Hidden Empress

Chapter 20

Alina's pov

I kept looking around the forest trying to see if I recognize anywhere. I'm so stupid. I didn't stop to think about what I was doing. I just felt so much pain that I kept running. I ran away my anger, my pain, my tears and it looks like I also left my common sense behind. I ran till I was too tired and exhausted, I sat down underneath a tree and started thinking. Why will Edward want to betray me? What made him come to that decision? I kept replaying the scene in my head.

"I think we should tell William about your identity"

I gasped as I realized something. Edward didn't betray me. He came to me to suggest it. He didn't say he wanted to. He only suggested it and I assumed the worst. He came to ask for my permission. I should have let him explain. Oh no! I accused him. I hurt him in the painful way possible. I knew he took me as his sister and I used that against him. I told him I hated him. I'm so despicable. So heartless. I broke his heart while he was trying to mend mine. I threw at his face the hope he offered to me on a silver platter. I have to go back. I have to apologize. I just pray he forgives me. I have to make things right. With a new sense of purpose, I stood up and tried tracing my path home. Everything looked the same. I went around in circles for a while until I realized something. I'm lost. Wonderful. I couldn't find my way back. Congratulations Alina, you are an idiot. I mean that sarcastically.

*  *  *  *  *

Edward's pov

Castor and I have been searching for Alina since sun rise but so far, we have gotten nowhere. I tried tracing my path from where I last saw her. Castor squatted to examine something on the ground. He was beginning to feel frustrated. I mean who wouldn't be? It's been hours. Castor is a master tracker yet he couldn't find anything. It's as if the whole trail disappeared.
After a while, Castor called out
"I found something"
I ran to where he was bent. He continued "Its very faint and would have been missed if you didn't have a skilled and handsome tracker like me"
That's the thing with Castor. His ego is the size of an entire planet. Only he can make a joke at a serious time like this. I shook my head and followed him closely when he started moving. I made sure to stay behind him so I don't accidentally step on or erase anything that'll give us a clue.
We kept walking for a long time. Sometimes Castor will squat and study the ground then continue walking. He took off running. I took off after him. Suddenly he stopped and motioned for me to keep quiet.
He crouched down and motioned for me to do the same. Then in a low voice, almost a whisper, he said
"I feel danger. My senses tells me there is someone else here. There's a negative vibe in the air"
I immediately went on alert. Castor's instincts are never wrong. I looked around and saw an unusual colour. I nudged Castor and pointed it to him. He looked and caught sight of it. He looked at me and nodded towards it. Together, still staying low, we made our way quietly towards it. When we got close, my breath got caught and I put out a hand to stop Castor. We were close enough to recognize what we thought was an object as a woman. Her back was to us so she couldn't see us. I looked at her again and something juggled my memory. I had a flashback about a face with similar features as this woman. Fear caught in my throat and I gasped. He looked at me inquisitive but I couldn't reply. I signalled for us to go back immediately. He didn't like it but he trusted me enough to follow me. I could tell he was dying to ask me questions but now was not the time. We need to get to safety first. We got a few meters and we looked around if it was safe to talk. When assured ourselves it is, Castor turned to me and asked albeit in a very low voice
"What's going on? Why did you say we should leave there? Did you recognize her? Isn't that Alina?"
I shook my head and replied him.
"Oh that's definitely not Alina"
My chest was pounding. It was like reliving old memories. Soon I summoned courage and looked up at him. Castor studied me and asked softly "Then who is she Edward?"
I took a deep breath and told him.
  "Alice"

Suspense! Don't hate me. Please do me a favour by clicking on the star button below.