We sit quietly in the car as the driver tries many times to start a conversation. It's not that I'm rude, really, it's just that, Raul never allowed me to talk to other guys except him, Stefano and Wallace. And besides, I was thinking about what Jenna and Mom just told me. Most importantly what Raul said in his letter. Immediately I alight, I head straight to mom's room, but the room was locked.
"What are you looking for princess?" Regan asked me
"I want to see my mother. Is that a crime?" I ask her.
She notices that I was angry and raised an eyebrow. I think she got suspicious.
"Sorry Regan, it happens when I'm about to get my periods. Sorry." I say faking an apologetic tone.
She bought it and smiled at me as I walked away. I headed to my room but as I walked in, I felt the unmistakable feeling of being watched. I cautiously walked I side the shower, had a quick bath and dressed less cautiously, because I knew that if I showed any suspicion, he would know I was on to him. Being honest though, it creeped me out to the core. As I got to bed that night, I couldn't help but pray to God that the night ends so that I can go back to Raul tomorrow night.
**********************************************
It has been three hours now since I crawled into bed but although my eyes are shut I can't sleep. I decided to get out of bed and head down to the kitchen to get something to eat. Before I make a move, my door opens and I remain stiff in place. Suddenly, I hear controlled footsteps and and a familiar cologne hit my nose. Seth.
He sits beside me and runs his hand through my hair.
"You really are beautiful Iris. It's so unfair though, that good people end up in bad hands like Raul's. Do you know, he was the one who killed his wife, because she spoke against his mom. He didn't even hear her out. She had a good explanation for it but he didn't want to hear. She was my sister. My plan was to kill Raul, but then I realized, that death was too good for him. So I thought to kill you instead. But then the day you ran away, I realized that there was something that would give him more agony, was looking for you knowing that you were around, but not with him. You should have seen him. He was so devastated. That was when I realized, that the best way was to keep you away from him for good, but when you are alive. It was pretty thought out, until of course I saw you, and just like Raul, I fell so hard and now I can't get you out of my thoughts. Whatever witchcraft you do to men, that is powerful.With a woman like you by my side, then I will be happy forever." He says, petting my hair. I purr and he lowers his head and smelt my neck.
"I can just imagine," he says softly rolling my hair in his fist thrice, "When I grab your hair, pull your head back wrap my fingers around your delicate neck and whisper in your ear with a hoarse voice, "Say my name." and you moan my name ever so sweetly. But no worries, all of that will become a reality. Very soon. After tomorrow noon, my name is the only name that you will want to hear." he says, kisses my forehead and leaves.
The horror.
So he was playing me all along? I was so angry at him, I wanted to push a dagger through his heart and watch the life drain out of his eyes. But then his reason was sincere. Now that was another thing that scared the hell out of me. The fact that Raul butchered his wife because of something as silly as arguing with his mom was scary.
But wait. Raul could not do something like that. I can't believe a liar's word over my own husband. But as much as I told myself that, part of me still though that Seth was right.
I felt a strong urge to call Raul right away and ask him about it. But then I knew it wasn't wise. So I just stayed in bed, lost in thought, waiting for the next day. I wasn't going to let Seth take me away from Raul.
**********************************************
We are all at the dinning table but this time I am seated next to mom.
"Well, Iris, I want to take you..." Seth started but I interrupted.
"This is my last day here before I go home, so I was hoping I would stay here with mom for a while, then you can take me wherever till around 3. Hope that's okay?" I ask.
Seth and Regan exchange looks and then Seth nods. I hug him tightly with the hopes of crushing him, but he was in over his head and took it romantically. I pulled away and took mom out with her wheelchair. Since Seth's land was big, I took mom to the middle of the garden.
"Mom, it's okay you can talk to me now. They are all away." I whispered to her.
But she just looked at me. I stared right back at her and I saw a fear. She then looked at her wheelchair. That was when I noticed a small recorder.
"Of you remove it it will set off an alarm." she lip said to me.
"Okay. Now please tell me, who Seth really is, and what had really happened to you."
"Back then, me and your father worked as undercover for Accardi at Rosa Roja. One day, we were about to expose the major mole that Rosa Roja had sent to Raul, who was his wife. But before we could, they got to us. You and your brother escaped but not for long. When they captured me, they tracked your brother down, but then Stefano saved him and raised him. Sadly, he was out for vengeance and was so deep into it, he made a deathly mistake of raiding the Rosa Roja alone. The mistake cost him his life and then, to intrude the Accardi Familgia, He had surgery done to look like Seth to take revenge for his sister. Now, he wants to use you to make Raul suffer. You have to go away from here." she says.
"What, and leave you here, alone?" I asked.
"I will only drag you down. They will kill me either way. And they are here now." she says in a loud tone, which surprised me.
Just then Regan walks out from behind a bush.
"Seems like we don't need you anymore." she tells mom, and shoots her between her eyes. I watch in as the life drains from mother's eyes. I feel my heart sink. Just when I found her I felt my heart slow down, and my chest start closing in. I was getting an attack, so it was hard to resist Regan as she effortlessly carried my on her arms, taking me back to the compound. She laid me on the soft grass as she puffed my inhaler into me.
After a while, I regained composure and I was met with Seth's evil smile. Or at least the impersonator claiming to be Seth and it angered me so much, I was shaking.
"I'm sorry you had to see that princess. But it was bound to happen. And you are coming with me." Just as he was about to move, we heard gunshots and some familiar cars pulled over. I recognize them from the day they came for me at the church. All of Seth's men were down and Regan laid unconscious on the ground. Out of the car stood someone somewhat unexpected. It was Wallace. I looked around to see if I could find Raul, but he was not around. I felt disappointed but then I hid it with a smile as Wallace as he released a deadly aura. He was pissed.
"I'm the only one who calls her princess." he says and shoots Seth in the middle of his eyes. I ran and jumped in him so hard he almost fell. I then kissed his cheek and turned to face Seth's impersonator. I felt relief as the life drained out from his eyes. Wallace caries me carefully into the car and lays me down slowly on the seats.
"Where is Raul?" I asked.
"He couldn't come. He is slowly loosing his sanity since you left." he says sadly.
"Oh." I sigh.
"Anyway, tell me about your experience." he says.
I go on and on about how my days were, but then I realized that we were not heading home.
"Why are we heading home?" I ask, as a strange feeling of something being wrong washed over me.
"I'm sorry Princess." Wallace says, as he puts a handkerchief on my nose. My image blurs and I couldn't help but shed a tear imagining that I am being betrayed for the second time now, by men that I trusted.
"Why?" I ask as I slip into unconsciousness .