His Dark Obsession

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.

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 s*ips. 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 f*ck. “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 be. She’s dead…

“This woman is f*cking dead. What the f*ck 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 f*cking 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 f*cking tournament which I’m certain that it isn’t, it means Evangeline is in danger. Somewhere.

I shift again heading back out. She can’t be in here… I just needed confirmation. Do! keep looking or do I leave the forest? Something else is going on here and it’s f*cking getting to me.

the trees makes me pause and I’m about to launch myself at whatever it is, when two guards come

Prince Zedkiel! An urgent message from the King!” They say, lowering their heads. Their hearts are beating extremely fast, and I can tell

them, hating the fact that the mind

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

thought phones weren’t

and… Evangeline is the one who should have been there. Something has gone wrong, we have sent a team

I hiss venomously, trying not

don’t know how this happened, she was simply meant to be taken to the

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

the training fields. This was a well-planned game. I’m sorry and we will find her, I

Someone did this… and

–

that caught her at any time of the day, up

snarl. “I’m coming

crushing the phone in my hand as I turn and head back towards the castle. I will search from there. There are guards everywhere around the

one seeing her

get back to the castle in record time, pulling on my sweatpants and heading straight to the security

I can’t breathe properly. There’s a discomfort in my chest

open the door. The room falls silent, and I notice

“Son, calm down-”

tell me 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 up, but Dad

attention.” Aeron says, looking concerned. He can stop f*cking pretending. He didn’t seem to care

go of Dad and pushing aside one of the men as I look at the screen that Aeron is

be escorted to the forest, she went into the bathroom. The two guards waited down the hall for her, just out of range of the cameras… however a woman in a hoodie

but when I observe closer, I feel that she is slightly taller, and her

stare at the screen. “There’s no maybe, anyone can tell that’s not Evangeline, she doesn’t even 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 and I can tell you

Franco tries,

to find her.” I growl. “The girl in the

walk down

tell from

know what happened at the

blisters through me like an inferno and I grab his collar, slamming him into the table. “Don’t antagonise me because I will kill you.”

must find her somewhere.” I command. “I’m going to try to see if I can catch her

from the north hallway… I’ll start there. I’m feeling worse,

around me.

place to catch her scent would be from

to, but for now, finding her is my priority. What

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 away and I’m heading deeper

head lower but I can smell it now, her scent as well as two others that I don’t recognise, but it suddenly just