His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse

49. Against Time

ZEDKIEL.

I shifted the moment I left the castle. The urge to crush the camera entices me, but instead, I hang the strap around my neck and bundle my clothes together before breaking into a run. 1

I’ll find her and if anything has happened to her… The forest is dangerous and it’s not somewhere I want Evangeline alone.

I try not to think of the worst. Obviously, they will have people posted there, but still. It’s over an hour later and I reach the forest, trying to catch her scent. I ran as fast as I could and although I made it here at record speed; I’m beginning to feel extremely uneasy.

There’s nothing…

I’ve been here countless times; I know where all the store cabins are, and any houses located in the area. I’ll check them all out. With each passing hour, my restlessness is growing. I need blood, but at the same time, I can’t shake off the growing unease. Am I overreacting?

I finally reach the deepest part of the forest and approach the small cabin that sits in the middle. I slam into the door, ripping it from its hinges in my anger as I glare into the room. For a moment, my heart skips a beat, and my gaze falls on the top that she had worn that morning, but it’s only for a split second because I realise that it’s not her.

This woman may have similarly styled black hair and may be wearing the same outfit- is the same build and Evangeline’s scent lingers on them, but it’s not Evangeline.

She’s sitting on the armchair, her back to me and I storm over.

“Where is she?” I growl into the extremely silent room.

Was this all for nothing? I have just reached the woman, grabbing her arm, when I tense – realising what is missing in the quiet room.

In my rage, I hadn’t realised that there is no heartbeat.

I shift back, crouching in front of the woman, her head is tilted sideways, and she’s staring ahead. Her mouth is parted and there’s foam at the corners of it.

She’s dead.

“What the fuck…” I mutter. I check her pulse, but there isn’t one.

For a second, I wonder if this is all part of the twisted games, but then I realise it can’t

She’s dead…

“This woman is fucking dead. What the fuck are you lot playing at?” I snarl knowing they can hear me through the camera. “Where is Evangeline!”

I hope they find a way to reach me, because I fucking need an answer.

I look at the woman. She’s still warm, meaning she died recently… but this means Evangeline is out there somewhere else.

My stomach twists, and my eyes blaze red as I leave the cabin, growling in rage. I need to talk to someone right now. Something isn’t right and if this isn’t part of the fucking tournament which I’m certain that it isn’t, it means Evangeline is in danger. Somewhere.

confirmation. Do I keep looking or do I leave the forest? Something else is going on here and it’s

pause and I’m about to launch myself at whatever it is, when two guards come running out and it takes my all not to kill

Zedkiel! An urgent message from the King!”

hearts are beating extremely fast, and I can tell they have come as fast

human form, I glare at them, hating the fact that

hold the phone out to me and I take it. They hurry off and I’m

weren’t allowed in this

have been there. Something has gone

she’s missing?” I hiss venomously, trying not to lose

Zedkiel, I don’t know how this happened, she was simply meant to

for escorting her!” I hiss. “I want them

Zedkiel. We found them in the training fields. This was a well-planned game. I’m sorry and we will find her, I promise you

this… and when I

footage – any that caught her at any time of the day, up until she went missing.” I snarl. “I’m coming back.”

head back towards the castle. I will search from there. There are guards everywhere around the castle. She can’t have gotten out without no one seeing her.

on my sweatpants and heading straight to the security department. I

as if I can’t

room falls silent, and I notice Dad,

“Son, calm down-”

to calm down when my woman is missing!” I hiss venomously, grabbing him by the collar. Everyone tenses and a few of the guards get

concerned. He can stop fucking pretending. He didn’t seem to care when

up to

letting go of Dad and pushing aside one of the men as I look at the screen

in a hoodie comes out first, we think perhaps it’s Evangeline and she had changed clothing… As you can see, a short while later Evangeline comes out, but when I observe closer, I feel that she is slightly taller, and her physique

walk the same way, nor does she look like Evangeline from the back… She’s the woman in the woods.” I scoff, looking at him. “I’ve known her for far less time

Franco tries, but I cut him off.

I need to find her.” I growl. “The girl in the hoodie. Is she seen anywhere in any of the surveillance footage after this moment?” I

tell from the

all know what happened at the ball when she was

my lips, tearing through the room as white-hot rage blisters. through me like an inferno and I grab his collar, slamming him into the table. “Don’t antagonise me because

I command. “I’m going to try to

screen. She had gone right from the north hallway… I’ll start there. I’m feeling worse, and I take a few deep breaths, trying to get

place to catch her scent

her is my priority. What if she’s hurt? If something happens to her… My

it, the faintest hint of her scent. My eyes flash and I slowly follow it. At times, I can barely catch it, but I follow it. Soon the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the castle fade

speed up scanning the rooms that are all locked and bolted. I head lower but I can smell it now, her scent as well as two others that I

calm it. I already feel weak and it’s

maybe

“Evangeline!”