Chapter Seventy-Nine
James’ Point of View:
Drew, on the other hand, was someone who would not let the bottle leave his hand. If not for that, he looked like a cool dude too, but I could not trust anyone in this room, as trust should not be based on physical appearance or psychology.
After the story, Veronica told everyone in the room. Everyone seemed shaken by it, the room became tense and silent, more like everyone was lost in thoughts.
I began to understand why Fiona was the way she was sometimes, she seemed to be out of this world when she would get lost in the middle of the conversation. This explained all of that.
I decided to call Eleanor and tell her what was going on and apologize for the way I had left earlier.
I know she must be worried about us, and I did not help matters with the way that I left.
I had thought that she was chicken-hearted and selfish for not going with Kira and Tristan or, rather, I was blinded by my jealousy that Fiona was saved by Tristan and not me.
He seemed to make up for all the things that I could not be and everything that I wished to be.
I wish I had told Fiona about my feelings earlier, but this may not be the right time.
I guess I did not take it seriously until I had seen a competitor in sight. I should have gone for what I wanted when I had the chance.
Eleanor’s Point of View:
I let out a loud side of relief when I found out it was James that was calling me. I had tried to reach him earlier, but he had not answered the phone. I worried about what could have gone wrong and picked up the phone.
“Hello James, how are you guys? Please, tell me you found her,” I begged.
“Yes, I did, and we are fine,” he answered.
I swear I could feel a smile pass his stout lips when he sensed my nervousness.
“Thank goodness. I was worried that you would not answer the phone,” I said.
“How is she?” I asked.
“Well, what I cannot say for now. She would not even look at me and I felt awful. A lot of things have happened to her, and I cannot find a way to reach her,” he said, sighing.
“I wish there was something I could do. I hate to think and say that you would have been a better help than I am right now,” he added. I did not like to see James like this, he was in a bad place.
“Turns out that she is indeed a princess like you and a lot of random things happened to her to be here,” he just seemed to talk without stopping. James talking and saying everything all at once bothered me. I had never seen him this way.
“She just found out her real mother died, and I cannot even find a way to console her,” he said sadly.
This crushed me. How could she handle such pain? God, she was too young for all the things she was experiencing in one day.
“I would die if I found myself in that situation,” I thought. She needed some peace and space.
“Do you want me to come over?” I wanted to see if there was any way I could help.
“No, no, no, Eleanor. It is too dangerous here” he replied hastily.
“Do you want me to just stay at home and do nothing while you and Fiona are out there being hunted?”
“What if we decide to involve the police? Maybe they could help,” I added.
“No, Eleanor. No, please. This is beyond even the police,” he said.
“If we can do this, we will be fine,” he assured.
“It is just that everyone here seems to have a destiny attached to the princess, and I am the only one here who has not found mine or a reason yet.”
I did not know what to say to make things feel better for James.
“I guess I would just pray. Have you told your parents?” I asked.
“I did not want them to be worried, so I told them that I would be spending the night with a friend,” he replied.
“You expect to come back tomorrow morning?” I asked, surprised. I am sure that he had not encountered the creatures we had earlier in the day. He sounded so sure.
“Hopefully yes,” he answered.
“Please keep me updated on any new advancements,” I added.
“Will do, do take care of yourself.”
“You, too. Take care of you and Fiona. I wish I had been there. Tell Fiona I love her, and I am sending a lot of hugs from here.
“Sure, thank you. Bye.”
“Talk to you later.”
Veronica’s Point of View:
I was expecting Fiona to say something, anything at all, insult me, curse me. She just said something to me, but she was silent and had her back turned to me. That hurt me more, for silence was worse and meant more trouble.
I wanted a reaction, I needed a reaction, I deserved it, and I was not going to hide from it or pretend that I had any reason to justify what I had done, but she was silent, she was very silent, too silent, if I must add, and that aggravated me.
I tried to read it from her face to see if I could get something from her facial expressions or watch her body movement, but there was nothing, nothing at all.
It seemed like she was deadpan, numb to emotions. How could one hide emotions? How could such a young one throw me off balance this much?
Every day, every other day after that incident, I have regretted my actions.
I was young and naive, and I sure know that was not enough reason for what I did.
I thought I could get redemption by helping Annabelle take Thomas, raising him like my son and one of my blood, but in that part, too, I have failed and woefully.
It was like karma had decided to punish me, and my nemesis had caught up with me. People were right after all, “the universe never forgets”. It always finds a way to repay your debts.
Everything was beginning to fall into place and make sense now. Whoever it was that had abducted Thomas had thought that he was the only surviving heir.