Glistened
"Alice...Alice,"
A voice called his name, startling him awake, his eyes opening wide, filled with fear and unease.
The dim room made it difficult for him to see who had called out to him, his vision slowly adjusting to the darkness.
"Who?" Alice croaked, his throat dry and painful, the words barely escaping his lips.
"It's me, Maya,"
Alice glanced beside him, seeing Maya's concerned expression, and sighed with relief, grateful for her presence.
Never before had he imagined feeling so comforted by this old lady's presence or needing someone's help to protect the person he cherished most.
But in this abnormal world, surrounded by the woods, any supernatural creature could strike at any moment.
He might be able to fend off wild animals, but fighting werewolves or similar creatures was nearly impossible.
As he attempted to move, pain coursed through his body. He looked to the other side of the bed, realizing Alisha was gone.
When had she slipped away? How could he have slept so deeply, knowing the dangers that lurked for Alisha?
"You hear me?" Maya repeated, noticing Alice's lack of response, expecting at least a glare or a few words from him.
When Alisha had called her earlier, informing her about Alice's attack and the people pursuing her, Maya couldn't comprehend the situation.
Only their trusted circle knew the truth, so how could anyone attack Alisha without knowing about her royal blood? Someone must have obtained this dangerous information.
"Yes, I can. Where is Alisha?" Alice asked anxiously, remembering that Alisha had slept beside him, and now she was gone, his nerves on edge.
"She opened the door for us and is in the living room. It's already morning. I arrived last night, but Alisha said you were badly injured and needed rest," Maya replied. "Levi, Rish, Jackson, and Elk are all in the living room."
"Oh," Alice breathed, relieved that Alisha was safe, but angry with himself for not noticing her absence during the night.
How careless could he be, especially in such a serious situation?
"Do you need anything?" Maya asked, scanning his injuries, not pleased with his condition but somewhat relieved that the attack had targeted him instead of Alisha.
She knew her thoughts were selfish, but it was the undeniable truth.
Alice shook his head, indicating he didn't need anything at the moment. His mind was preoccupied with the events that had transpired and the looming threat to Alisha's safety.
"I need to see Alisha," he said, attempting to sit up, but the pain in his body forced him back down onto the bed.
Maya placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You need to rest, Alice. Your injuries are severe, and moving around will only make them worse."
"But Alisha..." Alice protested, his voice laced with concern and frustration.
"She's safe with us," Maya assured him. "Levi and the others are with her, and they won't let anything happen to her."
Alice closed his eyes, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He knew Maya was right, but the urge to be by Alisha's side, to protect her, was overwhelming.
"How did they find out about her?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Maya sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know, but we'll figure it out. For now, we need to focus on keeping her safe and helping you recover."
Alice nodded, reluctantly accepting the situation. He knew he couldn't do much in his current state, and he had to trust that the others would keep Alisha out of harm's way.
"Tell me if anything happens," he said, looking directly into Maya's eyes. "I need to know."
"Of course," Maya replied, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Now, get some rest. I'll check on you later."
Alice stared at the ceiling, his mind consumed with thoughts. "No, wait."
"Yes? Tell me," Maya stopped in her tracks when she heard Alice's words.
"Did Alisha mention that the woman assassin whistled for something before she jumped away?" he asked.
"She did, but since she wasn't with you, she couldn't explain everything in detail. However, she did tell me most of it, I think.”
Alice's brows furrowed as he tried to recall the details of the attack. "The assassin whistled, and I think it was a signal for something or someone. We need to be extra cautious."
Maya nodded, her expression grave. "I'll make sure everyone is on high alert. If there are more of them out there, we can't afford to let our guard down."
"I have a feeling this is just the beginning," Alice said, his voice low and serious. "Whoever is behind this won't stop until they get what they want."
"And what do you think they want?" Maya asked, although she already had her suspicions.
"Alisha," Alice answered without hesitation. "They want her for her royal blood, for the power it holds. We can't let them have her."
Maya's eyes narrowed, a fierce determination settling over her features. "We won't. We'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe."
"I need to talk to her," Alice said, once again attempting to sit up, but the pain forced him back down.
“I will bring her here,” Maya assured. "But you need to promise me you'll rest and not overexert yourself. You're no good to Alisha if you don't heal properly."
Alice sighed, knowing Maya was right. "I promise. Just let me see her.”
Maya gave him a reassuring smile. "Let me go get Alisha. She's been worried sick about you."
As Maya left the room, Alice closed his eyes, trying to piece together the fragments of information they had. The assassin's whistle, the mysterious forces at play, and the looming threat to Alisha's life – it all swirled in his mind, a complex puzzle he was determined to solve.
Moments later, Alisha entered the room, her eyes filled with concern as she rushed to Alice's bedside. She gently took his hand in hers, her touch warm and comforting.
"Alice, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I shouldn't have left you alone last night. I should have been there when you woke up."
Alice shook his head, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "It's not your fault, Alisha. You did the right thing by staying with the others. Your safety is what matters most."
Alisha's eyes glistened with tears. "But you got hurt because of me. Because of who I am."
“That doesn't matter," Alice said, his voice filled with conviction. "I will always protect you, no matter the cost."
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