14 Change of events

Irene ran as fast as she could, trying to avoid tripping on her feet. Unfortunately, the long dress made it impossible for her to move conveniently, and she turned back to see how far behind her predator was. But to her horror, he was inching closer to her, covering the distance between them at a speed she could not even comprehend.

'How did he do that?' Irene wondered as she kept moving. 'Is it humanly possible?' But she did not have the time to dwell more on it. She had to escape before the man caught her, and she increased her speed even though she was already exhausted and drained. Irene took another look behind her and gasped when she saw the man's menacing red eyes, staring right through her soul as he took his sweet time to get to her.

Her long hair was now swaying wildly, and her forehead was covered with sweat. She was panting heavily, and her legs were about to give away. If not for the sudden adrenaline rush in her and the desire to get away from the predator who looked terrifying and ready to eat her up, Irene would have dropped to the ground at once.

The wind howled in the dark night, and the leaves rustled, sending chills down Irene's spine. Although she had been running for a long time, all her sweat was due to her fear and fear alone. Fortunately for her, the moon was shining bright in the sky, illuminating her path in the dense forest. Otherwise, she was sure she would have been caught when the chase started.

However, an ominous feeling started to settle in her heart as time passed. Not once had Irene stopped running. But the man had not caught up to her even though he was running at a pace faster than hers.

'How is it possible? What is he and what is he trying to do?' She wondered, not caring where she was going. She did not even know where the path led to. Heck, she did not know if there was even one ahead, or was it the end for her? All she wanted was to escape the dreadful man who had appeared before her out of nowhere.

Suddenly, the path before her seemed familiar, and Irene frowned. However, her eyes did not shift away from where she was going, and she continued running in the direction she was going. And the moment she came out of the wild forest, Irene covered her mouth in horror.

How could she forget the place that haunted her in her nightmares every night? How could she forget the castle that kept calling and luring her in her dreams? How could she not be familiar with the eerily mysterious castle where a man she did not know was waiting for her patiently?

All her movements ceased as she stared at the enigmatic castle in front of her. Just like every other time, the castle looked beautiful and serene. But this time, there was something else in it that made it look all the more captivating. Other than the moon's light, there was no other source of illumination. So, the castle gleamed in the dark, sending tremors of excitement and trepidation through Irene's heart.

Although she wanted to retreat and return home, the castle was luring her to step inside. It was waiting for her to enter and make it hers, possess it, and own it even. It was crying out for its queen to take over it and rule it alongside the man who had been waiting for her for years.

Ignoring all the alarms of danger in her mind, Irene lifted her skirt and walked towards the castle, mesmerized by the place altogether. She was in a trance and did not break out of it until she was standing inside the castle with nothing but the moonlight to irradiate her path. She only came out of her stupor when the frostiness of the place hit her, making her shiver in fright and cold.

Irene wanted to escape from the place, run away and never return again. Her heart eventually won the war, forcing her alarm-filled thoughts aside, crushing them and throwing them out of her mind.

Irene took the usual route she was well accustomed to and climbed the stairs slowly. She could only rely on the light from the moon, and even though her heart was thumping loud enough for her to hear it in the silent place, she continued in her venture. Eventually, she reached the long corridor brightly illuminated by candles, and Irene walked forward, her eyes searching for the painting etched in her mind.

All through the time, she could not shred off the feeling of an intense gaze on her. Someone was staring at her, watching her every move keenly. Irene clutched her dress tight, gulping down her angst and uneasiness. She did not stop until she reached the end of the corridor. However, the painting was not the only thing she saw this time. The man in the painting stood in front of it, waiting for her patiently.

Previously, Irene had been too cautious looking around her, her eyes seeking out the man she vividly remembered. Her focus was on finding him instead of where she was going to notice the man at the farther end of the corridor. She only saw him when she was just a few steps away from the painting. Her eyes widened in horror, and she shook her head in disbelief. 'How did he come here?' She screamed in her mind. 'I am sure he wasn't here a few moments ago.'

Irene was too scared now, scared even to take a step further. She retreated a step away from him, ready to flee from the place. 'This was not how it usually happened. This is not how I meet the man in my dreams daily. I never saw him until I was standing in front of the painting. Why is it different this time?' She wondered.

Irene was just about to flee from the place, from him, when the man, who was smiling at her in delight, frowned lightly before he bolted towards her. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of her, and he held her by her waist, his arms snaking around her, securing her safely in his embrace.

"I was waiting for you, darling." Even though the events had changed, his words remained unchanged until Irene heard him speak again. "Please do not leave me again, Irene. I have waited centuries for you, and finally, I have you where I want you to be."