The garden grew silent as the guards fanned out, their footsteps muffled by the lush foliage. I stood perfectly still, straining my senses to detect even the slightest disturbance in the air.
Where was she? How could she have vanished so completely, leaving no trace behind?
Dante's voice rumbled in my mind, tinged with a hint of unease. "Be cautious, Damien. There is more at play here than mere human abilities. Something...ancient, and powerful."
I knew he was right. The woman I pursued was no ordinary mortal - that much was now clear. But what could she be, if not human?
As I contemplated this unsettling revelation, a sudden movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I whirled around, heart racing, only to find her there, standing amidst the rose bushes.
"You," I breathed, the word falling from my lips like a sigh of relief. "At last."
She stared at me, eyes wide with a strange mix of fear and something else. Before I could take another step, she swayed on her feet, her face draining of color.
In an instant, I surged forward, catching her as she crumpled to the ground. She was limp in my arms, her breathing shallow.
"Guards!" I shouted, my voice laced with alarm. "Summon a physician at once!"
Gently, I cradled the woman's unconscious form, my heart pounding with a mix of worry and confusion. What had caused her to faint so suddenly?
As Rowan and the others came rushing to my side, I knew I had to get her to safety, to tend to her needs. This woman, whoever she was, had clearly been pushed to her limits.
And I would see to it that she was cared for, no matter the cost. For in that moment, all thoughts of interrogation and answers had fled my mind. All that mattered was ensuring her well-being.
With a newfound determination, I gathered her into my arms and began making my way back towards the palace, my orders ringing out sharply. "Hurry! We must get her to the medical wing at once!"
The guards fell into step beside me, their faces etched with concern. As we rushed through the garden, I spared a glance down at the woman's pale features, silently vowing to uncover the truth - but only once she was safe.