Chapter 20: Before dawn
Besides the twitching and spasms running through her muscles, and for a good minute, Arabella remained completely immobile, breathing in and out while her eyes scouted her surroundings.
She loosened the grip around the sheets, eventually releasing them to propel her weight off the bed before running towards the bathroom.
Plunging her hands down the metal tub, the jolt caused by the touch of cold water was barely noticeable, considering her entire body still trembled like a little leaf.
Frantic in her motion, Arabella bent over the recipient and splashed her face once, then twice and then a third time, washing all of the sticky sweat as well as the salty tears covering her skin.
Although part of her had done it to ensure she was fully awake and no longer ambling the land of the dreaming.
Her quivering ceased at once when a not so gentle knock came from the door. Chest tightening around her heart, she very slowly straightened up to contemplate the pathetic reflection staring back from the mirror.
Arabella struggled to tell whether the temperature around her had suddenly risen or dropped.
Eyes and ears open, she waited 'til the second knock blared, further cementing her in that spot.
Though her features relaxed a tad when a familiar voice reached the young woman, "Arabella! Is everything alright?" there was a certain level of urgency in Katherine's tone.
Arabella's mouth fell open before closing right the next second without the ghost of a whisper ever leaving her lips.
"I am coming inside," loud and clear, the vampire declared before pushing the door open.