CATRINA

Walking through the woods, I pull my coat closer to my body. I can feel something happening to me. Ever since that night when I lost all control over my emotions and I remembered Xanthos's true self, I feel a change happening in me. It feels like, along with my emotions something else broke free from the cages in my mind.

I feel the need, the ache, the eagerness. But for what, I am not quite sure. I feel the need to run sometimes then I feel the need to go out and roam during the dusk and early in the morning.

I feel like talking, like laughing, I can feel the need to mingle in my family where once, all I wanted to do was sit in my room and read a book.

All those introvert habits are gone, now. And what's surprising is that I don't miss my old self. I enjoy my life here in my cousin's home. His people, his mate, his daughter, and my own blood family have made me feel almost complete.

Except, I am not. I still yearn to be with Connor. I still miss him. I miss his arms around me, I miss being his little sun. I regret not believing him. I shouldn't have taken Xanthos's side like that. It's caused a rift between us, for good or bad, I am not so sure anymore.

As I watch the sunrise and set every day, the feeling of something changing is very conspicuous. The nights are so much longer now and my bed feels colder with each passing night. I feel the need to call him, talk to him, ask him if he misses me?

But I don't want to start something which will make our break-up messier. I have decided to stay away so I should.

I sigh as the heaviness of my decision lingers on my shoulders and the sun dips into the horizon, taking away the little light that the day brought into my heart.

I start walking back towards my new home where my twin and mom are waiting, my steps getting heavier and heavier.

The soft crunching of the grass is the only indication that someone's around me.

I look around, waiting for that person to show himself. One thing I've learnt is that werewolves are very stealthy and they like to walk stealthily. Surprisingly they have welcomed me in their land with open arms.

And they call their Alphas as King and Queen, even when I have watched the couple, chastise these people when they speak so formally. Still, these people call the couple with their royal status as a show of gratitude.

Their gratitude doesn't end here. When I was introduced into their "pack" that I am Cayden's lost sister, a lot of the females cried in joy and embraced me into their family. They also call me princess. It makes me awkward but they just don't listen to me.

A smile breaks free on my lips when I watch a girl of Sierra's age, bow down to me and then looks at me, but not meeting my eyes.

"What is it, Tamara?" I ask, softly knowing that she can hear me well.

"Princess, it's very late out here and the lady was worried about you so she sent me to search for you," whispers Tamara bowing down her head slightly.

I frown and then sigh, knowing that it's useless to chastise her for calling me a princess but, I still do.

"Don't address me as a Princess, please," I say with a long sigh and watch as the girl lifts her head and looks me in the eyes while a small smile flits across her lips.

I consider this as a small victory and watch as she starts walking alongside me towards my home.

The walk back home suddenly feels very long and I look around to see if I am lost in this forest. It was called the Dark Woods since from here, Sierra had once gotten kidnapped. Since then Fenris has doubled the security. I have taken their help a lot of times to get back home because this forest just feels too enchanting.

The crunch of the snow beneath my legs as I walk through it feels calming so I keep walking not thinking of being lost.

"Are we lost?" asks Tamara after a few minutes and I sigh, resigned now and accepting that I am indeed lost.

"Probably, let's walk a little more and find some wolf patrolling," I whisper in the hopes that we do find someone. It's no longer dusk and night has fallen, the moonlight only creeping slightly through the dense branches of the Oak and Pine trees.

We both start walking faster, me being a little worried and her just following me through the darkness when out of nowhere someone lands right in front of us.

We both scream and I clutch my coat tighter to my body, expecting it to be Cayden trying and successfully scaring me but it's not.

It's someone else. He's a man and he's quite sinister looking with those fangs poking out of his mouth. I take a step back and take in all his features, hoping that he's not the one I am thinking he is.

He's a blond guy, with dark blonde hair and a beard with a lean body. I frown as he makes his way directly towards me, not paying Tamara even a single glance. I watch the person walk closer and it's then I notice that his eyes are red.

A chill of fear runs down my spine, as my mind registers that this person is not like Cayden or Connor. He's not a human. Is he a vampire?

Shocked at the conclusion that my mind draws up I shift back in my step making the newcomer chuckle and then grin at me. I see his fangs clearly but now they get hidden when his lips close up, hiding my view of his fangs.

"I am honoured to finally meet you, mo leanbh," he whispers, once he is close enough that he's now leaning over me.

"Who... Who are you?" I ask, unable to take my eyes off his, feeling scared as well as curious about this man/ vampire.

"I am your Godfather, Dominic Creighton," he whispers while bending down and kissing my forehead while I stand there like a statue.

"Let's get you back home. Aren't you lost?" he asks and then drapes a wool scarf around my neck and puts an arm around my shoulder.

The softness of the scarf warms me up and I let my fear of this man ease. I look at Tamara, who's silent since Dominic startled us, but she seems to look fine which means Dominic is the guy he claims to be.

So, I start walking with Dominic, feeling another wave of excitement flow through my body. My new self feels quite happy to meet another member of my family.

He sounds genuine and as he guides us back to my home, I can make out a similar path which makes all the doubts scurry away.

The man beside me, Dominic, he's quiet. His arm around my shoulder is loose and not at all burdening. He looks down at me maybe because I was willing him to talk or initiate some conversation.

"You have a lot of questions, don't you?" he asks, smiling at me and once again I catch the glimpse of those fangs.

"You are a vampire." I blurt out and feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

He laughs at my statement and then squeezes my shoulder before releasing me. "Yes, I am a vampire, but a good one and also the King of Vampires of Recrania," he says, rather proudly.

So, Fenris is the King of werewolves and Dominic is the King of Vampires. Are there any other supernatural/ paranormal creatures around here?

"What a curious little munchkin you are!" exclaims Dominic while lifting one of the strands of my hair and twirling it.

"Come on. I want to meet Christine. It's been a few months and my visit's pending," he says and then starts walking towards the house.

We walk for another few minutes when the house slowly comes into our view and I feel my steps quickening. My mom's waiting outside probably worried about my long walk but the moment she sees Dominic ahead of me, her face morphs into that of genuine happiness. Her eyes light up a little as she calls for Cayden, I suppose.

"You are late for your visit, brother," she calls as soon as we reach closer to her. Dominic suddenly vanishes from my sight and then stops directly in front of my mother where he engulfs her in a bear hug. Tamara tugs at my coat and I turn to look at her as she waves me goodbye. I smile and return the wave, not forcing her to hang back.

I soon reach them when Cayden also appears beside us. Cayden also hugs Dominic where Dominic ruffles Cayden's hair and comments about how Cayden's wolf is becoming stronger and stronger under Fenris's patient training.

"Let me hear my praise, will you?" Fenris's voice booms in the veranda and I turn around to see Fenris with his mate and daughter walk towards us.

"Ahh! Keep that babe away, will you Sierra?" asks Dominic while he visibly turns paler than he normally looks like and then takes a step back.

"Scared of a little pup, are we?" mocks Fenris while walking further towards Dominic. I watch in amusement as the two Kings interact animatedly, one pulling the other and the other trying to get away.

"Oh, come on. I am not scared but I don't want to meet a babe who's possibly stronger than me in that empathy section," mock whines Dominic. His words ring a bell in my head and all those memories of me losing control over my emotions rush to my mind.

"Empathy? She's an empath?" I ask, whispering it out in fear not wanting to feel so sad, even when it was my pain.

Fenris and Dominic sober up immediately and then Fenris tells Dominic all about the incident. I feel myself tearing up at that memory but Cayden comes toward me and puts a hand up my shoulder, comforting me and then kissing my head. I smile up at him through my tears but don't let them leak out of my eyes.

~~~~~

"From what I gathered, I think your baby is an empath with the power of bringing old and deep memories to the surface," says Dominic.

"She has a bit of healing ability in her too which made her want to purge off those sad memories," adds Fenris.

We are currently sitting in Fenris's living room with the heater on and Sierra upstairs when the baby started crying for food. I wanted to go with her but somehow the baby scares me. I don't want to experience that pain and loneliness again.

"Will it happen again if I touch her?" I ask, unable to keep myself from playing with my goddaughter. How can I build a relationship with that baby when I can't even touch her?

Fenris shrugs and then shakes his head while Dominic appears to be deep in his thoughts.

"I don't think that it'll harm you. Even if her powers do surface, you'll be a lot more prepared for it, yes? And now you've mourned for your loss from what I gather. I don't feel the sad aura around you anymore. Regret, yes but the pain of loss for your babies? No, I don't feel that," says Fenris to which even Dominic nods. I just listen to them not understanding why they are talking about my feelings.

"Okay, now I can feel your confusion. You see, I and Dominic are both empaths. My skills help me segregate tiniest emotions and then use them to manipulate the truth out of the guy but Dominic's skill is to feel the emotions of one person and make the other feel the same intensity of emotion," explains Fenris while a tired-looking Sierra makes her way towards him. He doesn't stop speaking but doesn't fail to pull Sierra beside him where she is almost dozing off.

But the scene doesn't help me even a bit to keep the shocked gasp from escaping from my mouth. "How's that possible?" I ask while Dominic smiles at me reassuringly.

"We are supernatural beings, Catrina. We have some abilities which might help us to survive in this world of lies, malignance and hate."

"What's it to do with the baby?"

"She received the gift from her father. We can only wait to see how much she's gained," says Dominic.

"So, Dominic is a vampire and he has that gift. Fenris has this gift. Then what's your gift Cayden? Sierra? Mom?" I ask, curious now wanting to know what skills they have and what powers they can wield.

Hearing my voice, Sierra startles in her seat while almost climbing into Fenris's lap which makes Dominic chuckle at her and in turn receives a finger from her. I look at Cayden, waiting for him to tell me but he's busy looking at Fenris. It appears as if they are talking with their eyes.

I sigh, not understanding this paranormal stuff and feeling a little conscious that maybe they don't want to tell me.

I am about to say that it's okay if they don't tell me when Sierra sits up in her seat, looking fresh a daisy, rubbing her palms together. This girl's mood swings are scary sometimes.

"So, Catrina. I'll tell you a real-life love story, wanna hear?" she asks like a child, happy to announce that she got the biggest gift.

"Huh?"

"Well, once upon a time there was a witch..."

~~~~~

Thank you for reading!!! It was kind of a filler chapter yet, I am pleased that at least one of my readers commented on my request. 

@reader852013 commented the right answer. It is Dominic Creighton, the vampire!!! Thank you for commenting.

So comment your views about this chapter and do vote if you'll like it. 

We are going to meet more people in the next chapter. New to Catrina but not to us. So, do comment your guesses...

The next update will be sometime next week, but no promises might be earlier too. Depends on your votes and comments. So vote, keep voting and comment more. 

Take care, all of you.