Chapter 31: HER ATTACK

All throughout the day, her mood was down. She barely said a word or two to me. I couldn't help staring at her every once in a while as she spaced out. 

Every other model around here was being taken care of by one or two people, all except for her. Most people don't even know who they are. Some think she is an up-and-coming model, while others think she came to work as the model's assistant.

No one knows that she is the owner of this company, and she doesn't even brag about it. Even as every other model in this room shows off and fronts their riches just to get attention, Alda was busy trying to figure out how to make our project a success.

That's what I admire about her a lot, but I still question how a beautiful and ambitious woman like her ended up with an idiot like Mr. Sebastian.

"Alda,” I called out as I slightly tapped her shoulder. She was spacing out again. This is not the first time she has done that today.

“Huh? Is it time for me to come in?” She asked, her voice sounding deep and distant.

“I think we should postpone your shoots for another day. You look like you are about to pass out,” I said, placing my hand on her forehead. She was burning up.

“I'm fine; I can do the shoot.” She said. She flinchined away from my touch.

“You are not doing the shoot; do you want to faint in the middle of everything? Your body is obviously screaming out how tired it is. Please don't stress it any more.” I didn't mean to sound commanding, but this is her health that we are talking about.

“Xender I'm fine; I just need to get my mind and body into the game, and I'm good to go.”

“I'm not allowing you to do it. You can offer a helping hand by supervising the other models, but that's it; everything else added to it is out of the question.” 

After many arguments, she gave in to my words. I had her sit as she kept an eye on the other models. 

We worked all through the day until it was four in the evening. I noticed her yawning over and over again, so I went to offer her dinner with me.

“I think we should wrap up for today.”

“Isn't it too early?” She asked.

“We covered up all our shoots for the day, well, except for yours, but we can still cover it up tomorrow. Right now, let's go grab something to eat; we missed our lunch.”

“Maybe you should go without me; I don't really have the appetite to eat anything.” She said. She was still looking tired and groomed.

“I am going out to have dinner, and you are coming with me. If you refuse, I will carry you if I have to.”

“Thank you, Xender,” she replied with a smile. The first smile that crossed her face all day long, yet her eyes said it all. The smile didn't reach her eyes.

Just then, my phone started ringing, and I excused myself to pick up the call. It was Mike. I assumed he had something important to tell me; otherwise, Mike doesn't call people during his working hours.

“Hey,”

“Xender, where are you right now?”

“At work, although I'm about to head out, is there any problem?”

“I wouldn't call it a problem until Miss Barnard hears about this.”

“Her result is out, right?”

“Yes, do you think you can meet her and bring her to the hospital? This is something I must discuss with her in person.”

“Is it about her health?”

“Yes, but it is not something to panic over. Just bring her to the hospital with you, okay?” When I ended the call with Mike, I couldn't walk over to Alda to tell her that the test results were out.

I really don't think she can handle bad news in this state.

“Alda, Dr. Mike just called me; he said your results are out,” I said to her when I walked back to her.

“Oh, I will go take it by tomorrow. I don't think I will be able to go today.”

“He said he wants to see you today because some urgent results came up.”

“What?” She asked, looking a little bit surprised. She sighed out and buried her face in her hand.

“I'm sure it's not something serious,” I assumed, even though I knew that it might be bad news.

“Do you think you can drive me there? My driver isn't around today; my dad called him out for some meetings, and I don't want to take a cab.”

“I will come with you. When do you want us to leave, now?”

“Yeah, let’s go now. I really need to know what those results are saying.” She was scared; I could hear it in her voice.

“I'm sure it's nothing serious.”

“I hope.”

Siofra's POV

I open my eyes only to find myself in my room at the palace. They were gone; those spirits were gone; the garden was all gone. I quickly pushed myself up from my bed and headed for the door.

Was this all a vision? What is wrong with me? Why am I seeing things?

I opened my door and saw Alma standing in front of me, which nearly scared me. She was staring at me fixedly, but I couldn't read her.

“Alma, what's happening?” I asked her before grabbing hold of her hand, dragging her inside, and closing the door behind me. I had my back on her as I tried to clear my head off the image of an evil-looking Alma.

“Alma, something has been happening to me since the secret dance. I keep seeing things, and they are all scary.” I said that to her and began pacing around the room.

“So my guess was right?” Alma said after a long silence from her.

“Guess about what?” I asked, stopping to stare at her. She ignored me and walked up to the door, locking it up. Why is she locking the door? Why is she acting strange?

"Alma, what's happening?” She turned, facing me with fury in her eyes. Then she brought out a knife and started heading towards me.

“I worked all my life for these, and while you were busy running about the palace enjoying your freedom and living your life, I was busy training my ass off.

After everything, the stone chose you even before the festival could start. Did you plan this with that old witch? Did she send you to ruin my plans!?”

I was shocked. Did Alma just call Grandma an old witch? Is she really standing in front of me with a knife, or is it another creepy vision? And what does she mean that the stone chose me?

"Alma, what's going on? You are scaring me; we are sisters, and sisters are supposed to look out for each other.”

“Sisters? Did you just say we are sisters? You took away what I worked for all my life!. I left your mother to turn me into a puppet who does as she was told, but after everything, you decide to take that glory away from me.”

“Alma I promised you, I have nothing to do with anything. I never planned anything with anyone; you have to believe me.” I kept drawing back as she kept coming close to me with the knife.

“I will kill you; if I can't have those stones and their power, no one else can!!” Without that, she charged towards me with the knife, but I managed to avoid the knife coming right towards my chest as it grazed my hand.

It was only when I saw my breeding hand that I knew this wasn't a joke, nor was it a dream or vision. Alma was really trying to kill me. Grandma was right all along.

“I should have killed you when I had the chance to, but that old wag kept stopping me until I managed to get her away from my life.

But stupid me, I thought you weren't going to be a trouble, but I guess it was my mistake. It's time to fix that mistake.

"Alma, stop this madness. The stone picks its candidate according to their judgement; maybe they knew you were like this.

Maybe they knew that behind those sweet and lovely smiles lives a monster like you!!!” I screamed out at her in anger.

But my words got her furious as she angrily stormed towards me. I grabbed the lamp sitting close to my bed and hit the knife off her hand.

She pounced on me, pinning me down as I struggled to free myself, but her grip was tight. I managed to grab hold of the knife lying not too far away from us as I charged at her.

She used her super-fast reflexes to avoid the knife, but I was fast enough to cut her arm just like she did to me. Pushing myself off the ground, I position myself, ready to fight.

But then again, the wind, the voices—they all came again as I couldn't concentrate anymore. My room was beginning to spin in my eyes.

"Aaaah!” I let out a cry of pain as my head began to hurt. Grabbing hold of my head, I tried to make myself focus, but Alma took advantage of that.

One minute she was standing at the door, and the next few seconds she was gone. I felt a movement behind me, and before I could turn to face her, I felt something colliding with my head as I slumped to the ground.

My vision started to blur out. The last thing I saw was Alma’s face, and she was with a knife.