Page 16 of Beneath the Watching

Mabel had been in my presence for merely an hour and already she’d almost lost her life. That coupled with what I strongly suspected about her and her lineage, and it was becoming increasingly dangerous to have her here, or anywhere around me.

She would’ve been fine if I hadn’t turned my sights on her. The best thing I could do for her was to get her out of the Fourth Realm. My past had taught me to take every precaution when it came to those I loved or cared about. I’d known my mother had set her sights on my sister, and I never interfered. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again and most certainly not with Mabel.

Despite my longing for her, I’d have to figure out a way to keep her out of my crosshairs if I were to protect her. I had to make her want to leave and never come back.

“There was. I know there was. It said something about a stolen baby.”

5

MABEL

The voice had been melodic,repeating “stolen baby” over and over, the sweet cadence luring me in. If Stefan hadn’t grabbed me, I’d have plunged into the darkness. The way he looked right now, it felt like he wouldn’t have minded. His jaw was clenched, and his brows furrowed as if he wanted to scream at me before throwing me down there himself.

“There are no stolen children—there’s no children at all. We’re the only ones down here. I need you to move—now.”

“Why are there no children? There must be, somewhere,” I asked as I realized I hadn’t seen anyone that was probably younger than their twenties.

“It's not a suitable environment. When there is one, they don’t leave the castle until they reach adulthood.” His answer left me with more questions, but I didn’t pursue them.

Pressing my hand onto his shoulder, I stood up and brushed myself off and waited. My skin felt tingly, electric, and the air felt as if it had a physical form, like it was alive. There was no way to explain how everything surrounding us seemed to have a life force running through it.

Where it should’ve terrified me, it didn’t. It was comforting and made me feel less alone. The voice I’d heard hadn’t been threatening, it was maternal if nothing else. Only the threat of a so-called black hole stopped me from exploring more.

That, and the angry man who’d just grabbed my hand.

“You can’t be here,” Stefan mumbled for what seemed like the millionth time.

I let him pull me forward, the warmth of his palm soothing me. It didn’t make any sense why he was constantly upset with me; I hadn’t asked to be here. I wanted to be—but it wasn’t as if I’d tried. I’d woken up in this strange land again, finding myself outside the doors of a beautiful stone church, and I just knew he was in there, waiting for me.

“I like it here.”

“That’s too damn bad.” Stefan’s gaze flashed crimson and he hurried his steps a bit more.

He rushed me through a long walkway, my view blocked by his shoulders. He wasn’t quite as big or as physically imposing as the men he spent time with at the casino, but his presence made up for the difference. He was able to intimidate without saying a single word. It was as if he gathered the angst and bitterness from the atmosphere and focused it on anyone around him, subduing others with a timed glance or a carefully placed straightening of his shoulders. He studied others, as I did, gathering information.

Stefan was much larger than me, in every way, and I found myself wanting to peel the layers, both of his clothing and of his spirit, to see what lay beneath. I knew I had no business, wanting to be closer to him since I had Al, but it felt like a beacon was attached to him. I couldn’t help but answer the call.

Digging my heels in when he yanked on me felt like it almost tore my arm from the socket. “I don’t want to leave,” I insisted.

The anger seemed to vibrate from him in waves, his eyes piercing me like the sharpest blade. He squeezed my hand hard enough to leave bruises; I felt the bones of my fingers crushing against each other. “That is not your decision, you little witch.”

Left speechless under the force of his tone, I froze. He closed the space between us, and his arm darted out, his fingers wrapping around my neck. “How many times do I have to dismiss you before you get the hint?” My eyes watered and I tried to swallow, to no avail. I couldn’t speak; I couldn’t breathe.

Without warning, he let go and I stumbled, grabbing his leg to slow my fall. The material of his pants was clasped in my grip, and I looked up into his incandescent gaze. “Why do you hate me so much?” I choked out, as the water gathered in my eyes finally spilled over.

There was no reason this man should hold such animosity toward me, I’d never done a thing to him. The fabric of his clothing slipped away from me, and I sat on the cold stone floor for a second time.

He squatted in front of me, his eyes softening the slightest at what he must’ve assumed were tears of pain and leaned in, licking my cheek. The motion was startling, causing my head to bang against the rock wall. He shoved his arms under my shoulders to bring me to a standing position before tugging me down the pathway again.

Stefan hurried us along until we came to a tall staircase that ascended into the gloom. “Walk in front of me,” he ordered, dragging me against his chest.

His scattered breaths warmed my neck as I began to slowly climb. “Don’t touch the door at the top,” he said. His paranoia was uncomfortable, in direct opposition to the feeling of his body lightly brushing mine while we made our way up.Thatfelt entirely right, even with his current animosity.

When we reached our destination, I pressed myself to the wall, leaving space for him to grab his keys and work the mechanism. Once the door was opened, he led us into the space I had found myself before, the place that must’ve been his home.

Uncertain of what I should do, and what he’d allow, I went over to the couch I’d laid on the last time and spread out, leaning my head on the armrest. I would’ve preferred more exploring, and some answers but I didn’t want to poke the bear.

Stefan ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back from his face and he placed his leather bag on a table. A knock sounded on the door across the room. “Not now,” he bit out, before turning toward me.

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