Time is Running Out

Chapter 29

The only thing Rachel was thinking of was that now that she was watching closely, Xana resembled her mother in many ways. Her stone-grey eyes were the exact colour of Queen Rachella of Tenala's. Queen Rachella was distinctive in the way that her body was long and slender, and now that Rachel looked, Xana's body had the exact same build.

Under all the dirt and dried blood, Rachel could see that Xana was pale like her mother, skin glowing almost exactly the same sheen. Xana's pale face gleamed in the moonlight, and it was with graceful long steps that she ran.

Rachel suddenly realized that Xana's dark hair was dyed, and under the black she could see light blonde-- her mother's hair.

It was exactly the same shade. Pale gold, almost white in the moonlight, and now that the hair-ribbon tying it up had been lost, framing her face in long blonde strands. It looked perfect in Rachel's eyes. Ghostly in the white light, the black was beginning to disappear.

Rachel suddenly remembered what Emma's sister, being a knowledgeable artist, had once told her. This is the Moonshine flower. The petals grinded together gives a beautiful black, the only downside is it fades under the moonlight. That must be what Xana used to dye her hair.

In fact, Xana and Queen Rachella could for all be the same person.

No.

Xana's muscles were more prominent than Rachella's thin form, and she was so much faster.

Rachel was now right behind Xana. She kept staring at Xana, mesmerized by both Xana's grace and beauty and the resemblance between Queen Rachella and Xana.

It seemed like Queen Rachella had died and that Xana was her ghost: for both Xana's skin and hair were even paler than Queen Rachella's.

No. It was just her foolish mind; she was not dead.

But then that would mean that Xana was Queen Rachella's sister. Queen Rachella had never even mentioned having a sister. Rachel had found out one day while reading old newspapers in the palace during holidays (by that time Queen Rachella had already told her to read lots of newspapers) but she never thought she would meet Xana.

Countess Mirabella Missing

Queen Rachella Clementine Elena Maggie Chica Arden of Tenala's younger sister, Countess Mirabella Xana Clara Kagan Viona Arden is missing. She was found not in her bed one night at the palace of Tenala when Queen Rachella went to ask if Countess Mirabella wanted to play a game of chess. The relatives of Countess Mirabella are devastated-- Queen Rachella of Tenala, King George of Tenala, Queen Rachella's mother Livia Hazxin Glirit, Queen Rachella's father Gregory Glirit, King George's mother the retired queen Grena Lezzia Arden, King George's father the retired King George Jack Arden etc.

Rachel had screamed and ran to find her mother Queen Rachella.

Queen Rachella had patiently explained to Rachel, "I'm sorry, Rach. I did not want to upset you, I thought you would be ever so upset when you knew I had a missing sister..."

Now, Rachel wondered if it was for a different reason. Could it be... that Queen Rachella knew Xana had run away?