Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 125 - 123: TRAPPED

"W–Who are you?" Athena whispered, her throat tight.

A soft, humorless laugh echoed though it sounded like it came from everywhere at once. Behind her, beside her, inside the walls.

"I wondered when you would ask," the voice purred. "Well... I’m what you are.

Only... you’re much, much stronger, Belith."

Athena blinked rapidly. Her heart stumbled over itself.

You’re what I am? Does a human seer disappear too or be invisible? Was she really standing here talking with a disembodied voice in her own kitchen? She didn’t even know if she was a seer...what kind of seer sees the same vision over and over like a broken film reel?

"I’m... a seer?" Athena managed. "A human one right?"

Another laugh...this one sharper, deeper.

It slithered along her spine. "A human?"

The voice almost sounded amused.

"Oh, Belith...you cling to that word like a lifeline."

Athena swallowed, gripping the counter behind her. "Then what am I?"

But silence answered her.

Her pulse filled her ears. "Hello?" she whispered again. "Where are you? What am I?"

Nothing. No answer. Just the steady hum of the microwave and her own ragged breathing.

The air felt colder now. As if whoever or whatever had been there...was still watching. Still listening.

Athena stood frozen, her chest rising and falling too fast as the silence of the kitchen wrapped around her. Her hand pressed hard against her racing heart, trying to convince herself she was still here...still sane.

She wasn’t imagining it. She couldn’t have imagined it.

She heard someone. A man. A voice that was too calm, too smooth...

The way he said "my dear" made something cold slide down her spine. No stranger should speak like that, like he already owned a piece of her. Like he’d been waiting for her.

And that laugh...

Athena swallowed hard. It hadn’t echoed normally. It had curled around her, soft and cold at the same time, as if it came from everywhere and nowhere.

Her eyes darted to the glass cup again. That reflection, those strands of white hair. She knew what she saw. Reflections didn’t lie. People did. Voices did. But reflections? No.

He said he’s what I am... but stronger.

What did that even mean? What was she?

The fear in her chest twisted.

If he was what she was, but stronger...then she had no idea what she was turning into.

She dragged trembling fingers across her face. And the way he called her "Belith." What does it even mean.l? Though, there was familiarity in his voice. As if he knew her deeply, intimately...even though she’d never seen him before. As if he’d been waiting for her to finally hear him.

A shiver tore through her.

Athena had never felt so scared in her entire life. And just to make things even worse. A loud clatter snapped through the quiet kitchen.

Athena jumped, heart slamming painfully against her ribs. Her head whipped toward the sound...ready, expecting white hair or a shadow or that voice whispering again.

But it was only a spoon that she didn’t even know how it got there, that hit the floor loudly.

Her knees loosened with relief. She let out a shaky breath she didn’t know she was holding.

"Get a grip..." she whispered to herself, though her voice trembled just as badly as her hands.

The microwave beeped behind her. But she heard something else entirely. Because a scream tore out of her throat.

She let out a shaking breath, when she realised it was just the microwave and nothing more.

She turned it off quickly, pulled out the warm meal, but the smell made her stomach twist. She wasn’t hungry anymore. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be hungry again. Not with her heart still hammering from the voice that swore it was what she was. Not with fear curling like cold fingers around her spine.

Everything was too much. If Oliver didn’t come home soon... she genuinely wasn’t sure she wouldn’t lose her mind before then.

Athena set the food aside untouched, grabbed her phone, and hurried upstairs, every step feeling louder in the empty house.

She snatched a jacket from her closet, threw it over her spaghetti straps top, then grabbed her keys...even though she couldn’t drive. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t staying here. Not tonight. Not alone.

Her driver was already home.

Oliver wasn’t here.

And now she had three cars in the garage and no way to use them.

"Good job, Athena, great just great.... totally useless." she muttered under her breath.

She wasn’t going back to that house. She wouldn’t even look over her shoulder, afraid the reflection would show her something the room itself didn’t.

So she stepped outside into the night.

The air was cold. And the streetlights flickered gently, just bright enough to chase away the worst of the shadows.

She started walking.

Her mind raced as much as her heartbeat. Who could she go to?

Felicia? No...she lived with her parents. Athena wouldn’t drag them into this.

Leo and Levi?

They’d make stupid jokes, then fight each other on who is going to give up his bed for her.

She still couldn’t believe it, both of them left their respective homes just to leave with each other. No matter how much they tried to hide it...they’re literally fucking each other, but Athena didn’t want to make assumptions.

Armand and Alaric? She wasn’t close enough to show up unannounced and traumatized. She’d rather sleep in a gutter.

Her only real option...

Theo.

She didn’t care what anyone said. She didn’t care what everyone whispered tomorrow.

She needed somewhere safe, somewhere with a person who wouldn’t ask too many questions but would still keep her alive through the night.

Her steps slowed as the realization settled in her chest.

She was going to Theodore’s house.

And tonight, she didn’t care how crazy that sounded.

She just needed somewhere she didn’t feel watched. Somewhere she didn’t feel like she was losing her mind.

When Athena finally reached Theodore’s house, her feet ached and her heart felt like it was vibrating in her chest. She hesitated only one second before knocking.

The door opened after a few moments.

Theodore blinked at her, first confused, then instantly alert.

"Athena?" His brows drew together. "Hey... what’s wrong?"

Her throat tightened. She felt ridiculous. She felt desperate. But she didn’t care.

"I’m sorry for showing up unannounced," she said, voice trembling, "but I don’t think I can survive a second in that house. Please... can I stay here? Just for tonight."

Theodore stared at her for a beat, then a slow smile tugged at the corner of his lips...the soft kind, not the teasing one he usually wore.

"I absolutely don’t mind sharing all the time in the world with you," he said gently, "but I don’t think you’re going to appreciate this."

He stepped aside and opened the door fully.

Athena froze.

Her eyes widened.

Because inside, lounging in the living room like they lived there, were Rhydric, Azrael, and Eryx.

Holy fuck....Oh no...no.

Her stomach dropped to her knees.

"I...I think I should go ba..."

She didn’t even get to finish.

Because Eryx shot up from the couch the second he recognized her silhouette.

"Athena?" His voice cracked with disbelief.