Chapter 59: A NEW LOOK
“Excuse me, Almaruda?” I called after her since she left us behind and started heading deep into the woods. Siofra doesn't know the way out of here, and she seems like she knows.
“It’s Elba; I told you that I am not Almaruda without my powers.”
“Okay, Elba, will you help us? If we work together, we have a high chance of winning this battle.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, Alda is right; working together might be the only option. If my sister is as powerful as you described, then I might not be able to stop her on my own. I need all the powers and support I can get, so please help us."
Siofra and I both waited for her response in anticipation.
“Fine, I will help you guys because I also can't win over her on my own. So what's our first plan?” I smiled in satisfaction when I heard the determination in her voice.
“We need to find my grandmother; she is the one that holds my stones, and I am more powerful with them.”
"So, what should I do?” Elba asked.
“Help us out of here; we don't know our way out of here. My sister took my body and had me locked up in a bottle with a spell.”
“You asked for a way to get out of here, but I guess the answer is behind you." She said this, leaving both Siofra and me confused.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“That portal will take you back to your realm.” It was only then that I noticed the portal that was forming behind us, which was not too far away from us.
“But we can't leave without finding Siofra’s mother.”
“There is nothing you can do about it; you two are from different realms, which means there will be an interval between the two realms. You both should meet me at her grandmother's house.”
“But how? We don't even know our way there; that's why we asked you to help us,” Siofra said to her.
“That's why I will find your grandmother while you two meet me up at her house. All you have to do is think about meeting me before you enter the portal. And remember, you can't control the portal; it controls itself.”
She instructed us before the portal sucked Siofra and me in, throwing us back into my room. I felt the pain again—the pain of my body colliding with the floor.
“Okay, you really need to teach me how to land on my feet whenever this happens.” I said to Siofra, who helped me up on my feet.
“Thank you, Alda, for everything.”
“It's nothing; let's wait until our next trip.”
“While we wait, what is your first move?”
“First, I need to meet Xender's parents tomorrow, but before that, I need to pay someone a visit.”
“Who?”
“A friend, but she turned to my enemy, but I might need your unique powers and skills. It is time I start hunting someone's dream and even more."
“That sounds interesting; ghost sounds are something I can make, but you better head downstairs.”
“Why?”
“Someone noticed that you were gone and is already panicking.”
“Xender?”
“Yep”
I rushed downstairs and met an angry Xender shouting at the security guy, who looked like he could disappear if he knew how to.
“Xender, what's going on?” I asked, touching his arm. He didn't see me approaching since he was caught up in his conversation that wasn't going so well with the security guy.
“Alda?” The panicked expression on his face showed that he had been looking for me for quite some time. He took me by surprise when he hugged me.
“I thought you were gone; I thought you left,” he said, breathing heavily.
“I'm not going anywhere; I was just in the garden. I needed to be alone, that's all. I'm sorry if I made you worried.
“As long as you are safe, that's all that matters to me.” We pulled away from our little hug, and he dismissed the security guy.
“Don't ever go anywhere without telling me, okay?”
“Okay” But deep within me, I know I couldn't keep that promise, but I have come to learn to live in the present while letting the future take care of its safety.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Go where?”
“I'm taking you shopping. We are meeting my parents tomorrow, and I want you to look nice.”
“You don't need to worry about that; I know my part to play; why don't you drop me off at the salon instead?”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Xender, I will be fine. I'm done hiding; after all, Alda Barnard is dead, which means I'm no longer her.”
“You will always be Alda to me.”
“I know, but to the world, I'm dead, and I need to live as a new person. I didn't want to play this game, but I was pushed, so let's play the game.”
Xender's POV
The way she sounded was so cold. I have never heard her sound like that before. She started walking towards the door, but I grabbed her hand, stopping her. She looked up at me with questioning eyes, and there it was again: her eyes turned green.
“Again?” I muttered to myself.
“What?” She asked. I quickly let her go. Why on earth do I keep seeing things? And why do I keep feeling like she is acting really strange? She said she was in the garden when she arrived, but how come the security couldn't find her?
“I wanted to tell you to grab your hoodie before we leave. I will be waiting for you in the car.”
“Okay, I will be right back,” she said, heading upstairs. Sometimes I feel like I see someone different in her. I waved the thoughts aside and went outside to wait for her.
Alda's POV
All through our ride to the salon, Xender didn't say a word to me. He just looked so lost in thought, and when we finally arrived, he left one of his credit cards with me before telling me he had somewhere he needed to go.
“Once you are done, just call me, and I will send someone to come pick you up.”
“Okay, but before you leave, can I get your earpods?”
"Sure.” He gave them to me before he left.
“His gone; you can now come out,” I said to Siofra, who was hiding inside my body since Xender acted like he saw her for a brief moment.
“Are you sure he didn't see me? I could swear he looked straight through my eyes to my soul.”
"Siofra, you are just overreacting.”
“I don't think so; I think I might really be turning visible. Elba was able to see me, and don't even tell me it's because she was once a goddess, because this doesn't make any sense.”
“I think you are worrying unnecessarily; let's just go in. I need to do my hair, and I also need to go shopping.”
“I thought you told Xender to leave shopping.”
“Yeah, that's because I wanted to surprise him, and letting him go shopping with me is like spoiling the surprise.”
“Hmm, that guy cares a lot about you, but I don't know why you can't see it.”
“What's the point of seeing it when he will end up getting hurt by the end of it all? I don't want to hurt anyone else other than the two people who ruined my life.
The plan is just making them pay, and I know just how to do that.” I smiled creepily.
“What's your plan?”
“Nothing much, but it's going to be fun because I will let them be each other's downfall. All you have to do is help me.”
“I'm always at your service.”
“Good, now let's go get some new looks. I might be getting married sooner than later.”
“Congratulations in advance.”
“Thanks”
“So what is that small-looking bug on your ear?”
“Oh, it's the only device I can use while talking to you, so people wouldn't think I'm mad."
“And why is that?”
“Because no one talks to him or herself without people thinking that the person is crazy.”
“So what role is that bug playing?”
“The role of confusing people”