Chapter 89
SEBASTIAN’S POV
Panic and confusion overwhelmed me like never before. My breathing got heavy as I anxiously looked around, wondering what to do next. I couldn’t think of anything else but to go and get help. I would have called an ambulance right away, but I didn’t have my phone with me.
Quickly, almost like a madman, I hurried out of the cell room and then returned to the bars where Brianna lay on the floor, looking hurt and shocked. I wanted to help her, but I had to find help first for Catherine, who was either dying or already dead. I couldn’t really tell.
“You saw what happened, Brianna. It was a mistake… I didn’t kill her. I was just trying to get the gun from her when she accidentally pulled the trigger,” I spoke quickly, stuttering, my words not making much sense.
Then Brianna passed out. My chest heaved uncontrollably as if my heart was about to fly out of my chest. I ran my hand through my hair vigorously. I wanted to go in and help her, but when I looked back and saw Catherine lying lifeless in a pool of blood, my mind changed completely and quickly.
I picked up her still body, not minding if her blood stained my clothes, and rushed to the main part of the castle, screaming for help.
Damn!! This was never supposed to happen. If she wasn’t so set on hurting Brianna, none of this would’ve occurred. And that gun… where did she even get it? As far as I knew, we didn’t have guns in the castle. I knew about her mistreatment towards Brianna and the poison incident, but I never thought she could try to kill her. What happened to Catherine? What made her think such evil thoughts?
“Help!! Somebody…anybody help me!!!”
The head maid came rushing down first, and gradually, the other maids from the servants’ quarters followed.
“Oh my goodness…what happened?” the head maid gasped, instinctively placing her hand on her chest. “Why is there blood on her clothes…and why isn’t she moving?”
She stared at me, and all of them did too, eyes wide with shock and anticipation. I could see fear and panic in their faces, making me think they might see me as the killer. Some were even on the verge of tears.
“I’ll call the doctor right away,” one of them said and went to where the telephone was.
“Yes…call the doctor or an ambulance would be better,” I replied hastily.
They cleared the dining table, moving the flower vase and other items to make room for me to lay Catherine down. I placed her there carefully, hoping for any sign that she was still alive. Praying for any movement, even if it was just a heave of her chest. Sadly, nothing happened.
“Where the hell is the doctor?!!” I screamed impatiently, making some of them flinch in fear.
“Take it easy, my son,” the head maid said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I gently moved it away, my head bowed low as I tried to control the flood of emotions inside me. “She’s already on it.”
A maid swiftly brought a towel and placed it on Catherine’s stomach to apply pressure and stop the bleeding that had stained nearly every part of the lower half of her nightgown.
The head maid reached out and checked the side of her neck. Then, in a saddened tone, she said.
“It’s no use, Sebastian. She doesn’t have a pulse. She’s… she’s gone.”
No… no… no…” I muttered in disbelief. “She can’t be dead. The ambulance is on their way… they’ll surely do something to bring her back.”
She looked at me like I was out of touch, sighed, and shook her head.
“I’ve called the doctor and ambulance, they’re on their way,” the maid who used the telephone informed. I nodded and encouraged the maid to apply pressure to press harder on the wound, even though it seemed like it was doing little to no good. The entire towel was soaked in blood, and they had to bring another one.
“And how exactly did this happen?” The head maid asked.
I let out a deep breath, trying to steady my erratic pulse.
“She…she had a gun,” I tried to explain, but my stutters got the best of me. “I don’t even know how she got it. She stole the key to the cell room and was trying to kill Brianna with the gun…But I stopped her. I tried to take the gun from her, but she wouldn’t let me. She even threatened to kill me too. While we were struggling,…she accidentally pulled the trigger…”
Silence and tension hung high and heavy as I stared at their faces which were etched with great fear and worry.
“Y’all don’t think…I did this, right?” I asked, hoping for a positive response. Praying they wouldn’t misjudge the situation and blame me for her death.
Of course not,” the head maid dismissed the idea, looking at me with a touch of disbelief. “I’ve known you since you were little. I understand you even better than you do, and I can say you’re not capable of killing anyone.” She came closer, offering her utmost comfort and support. “But Catherine, on the other hand, has always been…mentally unstable if that’s the right word. I just wish you and your parents saw that before your marriage to her was arranged. Honestly, this doesn’t surprise most of us, considering she’s tried to kill herself twice,” she glanced at the other maids as if seeking confirmation, and they nodded hesitantly. “So don’t worry, my son. We won’t let you down. We’ve got your back. And we know exactly what to say when the police arrive for questioning.”
Suddenly, the wail of ambulance sirens echoed outside. Paramedics arrived, and together we carefully transferred Catherine onto a stretcher. They lifted her into the back of the van, securing her and placing an oxygen mask on her face. They kept an eye on her vital signs while continuing to apply pressure to the wound, trying to control the bleeding.
I offered to go with them, but the headmaid stopped me.
“Let me handle it instead. You’re not in the right state of mind. Since this happened in the cell room, Brianna must be in shock. You should go check on her to see how she’s doing. Okay?”
“Okay,” I nodded. She was helped into the van and then they zoomed off.
She was right. Brianna had passed out while I tried to explain what happened to her. I hadn’t checked on her to see how she was doing. So I rushed off to the cell room immediately.
When I entered, I noticed Brianna was still passed out on the floor. I initially wanted a maid to bring smelling salts to wake her up. But seeing she was still breathing and appeared to be in a peaceful sleep, I decided not to disturb her. I promised to check on her again early in the morning.
The news of Catherine’s death struck the castle like a cold, harsh wind very early in the morning. I hadn’t slept all night due to worry and anticipation over it. According to the doctor who examined her at the hospital, the bullet went deep and damaged her liver, a vital organ. She was brought in late and had lost a significant amount of blood, so there was nothing they could do to save her. The best they managed was to remove the bullet.
During that moment, it all felt surreal. I still couldn’t believe she was no more. If only she wasn’t bent on harming Brianna, this would have never happened!
Her body was taken to the morgue and her family was informed. I knew they wouldn’t take it likely. And that in no time, the police and reporters will come flooding the castle.
But before all that, I made arrangements for a private vehicle that would take Brianna to a safe place. I promised her that I’d set her free first thing in the morning, and I was doing just that.
When I walked into the cell room, to my dismay, I saw Brianna screaming like never before.
Quickly, I unlocked the cell and crouched down to hold her close. She continued to scream, shaking her head and repeating, “No… no… no…”
She was shivering almost uncontrollably, clutching her stomach. Her skin was cold, and she had turned pale with goosebumps all over. I took off my jacket and covered her with it to give her some warmth.
She buried her face in the depths of my chest, crying and gasping for air that seemed to escape her.
“Shhh….,” I comforted her, gently cupping her face and stroking her silky hair. “It’s okay. I’m here with you… I’m here. It was just a bad dream. All in your head. It wasn’t real.”