Misunderstanding

Chapter 17(Nathalie POV)

I held the sharp, glistening dagger in my hands, my heart pounding uncontrollably inside of my chest. Anthony stood beside me, his tall frame leaning casually against the ancient tree trunk, his eyes fixed intently on the dagger. "You want to stab that straight into his heart, without hesitation," Anthony instructed.  

 We stood on the deserted side of the road, the hazy sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting a kaleidoscope of shadows on the ground. My hands trembled, betraying my nerves, and the dagger slipped from my grasp, its razor-sharp blade grazing my palm. A sharp sting jolted through me, causing me to wince in pain.

Anthony's eyes widened with concern as he swiftly moved towards me. He reached out, his strong hands gently cradling mine as blood began to seep from the shallow cut. "Nathalie, are you okay?"

As the blood stained my clothes, I wiped my hand roughly on my pants, trying to dismiss the pain.

Blood seeped from the wound. I'm fine, I communicated.

Anthony knelt down, the ripped clothing and dried blood making me wince once again. He picked up the dagger and presented it to me once more. I gripped it firmly, pushing down my fear. 

"Anthony! Nathalie!" A voice boomed behind us. It was Sebastian. 

"Sebastian? What are you doing here?"

Sebastian's eyes flickered over to me, then back at him. "I have a message for Anthony from the Lord. A private message." He gestured for Anthony to follow him, the foliage of the nearby bushes enveloping his figure. 

"Nathalie, I'll be right back." He kissed my forehead before disappearing into the trees after Sebastian. 

Why was Sebastian here?

What were they talking about that was so private I couldn't hear? I was part of their team! Why were they hiding a secret from me? The dagger still clutched tightly in my hands, I ventured closer to them. 

"...you have permission to kill her," Sebastian was saying.

"The Lord gave me permission to kill that mute girl?"

"Yes. You can finish her off anytime once she kills Chase." Sebastian's words hung in the air, followed by wicked laughter erupting from Anthony's lips. 

My heart dropped. For sure they weren't talking about me?

"Finally. I'm so tired of acting like I love her all the time. She's such a stupid, hideous, irritating person!"

 The realization hit me like a thunderbolt, crashing into my consciousness with a force that left me reeling. They were talking about me. The realization wrapped around my heart like a suffocating vine, squeezing the breath from my lungs. 

The dagger slipped from my trembling hands, clattering against the ground. 

"Nathalie?" Anthony stepped out from behind the trees. "Are you alright?!"

I stared at him in disbelief. He wanted to kill me? All his affection was an act?

Sebastian brushed the branches aside and appeared beside him. "Did you hear our conversation?"

I told him no in sign language and apologized, adding that I was too tired. Anthony gave my shoulder a squeeze. "Go get some rest, dear. We can end Chase tomorrow." 

It seemed that Sebastian and Anthony were in no mood to continue their conversation after my interruption; Sebastian left and Anthony got us settled behind some trees, away from the view of any cars in the night. 

"If it keeps you warm or comforts you, you can sleep in my arms tonight," Anthony offered.

A part of me yearned to decline, to demand answers about the cryptic conversation I had overheard. I wanted him to tell me that the mute girl he and Sebastian weren't talking about wasn't me. But if that mute girl he was talking about was me, I could no longer trust him or let him know I had been eavesdropping.

 I nodded and allowed my body to nestle against his chest, cold sweat drenching me as he pulled me closer.