Find me

Chapter 86

Alice

"I thought you would never come" Laura literally jumped on him. "How did you find us?"
Holding half a smile on his face, he replied, "I'll find you anywhere". He glanced at me for a second and then turned back to her.
So, he's ignoring me now. Great.
He smiles while helping her as she struggles to walk on her injured leg like a penguin. But somewhat he seems dull.
Laura settled herself on the rock when Luke bent to hold her leg on which she got injured and placed them over his knee. He leans to look over.
Laura heaved a long-suffering sigh and squirmed like an impatient child.
"Stop moving, Laura" he muttered.
"Why are you taking so long?"
"Because you have a deep cut"
Her brow furrowed, "Really? Oh my God". Laura looked worried and she couldn’t sit still, "Do I need to get stitches?"
Luke chuckled, "No. Do you forget that you are not a normal human being?" And this is when he puts his hand on her wound, pressing it and a green-white light starts flashing from his hand.
She flinched. 
When Luke removes his hand, her injury is gone.
She flashed him a big smile, "Thank you so so much buddy".
He stood up, "Never mind".
I walk to her, "Are you okay?".
But instead of replying she held my hand, "What about your hand? I saw an arrow dive right through your arm". She leans closer, she pauses for a second.
"But where is it?" she questioned.
I turn my hand and am surprised to see that there is no wound not even a cut. I clearly remembered when someone plunged an arrow down my arm.
Strange
Laura's eyes go wide, mouth falls open, "It's impossible" she states.
"What?"
She lingers closer "You healed by yourself. Your body heals on its own".
I look at her in surprise. Luke wore the same look as Laura. Shock.
"Is it possible?"
"No" this time Edwin replied.
Luke decided to stay quiet. So I didn't ask either.
"You saw that too. Don't you?" Laura grabbed my hand and showed it to Edwin, "But see, no marks, nothing".
"Everything is possible in our world," he says after a long moment of silence.
"Luke? Take a look" Laura says.
My eyes immediately dart to him, waiting. He hasn't asked me yet about my injury or how I am. I never imagined that he would come for me. I thought I would never see him again.
I missed him.
"She's fine. She doesn't need me" he replied as he walked away.
Tears sting my eyes suddenly. My heart ached at his harsh tone. I never expected this from him.
Laura's concerned eyes glance at me and then at him. She knew what was going on between us.
She gave me an apologetic smile as she held my hand, "Give him some time".
Still controlling my tears I nodded.
"Come on, let's get out here" she whispered.
And we did.

~~~~~~

I stare as this big massive gate swings open in front of me. The first thing that came into my sight was this large fountain followed by many muscled men guarding every corner. They all are staring at me with their hungry eyes.
Sweat trickled down my spine even in this cold weather. I look away.
I entered the long hallway, too quiet for this place. This place is already sending a creepy sense to my brain. I wonder if anyone lives inside.
Suddenly I heard something. I turn to look back but nothing. Then again a voice whispered in my ears. It was the same as I experienced a few months back. I walk further and it gets louder and louder with each step.
I squeezed my eyes shut. As the clay around me began to tremble and shake—as the floors split and the walls collapsed and the woman whispered, and whispered and whispered.
I turn to run back when some darkness engulfs me.
The whispers followed me as I woke—so much of it that my ears couldn’t separate the voices, couldn’t make sense of whether I was dreaming or reality began.
My eyes opened again and met only an impenetrable wall of black. Complete, utter darkness, so thick it choked me.
My hands flew out, grasping at nothing, "Somebody help me" I yelled.
Nothing.
I tried to walk further, "Is anyone listening to me?" I cried, "Please let me out of here".
The scent of blood burned my nostrils. My palms pressed to the ground. Hard, dusty tile. Dread rose as I pieced it together.
No no no. I won't end up in her game.
"I know you are playing with me. But I'm not going to give up that easily" I scream as loud as I can.
I pushed myself upright. Panic spiked, but I forced it into submission. No, I could not afford to panic. Because this was it.
It's her mind game.
And I'm not going to fall for her trick.
An infusion of adrenaline rocked my body and heated my face.
"Show me your bloody face" I yell.
I forced myself to steady my breaths.
At the sound, I peered through the foliage to see a single, smoky thread of shadow leading through the door towards me.
Panic quickened the heart. A quickening heartbeat drummed against my chest as she came into my peripheral. 
Queen of Malign.

~~~~~

She looked down at me "What a pleasant surprise" she smirked. "Glad to finally meet you".
Her long figure is impressive at first look. Her hair hung in a long silver braid down her back. Her black-red cloak is waving on the floor as she walks. She has the same deep blue eyes as Dorian.
As I meet her eyes my fear into anger. Everything started looming around my brain about how she killed my father and tortured Dorian and everyone.
I want to kill her right now. I move to her, holding my anger, "I want to talk to you".
Her eyebrows were erect as she heard me, "Want to talk?".
I kept silent only glaring at her.
Her mouth twitches into a bitchy smile, "Okay, go ahead".
I don't know if I doing the right thing or not. I thought about it a lot before coming here. No one knows that I came here. But I'm doing what needs to be done.
I exhale deeply, "Take my power".  She lifted a single eyebrow, cocking her head.
I continue, "But leave everyone. And...." I pause for a second, "...free Dorian from his curse and never touch him again".
She laughed.
Laugh. Laugh. Laugh.
My jaw is hurting from continuous clenching. Still, I chose to stay quiet, waiting for her response. Did she agree?
Still grinning, she says "Quite a clever move". And then taps one finger on her cheeks, as if she were thinking. But she's not, just mocking me.
Bitch.
"The fact that I don't trust you. Still, I choose to come here because I want to end this. Fucking end this" I growl.
"So do I". She leans closer to my ears, "I want to consume everything you have. And then I will become the most powerful in the world" she whispered.
Her words raised goosebumps in my arms. But I steady myself.
I gulp down all my lumps down my throat, "And then you'll leave everyone, right?"
"Of course" she immediately replied.
I feel a little relieved after hearing this.
Her eyes go wide, mouth falls open, "But you will not be alive to see them happy". And then her surprise turned into a smirk.
I know this. I fucking know this, I will not be able to live when she takes down my power. But eventually, I will die when she'll find me again somewhere.
I will die this way or that way. I want them to be safe. I can't afford any more sacrifices for me. I know I can't fight her. So this is the only way left to end this". 
"No need to worry about me" I eyed her, angrily I said "Keep your word".
"I will".
This is the least that I can do for them in return. I know they'll fight for me till their last breath. But I don't want that. I want them to be safe. I want them to live their life happily. I want Dorian to live his life well, at least from now on.
No more sacrifices. 
He had gone through a lot because of me. He lived his life in hell because of me. So I'm giving back his life in return. I'm returning his favor.
And Luke, what do I do for him? He had already done enough for me. He was there for me when I was alone. He loved me, cared for me, and made me laugh. He showed me how to live. In return, I'll give his life to him. And Laura, she's the one whom I can trust blindly. She does not even flinch while fighting for me. She's going to be a great warrior. And I'm not gonna take that opportunity from her.
This war will end only with me.
My dad and mother sacrificed their life for me.
Now it's my time to return the favor.
Better die than living in fear.
My mother's words-
Fight like a Queen.
Die like a Queen.