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.

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

heads. Their hearts are

glare at them, hating the fact that

hold the phone out to me and I take

I thought phones weren’t allowed

“Zedkiel… we saw you through the camera and… Evangeline is the one who should have been there. Something has gone wrong, we have sent a team out to

I hiss venomously, trying

this happened,

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

fields. This was a well-planned game. I’m sorry and we will find her, I promise you that.” Dad’s voice

did this… and

–

that caught her at any time

“I’m coming

turn and head back towards the castle. I will search from there.

one seeing her

my sweatpants and heading straight to the

to the castle when I suddenly feel as if I can’t

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

“Son, calm down-”

down when my woman is missing!” I hiss venomously, grabbing him by

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

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

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

later Evangeline comes out, but when I observe closer, I feel that she is slightly taller,

Evangeline from the back… She’s the woman in the woods.” I scoff, looking at him. “I’ve known

“Someone planned this-” Franco tries, but I cut

in the hoodie. Is she seen anywhere in any of the surveillance footage

walk down the

can tell from the sway of her

“Perhaps she escaped.” Franco muses. “We all know what happened at the ball when she was given to you. She wanted

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 will kill you.” | hiss, ready to rip him to shreds. I throw him to the

time of this video. We must find her somewhere.” I command. “I’m going to try to see if I can

when I look back at the 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 rid of the odd feeling that is

around me.

Leaving the room, I jog down the hall. The best place to catch her scent would

is behind this? Those are questions I will find the answer to, but for now, finding her is my priority. What if she’s hurt? If something happens to her… My stomach twists and I push the thought away, reaching

since. I close my eyes trying to capture her scent. It’s a few moments before I smell 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

scanning the rooms that are all locked and bolted I head lower but I