AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
The castle's corridors lay dark and silent as Michael, Terrence, Isabella, and I burst out into the chill night. I couldn't shake the feeling that every moment without her was a betrayal of everything I cherished. We pushed deeper into the forest until the familiar sounds of the castle faded into distant echoes.
Suddenly, in a moonlit clearing, we stopped dead in our tracks. There, striding calmly through the silver beams of light, was a magnificent white wolf. Its coat was pure as snow, and it moved with an effortless grace that belied the tension of the night. My breath caught this had to be her.
"Is that… Wanessa?" Michael whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"I knew it. That's her. Look at her so free."Terrence said.
Isabella, ever hovered yet uncharacteristically sad, stepped closer.
"I didn't expect her to be so… at peace out here." She said, her tone laced with regret.
I couldn't tear my gaze away. The white wolf paused, its head tilting as if sensing our presence. For a long, charged moment, the creature's deep, soulful eyes met mine. Then, almost imperceptibly, the wolf continued on its path through the clearing, as if it were following a silent invitation to disappear into the forest's depths.
"Wanessa's gone again." I muttered bitterly.
My anger flared not just at her flight, but at the helplessness that clawed at me. I knew in my heart that she was trying to escape everything the expectations, the constant presence of the princes, and even Isabella's intrusive attempts to comfort her.
"Xavier, wait!" Isabella called out, but her voice was swallowed by the whispering wind among the trees.
My mind raced with memories of all the times I'd begged her to stay, to let me protect her. Now, seeing her in that serene, wild state, I was torn between admiration and excruciating frustration. I wanted to run after her, to pull her back into our lives where I could hold her close.
"I have to find her." I vowed to myself, voice low and determined. "No matter how far she runs, I won't let her disappear."
I decided to go after alone since my brothers were more interested into Isabella than a Wanessa. The forest was quiet, almost too quiet as I let Wanessa be alone for a moment. I could see her figure ahead, faint in the silver light of the moon. I slowed my pace, hoping she'd notice I wasn't chasing her, just… being near her, alone with her.
"Wanessa?" I called softly, my voice trembling with hope. For a heartbeat, she seemed to pause, her eyes, a mix of amber and blue, flickering in the darkness.
I stepped forward, reaching out as if to pull her into my arms. Just then, she jerked away, turning abruptly and sprinting deeper into the forest.
"Wanessa, wait!" I shouted, my voice breaking as I broke into a run.
The sound of her quickened footsteps echoed between the trees, and I pushed forward with every ounce of strength in my body. But as quickly as she had been within reach, she was gone vanishing into the thick shadows of the woods.
"Where did she go?" Terrence demanded, his tone rough with anger.
"She ran off again." I replied, voice low and tight. "I nearly had her, but-"
"-but she didn't wait for you." Michael finished bitterly.
I clenched my fists, my jaw working as I fought to hold back the rising panic and hurt.
"I can't just let her disappear." I said, more to myself than to them. "She's… she means everything to me."
Terrence shook his head.
"Xavier, we're heading back to the castle. It's getting late, and she won't come back by herself if we wait much longer."Terrence said.
"You can go."I said.
"Xavier, this isn't safe. You know how she is, if you keep chasing her in the dark, you might get lost too."Michael said.
I took a deep breath, nodding slowly despite the turmoil inside.
"I have to try. I can't just stand by and watch her vanish."I said.
With that, I slipped away from the others and back into the forest, my heart pounding as I retraced the path I had already run.
"Wanessa!"I called her name.
But the only reply was the rustle of leaves and the distant, lonely call of an owl. The forest seemed endless, the darkness deepening with every step I took.
"Wanessa, please!" I pleaded, my voice echoing through the silent trees.
My mind replayed memories of our last moments together, the softness of her purr, the bittersweet sadness in her eyes, the way she whispered my name before she ran. I knew she was scared, and that terrified me even more. Yet, I couldn't let go.
As I rounded a bend, a glimmer of movement caught my eye, a flash of dark hair, a fleeting glimpse of amber. My heart leaped, and I broke into a run once more. "Wanessa!" I called her.
For one long, agonizing moment, it seemed as if she might be within reach. But then she disappeared behind a thick copse of trees, swallowed up by the night. Frustrated and exhausted, I sank to my knees, the cold ground biting at my skin.
"Where are you?" I whispered.
I pressed on through the dark forest, calling Wanessa's name into the cold night air. Every so often, I'd catch a glimpse of movement a flash of hair, a quick, untouchable shadow but nothing concrete. My legs grew heavy, and my voice began to crack with desperation.
"Wanessa… please, answer me…" I pleaded into the silence.
The forest offered nothing but the rustle of leaves and the distant call of an owl. I had been chasing hope for hours, and now fatigue was overwhelming me. I slowed my pace, feeling the chill seep into my bones, until I found refuge under a massive, ancient oak. Its rough bark and outstretched branches promised a spot to rest a bit.
"Come on, Xavier, don't you dare give up." I muttered to myself, though my voice was barely audible as exhaustion tugged at me.
I whispered into the darkness words that I knew were the truth.
"Wanessa, I promise I'll find you, no matter what."I said.
But even my own words felt distant, muffled by the overwhelming weight of fatigue. My eyelids grew heavy, and the forest sounds blurred into a gentle lullaby.
"Just a little sleep… and then I'll keep searching."
As I finally succumbed to the fatigue, I heard my own soft murmur echo. 'Wanessa'. The promise hung in the air as sleep claimed me beneath the shelter of the oak, leaving me vulnerable and alone in the silent, dark woods. I needed to rest, then I will find her and bring her home.