? | ORACLE, garrett

12 ── lottie

Catherina embraced her brother, enveloping his cold touch with her warmth. She was grateful to be reunited with him after so many years, but it was still difficult for her to accept that he was technically dead. The realization weighed heavily on her mind, a strange and profound contradiction.

Her mind grappled with the paradox that although her brother had died so long ago, and their immortality froze them in time, she still feared that it was all a dream from which she couldn't wake up. The thought was both unsettling and confusing, leaving her to grapple with the uncertainty of her reality.

Catherina knew in her heart that asking her brother to promise never to disappear from her life again was a selfish request, but even so, the hope lingered in her mind. They were immortal, yes, but not invincible—a cruel reminder that all things, even eternal life, had its limitations.

Her brother's astute observation had him noticing the look of concentration on her face, a trait that seemed unchanged despite the passage of time. He spoke up, his voice filled with concern, "Something is on your mind, Cat. What's troubling you?"

Catherina chuckled at her brother's question, her hold on his arm tightening as she spoke. "It still feels like a dream," she confessed, her voice filled with a mixture of wonder and melancholy.

Her brother, puzzled, asked, "What feels like a dream?"

"That you're here right now," Catherina said, her voice tinged with a mixture of joy and sadness

Carlisle ruffled her hair affectionately with his other hand, a small smile on his face. "I feel the same," he replied. Catherina let go of his arm, sensing that his eldest son was approaching, not wanting to be intrusive. She excused herself and wandered away from the group, her mind caught up in the impending encounter that loomed just hours away.

Fear, as it's often termed, had a tangible presence that differed from person to person. Despite its nuances, it boiled down to the same thing for everyone—the choice to confront it or let it consume you.

Catherina felt a chill run down her spine as fear grasped at her heart with cold fingers, its icy grip a stark reminder of the unease that filled her every thought.

Catherina dreaded the thought of anyone's demise, both friend and foe, weary and tired of the cycle of death that seemed like an inevitable part of existence. Despite knowing its necessity, it was a reality she struggled to come to terms with, the weight of loss and pain always heavy on her soul.

Garrett approached Catherina with a smile, a hint of amusement in his voice as he offered an alternative to the cold. "I'd offer to keep you warm, but since I lack the ability, perhaps you should join us by the fire and warm yourself," he suggested.

Catherina chuckled at his remark. "Thank you, but considering I can regulate my body temperature, I think I'll be alright for now," she responded, a small smile playing on her lips.

Garrett cocked an eyebrow, a knowing gleam in his eyes. "Are you overthinking, again?" he said, his tone more of a statement than a question.

Catherina raised her own eyebrow in response, feigning ignorance. "What gave that away?" she asked, watching him as he sat down beside her on the overhang.

Garrett chuckled as he continued his observations. "You're a lot like your brother," he started, his voice tinged with amusement. "Silent and often staring off into the distance."

Catherina spoke, her eyes reflecting the weight of the ages she had lived through. "I have lived before most here were born," she stated, her voice carrying the wisdom of centuries. "With the exception of my brother and those eccentric Romanians, I am one of the older ones."