Nothing. I feel nothing. I thought the light would've brought me to heaven, or at least an after life. But instead it brought me to much worse.

I stood invisible to my father, and the spirit before me as I watched them fight — I watched my father cry helplessly whilst cursing the spirit.

The possessed Celine before him laughed whilst taunting him; evidently she was continuously belittling him.

Tears swam down my cheeks as I felt my lungs tighten with every shaky breath I took — I couldn't hear what they were saying; I could only watch.

I can't escape heartbreak and torture — not even when I die. I truly am cursed to undergo the worst realities, but now I'm officially completely helpless to it.

My whole body felt numb; as if it wasn't my own. My heart is not beating — it's completely still. I felt no emotion other then despair as I watched the scene before me.

The spirit smirked, her eyes narrowed as she glared intensely at my poor father who continuously yelled something out — I heard none of it, but I was sure he was cursing it's being.

I shook my head, whilst running my hands through my hair as I glanced at the bed — my eyes frantically searching for something.

I let out a breath of relief when I saw it slightly tucked under Marina's pillow.

A small piece of paper; intentionally placed there for only my family to find.

I looked down at my stomach, which is still slightly rounded — almost bloated looking due to me being a species completely supernatural, with the ability to carry a baby a lot quicker then a human.

I inhaled shakily whilst fluttering my glossy eyes closed — exhaling loudly before opening them again, only to come face to face with never ending darkness.

I gasped loudly before letting out a loud, bloodcurdling scream — my breathing labored at the sudden feeling of falling down a great height; with my dead heart in my stomach.

The fall did not end. It had no end.

•
•
•

MARINA'S POV

We stalked through the halls; the Queen and I, side by side — not once saying a word.

We both sniffed, whilst I shakily tried drying my tears, which continuously trailed out of my eyes — the Queen did not bother to hide her despair; she walked with tear-stained cheeks, and bloodshot eyes.

"W-where is Luke. Where is that warrior?" She suddenly asked, stopping in the middle of the hall — I gulped, while my brows furrowed.

"I-I don't know." I answered honestly — it was a pathetic answer, but I was far too caught up with this, to care about his whereabouts.

You need your Mate Marina, I've been trying to tell you.
I don't need him right now Nina. He's fine on his own.
Yeah he is, but you are not.
That doesn't matter — I'll figure myself out.
Okay..

I abruptly blocked her out — keeping her far away from my emotions.

"You don't know where your Mate is?" She asked with a sneer, her bloodshot eyes narrowing to glare at me, making my gaze lower in submission.

"Is it a common thing between you and your brother to throw your Mates to the side like trash? So carelessly at that, that you even forget about them." She asked in disgust, her face curling up whilst more tears streamed down her cheeks — her words angered me.

She had no right to speak to me like that. She has no right to compare Dustin and I, I am nothing like my idiot brother.

"With all due respect your majesty, I am nothing like my brother. I forgot about Luke due to being around Celine all day. In case you forgot, I also lost someone, not just yourself and yes, she may not have had a family bond with me, but she was my friend. She was the only person here that I could stand." I paused to inhale shakily, not once looking the Queen in the eyes.

"And no offense, but Celine has been around me a lot longer then she has you. I managed to grow close to your daughter and we created a great friendship bond — one which my very own brother ruined, and it is not my fault that we share the same blood-

"I was born into this family, and I grew with this family — I've been labeled all kinds of things, due to its reputation — some in which are true, but the others that compare my monster of a brother and I are completely untrue. With all due respect, you have no right to make these claims about me when you have never personally met me, and I could even vouch that Celine would say the same, if she were still here." Once I finished, I realized I was holding my breath, so I exhaled shakily.

The Queen was silent, and it made me nervous — so I cautiously looked up; this was a decision I immediately regretted because at the same second her hand harshly backhanded me across the face, almost making me tumble to the floor.

My right cheek was suddenly numb, and I felt a metallic taste near the corner of my lip ooze out slowly.

I slapped my hands over my face whilst turning my head to unsurely look at the Queen who was obviously offended — but I was not going to take back my words or apologize, she needed the truth.

"How dare you?!" She asked angrily, the presence of her enraged wolf was evident — her authority seeped out of her very pores and almost made me fall to the ground on my knees to submit to her higher power.

I did not answer, I just kept my gaze down whilst softly rubbing my aching cheek.

"You have no right to speak about my deceased daughter in such a way! If it wasn't for this pathetic pack and your deranged family — my baby would've lived. She would've been alive and well! Her heartbreak and despair would have been lessened." She stated, I could hear the cracks in her voice and the way her words shook — they made me flinch, because she did not sound normal.

"And you my dear were never a friend to her! Friends do not just watch their friends get tortured or go through verbal abuse everyday! Friends help their friends, but clearly you just needed someone to fill an empty void in your heart." She continued making me shake my head frantically — even though her words sounded realistic, and made me feel bad about myself.

Even though I didn't intend to just not do anything — I still just watched every interaction she had with Dustin, all I ever did was watch.

"See even you agree — you Marina, are pathetic. You are also to blame for my daughters death. But I am not here to pick on you and your pack, but for my daughter — she is my main priority. I will deal with the rest of you later. Now, find your idiot Mate, I need to have a word with him." She continued — I inhaled shakily before nodding respectfully.

Tears undeniably pooled down my cheeks all the way to my sharp collarbones — I even had trouble breathing through all the despair and regret.

"There is no need my Queen. I am right here. I apologize for not seeing you sooner, but I got into a bit of a problem." My Mates voice made my ears perk up — I quickly snapped my head upwards and allowed our eyes to lock, he looked very troubled and it made my stomach churn.

I can't even care for my own Mate. Goddess, I am pathetic.

"What kind of a problem can keep you from seeing to your duties! I assigned you to protect my daughter, but you just watched her undergo more and more heartbreak, and then her death. You are lucky I am controlling my wolf, for she wants your head in my hands." The Queen threatened, her eyes darkened as she glared at my nervous Mate — my heart called out to him.

"I-I came in contact with Nolan." His words made the Queen that had previously been so enraged before me gasp loudly — it almost sounded as though she was close to a heart attack but her labored breathing showed otherwise.

"Oh Goddess no. Oh Goddess help us all." She mumbled under her breath whilst staring at her shaking fingers helplessly — the sight of her troubled and suddenly distraught state confused the both of us.

"We are in grave danger." She whispered in complete shock — her frail shaky hands laid flat over her round stomach making me gulp lowly.