The Heiress

I woke up with a start, my body covered in sweat. I gasped to get a fresh breath of air.

I was awake, but the eerie sensation—the cold, harrowing dread crawling down my spine from the blurry nightmare—still lingered.

It left me feeling weird—like a dream you just couldn’t wake up from.

I headed for the bathroom. A splash of water would probably wake me up and relieve me from the feeling.

Trembling, I reached the cold handle and twisted it to enter the small room.

The tiles felt icy against the bare soles of my feet, but it was refreshing compared to the heat pulsing through my body. My feet carried me to the sink, and I leaned over it to steady myself.

I looked up to study my face in the mirror and convince myself that I wasn’t dreaming anymore.

What met my eyes startled me.

Thick, white plastic covered my face, obscuring my features. Instead, a wolf stared back at me, its rigid facade frozen in an expression barren of emotion. A crack tore through its middle.

It was the mask from the Reagan manor—the mask I’d broken.

Was I still dreaming?

I turned on the water and splashed it on my face. Relief surged through me when the drops hit my skin. It can’t be real… It can’t be. It’s just my mind playing tricks on me, I tried convincing myself before I grabbed a towel to wipe off the water.

My hands trembled violently, and I almost didn’t dare to look into the mirror again.

I slowly removed the towel from my face and opened my eyes. Fortunately, I looked normal.

My eyes weren’t hidden behind a white mask, and the rest of me looked like they always had.

I sighed.

It hadn’t been anything but my imagination. It hadn’t been real.

The trepidation was gone, and I could feel the unease fading from my mind.

I threw the towel on the ground and agreed with myself that I would take care of it in the morning.

The minute I opened the door back up, Mom stood in the hallway, as if she’d been waiting for me.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” she asked and stepped closer. “I heard you rush out, and I just wanted to check if something was wrong.”

“I… I just had a nightmare,” I explained. “I was sweating and needed some water, but I’m okay now.”

I smiled, but deep inside, her constant supervision grated on my nerves. She always did this.

The minute I left my room at night and she heard, she would be there to make sure I didn’t do something I shouldn’t. It had always been like that.

And just like every other night adventure I had been on throughout my life, she would wait in the hall until I’d closed the door to my room behind me.

My bed was still warm as I reached the jumbled mess.

I sat down and covered myself with the heated duvet. Before I leaned back onto the pillow, I turned around to check the time.

3 a.m. It was the middle of the night. I hadn’t been sleeping for more than an hour.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

The stars on my ceiling weren’t glowing as much as usual when I studied them before bed.

The sun hadn’t been shining on them for many hours, and they were slowly fading like the image in my dream—like the white mask.

My eyelids felt heavy, and I was finally ready to sleep again—to fall into the dreamless emptiness.

I closed my eyes and embraced the darkness, but I didn’t see the darkness I had hoped for.

I saw darkness, but it wasn’t completely dark. I could see a crystal diamond chandelier lit up by golden candles, white marbled hallways. High green hedge bushes that I couldn’t find my way out of. In the middle of a long tunnel I could see a white spot becoming clearer the more I looked at it.

Crystal chandeliers hung from white marble ceilings, my steps echoing as I ran through the barren halls. Fresh air hit my flushed face as I finally made it outside, only to enter a labyrinth of green hedge bushes that towered high above me.

I was out of breath, but something inside me urged me to keep running. The night knew I’d be doomed if whatever chased me finally caught me. So, I kept going, rounding countless corners and sprinting past dead ends until I reached an open area in the middle.

My lungs burned as I slowed down. I squinted my eyes, trying to identify the rigid structure in the middle of the space.

Walking up to it, I realized it was a grand mirror with my own reflection staring back at me. This gorgeous blush ball gown was rubbed to my body with the white wolf mask covering my face.

I forced my eyes open again and sat up. I was already trying to catch my breath and sweating as if I had been lying in my bed for hours.

My hand fumbled for the watch to look at the numbers again. It had only been ten minutes.

Why wouldn’t the image leave my mind? Why did something so absurd feel so real?

What was going on with me?

***

I got out of bed and went to the shower, but I couldn’t shake the thought of the dream that had haunted me throughout the night.

I turned off the water and was hit by reality.

My bike… It was still out there, and I couldn’t ask my mom for a ride to school. She would know I’d been out, and I’d never pulled myself together to get a driver’s license.

Our town was small, and my bike usually got me to the places I needed to go to.

“Good morning, darling.”

Mom seemed to be in a good mood. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Tired.” I smiled.

“Not so young anymore,” she teased and placed the last pancake on my plate.

“You’re in a good mood today,” I said, trying to avoid a conversation about my birthday.

“I am off to meet my friend, whom I haven’t seen in a long time.”

“That sounds nice. Can I come with you?” I asked.

“Haha, no, honey, you have school to attend.” She pointed at me.

“I was hoping to skip today,” I said.

“Sophia! My daughter does not skip school. You only have this last year before you head off to see the world, so you better enjoy the freedom while you can.”

“School does not feel like freedom,” I laughed.

After breakfast, I dressed and went out.

“Where are you heading this early?” Mom asked.

It was Monday, and my day didn’t start before noon. But this was the perfect time for me to get my bike.

“I just thought I would go for a walk. The weather is nice.”

I was afraid that she’d see through me until she nodded. “Fine, but just be back in time for school.”

“I promise.”

The trip was long without a bike, but I managed and arrived at the hill right next to the driveway for the Reagan Manor. My bike was still there as I’d left it last night.

I stared at the manor through the golden gates, contemplating everything that had happened last night. Theodore and his dad, the mask… I didn’t know what to make of it.

Gently, I touched the necklace Andreas had given me and smiled. It reminded me that not the entire night had been terrifying—only part of it. I’d had fun most of the night.

Suddenly, the entire world around me fell into complete silence.

The birds stopped singing, and even the wind seemed to calm. A chill ran down my spine, and I almost didn’t dare to move.

I winced when a screech tore through the air, metal grinding against metal. I looked over my shoulder and saw the gate splitting, opening.

Someone was coming. I needed to get out of here before anyone noticed me.

The conversation I’d overheard between Theodore and his dad echoed in my head.

“Now go fetch the girl. We have a great deal of work to do.”

I shuddered at the thought of that conversation. I didn’t dare think what would happen if they caught me here.

Hurrying, I reached down to grab my bike when I heard another growl.

I stopped dead in my tracks. No car could make a noise like that. Reluctantly, I looked around and stiffened when I saw it—a mountain lion.

It looked starved. I could see its ribs, its spine jutted and sticking out.

I felt sad for the poor creature, but seeing its piercing yellow eyes, I knew it had targeted my ass to be its next prey.

Looking past the starving creature, I sprinted for my bike, desperate to get away. I wasn’t fast enough.

Pain ripped through my shoulder as I ducked just in time for the mountain lion to miss its intended attack. Its massive, razor-sharp claw grazed me, but it still hurt like holy hell.

I screamed, grabbing my pounding shoulder as the mountain lion spun around for another attack. Terrified, I scrambled to get away quick enough to not suffer another painful hit.

The mountain lion jumped, landing in front of me. I spun onto my back, kicking the snarling beast and stirring up gravel that dusted the furious beast’s sight.

Desperate, I grabbed a handful of dirt and tossed it at the beast. The animal roared, clawing at its face to dislodge the debris hitting its eyes.

The mountain lion screeched as it lunged for me despite its compromised sight. I couldn’t escape this one.

I held my breath, horror pulsing through me as I squeezed my eyes shut and did my best to protect my face from the inevitable death that would come from its attack.

Suddenly, a shadow swept over me, ripping the creature away. For a second, I just lay there, staring at the sky, trying to catch my breath. I heard the hissing snarl of the mountain lion, and a deep bass growling from something non-animal.

I was still dazed, but I tried to sit up. My head swam, and my shoulder throbbed painfully. Warmth trickled down my back.

At first I thought I was hallucinating. The mountain lion was pinned into a net, surrounded by Theodore Reagan and about ten other men dressed in black suits. They had guns pointed at the creature, and two of the men carried more nets.

Shit… I couldn’t let him catch me. Theodore was bad news, even if he’d just saved my life. So, I tried crawling toward my bike, hoping to reach it before he noticed my attempt at escape.

“What do you think you are doing?”

I winced. Too late.

I swallowed hard, digging my fingers into the grass as I looked over my shoulder to see him peering down at me. “I-I just came for my bike,” I stammered.

“I can see that,” Theodore said, holding a hand for me to take. “You got a little more than just your bike, didn’t you, Princess?” Theodore said. “I have a doctor on site that can treat you, so if—”

“No,” I said, my twisting tongue acting before I could think it over.

“No?” The way he repeated my answer was as if I had done something truly disgusting and rude.

“No. Thank you. I’ll be alright,” I hissed when I tried to reach for my bike, pain shooting through my shoulder.

Theodore chuckled to himself. “Are you afraid I’ll bill you? I won’t. I can assure you.” He grabbed onto my uninjured arm to help me up, his hand almost possessive.

The trepidation of his presence faded from my mind, pushed aside by a sudden wave of resentment and anger.

“She took offense to a fucking painting. She doesn’t know anything.”

Those were the words Theodore Reagan had used to describe me. And the way his dad had hissed the word peasant as if our lack of riches was some kind of disease made my blood boil.

Peasant. Penniless. Unintelligent. That’s how this man saw me. Saving me from this attack did nothing to erase that.

“I said, no. Thank you. For your kind offer. But I must ~decline~.” My words dripped with venom. I wrenched my arm from his grip, clenching my jaw to fight through the pain as I picked up my bike.

“Thank you for saving me, but I have school in two hours, so I better get going.”

“Hold on, Sophia,” Theodore said, gently grabbing my arm to keep me from leaving. “You’re hurt. Let me help you.”

I looked back to tell him off when my breath hitched. He stood closer than I’d expected, his body heat showering my back.

He pulled a white handkerchief from his front pocket. “You can’t ride on that thing with your wound bleeding like that.”

My heart pounded against my rib cage as I became lost in the worried depths of his swirling blue eyes. He leaned closer, gently pinching the zipper keeping my jacket locked around my neck.

“What the hell are you doing, Reagan?”

A hand wrapped around Theodore’s wrist, stopping him from unzipping the jacket and jerking me back from my trance.

“Andreas,” I said, surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes grew impossibly wide when he glimpsed the blood seeping between my fingers as I squeezed my shoulder tighter.

“I was nearby when I heard you scream. What did this bastard do to you?” Andreas hissed, clenching harder around Theodore’s wrist.

My stomach stirred as Andreas’ eyes turned murderous. “Calm down,” I quickly added. “It wasn’t Theodore’s do—”

My head suddenly started spinning, a wave of nausea shooting through my stomach.

“Hey,” Andreas said, letting go of Theodore to support me as my legs wobbled dangerously. “Slow down. What happened?”

Theodore cleared his throat. “If you had bothered to examine your surroundings before accusing me of such vulgar violence, you’d notice the mountain lion fumbling in the net behind me.”

Andreas stiffened. “What?”

I grabbed Andreas’ sleeve. “It’s okay, Andreas,” I whispered hoarsely. “I-I came here for my bike and didn’t see the mountain lion stalking the gates from the trees. If Theodore’s men hadn’t acted when they did, I would’ve been ripped to shreds.”

Andreas clenched his jaw, still not seeming entirely convinced about Theodore’s innocence. I understood him being apprehensive toward Theodore, but this hostility seemed personal.

“And you didn’t think to help her stop the bleeding?” he hissed, pulling a small medical kit from his pocket.

“What did you think I was doing before you interrupted us?” Theodore asked, seemingly struggling to control the annoyance seeping past his lips.

Andreas’ expression hardened, his mouth flattening to a grim line. “I got it from here. You can leave to attend whatever important meeting you were to attend.”

“Very well,” Theodore said, correcting his collar. “Let me know if you need anything. We will take care of the mountain lion and make sure it gets the necessary treatments before releasing it again.”

With that Theodore stepped into his expensive Bentley and drove away.

Andreas muttered a few curses I couldn’t discern as he helped me to the ground. “Sorry,” he whispered before ripping the sleeve of my jacket and shirt clean off to access my wound. He cleaned and bandaged it, his touch so soft it barely hurt.

“Thanks,” I murmured, grateful to have Andreas with me.

“Let’s get you home.”

“But my bike,” I said, woozy. That was the whole reason I came here.

“I’ll come back for your bike, don’t worry.”

I was too tired to argue.

Andreas scooped me up in his arms. Normally, I’d be embarrassed, but I was so tired I snuggled into his chest.

The sound of his heartbeat calmed me.

***

We reached the door to my house, and my dad answered.

“Sophia! What happened?” he asked and helped me inside.

“She had an encounter with a mountain lion. I was just lucky enough to be nearby,” Andreas answered.

“Thank you, Andreas. I can take it from here. Watch yourself out there and get home safely.”

I met his worried eyes just before the door closed. “I’m sorry, Andreas.”

***

Dad immediately brought me to the hospital, where they gave me four stitches. When we got home, long after classes had ended, he sent me to bed. He promised to handle school and my mom when she returned.

As soon as he left my room, I released the tears I had been holding back.

I had never encountered a wild animal before, and it had been so scary. It was hard to put words to the things I was feeling because I couldn’t make sense of them either.

The mountain lion, Theodore Reagan, Andreas’ reaction… That horrible dream…

I needed some fresh air. My room was hot and clammy, the thick air barely breathable. So, I pushed myself to my feet and used the bed to support my weight as I was still a little woozy from the painkillers.

With much effort, I opened the window and took a deep breath. However, as I looked outside, I glimpsed a silhouette standing in the shadows of the treelines further ahead.

I squinted my eyes and gasped when I spotted two icy eyes pierce the darkness.

The man’s lips seemed to curve into a smile before he retreated, melting with the shadows.

I blinked. What the fuck? Had I been hallucinating, or could that have been Theodore Reagan?

```