#I'll just slice them up for me tea! (they did give me the kettle as well)

[da-riya]

I bought and brought in half a kilo of lemons in my room, which is against the hotel's house rules, because the fruit stand lady was nice to me

[aishangotome]

Minamoto No Yoritomo: Chapter 7

Chapter 6

♡———♡

The giant hand sliced through the air and slammed into the spot where I had been standing.

Yoritomo: ...Hey, that was dangerous.

(Ah...)

Yoritomo-sama's face peered into mine, with a slightly less composed expression than usual.

Yoritomo: Are you alright, Yoshino?

Yoshino: ...Y-Yes.

(Thank you for saving me...)

The warmth from his body pressed close to mine made tears well up, but...

(Ah...)

A black arm swayed menacingly, and my legs froze in fear.

(It's scary...)

Yoritomo: Calm down.

Yoritomo-sama firmly supported me as I nearly collapsed.

Yoritomo: It seems it can't move far from that box.

Yoshino: Huh?

(It's true, it doesn't seem to be attacking...)

The black arm made a move towards us, and then--

(Ah!)

Yoshino: It disappeared?

It slowly lost its shape, turned into smoke, and was sucked back into the box.

Yoritomo: Let's move back a little further for now.

Yoshino: Y-Yes.

(That's right! Tamamo and Yasuchika are--)

As I looked back for them,

Yasuchika: Well, that was a surprise.

Tamamo: If that's the case... shouldn't you show a little more surprise on your face?

(Thank goodness! They're safe.)

It seems they escaped by jumping to the opposite side from us.

Yasuchika: Yoritomo-sama, I'm glad you're safe. Yoshino, are you alright?

Yoshino: Yes, I'm fine...!

Yoritomo: We're safe, but what was that arm?

Yoshino: There should only be a tea kettle in that box...

Yasuchika: That's right, but it seems it used its curse power to manifest that arm.

Yasuchika: I didn't know it had that kind of power.

Yoritomo: That's on you. Did you intentionally not tell us?

Yasuchika: Absolutely not. It didn't rage like that when I sealed it.

Yasuchika: Ah, maybe it's angry because I used a rather forceful technique at that time?

(Angry...?)

Yoshino: Didn't you say earlier that the ayakashi didn't have a sense of self...?

Yasuchika: Even without a sense of self, animals and ayakashi become aggressive when hurt! It's the same!

Yoshino: That's...

I'm stunned by Yasuchika's nonchalant words.

Tamamo: I don't even want to imagine what method you used, but... Yasuchika's spells are certainly nasty.

Tamamo: I truly sympathize with that ayakashi right now.

(But... then what should we do?)

Yoshino: At this rate, it seems like we'll be attacked before we can absorb its curse power.

Yoritomo: Is it impossible to steal the curse power from a position where the attacks won't hit?

Tamamo: Unfortunately, that would be too far.

We cautiously look at the box, which is faintly emitting black smoke.

Yoshino: That means we have to get close to it, right?

(... I don't feel like I'll be safe this time either.)

Tamamo: You look pale, are you alright, Yoshino?

Yoshino: Yeah... well, probably.

I give a vague answer, unable to say "I'm fine."

Yasuchika: Well, there's no need to push yourself, right?

Yasuchika: If it comes to that, we can just take it down with onmyoji magic. Of course, we won't be able to steal the curse power then.

Tamamo: I don't mind. Even though it's stronger than I thought, it's not enough to add to my curse power.

Tamamo: However, Yasuchika... don't involve me when you use your spells.

Yasuchika playfully makes a fist and taps his head.

Yasuchika: Hehe. I'll do my best not to be careless!

Tamamo: I wish this guy would accidentally trip and hit his head on the corner of a dresser...

(Yasuchika's offer is appreciated, but... is it really okay?)

As Yoritomo-sama said, I have to steal the curse power from Yoshitsune someday.

I knew it would be better not to run away here.

(But, I don't have the confidence to deal with that black arm...)

Yoritomo: ...

(Yoritomo-sama?)

I suddenly realize that Yoritomo-sama is staring intently at my expression.

Yoritomo: Yoshino, what do you want to do?

Yoshino: Huh?

Yoritomo: You seem to be thinking a lot, but it's not like you to keep it bottled up.

Tamamo and Yasuchika also fall silent, waiting for my answer.

Yoshino: I...

As I hesitate in front of the eerie arm, Yoritomo-sama gives me a smirk.

Yoritomo: Are you scared and want to run away with your tail between your legs?

Yoritomo: You're a more pathetic woman than I thought.

Yoshino: Th...

Yoritomo: You can talk back to the shogun, but you're scared of an opponent with only an arm?

Yoshino: That's not true...!

As usual, I reflexively retort to his provocative tone and then gasp.

(Yoritomo-sama... could it be that you're intentionally saying things to anger me?)

The time I went to ask him for a job as a pharmacist suddenly flashes through my mind.

*flashback*

Yoritomo: If your skills as a pharmacist are poor, you'll be fired immediately. Keep that in mind.

Yoritomo: Well, you seem clumsy. I don't expect much.

Yoshino: ...I'll do my best not to get fired.

Yoritomo: Oh, really?

Yoritomo: If you mess up and come crying to me like a fool, I might comfort you a little.

Yoshino: No thank you!

*flashback over*

(I was angry when he said that... but it actually motivated me.)

(I didn't realize it before, but maybe that was Yoritomo-sama's way of encouraging me.)

It's thanks to Yoritomo-sama that I was able to fit in at the palace.

I now know that there's kindness behind his mean words.

(If that's the case, then I...)

Yoritomo: What is it? If you have something to say, say it.

(I don't want to run away, I want to do my best.)

Yoshino: I was surprised by the unexpected turn of events, but... if possible, I'd like to see this through to the end.

My voice trembled a little, but I finished my sentence.

Yoritomo: ...I see.

A soft smile briefly graces Yoritomo-sama's lips.

For some reason, my heart aches when I see it.

Yasuchika: You're brave. As expected of the princess possessed by a fox.

Tamamo: If that's the case, we'll cooperate, Yoshino.

Yoshino: Yeah... Thank you.

(I have to do my best.)

Yoritomo: Don't look so stiff, come on.

Yoshino: Wah!

Lord Yoritomo chuckles and pats my back.

--CHOICES--

What are you up to?

I'm nervous, but...

This is just my face

----------------

Yoshino: It's just my face, so it's no problem at all!

Yoritomo: If you can joke like that, you're good.

(I'm sure Yoritomo-sama can see through my bravado.)

I stare at Yoritomo-sama, thinking I can't compete with him.

Yasuchika: Let's assess the situation first.

Yoritomo: Yasuchika, you said earlier that the ayakashi manifested its arm with curse power, right?

Yasuchika: Yes. It's quite impressive for a low-level ayakashi to create a physical form.

Yasuchika: However, it seems that one arm is its limit! It doesn't seem to be able to operate away from its main body either.

Yoritomo: If it has a physical form, that means we can cut the arm with a sword.

Tamamo: We can cut it. It will heal as long as the curse power remains, but...

Tamamo: We can slow it down, and if we attack it a few times, we can probably finish it off.

Yoritomo: Then, what we need to do is simple.

Yoritomo-sama calmly continues, placing his right hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Yoritomo: Yoshino will steal its curse power. I will defend against its attacks during that time.

(Eh...?)

Yoshino: Yoritomo-sama?

Yoritomo: What? Why are you staring?

(But...)

Yoshino: I didn't expect you to help me so much.

Yoshino: Or rather... I should be the one protecting you, Yoritomo-sama.

Yoritomo: Geez, don't get so worked up.

Yoritomo-sama shrugs his shoulders in exasperation.

Yoritomo: Stealing the curse power is a role only you can fulfill. If that's the case, it's only natural for those around you to protect you.

Yoritomo: In fact, if you try to steal the curse power from Yoshitsune, he will fight back with all his might.

Yoritomo: At that time, I will be the one closest to you on the battlefield.

Yoshino: So, you mean you'll protect me, Yoritomo-sama?

Yoritomo: It's called putting the right person in the right place.

(It's amazing that the shogun himself will protect me...)

Yoritomo: Any complaints?

Yoshino: No...

Overwhelmed by the situation, I shake my head.

Tamamo: Can you even fight, Yoritomo?

Yoritomo: Don't ask stupid questions.

Yoritomo: It would be troublesome if the leader of the samurai couldn't fight at all. I've undergone minimal training.

Yasuchika: It's a rare opportunity to see the shogun wield a sword!

Yasuchika: Do you need any support with onmyoji magic?

Yoritomo: No need. We're assuming the same situation as a real battle.

Yoritomo: Tamamo, you stay on standby this time. I'll bring you to the battlefield too,

Yoritomo: But there's a possibility you won't be able to stay with Yoshino depending on the situation.

Tamamo: Hmm... Then, I'll take the liberty of watching.

Tamamo: Oh, let's go, Yoshino.

Yoshino: Ah, wait a minute!

I hurriedly chase after Yoritomo-sama's back as he starts walking away.

Yoshino: How should I put it... don't you have any hesitation?

(Even after seeing something like that.)

Yoritomo: None. If hesitating would change the situation, I'd wait as long as it takes.

Yoritomo-sama turns around with a fearless smile.

Yoritomo: --Besides, you'll protect me, right, Yoshino?

(Ah... that's right.)

I take a small breath and firmly nod.

Yoshino: ...Yes.

Yoritomo: Then, I will protect you too.

Yoritomo: As long as you're my weapon, I won't let anyone hurt you.

Yoshino: Yoritomo-sama...

A strong will resided in his midnight blue eyes, burning quietly.

The core of my head felt dizzy at the thought that I was reflected in the center of those eyes.

(There's still a lot I don't know about Yoritomo-sama.)

(But I'm sure his words just now were from the bottom of his heart. He will definitely keep his promise.)

A strange intuition swirls within me.

Yoshino: Thank you very much.

Yoritomo: No need for thanks.

My anxiety had faded away before I knew it.

With Yasuchika and Tamamo watching over us, Yoritomo-sama and I approached the box.

-

Yoshino: ...! The smoke again...

Yoritomo: Yes. Here it comes.

(Ah...!)

As if sensing our presence, black smoke spewed out from the box again.

The rapidly formed black arm roared towards Yoritomo-sama.

Yoritomo: What an uninspired attack.

I heard the sound of a sword being drawn, and Yoritomo-sama quickly jumped into the opponent's bosom.

(So fast!)

Yoritomo: Sorry, ayakashi.

Yoritomo: The first strike is decisive.

A horizontal slash strikes the black arm.

Smoke billows from the cut, and the outline quickly collapses.

Yoritomo: Now. Do it, Yoshino.

Yoshino: Yes!

(Please...! Let me take this ayakashi's curse power.)

I desperately focus my consciousness on my outstretched palm.

(...Ah, it's warm...)

The black smoke transforms into a translucent, glowing mist and is sucked into my palm.

Yoshino: Hmm...

(Is this... the ayakashi's curse power?)

In the corner of my vision, silver hair sways.

It took me a moment to realize it was my own.

Yoritomo: You've transformed quite a bit, fox-possessed girl.

Yoshino: I see, it's because I drew out Tamamo's curse power...

(My hair and eye color have changed.)

At that moment, a giant hand reaches out as if to stop me--

(It's grabbing me!)

Yoshino: Ah...

Yoritomo: Don't be scared.

Yoritomo-sama shields me with his back and swings his white blade.

Yoritomo: Yoshino, who do you think you're standing behind?

Yoshino: ...! Yoritomo-sama.

(A large back.)

The black arm crumbles along with Yoritomo-sama's confident voice.

The black smoke still tries to take shape and head towards Yoritomo...

Yoshino: No.

(Don't hurt this person.)

I hold out my palm, thinking strongly.

The heat being sucked in is higher than before.

Yoritomo: --It seems there's no need to cut it anymore.

I realize the black arm is no longer able to maintain its shape.

Soon, the last remnants of the smoke disappear into my palm...

(Kyah!)

A sound like something breaking echoes from the box.

Yoshino: Is it over...?

Yoritomo: Seems like it.

The sound of two pairs of hands clapping can be heard from the corner of the room.

Tamamo: It ended unexpectedly quickly.

Yasuchika: Good work! You put on a good show.

Yoshino: Both of you...

Tamamo and Yasuchika walk towards us.

Yasuchika peeks into the box.

Yasuchika: The tea kettle is... oh.

Yasuchika: Oh, it's nicely cracked.

(Oh, it's true...)

There was a large crack in the tea kettle that was casually lifted up.

Tamamo: The ayakashi's presence has disappeared too. It seems to have returned to being just a tea utensil.

Yoritomo: Well done, Yoshino.

Yoshino: Ah...

Yoritomo-sama ruffles my hair as I'm still dazed.

Yoritomo: I'll praise you as much as you want.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 8

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[stanbillyhargrove]

Ghosts chp 14

Billy x Katrina

A/N: this is a multi chapter series that will contain smut, angst, fluff, substance abuse MURDER, GORE, HORROR

Katrina's POV

Billy and Steve had been glued to me since we got back from Salem, barely giving me a chance to breathe on my own. But I'd finally convinced them that I was fine, that they didn't need to watch me all the time. That I was only a wall away from Billy if something happened.

I padded through my apartment, rubbing sleep from my eyes as I entered the bathroom. Turned on the shower, sloughed off my clothes and inspected myself in the mirror. Took in the rough look of makeup that had started to wear off and smear and let out a tired huff before sliding into the steamy spray. Soaped up and let the hot water ease sore muscles until it started to cool. Stepped out and wrapped up in a fluffy towel to wander into the kitchen. I set a kettle of water on the stove and a mug with a tea bag on the counter before going back to the bathroom. Hung my towel on the hook and massaged sweet smelling lotion into my skin, taking my time to relax and enjoy this time by myself.

I pulled my pajama top over my head and caught a glimpse of something in the corner of my eye. Turned to see a glimpse of the twisted man from my nightmares. Just a brief second of his mutilated, bloody face before the kettle started to screech, making me jump and look away. When I looked back at my reflection, it was just me looking back, completely normal.

--

I was curled up in bed, on the brink of falling asleep when I heard it. A loud gurgling, choking sound. I jumped up out of bed, fumbling for my phone on the bedside table. Used one hand to pound on the wall that separated mine and Billy's rooms as my phone rang.

"Jesus, what?" Billy's voice was gruff, just this side of angry.

"Are you okay? I heard choking."

"Wasn't me, I was sleeping."

"Sorry, I just thought I'd check in. Night, Billy."

He hung up with a huff and I settled back onto my bed for a minute before I heard it again.

A wet, choking, "weak.."

-- March

"Babe, what are you doing?"

I shook my head and looked over at Billy who was staring at me with one eyebrow cooked, "what?"

"You just stopped and stood there in the mirror for a few minutes, you okay?"

I smiled at him, "yeah, I'm fine...I just zoned out. Come on, let's go get something to eat."

--

"Katrina?"

I hummed, turning around to see Billy and yelped when I realized we were on the roof. The last I remember, we were on the couch in Billy's apartment, curled up with Pudge and watching a movie.

"What? When did we come up here?"

"You just got up and left. You weren't answering me so I followed you up here. Are you sure you're okay? This has been happening a lot."

"Y-yeah, I'm okay. Just, stressed I think."

The corner of his mouth turned down, "right, well...let's go back inside, okay?"

-- April

"Hey! Katrina! Answer me!" Billy yelled, pounding on the bathroom door.

Everything felt heavy, and fuzzy like I was sinking underwater. I had to fight my way up through the fog and let out a shriek when my head cleared and I felt the scalding hot water burning my skin. Stumbled out of the shower, my soaked clothes streaming water on the floor as I tried to turn the shower off. The bathroom had filled with steam, so thick that it billowed out like a cloud when I opened the door.

"Holy shit, Katrina! What the fuck?"

Billy's hands gently skimmed my shoulders and neck, where the burns were the worst. I bit the inside of my cheek to stifle a cry, making Billy curse when a whine left my throat.

"This is pretty bad, we need Steve," he grabbed my hips and led me backwards to sit on the edge of the tub, "stay here for a minute, okay? I'll call him and then I'll come help you change."

-

"Miss, can you hear me?"

I jolted, inhaling sharply as I awoke and saw a woman in front of me. I took in the sterile white room, the woman's pink scrubs and started taking panicky breaths.

"Where? How, how did I get here?"

"Miss, you're in the hospital. Do you know your name?"

"Yeah, my name is very fucking confused!" I shouted, swinging my legs off the bed.

She held her hands out in an attempt to stop me, "you need to calm down before I have to sedate you," she waited, eyebrow cocked until I stopped moving, "good. You're safe here. You were found wandering outside, soaking wet with second degree burns. What's the last thing you remember? Did someone hurt you?"

I shook my head, "I was at my boyfriend's...it was an accident."

She eyed me closely, "Did he do this to you?"

"No. I, the shower...I blacked out, the water was too hot."

"These black outs, do they happen a lot?"

"No, not really."

"Okay, hun," she soothed, "you got someone I can call to come get you?"

--

I had just gotten home from work and was washing the makeup off my face when it happened the first time. My reflection leaned back without me moving, it's head cocking to watch me. I stared in horror as it's eyes narrowed and it's hands came up, one grabbing the bottom of my mouth and the other grabbing the top. Then it started to pull. I watched it's mouth open wider and wider until the skin started to stretch and tear at the corners. I couldn't pull my eyes away from the ones in the mirror even as the skin started to tear more and more. Blood was running out of it's mouth, mixing with saliva to create red rivers down it's neck. The skin tore all the way to it's ears before it was met with resistance. My heart was racing, palms slick with sweat where I was clutching at the sink for support. A sickening pop and it's jaw hung free, only held on by a few strands of skin. It's tongue lolled out, hanging limply down it's neck.

My stomach lurched and I scrambled to kneel by the toilet before puking. I got up after my stomach had emptied and stood in front of the sink to wash my mouth out. Took a hesitant glance at the mirror to find myself looking back at me, completely fine and only moving when I did, how I did.

I ended up sleeping at Billy's that night, using the excuse that I was lonely to not worry him.

--

It's happening again. One moment I was lost in thought staring out the window and the next, my reflection in moving on it's own. This time, a cruel smile on it's face as it reached up and placed it's fingers around it's eye. My stomach clenched but I couldn't move, couldn't look away. It's fingers curled and pressed into it's eyelid. Further and further it dug, it's sneer never wavering as it wrapped it's fingers behind it's eyeball. A wet pop and it's bloody hand was fully curled around it's eye. The hand turned, showing off it's prize and I noticed the eye was different. A circle of blue had started to form around the iris.

The eyeball hung limp against it's cheek when it let go to lick the blood from it's fingers. I scrambled to get away from the window and barely made it to the sink in time for me to be sick.

-- May

The twisted man had slowly been becoming more and more human every time I saw him. Limbs started to line up, making his movements more fluid, alive. His face moved back to normal, wounds closing up to stop the flow of blood and leaving only soft skin behind.

Everything about him was crisp, sharp. From his angular features to his thick, dark hair swept back out of his face. Steely blue eyes looked down on me whenever I saw him, a menacing smirk deepened the dimple in his cheek.

He was beautiful.

I could never bring myself to look away, I was mesmerized by his presence. He even started to talk to me, at first just when I saw him and then he started talking in my head, interjecting in conversations. Despite his cold looks, he was actually nice to me. Bordering on affectionate the way he called me 'my pet' and the charming smile he'd give when I asked about him, though he never answered my questions, just deflected them.

--

A man, dirty and beaten was on his knees in front of me. Tears pooled in the corner of his eye but didn't dare spill. His clenched jaw stopped any trace of a wobble.

"Please, brother...don't do this."

I looked from him to our captor as he regarded me with disdain. His lip pulled into a sneer and he started to turn away.

I shut my eyes and swung, hearing the blade slice through my comrades throat. Flesh gave way easily under my blade, like butter. Heard him choke on blood, gurgling as he toppled to the dirt.

"Anything for the mission," I muttered.

I turned away and opened my eyes to find myself back in my cell, smashed mirror all around me. Picked out a curved piece to hide away before someone came in to clean up. Dug it out in another blink to drag across my ribs. A quick, sharp pain and a slow trickle of blood that would leave a permanent reminder.

Another face, followed by another and another. A line up of faces, some pleading and crying, others stone faced and silent. Each one followed by a quick slice and a body falling to the ground. Each one remembered with another scar across my ribs. Each one easier than the last until I began to crave the feeling.

I jolted awake, looking around frantically at my apartment walls. I could still feel each slice on my ribs but when I felt around, there was nothing there. No wounds, no scars, just smooth skin. Just a dream.

--

"Tell me something about you," I murmured to the mirror, to him.

He hummed, "come now, pet. You can't be that interested in me."

I adjusted myself on the small vanity to turn more towards him, "I am. You've been around for months and I barely know anything about you."

A smirk stretched across his lips, "alright. What do you want to know?"

"Those memories I saw...killing those men, that was you, wasn't it?"

There was a brief moment where pain crossed his face before he collected himself, "yes. Those are my memories."

"Who were they? Why did you hurt yourself after each of them?"

"They were my brothers...we were recruited into a special operations unit in the war. Our mission was to infiltrate the enemy base and make them trust us. Anything for the mission, that was our motto. None of us knew what we'd go through once we were captured, just a bunch of young men being sent in blind. We were tortured, beaten for days until we agreed to join the enemy. But they would only let one of us into their ranks, so we had to choose. Kill or be killed. My brothers were weak, they wouldn't do it...but I knew the mission was more important. I slit each of their throats and was welcomed into the enemy camp. They saw my potential, made me The Butcher and trusted me to be their lead torturer. I slaughtered many of my own men in the interest of my mission. The scars were my way of keeping track of them all."

"Why? How could you turn on them like that?"

His eyebrows creased, "easy. Love is weakness...and I am not weak."

--

Another round of sleep paralysis. I'd been waking up in a cold sweat more often than not since the spell. But this time was different. I was frozen, standing in a forest. Thick woods surrounded me and a feeling of dread settled heavy in my gut. I could feel the trees shifting, like they were alive, closing me in. Holding me still. Suffocating me.

Then, through the trees, I could see someone coming closer. Gliding closer and closer and then all at once they were in front of me. My heart was racing, a scream threatening to burst my chest open.

It was me.

I was face to face with myself. But there was something wrong with this other me. She was covered in blood and dirt and her eyes. They were completely black. She cocked her head to the side, watching me as the pressure built in my chest, like she was waiting for me to explode. Slowly, her arm lifted towards me.

Then, in an instant, she was gone and I could breathe again. The pressure in my chest lifted and I was flooded with relief. The trees shifted, letting a man through, the man I'd been seeing. Calm and collected, he walked through the trees like an angel, ridding me of my fear. He walked up close to me and gently ran his knuckles down my cheek.

"It's time to wake up, pet."

-- June

I looked up after brushing my teeth and yelped when I saw my reflection. It was me, the other me, the one that was in the woods. Black eyes stared back at me, unblinking. She stared at me for a moment before opening her mouth in a grin, black blood pouring through her lips. Then she slammed her fists against the mirror.

I screamed, running out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. But, as I tried to catch my breath I realized she was everywhere. In every reflective surface, slamming her fists against the reflection and screaming. Screaming so loud it rang in my ears. I grabbed the tea kettle off the stove and ran back to the bathroom, throwing it with all my strength into the mirror. It shattered, raining sparkling pieces of glass all over the counter and floor.

I smirked down at the pieces when the screaming stopped. Breathed a sigh of relief. But then the laughing started. Echoing louder and louder in my head. I could see her cackling in the windows, picture frames and the other couple mirrors around my apartment. Frantically, I started covering everything reflective. Taped sheets and blankets over the windows and mirrors, covered the kitchen appliances with paper. Picture frames got the glass pulled out to be smashed. I was just finishing covering doorknobs and taps with cloths when I was grabbed by the shoulders and shaken.

"Katrina!" Billy yelled, turning me to face him, "what the hell are you doing?"

I stammered, "I..there was, she...it was so loud...why are you here?"

"I heard you screaming bloody murder and thought you were being killed," he huffed, "I didn't realize you were just going on a crazy rampage against your apartment."

"I'm..I wasn't..."

"I'm worried about you, Katrina. You're not yourself, maybe we should go see the triplets..."

The man's voice rang in my head 'tell him you're fine. Tell him you just need to relax.'

"I'm fine, Billy," I repeated, "just need to relax."

He frowned at me, "I guess I could take you out of the city for a while? We could spend some time out in the country?"

I smiled, "yeah, that sounds like just what I need."

"Okay, I'll start looking for places to stay."

--

"Rina...Katr...Katrina!"

I woke with a start, looking down at Billy's confused face. His hands were tightly wrapped around my wrists, holding them still. I gasped when I saw the blade in my fist pressed against Billy's throat. He watched me carefully as one of his hands moved to grab the knife.

"Billy?"

"Let go, Katrina."

I opened my hands, letting Billy take the knife from me and started shaking, "I...I'm sorry, I, I was...was having a horrible dream."

He huffed, "you think?"

He set the knife on the bedside table and looked up at me, worried, "I knew we shouldn't have done that fucking spell."

"I wanted to do it. Had to do it, for you. For Olivia. I think I just got in my head about what happened, made myself paranoid, y'know?"

He shifted me off him and got up.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Back to my apartment," he mumbled, "until we figure out what's wrong with you."

--

Billy moaned against my lips before trailing down my neck, leaving a line of bruises in his wake. I arched into him, leaning heavily into the heat of his chest. Twisted my fingers into his hair and tugged gently to get my lips on his neck.

I started to get a little hazy, the edges of myself blurring. I swore I could feel Billy's heartbeat against my lips. Could hear it thundering in my ears as I nipped at his skin. He sighed, relaxing into me. I bit down a little harder, heard him hiss and groan. His heart was pounding between my teeth and I...I couldn't...I had to.

"Ah!" Billy cried, pushing me off him, "what the fuck?"

One of his hands came up to the side of his neck. When he pulled it away his hand was smeared with bright red blood. Beads of blood sprang up on his neck, in the perfect shape of my teeth.

"I...I don't, I didn't...I don't know what happened."

"That's it. If this weekend doesn't help you, we're going to the triplets. I'm not dealing with this shit anymore. Something is fucking wrong with you, Katrina."

He gave me a withering look before storming out of my apartment. Left me alone with the coppery taste of blood in my mouth and the fear that I was becoming something that I could never come back from. That I was becoming that monstrous version of myself and I'd never be the same again.

--

"Steve?"

He hummed over the phone, "yeah, what's up?"

"Are you real?"

"What? Katrina, are you okay?"

I sat down on my couch, twirling the spoon in my hand to look at my reflection. The dirty, broken version of me stared back.

"Can you help me? ...I need to wake up," I mumbled.

"What...you are awake, Katrina. What are you talking about?"

A sob bubbled up in my chest, choking me as I whispered, "I don't know what's real anymore, Steve."

'I'm real, pet.'

I could hear Steve mumbling, talking to someone else for a moment. I only heard snippets of what he was saying, things like 'panic attack' and 'sleeping' as well as Billy's cursing.

"We're almost there, Katrina. Just relax, okay? Just sit down, breathe, we'll be there soon."

@champagnesugamama @charmed-asylum @alias-b