The Viking's Mate Hunt

CHAPTER 146

Drenched in sweat, overheated by the running and the sun, it felt incredibly lovely walking into the cold shades of the cave.

The cave gave me a welcoming sanctuary from the blazing sun. For some reason, this place felt familiar. Not that I recognized the place, that the opening reminded me of somewhere particular, it was only a feeling - a sensation my body and mind remembered or felt at ease with. Relaxing on the cooling shadow, I could see this had been a safe place for many before me. Animals and humans have passed through the years: an old fireplace, footprints, and paw marks on the dirty ground. Small pray had ended their days here, leaving only pieces of skeleton and fur behind. In combination with the markings on the wall, deep claw marks literally carved in stone, and the dark stains all around, I should be grossed out. I should feel uncomfortable or even unsafe here. However, the opposite occurred.

I found myself so grateful and calm that I didn't even notice that I had fallen asleep.

A well-needed rest, dreams, and thoughts lulled me deeper and deeper into the soothing darkness. Feeling content, I willingly let myself be devoured by the safety of dreams and darkness while I welcomed the sensation it gave me: power and control. Nobody but me controlled me, nobody had a saying, It was just me! Here, I cannot be forced to do anything, held back or down. This is my kingdom, and I am the queen, I am the law, and my word is the final say. Dreamland shadows reached for me, embraced me, and pulled me in every direction possible. Fighting for my attention, and I relished in it. Giggling and dancing around, I did my best to go a little in every direction. I felt popular. A sensation I've never felt before, a feeling and experience I've craved since I was a child. I had forgotten about this need years ago, but it resurfaced, heightening my experience even more.

Lifting up and forward, whispers and promises filled my head. Laughter and praises, everything without a single word, every statement a feeling on its own, and I loved every second of it. The soft touch of darkness and shadows brushed against my skin, hugged me, and caressed me. The queen of shadows, the ruler of darkness, a powerful empress. That was me; all of them were me. I had control; I had the power! They all looked at me and wanted my approval, and I never knew how much I wanted this. How much I had dreamed and craved these feelings, this attention and I almost felt embarrassed to admit how much I liked it. Boosting not only my ego and self-centeredness but blowing up my place on this earth, my entitlement in this life, and frankly, Why the heck not!?

And there it was, my crown! Appearing out of nowhere, like a light in the dark, it stuck out. A shadow crow, thorns, lost souls, dripping with blood and power! My heart jumped a beat, and my hands felt sweaty as I reached out to accept it. It was finally happening; my entire body was seething, filled with anticipation. My crown was just within reach, so close its shadows stretched towards my hands. Cold darkness licked the tip of my fingers, sending me a rush of power and a surge of energy and flashing through me like lightning in waves. My fingers curved, shaping around the pointy crown.

The pain rushed through me, and the light blinded me. I heard myself scream, my throat burned, and I lost everything. Claws dragged me away, forced me out, deprived me of my birthright. It felt like my face pulled back, leaving nothing but a monster and a sneering mouth of sharp teeth. Raging, I screamed and growled. Over and over, I struck my enemy, clawed, and hit with all my strength. Something powerful sent me flying, and my back hit the cold stone wall. I gasped in pain as all air was forced out of my lungs at impact.

A monstrous voice shouted, booming and vibrating between the cave's stone entrance. This wordless shouting confused me and pulled me down to earth, and I blinked franticly to clear up my vision. I felt all the blood leave my face, and my eyes grew wide. I stood, pressed against the cave wall, staring straight into a grim face. Her eyes were all black, but her facial features twisted and wrinkled up into a terrifying monster-like being. Blond hair cascaded around her head, a furious mane thick and wild. A scream died in my throat; my body started trembling uncontrollably as hundreds of black insects ran down her arms. They came from nowhere and everywhere. Spiders crawled out of her hair, larvae pressed out from her skin, and they all ran towards me with incredible speed.

"No!"

Filled with panic, fear, and rage, she shouted. My skin crawled, but I couldn't move. Just stared at Huldra before she was thrown back. A feral snarl echoed down the deep cave, and she jumped up and ran towards Nida. Using her body to shield me, Nida faced Huldra again; she shouted,

"No! Stop!"

Huldra let out a bone-chilling sound, but she stopped. Instead, she turned around, her head violently shaking. Snarls and growls. Her body trembling in rage, she started pacing back and forth. Letting her long black nails scrape along the cave wall, leaving deep, rugged marks. Out of control. She had lost control. That was all I could think of. The air vibrated in the little cave, and suddenly, she turned to the entrance and ran. Nida and I watched her disappear into the deep forest.

She left nothing but silence, and I felt nothing but shock and confusion. I had no idea what to say if I even could speak. We both stared at where she disappeared for what felt like an eternity. Only softly waving leaves and a couple of broken branches.

"What... What was that?"

When she turned around, Nida broke out of her state, and I wanted to melt down into the ground. Her eyes were dark, filled with rage and hatred, and I didn't understand it. She just saved me from her, but now it felt like she hated me.

"You fool!"

"But I didn't..."

"Oh, shut up! Just, fucking shut up! You did! This is all your fault!"

Nida heaved for air, and I swear I could hear her heart hammering against her ribs. But I shut my mouth and lowered my gaze. Confusion and chaos. Fear and anger. Anger trapped inside my chest, anger that I could not react to, and it burned inside of me like an inferno. Still, I looked away and tried to breathe deep and steady. Slowly, Nida's energy changed, and only then did I notice how suffocation and heavy it had been.

Lifting my gaze, I saw Nida stare after Huldra. Her shoulders fell, and something helpless fell over her, but she said nothing. I said nothing. We waited, listened, and waited.