Imperfect (Disappeared #1)

Chapter Eleven

Theodosia slumped forward and toppled onto a carpet of thick grass. She pulled herself up, her heart pounding. Before her was the English forest she was used to. The trees cast long shadows, telling her it was most likely late afternoon. 

Theodosia spun around and to her great surprise the baobab was gone. There was nothing there but the meandering path and a line of shady poplars bent over it.

She stood in utter shock, her fingers clutching her coat and skirts. How could it just ... be gone? She dashed forward impulsively and then stopped.

Theo, where are you going? she thought. He's gone.

She remained frozen in place as she tried to process what had happened. Only a moment before, Ahuil had been there, touching her hand. Then he had disappeared into thin air — him and his whole world, as if none of it had ever existed.

Her stomach churned as this realization hit. You have to get back to the house, an inner voice scolded her. Regretfully, she forced herself to walk away, though she kept looking back to see if the baobab would reappear. 

It did not.

The glade of poplars eventually gave way to the flooded forest and then other parts she was more familiar with. It was easy to find her way back and she wondered how she had ever thought she was lost before. Mostly she just felt heavy and sad. Every step felt like a step away from Ahuil. Her mind was full of thoughts of what he might be doing. Was he still standing there, wondering if she might come back through? Or did he even exist at all? 

Then the forest gave way to the broad rolling hills that led up to the mansion house. She mounted the final one before the formal gardens and there it was, as imposing as ever. She halted just a moment to take it in, her heart hammering in her chest. The thought of returning made her feel desperate. Go back to being Lady Theodosia, no good except to be auctioned off at the marriage market? Lonely and surrounded by people who didn't understand the first thing about her? She loved her mother and sister, of course, but if she married she would rarely see them. 

Theodosia pressed a hand over her heart, willing it to slow. Defiantly, it continued to beat audibly. Yet there was nothing to do but go on. She had find out what time — no, what day — it was, and immediately.

She launched off the hill and let gravity push her down, running as fast as her skirts would allow. She let the momentum take her through the elegant gardens and their fragrant roses and trim archways, over the stone bridges and past the neat ponds and rivers. Adrenaline pumped through her body. She began to feel excited to see Louisa and to tell her all about her adventures. She was sure the little redhead would have plenty of questions.

She rushed up to the front entrance where John the doorman let her in. He didn't comment but simply stepped aside to let her through, his poker face a good match for his stiff livery.

I can't have been gone all night if he acted like that, Theodosia thought. So how long was I gone?

She went straight to her room to avoid any questions. She rang for her maid and threw her bonnet off onto a chair. Then she simply stood there, looking about, confused. Here again was her elegant bedroom, filled with dainty furniture, silk drapes and magnificent four-poster bed. It looked just as strange as Ahuil's world had when she first saw it.

Sarah came in a moment later, her face creased with worry.

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You're still hanging in there! Good for you! 

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