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Chapter 7 : The Pursuit Of Revenge
Valerius entered Amelia's room exactly thirty minutes after she had left the estate, his face a carefully composed mask of control. He moved with an air of certainty, carrying a secret that had weighed on him for years—a truth he had shielded not only from Amelia but also from himself at times. Tonight, he had finally decided to confront it, believing that revealing it could shift the delicate balance between them. He had practiced the words in his mind, carefully shaping each one to convey what he hoped would bridge the widening chasm between them.
Yet, as he stepped into the room, the atmosphere struck him like a phantom presence. The stillness was unnatural. His sharp eyes immediately took in the details—the neatly made bed, the curtains pulled back to reveal a canvas of stars, and the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air. Everything seemed pristine, untouched, almost as if Amelia had been swallowed whole by the silence.
Then, his gaze fell upon the open window. The thin fabric of the curtains billowed gently in the cool night breeze, their rhythmic dance filling the room with a sense of unease. Valerius stiffened, a flicker of suspicion sparking in his chest. The open window was a detail too glaring to ignore, its implications gnawing at his carefully maintained composure.
Across the room, sitting quietly in a chair near the fireplace, was Elira. The little girl's small frame was hunched forward, her doll clutched tightly to her chest as if it were her last line of defense. Valerius's sharp instincts immediately registered that something was wrong. Her usual lively demeanor had been replaced by an unnatural stillness, her posture a study in tension.
"Elira," Valerius called, his voice calm but edged with authority.
The child flinched at the sound of his voice. Slowly, hesitantly, she turned her head, her wide, frightened eyes meeting his. Her face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together as if she were holding back words—or tears. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her small hands gripping the doll with such force that her knuckles turned white.
Valerius took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "Where is Amelia?" he asked, his tone quiet but demanding an answer.
Elira's lower lip trembled, and she averted her gaze, staring down at her doll. "She… she left," she mumbled, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the stillness of the room.
Valerius frowned, the flicker of unease growing into a flame. "Left?" he repeated, his voice sharpening. "What do you mean, she left? Where did she go?"
Elira hugged her doll even tighter, her small body curling inward as though she wished to vanish into the chair. "I don't know," she said, her voice trembling. "I saw her climb out the window… She didn't say anything."
The girl's voice cracked, and a single tear slid down her cheek. Valerius studied her closely, his sharp gaze searching for any hint of deception. But what he saw in her tearful eyes and trembling hands was not defiance—it was fear.
He knelt before her, his expression softening slightly as he lowered his voice. "Elira," he said gently, "if you know where she went, you must tell me. I only want to help her."
The little girl shook her head vehemently, her hair falling into her face. "I don't know," she whispered. "I don't know where she went. She… she just left."
Valerius exhaled slowly, rising to his full height. Her words held an unmistakable ring of truth, but they did little to ease the storm of questions raging in his mind. Why had Amelia left without a word? What could have driven her to slip away into the night like a fugitive?
His gaze shifted back to the open window, the breeze ruffling the curtains as if mocking his inability to control the situation. He turned toward the door, his steps firm and deliberate as he called for the guards stationed nearby.
"Search the estate and the surrounding forest," he ordered, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. "No path is to be left unchecked. Find her and bring her back unharmed."
The guards saluted and moved swiftly to carry out his command. Valerius lingered in the room for a moment longer, his eyes once again falling on Elira. The little girl looked smaller than ever, her shoulders trembling as she tried to stifle her tears.
He placed a hand on her head, a rare gesture of comfort from a man who rarely allowed himself such vulnerability. "Stay here," he said firmly. "I'll bring her back."
As he strode from the room, the weight of his unresolved secret bore down on him. Amelia's absence was more than an inconvenience—it was a threat. Whatever had compelled her to flee could unravel everything he had so carefully constructed. But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside. He would find her. He had to.
Meanwhile, the night stretched on, and the forest beyond the estate swallowed Amelia whole, its shadowed paths offering her both refuge and peril.
Amelia ran through the dense woods, the cool night air whipping past her face as her heart pounded in her chest. She could hear the crunch of leaves beneath her boots, the rustle of branches overhead, and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Her lungs burned with each labored breath, but she refused to stop.
The forest around her was vast and unfamiliar, a maze of towering trees and thick underbrush. Moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Every step felt like a battle against exhaustion and fear, but she pushed forward, clutching the scroll tucked securely in her waistband.
She had no time to waste. The knowledge of the Spider Weed plant—the key to her transformation and vengeance—burned in her mind. Each step she took brought her closer to her goal, closer to the power she needed to destroy Valerius and everything he held dear.
Her thoughts briefly turned to Elira, the little girl she had left behind. Guilt tugged at her heart, but she shoved it aside. There was no room for hesitation. If she succeeded, she could protect Elira from Valerius's manipulative grasp once and for all.
Branches snagged at her dress, tearing the fabric as she barreled through the undergrowth. Her legs ached, and her breaths came in shallow gasps, but still, she ran. Minutes stretched into eternity as her body screamed for relief, but she ignored the pain.
Finally, after what felt like hours, her legs gave out. She stumbled forward and collapsed onto the forest floor, her hands digging into the cool, damp earth.
Amelia lay there, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Sweat trickled down her face, mixing with the dirt and leaves that clung to her skin. The world around her spun, and for a moment, she thought she might pass out.
She rolled onto her back, staring up at the canopy of trees. The moonlight peeked through the leaves, illuminating her tear-streaked face. Her body ached, but her resolve remained unshaken.
She couldn't stop now. She wouldn't stop. Amelia closed her eyes, letting the cool night air soothe her burning lungs. She could hear the faint sound of a stream nearby, its gentle flow a stark contrast to the storm raging within her.
"I'll find it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'll find the Spider Weed. And I'll make him pay."
The memory of Valerius's smug face, his cruel words, burned in her mind like a brand. Her love for him had turned to ash, replaced by a hatred so fierce it consumed her. She would not rest until she had avenged Kaelen, until she had destroyed Valerius and everything he cherished.
Amelia clenched her fists, her nails digging into the dirt. The forest seemed to echo her silent vow, the rustle of leaves and distant calls of animals bearing witness to her determination.
With renewed resolve, she sat up, brushing the dirt from her hands. She would rest for a moment, just long enough to regain her strength, before continuing her journey. The Spider Weed was out there, waiting for her. And she would find it—no matter the cost.