I let my emotions get the best of me.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the present. I had to be strong for Keeley and the coven, despite the turmoil of emotions that were threatening to drown me. I couldn't let them see the fear and doubt that plagued me.

Turning away from the mirror, I walked back into the room and began to get dressed, selecting a simple summer dress that hung loosely from my frame.

As I made my way downstairs, the smell of coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air. The academy had always had a cozy, home-like feel, even though it was a bastion of power and knowledge. Now, with the looming shadow of Grandma's death hanging over everything, it felt more like a tomb than a home.

In the dining room, I found Keeley sitting at the table. She looked up as I entered, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then, with a smile, she held out a cup of coffee to me. "You okay?" she asked softly.

I took the cup, feeling the warmth seep into my cold hands. "Not really," I admitted.

Keeley nodded, and for a moment, we just sat there, the silence between us speaking volumes. Then she took a deep breath, stating, "Rook wants to talk to you."

My stomach dropped, and I felt the weight of his gaze from the previous night pressing down on me once again. "Okay," I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady.

Keeley gave me a gentle look before she stood up and left the room. I took a sip of my coffee, feeling the warm liquid slide down my throat, giving me the strength I needed to face him.

When I walked into the parlor where Rook was waiting, my heart skipped a beat. He was dressed in a t-shirt that hugged his chest and arms, his hair slicked back, and his eyes were as cold and hard as ice as he murmured, his voice low and serious, "Cat, I know you haven't told me everything."

I felt the walls closing in on me. "What are you talking about?" I asked, playing dumb.

Rook stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine. "Don’t lie to me, Cat. We’re in this together now. You’re not alone."

The words should have brought comfort, but instead, they filled me with dread.

I took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "I’m not lying," I said, my voice firm. "I just can't tell you what I don't know. I don't *know* who raped me!"

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, his voice tight.

We sat down at the large wooden table, surrounded by the hushed whispers of the old house. The walls seemed to lean in closer, as if they were trying to keep our conversation private.

"But you do know that I'll find out who did this," Rook assured me, his eyes never leaving mine. "And when I do, they will pay."

I nodded, not trusting my voice to tell another lie. There was no one to find. I'd made sure of it, but I couldn't tell him of that fact.

Rook reached out and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're not alone, Cat. I'm here for you."

The warmth of his touch was in contrast to the coldness of his earlier words, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

But the memory of the grimoire and its dark whispers lingered in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of the danger I held within me. And as we sat there, holding hands in the quiet parlor, I knew that I couldn't let my guard down. Not yet. Not until I had all the answers.

~~

Michelle found me an hour later. "If you know what's good for you, You'll stay the hell away from Rook!" she snarled, her dislike of me lacing her voice.

"Why are you so hellbent on causing trouble, Michelle?" I spat, my own anger bubbling up to meet hers.

"Because he's mine, and I don't like the way he looks at you," she snarled, taking a step closer, her fists clenched at her sides.

"Rook looks at me like a burden he'd rather not deal with!" I countered, taking a step back, not wanting to get into a physical altercation with her.

Michelle's eyes narrowed, and she took another step forward. "Don't you dare lie to me, Catriana. I know what I saw!"

I rolled my eyes, feeling a headache start to form. "You see what you want to see, but you're wrong," I said, turning away from her.