Worst Nightmare

Chapter 18

Authors Pov

As the moonlight bathed the garden in a gentle glow, Faye and Freen stood side by side, their presence a stark contrast to the tranquility of the night. Faye, her face hidden behind the mask, appeared every bit the mysterious figure she always was, yet there was a tension in her movements, a subtle undercurrent of thoughts she was trying to keep at bay. Freen stood just slightly apart, her posture ever alert, scanning the surroundings with a quiet intensity that came naturally to her.

Inside Yoko's bedroom, the atmosphere was quieter, more subdued. Becky sat cross-legged on the bed, her delicate fingers wrapping around a porcelain teacup. Her gaze occasionally flicked toward the window, where Faye and Freen were deep in conversation. But there was something more in Becky's look-something intense and almost yearning.

Yoko, noticing the direction of her sister's attention, leaned back in her chair, the weight of a question pressing on her mind. Becky wasn't just looking at Faye and Freen; she was looking at Freen. It wasn't a glance of casual curiosity but something deeper, something that made Yoko's heart skip a beat.

"Becky," Yoko's voice was soft but cutting through the silence, her eyes narrowing as she studied her sister's face. "What's happening? Why do you keep looking at the garden?"

Becky placed the teacup down gently, a light smile curling on her lips as she met Yoko's gaze. "Is it really that obvious?" she replied with a playful tone, but the light in her eyes said otherwise.

Yoko raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-suspicious. "What are you playing at, Becky?"

Becky shrugged, her fingers brushing the rim of her teacup. "I'm just... observing. I mean, Freen's not someone you expect to be in the position she's in, right? A woman, guarding the Prince?" She shook her head lightly, clearly lost in thought. "But it's more than that. She's... different. Not like the others. And I don't think you even notice it."

Yoko couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort. She had always trusted Freen, and her connection with Faye had always been undeniable, but Becky's tone made it seem as if there was something she wasn't seeing. Something beneath the surface.

"You think Freen's different," Yoko said slowly, her voice laced with curiosity. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

Becky's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with a quiet intensity. "I mean," she continued, eyes flicking back to the garden, "she's got a... presence. It's not just the way she moves, it's the way she carries herself. The way she's always on guard, yet there's this softness to her. She doesn't just follow orders. She thinks-and she's got a way with people. Doesn't matter if it's the Prince, or anyone else. There's this... unspoken connection between them. Don't you think it's strange, Yoko? A prince with a female bodyguard-and not just any female, a lean woman like Freen?"
"

Yoko turned her attention to the window, her gaze landing on Freen, whose eyes were now briefly meeting Faye's in a silent exchange. For a moment, it looked almost... intimate. But it wasn't just that-there was something in the way Freen looked at Faye, something that sent a ripple of unease through Yoko's chest.

"You're right," Yoko admitted quietly, her eyes narrowing as she observed them more closely. "I've always noticed how they work together. But I didn't... think of it like that."

Becky, her eyes still trained on the scene outside, tilted her head as she continued, "I'm not saying it's something to worry about, Yoko. But there's a bond between them, and I think you know that too. Prince's reputation outside, who is so cruel? Isn't that's what we know about the Prince. And Freen? She's got this... quiet loyalty. They've got a history. And sometimes, when I see the way they look at each other, I can't help but think there's more to it than what we all see."