Chaos began

Catherine slipped into Sergei's closet, her hand reaching for the door as she swung it open. She was on a mission: find something, anything, that might make her blend in, something jacket-like to make her less conspicuous, less... exposed. Inside, a modest collection awaited – maybe six or seven items, a mix of shirts, blazers, and jackets. Her eyes scanned the blazers and jackets, fingers sliding along the hangers as she sifted through them, searching for the right fit.

After a moment of deliberation, she pulled one free – a dark navy blazer. It looked a bit too big, with slightly wide shoulders, but it felt promising. She laid it on the bed, eyeing it critically.

"Hmm, this will do," she murmured to herself.

Carefully, she slipped it on, adjusting the sleeves and the lapels. She turned to the mirror, checking her reflection. It wasn't perfect, still hung a little loose, but it was better than nothing. Giving herself a final look, she turned and headed for the front door.

Her hand closed around the handle, and she swung the door open, stepping outside. Immediately, the noise of the street washed over her – the murmur of voices, the rhythmic slap of footsteps, the snippets of conversation between people stopping to chat. She paused on the threshold, taking in the scene, feeling the slight awkwardness settle over her.

She stepped out fully, stopping for a moment to orient herself, her eyes scanning for any sign of food. A little way down the street, a food stall caught her eye. It was piled high with raw fruits, vegetables, and meat, but on a side table, sealed containers held what looked like ready-to-eat meals. Hope flickered within her. Her gaze darted left and right, then she began to walk towards it, pulling the unfamiliar blazer tighter around her, trying to shrink inward.

The vendor behind the stall looked up as she approached. "Good day, ma'am. What can I get for you?" he greeted, his voice friendly.

"Hi," she managed, her voice barely a whisper. She leaned closer, examining the packed meals. They were laid out neatly: cold fish with vegetables, beef with grains and vegetables, fried fish and meat with grains and vegetables, and a salad topped with mixed fruits. She studied each one carefully.

"Our best seller is the fried fish and meat," the vendor offered, gesturing to one of the containers.

Catherine nodded, acknowledging his suggestion, but her mind was already elsewhere. As she looked at the meals, a cold, hard truth hit her.

I'm broke.

A lump formed in her throat. How could she be so foolish? Food required money, and she had none. Not a coin to her name, not even an extra change of clothes beyond what she wore. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she instinctively backed away. As she did, she bumped into someone behind her. Turning sharply, she prepared to apologize.

"Hey beautiful, got a spare time?" A familiar voice, one that instantly set her on edge, startled her. She recoiled.

Lucas's eyes crinkled at the corners, a laugh escaping him as he watched her startled reaction.

"What— Why are you here?" she stammered, stumbling over her words.

His laughter subsided, and he raised an eyebrow at her question. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that," he said playfully, his gaze sweeping over her. "Good to finally see you."

Ignoring him, Catherine turned on her heel, intending to walk away.

But Lucas was faster. His hand shot out, catching her by the arm. Catherine tugged, trying to pull free.

"Hey! Come back here!" an angry shout echoed from down the street.

Both Catherine and Lucas turned towards the commotion. A man, average height, dressed in plain white and grey, was sprinting towards them, an officer in a royal guard's uniform close on his heels. The man's face was a mask of anxiety as he ran, weaving through the sparse crowd.

As he reached them, he veered sharply, shoving Catherine aside. Lucas reacted instantly. His foot shot out, tripping the fleeing man while simultaneously pulling Catherine close to him, out of the way. The man tumbled, but scrambled back to his feet just as the officer caught up. The guard grabbed him roughly, pinning his arms behind his back.

"You can't run now, thief," the officer warned, his grip like iron. He then glanced at Lucas, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

Lucas still held Catherine close, his arm wrapped around her, almost like a hug. She became acutely aware of the sudden silence, the stares from passersby – an older wolfwoman, a few young women, people who had stopped walking or chatting to watch the scene unfold. The strange, questioning looks directed her way made her stomach clench. With a jolt, she pushed Lucas away, stepping back and averting her gaze, her head lowered.

Lucas released her, a hint of awkwardness crossing his features, though he remained silent, an amused glint in his eyes.

"What seems to be the problem, officer?" Lucas inquired, his tone calm.

"This thief stole from an old lady's store," the officer stated, his voice firm.

"Let me go! I'm hungry, I haven't eaten in days!" the man protested, struggling against the officer's hold.

Catherine glanced at the man, then looked away. As her gaze dropped, she noticed something large and off-white near her feet – a fresh loaf of bread. Curiosity piqued, she wondered where it had come from. How had it gotten there?

"Don't make foolish excuses. Let's go," the officer said impatiently, pulling the man.

Lucas watched impassively, not interfering further.

"No, let me go! Someone's waiting for me! I can't leave her!" the man pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Shut up," the officer snapped.

A strange impulse stirred within Catherine. Hesitantly, she lowered herself, picked up the bread, and approached them slowly.

"You can eat this," she said softly, holding the bread out to the thief.

Lucas's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then narrowed with curiosity. He crossed his arms, watching her.

"Who are you, ma'am?" the officer asked, his gaze sharp. "Are you with him?"

The surrounding crowd still watched, their expressions a mix of curiosity and judgment. A low murmur rippled through them as they observed Catherine's unexpected act.

"Thank you, thank you..." the man breathed, gratefully taking the bread.

"Yeah, yeah, that's enough. Let's go." The officer roughly turned the man, and they began walking away, pushing through the gawking bystanders.

Catherine watched them go, still bewildered by the sudden appearance of the bread and her own spontaneous act of kindness.

"Well, you're not exactly a stranger here anymore," Lucas remarked, a touch of amusement in his voice.

"People know you now."

Catherine turned her head slowly to face him. "I don't know how the bread got there," she mumbled, "It all happened so fast..."

"Soon enough, they'll know what you are," Lucas said, his voice dropping to a playful threat.

Her expression soured instantly. The brief moment of shared experience vanished, replaced by the familiar, deep-seated dislike she felt for him. Turning her back, she started to walk away again.

"Have you eaten? You look pale and lifeless," he taunted.

Catherine stopped dead in her tracks. He was right. Hunger gnawed at her, a relentless ache that overshadowed everything else. There was no choice. She couldn't go on like this. Taking a shaky, annoyed breath, she turned back to face him, her eyes narrowed in reluctant annoyance.

Mina stopped in her tracks, her gaze locking onto the familiar figure of Catherine amidst the bustling market crowd. But it wasn't just Catherine who caught her eye. Standing beside her, unmistakable even from a distance, was His Royal Highness, Lucas.

A jolt went through Mina. Lucas? With that woman? Without a second thought, she started towards them.

"Your Royal Highness!" Mina called out, her voice carrying over the market noise as she hurried closer.

Lucas turned, a brow raising in mild surprise as he saw her approaching. "Oh, now look who it is," he greeted, a familiar smirk playing on his lips.

Mina slowed her pace, her attention already shifting. She turned her head, her eyes finding Catherine's. Catherine was already looking at her, a hesitant expression on her face.

"Oh, hi..." Mina managed, offering a shy wave.

Catherine returned the wave, her own voice soft and a little shy. "Hi..."

"Enjoying your week off so far?" Lucas chimed in, his tone casual. "Though it's not quite the end of the week yet."

"I was just out to buy some food stocks for my home, sir, but..." Mina trailed off, glancing back at Catherine.

"I was just about to take the fox woman out for a bite," Lucas cut in.

"Hey! I have a name!" Catherine protested, giving him a look that was equal parts exasperation and amusement. "It's C-a-t-h-e-r-i-n-e."

"Fox woman is better," Lucas countered playfully.

"Uh, Catherine..." Mina interjected hesitantly.

Catherine turned her attention to Mina, her expression softening.

"How are you...?" Mina asked, her words coming out slowly and shyly.

Lucas leaned in slightly, cupping his ear. "What? Speak up, I can't hear you."

"I'm good," Catherine replied to Mina, a friendly smile spreading across her face.

Seizing the moment, Mina looked back at Lucas. "Where are you going to eat, sir? Could I come along?"

Lucas paused for a beat, seemingly considering it. "Sure," he finally said, though his next words were firm. "Just pay for what you order."

Mina's face fell into an annoyed pout. "What? Can't you at least treat me just once, sir?"

"No can do," Lucas dismissed with a smirk. "Look, we have to go. If you want to tag along, you pay for your meal." He turned on his heel, starting to walk away.

"Hey, wait!" Catherine called out to him.

Lucas stopped, slowly turning his head to cast a blank look over his shoulder at her.

"That's not right," Catherine reasoned, stepping forward slightly. "It's not right to leave a woman behind like that. A true gentleman takes the lead and treats them, despite any circumstances."

Mina watched the exchange, her gaze flicking between Catherine and Lucas, a mix of hope and nervousness bubbling within her.

Lucas's expression shifted, the playful smirk replaced by a flicker of annoyance. He sighed, shaking his head as if suppressing further argument. "If you insist, fox woman, then I suppose I have no choice but to follow your... gentlemanly code." He gave a slight shrug of resignation.

"Yes! Thank you so much!" Mina exclaimed, turning her grateful eyes to Catherine. Catherine simply smiled in response.

"Alright, let's go before I change my mind," Lucas grumbled playfully, turning back to face the path ahead. Catherine and Mina exchanged a quick, knowing look – a shared smile and a silent nod – before falling into step behind him.

As they started walking, Mina piped up, "By the way, my name's Mina."

"I'm—" Catherine began.

"Catherine," Mina finished for her, a little eagerly.

Catherine nodded, a friendly smile still in place. "Yeah. Nice to meet you, Mina."

"I'm glad we finally got to talk in person," Mina chatted, feeling a bit more at ease now. "I've actually been quite curious about you, ever since I heard about you."

"Heard about me?" Catherine repeated, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Yeah..." Mina paused, a sudden memory causing her to stop talking briefly.

Lucas, overhearing, interjected with a teasing tone. "It was that royal guard's fault for sharing your existence."

Catherine looked at him, a questioning look in her eyes.

"Yep, Sergei was the first one who told us about you," Mina confirmed. She then looked at Catherine curiously. "Are you guys close?"

Catherine shook her head. "Not really." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "But he did let me live in his apartment temporarily."

"What?!" Mina gasped, her voice shooting up before she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

Lucas stopped walking, his head turning slightly to look back at them, a distinctly suspicious expression on his face.

"He did what?" Mina whispered, lowering her hand slightly. "He let you stay? Like, right now?"

"Yesterday," Catherine clarified. "I bumped into him, told him my situation, and I really didn't expect him to actually help me out."

"Sounds like trouble," Lucas teased, resuming his walk, though his gaze lingered for a moment longer.

"Why?" Catherine asked flatly.

"Didn't Sergei tell you he has a girlfriend?" Mina said, turning his attention back to the path but his voice still carrying that teasing, slightly probing edge. "Though, he hasn't actually told me he has one... which is suspicious, why wouldn't he tell his best friend?"

"Yes, he did," Catherine confirmed. "He said he was with her at his parents' house."

Lucas scoffed lightly. "Is it a hobby of yours, just... barging into the houses of strangers you bump into?"

Catherine's face settled into a definite frown this time. "I didn't barge in. He offered. And besides," she added, a childish annoyance creeping into her voice, "you helped me too before that, but you're a total jerk and I don't trust you one bit!"

"Don't worry about it, sir," Mina quickly interjected, looking at Lucas. "Sergei's a good man. I'm sure he wouldn't do anything... idiotic with her."

Lucas dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand, his voice shifting back to a stern but playful tone. "Who said I'm worried about her? I just happen to be in a good mood, hence I asked her to join me somewhere to eat."

Mina frowned at his response, her gaze slowly drifting to Catherine. Catherine, too, wore an annoyed expression, but she clearly decided against continuing the argument. The two women exchanged another look, a silent understanding passing between them as they followed Lucas, the conversation hanging in the air.

Sergei's bedroom offered the perfect escape. Downstairs, Boris, his father, clearly couldn't care less what they were up to, and with Marina, his mother, out shopping, the house was blissfully quiet. Sergei and Barbara had the space—and the time—all to themselves.

Barbara straddled his lap, her arms wrapping around his neck as his hands found their place around her waist, holding her close. Their kiss was deep, hungry, tongues dancing in a passionate rhythm that mirrored the rapid heating of their bodies pressed together. Barbara's fingers traced the lean muscles of his back as their hands explored, finding the curves and planes of each other's bodies. Sergei tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her even closer as the kiss deepened.

With a smooth shift, Sergei eased Barbara onto her back on the bed, his body following hers, pinning her gently to the mattress. The kiss never broke. Barbara's arms stayed locked around his shoulders, urging him closer still. He finally pulled back just enough to break the kiss, his hands going to the hem of his shirt. In quick succession, his shirt was tossed aside, followed by his pants, kicked carelessly towards the floor, leaving him completely bare.

He leaned back down, their lips meeting instantly. Kissing her tenderly now, he worked at the zipper tracing down the back of her red dress. Once it was undone, Barbara shrugged out of it, letting it pool around her hips before Sergei nudged it away entirely. Naked against each other, they continued to kiss, Barbara holding onto him as if afraid he might vanish. The warmth radiating between them felt electric, a palpable bubble of intimacy in the quiet room.

Sergei broke the kiss on her lips, his mouth trailing down to her neck. He nipped gently, then sucked, a slow, deliberate tracing of kisses along the sensitive skin.

"Ahh," Barbara sighed, a soft moan escaping her throat with each tender kiss.

Without hesitation, his mouth moved lower, tasting the hollow of her collarbone, drawing leisurely pleasure from each spot. Soft groans continued to drift from Barbara, a steady current beneath the sound of their breathing. His mouth kept travelling, down over her chest, finding her breasts. He took his time, teasing each nipple, sucking and swirling his tongue until she arched against him.

"Ugh... Ahh," she groaned louder now, a desperate sound that told him everything he needed to know. She wanted more.

He lingered there for a while, worshipping her breasts with his mouth before continuing his journey downward. His lips explored her stomach with an almost greedy passion, leaving no spot untouched, as if he needed to claim every inch of her. Barbara threw her head back against the pillow, eyes squeezed shut, fingers clutching the sheets at her sides as the intensity built.

Despite the clear hunger driving him, Sergei was surprisingly gentle when he finally reached her. He kissed her core with a tender reverence, exploring her intimately, savoring the taste of her skin, his touch careful and deliberate.

"Ahh!" Barbara cried out, a loud, clear moan erupting as her hand tangled in his hair, holding him there, urging him on as he kissed and worshipped her relentlessly. The world outside the room seemed to fade away.

He continued, driving her closer and closer to the edge, his mouth working magic until she was trembling, on the verge of spilling over. Then, just as she was about to reach it, he stopped.

Sergei pulled back, sitting up on his knees on the bed, his eyes, dark and lustful, locked onto hers. The kiss was over, for now.

Barbara lay breathless below him, her body exquisitely vulnerable, raw with need. "What...?" she managed, her voice soft and weak. "What made you stop?"

"Don't come just yet," Sergei said, the command softened by the hungry look in his eyes. He slid off the bed for a moment, rummaged in his discarded pants, then scrambled back onto the mattress. A smirk spread across his face as he tore open a small foil packet with his teeth, the wrapper falling onto the sheets.

He leaned over her, his voice a low growl, confident and teasing. "Relax, baby. Or I'll push it even more."

Left alone in his meeting room after the tense exchange with the prime minister, Jasper leaned back in his elaborate chair, the heavy silence settling around him. There was a knot of thoughts in his mind, pulling him into a foul mood. Yet, as emperor, such discomfort was simply part of the weight he carried. Complaining wasn't an option; he'd long accepted the solitary challenges of his position.

“I fear if you persist in this decision, sir, then I can only view it as a lamentable lack of progressive change in this land.”

“I will come back again, and I do hope that you have changed your mind.”

Change his mind? Jasper rarely did, not on matters he'd settled upon. He wasn't a man prone to indecision. Confidence and certainty came to him as naturally as breathing, born from years of training and growth, specifically honed to prepare him for this very role. His reasoning for the decision had been pure: the ultimate good and safety of his people. He wasn't against change in principle, but he flatly refused to gamble their well-being on something he deemed uncertain or potentially harmful.

But the prime minister wasn't the only thing occupying his thoughts. There were two other persistent problems: the strange creature he'd encountered, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, and the impending visit of someone he knew all too well. The memory of those annoyances made him groan inwardly, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. Shaking off the feeling, Jasper's thoughts shifted. He began to formulate a plan, a strategy clicking into place that would give him a necessary advantage.

He rose from the chair, beginning to pace the room as he refined the details of his nascent plan. The silence was abruptly shattered as the heavy door swung open. Jasper turned his head, his gaze sharp, to see who had entered.

"Jasper, how did it go?" Delphine asked, her voice soft as she stepped inside.

"It went as I expected," Jasper stated plainly.

Delphine offered him a gentle smile. "So, shall we go? Let's wander through the garden."

"My apologies," Jasper said, already moving towards the door, his pace deliberate. "But I have somewhere else I must be. I will make time for the garden when I am free." He moved past her, already heading out.

"What?" Delphine called out, a note of surprise and hurt in her voice as she turned to follow him. "But you said you would come with me! You gave your word."

Jasper didn't slow his stride. He had a pressing destination in mind. "I will keep my word once this is done," he said seriously, his voice firm. He quickened his pace.

Delphine stopped, watching his retreating back with a look of confusion.

Jasper took the stairs two at a time, moving swiftly out of the palace building and towards the front gates. Workers tending the grounds paused their tasks, offering respectful curtsies as he passed, but Jasper paid them no mind. His focus was singular, an impatient, almost impulsive drive propelling him towards the gates.

Stepping out beyond the archway onto the open ground, Jasper didn't hesitate. In a fluid, breathtaking motion, his form rippled and shifted, growing larger, darker, transforming into a massive black wolf. The nearby workers gasped, scrambling back in surprise, though none looked away. Jasper’s wolf form lowered itself, powerful muscles coiling, and then shot forward, a blur of black fur speeding through the palace entrance and out onto the path beyond, his mind fixed on a specific location deep within the forest.

He ran, his wolf gaze sharp and unwavering. His speed was extraordinary, far surpassing that of the palace guard wolves, even the high-ranked ones. Straight into the forest he went, a living arrow aimed precisely at his intended destination, his focus absolute.

"Sir, this place looks good," Mina suggested, coming to a stop before the entrance of a restaurant. She gestured towards it, her face alight with eagerness.

Lucas stopped beside her, his gaze following hers to the building. Catherine turned her head as well, her eyes settling on the facade.

"Hmm, this will do," Lucas commented, a hint of dry approval in his voice.

Mina turned to Catherine, practically bouncing. "Catherine, this restaurant has so many great options! It's almost like a buffet!"

Catherine offered a small smile, looking back at the restaurant. It did look inviting.

Without waiting, Lucas strode inside, turning back to gesture for them to follow. Mina and Catherine hurried after him. As they entered, the buzz of conversation died down. Waiters and waitresses paused, their attention snapping to the door. They bowed and curtsied to Lucas with practiced respect. Customers inside stopped their meals, some rising to bow deeply, others simply inclining their heads from their seats, acknowledging his presence.

A short, slightly portly man with kind brown eyes hurried over, bowing low. "Welcome, Your Royal Highness," he said, his voice warm.

Lucas extended a hand, shaking his formally.

"It's good to see you visit us again," the man continued. "My name's Bernard, Your Royal Highness, in case you've forgotten."

Lucas gave a brief nod of recognition.

"Well, Bernard, I'm looking forward to a great time here," Lucas said confidently.

"We will assure it, sir. How many for tonight?" Bernard asked, then added with a polite nod towards the women, "Good day, Mesdames."

"Three," Lucas stated simply.

"This way, please," Bernard led them through the restaurant to a table conveniently set for three in a relatively central, yet discreet, location. Catherine took a seat beside Mina, while Lucas sat opposite them. Menus were already laid out on the table, perfectly arranged.

"Please let us know when you're ready to order, Your Highness and Mesdames," Bernard said formally before giving a final bow and stepping away.

"Thank you," Lucas replied, already reaching for a menu.

Mina and Catherine followed suit, each taking one. They flipped through the pages at their own pace, scanning the many tempting dishes.

As Catherine turned a page, a strange scent drifted to her. It wasn't the aroma of cooking food, but something else entirely. Her body instantly tensed, a primal alert sounding in her gut. She slowly lowered her menu, turning her head to scan the room. The air felt different now, charged. The scent was unlike anything she'd ever smelled before – vaguely like a fox, but unsettling, wrong. A single, sharp prickle of unease crawled across her skin, making her feel suddenly unsafe. Her face tightened with anxiety.

"Catherine?" Mina asked, her voice soft with concern, drawing Catherine's attention away.

Catherine blinked, forcing her expression back to neutral as she met Mina's gaze.

"Are you alright?" Mina pressed gently.

"Yeah," Catherine nodded, trying to dismiss the strange sensation and the anxiety clinging to her.

Lucas, who had been watching the brief exchange, chimed in dryly, "I'm sure you're just hungry, fox woman."

Catherine shot him a look, saying nothing, before turning back to her menu, though her eyes didn't seem to focus.

"I already know what I want!" Mina announced eagerly. "The roast beef with gravy potatoes!"

"I'll have that one too," Lucas decided, then looked at Catherine. "How about you, fox woman?"

Catherine's head snapped up, annoyance flashing in her eyes. "Can you honestly stop calling me that? Does having a royal title give you the right to be disrespectful?"

"Aww, that's sweet," Lucas mocked, though a slight glint of amusement was in his eyes. He didn't wait for her answer, calling out, "Bernard!"

A minute later, Bernard was back at their table. "Ready to order, Your Highness and Mesdames?"

"Yes," Lucas said smoothly. "Two of us would like the roast beef with gravy and potatoes, and..." He paused, looking at Catherine.

"I'll just have the... Fish and chips," Catherine said, looking at Bernard.

"Very good. We're on it," Bernard said with a smile before turning to relay the order.

"So, Catherine," Mina began conversationally once Bernard had left, "where are you from?"

Catherine paused, a familiar hesitation settling over her. How could she explain? They wouldn't understand about her world. "Far," she finally said. "Far, far away."

Lucas leaned forward slightly. "How far?"

"Pretty far," Catherine repeated, giving Lucas an annoyed look that clearly said 'stop asking.'

"Does your place have many foxes like yourself?" Mina asked innocently.

"Yeah, many..." Catherine's voice trailed off. A sudden image of her sister, Amy, flashed in her mind. Amy's smile, her laugh... A pang of intense longing and loss twisted in Catherine's chest. Her forced smile vanished, her face going blank for a moment as the weight of the memory settled. She quickly blinked, forcing the neutral expression back, managing another smile for Mina, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her mood had definitely shifted.

"What do they think about us?" Mina continued, oblivious to Catherine's inner turmoil. "Do they have thoughts on the wolves?"

Lucas's interest was piqued now. He watched Catherine, a slight, intrigued smile playing on his lips.

Catherine considered the question, choosing her words carefully. "To tell you the truth," she shared, her tone softening, a hint of sadness creeping in, "the world I lived in... it's not the same as here." She gave a short, humorless chuckle. "If people there knew who I am... well, it's funny, because it's not that different from here."

She looked down at her hands resting on the table. "In my world," she murmured, "I'm the only one. And my sister, she was the only other."

"Sister?" Mina repeated, surprised.

"Yeah," Catherine nodded.

"Where is she now?" Lucas asked, his voice unexpectedly quiet.

Catherine didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the tabletop. A heavy silence hung between them. Just as she was about to speak, that scent hit her again—stronger this time, sharp and terrifying.

Her head snapped up. She shot to her feet, looking wildly around the restaurant, her eyes wide with sudden, paralyzing anxiety.

"Are you alright?" Mina asked, puzzled by the abrupt movement.

Lucas chuckled, looking equally confused. "The fu—? What are you doing, fox woman?"

"Did you smell that?" Catherine asked, her voice tight with fear.

She muttered under her breath, a frantic sound. "It smells... burnt. Awfully decayed." Her body went rigid with unease, a profound sense of being unsafe washing over her. Her anxious eyes darted around the room, searching for the source of the terrifying smell.

"Catherine, what's wrong?" Mina stood up from her seat, leaning closer, worry etched on her face.

"Can you just calm down?" Lucas sighed, rolling his eyes in disbelief. "There's nothing here to worry about. You're embarrassing us." His mocking tone did nothing to soothe her.

Slowly, reluctantly, Catherine sank back into her chair. She couldn't find where the scent was coming from. Was she imagining it? Was her intuition wrong? Defeated, she looked down, still feeling unsettled and unsafe, unable to understand why. She was sure she'd smelled something alarming, something that wasn't part of the restaurant, something that felt deeply, terribly wrong.

"Here are the appetizers," a waiter's voice broke the tension.

Catherine's head snapped up, her eyes locking onto the person serving them. And then, the world tilted.

"Ahh!" A choked cry tore from Catherine's throat. She sprang from her seat again, stumbling back from the table, her eyes fixed on the waiter. It looked like her deceased father – the shape of his face, his build – but twisted into a nightmare. It was a corpse, grey and pale and horribly rotten, words seeming to slither from its decaying face. Its eyes were hollow, crying tears of blood mixed with a sad, mournful brown. Fear, cold and absolute, seized Catherine. She backed away further, putting distance between herself and the table, between herself and the horrifying vision standing there.

Lucas and Mina stared after her, utterly bewildered. They looked from Catherine's terrified face to the perfectly ordinary waiter, clearly seeing nothing unusual. A heavy, awkward silence settled over their table. Catherine, meanwhile, was confused. Why couldn't they see it?

"Look at him!" Catherine cried, pointing a trembling finger at the waiter's face.

Lucas and Mina looked at the waiter again, then back at Catherine, their confusion deepening. There was nothing wrong with the man.

"What are you doing?" Lucas demanded, annoyance sharp in his voice.

"Catherine..." Mina said, her voice a mix of bewilderment and deep concern.

Catherine looked back at the waiter. This time, it seemed to take a step towards her, that eerie, rotten smile widening, deliberately trying to scare her. Panic exploded in Catherine's chest. Without thinking, she turned and ran.

She sprinted through the restaurant, a sudden blur that drew everyone's attention. Customers turned, conversation stopped entirely as she fled towards the door. Behind her, she heard Mina's voice calling her name, but fear was a deafening roar in her ears. She ignored it, bursting through the doors and out into the street, leaving the shock and confusion behind her.

Catherine burst out of the restaurant and didn't stop running until she'd rounded a corner, ducking into the shadowed alcove of a building nearby. She didn't dare look back, the image of her father's rotten, dying face seared into her mind, raw and terrifying. Leaning against the cold stone wall, she hugged herself tightly, trembling, trying to force the image away, trying to regain some semblance of calm.

Whatthe fuck?

What the fuck was that?

The questions screamed in her head. She closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing, slowly, deliberately in and out, trying to slow the frantic pounding of her heart. After several long minutes, when the trembling began to subside, she cautiously opened her eyes. She peered around the edge of her hiding spot. The street seemed normal. People walked by, carts rumbled past, the sounds of the market a familiar backdrop. There was nothing strange, nothing wrong. A fragile sense of assurance began to settle over her.

Taking a tentative step out of the shadows, she turned, starting back in the direction she'd fled. She hadn't gone far when a voice stopped her.

"Hi, excuse me?"

Catherine startled, spinning around instantly, her gaze snapping towards the source of the voice.

Standing there was a man. He was Caucasian, tall, with handsome, cool features. But it wasn't just his looks that made her pause. One striking detail immediately caught her eye: he bore an uncanny resemblance to the Emperor.

She stared at him, wide-eyed. Was it Lucas? For a second, she thought it must be, the likeness was that strong. But no, it wasn't him. And then, as she looked at him, she smelled it again—that weird, unsettling scent, faint but unmistakable, seeming to cling to him. Her eyes darted around, searching for the source, but it felt like it emanated from him.

"Sorry if I disturbed you," the man said, his tone warm and friendly, "but do you happen to know the way to the palace?"

Catherine turned her attention back to his face, still scrutinizing him, the resemblance to Lucas almost unbelievable. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply off.

"Catherine!" Lucas's voice cut through the air.

Catherine whipped her head around. Lucas and Mina were standing a little distance away, having clearly followed her. Their faces, as they looked at the man standing beside her, were a mask of sudden uncertainty and stark surprise.

"Oh, dear," Mina breathed, taking a small step back, her eyes wide with shock and concern. Her voice was filled with alarm.

Lucas simply stared at the man, a look of pure, surprised annoyance freezing his features. He was utterly speechless, the usual smirk gone, replaced by a stunned silence.

The man beside Catherine turned his head, a pleasant, almost knowing smile playing on his lips as he addressed Lucas and Mina. "Oh dear," he said again, his warm tone holding a hint of something else entirely. "This is such wonderful timing..."

He held their gaze for another moment, the smile not faltering. "It's good to see you well."

“Brother.”