THE ALPHA (UNKNOWN)

"I have spoken to the Captain. He said the southern ships had left yesterday but he has agreed to take us. Since we are ready, this way-" Zayn said and turned to guide them but stopped. He looked at Ciara and took her hand in his, leading her away.

He wasn't taking any chances anymore. Especially with the way Leonardo kept jumping on every word just to be able to say something to her.

As he pulled Ciara alongside himself, he led her into the ship.

The others followed shortly.

"Doesn't this feel like deja vu?" Alex asked as she moved to stand beside Zayn who was beside Ciara.

"Deja vu?" Ciara asked softly, trying to remember.

"When we ran away from your grandfather" Zayn reminded.

Ciara smiled softly. "That feels like a long tome ago."

Alex nodded. "I truly miss those days. When I was just seventeen and stunning."

Ciara laughed hard.

"Alex, please! I don't think you've ever not been stunning."

Alex smiled.

"Aww. Thanks girl." She said and laughed. Turning to her back she sighted Roshan at another side of the ship. His back to her, he seemed so….lost.

"But, I guess not everyone thinks so." She subconsciously muttered.

Zayn gave a short glance at her, upon hearing her words. He looked to the direction of Roshan and smirked.

"If I didn't know you, I'd think you have something for the demon." Zayn said immediately wiping the smirk off his face.

Ciara turned to them, curious.

"Mr Williams..? He is good looking. Exactly your type, Alex."

Alex redirected her gaze to her friends, she wasn't going to let these two invade into her business with the demon..yet. She sighed at their faces, giving a boring emotion on her face.

"I'm not in the mood guys," she said and walked into the cabin area, completely ignoring the look the demon gives her as she sways her way past him.

 Zayn smiled softly as he watched her go. He turned to Ciara, she already had her eyes on him.

"What..?" He asked, pretending not to have found Alex moments still funny.

"We are outside the palace now, no need to be so conscious."

Zayn released a long breath. His eyes going to the sea.

"I'm not tight-headed because of the demon."

"Leo." Ciara cut in. "I know you see what he's doing."

"I don't really care." Zayn shrugged slightly.

Ciara frowned. "You don't?"

Zayn looked at her, he smiled.

"You are mine, Ciara. I'm not going to argue with anyone about that."

Ciara's heart felt free with his words. She let out a laugh and smiled freely at him.

 - -

 She heard laughter, familiar laughter-

 She was in the woods, dark woods where the full moon was at its highest and the chill breeze making her skin freeze. The laugher drew near, closer and closer.

She forced those legs to move.

Find it.

She walked.. and walked.. and walked.

The laughter surrounding her like a blanket and yet so far.

Soon, she saw something.

Squinting her eyes through the mist she saw, 

A black gate.

It looked old.

It was old.

Vines like a decoration filled the surface of the gate, grasses too had made it a home.

Slightly ajar, she pushed through gently ensuring not to make any noise that would attract anyone.

Where was she?

The laugher was louder so she hastened her steps, to reach it.

Her footsteps came to a sharp halt when she passed a corner.

A woman.

Long Red hair.

As her eyes drank the familiar woman's statue in, she noticed the dark mist and chill breeze was exchanged with a sunny day and birds chirping.

A garden.. beautiful flowers.. 

Her eyes went back to the lady who had her back to her… she took a step forward.

She looked like-

The young lady smiled gleefully as she excitedly took an envelope from the servant who came with it.

"He wants to meet you in secret, your grace."

The woman scrunched her nose at her maid slightly frowning, 

"What have I said about reading my letters, Navi?"

Navi, the maid sighed out in exasperation.

"My lady! If your father, the king finds out..we'll be in big trouble."

"If, Navina. If. And he won't. So, prepare my night outfit, papa must not hear of this. Be discreet, Navina."

Navina bowed and left, leaving the smiling lady with her abomination of a letter.

Alex frowned as she moved closer, stopping when she saw the girls face.

Her!

It was her..

She was her!

How..?

Why..?

What the fuck was happening?

The lady. She smiled very brightly.

 Alex wondered what was written in the old papers she held, she wondered what made a lookalike to her smile as if there was no evil in the world.

She closed in on the lady, peeping from the back to see the contents.

A very clean cursive handwriting welcomed Alex's eyes.

It read…..

"The dusty path through the storm road, come alone."

Alex leaned back and frowned.

Clearly, it was a love letter.

Nice and catchy to the ears but the last phrase was not something to overlook.

The lady seemed happy to receive it tho.

Wait.

When was this?

She swiftly turned to observe her surroundings again.

The place suddenly looked familiar, too familiar.

"Wait."

She walked away from the girl.

It was clear, it wasn't her.

Everything felt too really and familiar but she was sure it wasn't her, she didn't have any recollection about this moment.

Setting her eyes back to her environment, it looked like an old fancy castle. A place where princesses stay.

But something was missing.

She tried to figure it out as the lookalike sat back on her flowery wooden bench and hummed.

The hum..

The song…

What the fuck was going on??

She looked at the castle again…

Yes, it was the palace.

The present palace she and Ciara lived in, only that this had a far more other structure. 

She looked at the girl who wouldn't shut up with the annoying familiar song.

She frowned.

Why was she at the palace, and why did that maid refer to her as a person of tittle.

Great title..

The daughter to the king.

What king?

Everything was clearly off and wrong.

The courtyard was different…the flower arrangement…the water fountain that she always saw in old books in the palace library.

Alex hand slowly dipped into her full hair….shock finding its way to her sense of reasoning.

Some loud harsh footsteps were heard, she looked away to the sound..

Soldiers were in a very different and difficult uniform.

She was sure she wouldn't be able to breathe if she wore one.

Talk about freedom of dressing!

And as she thought of ways to change that calamity they called an amour, the courtyard and everything disappeared. Leaving her helpless and confused in an open space.. trees, thick forest.

Gone is everything that was there, making her feel as though it was never there.

She scoffed, wondering if she was dreaming or…

"Oh. I think I got seasick." She mumbled in annoyance.

She walked in the pathway, trying to find a way out but halted upon hearing agonizing sobs.

She eyes roamed her site, confusion and surprise awake in her eyes.

She followed the sound..she ran. 

She ran and ran until she saw herself again…

She slowed down and panted as she got near to see why she was crying, 

Her eyes widened-

Her other self was covered in blood.

She sobed harder…

Blood everywhere-

"What happened?!" Alex finally voiced out. 

She knew she didn't cry for useless reasons.. for her to be shedding tears and the sight of the blood, something terrible must have happened.

"Whose blood..!" she asked again, frustration seeping through her voice.

Her other self couldn't hear her still.

Alex looked around the vicinity, it was a forest. Before they would find her or the stained clothes, it would take a while.

It would be smart if she stood up and left, immediately.

"Don't just kneel there!" She yelled turning back to her self.

The identical still didn't see or hear her, she knelt and sobbed harder. Her face red. 

Soon, voices echoed in the forest. Men passing through, probably hunters, Alex guessed.

She panicked.

They couldn't see the girl like this…

She screamed at the girl, anger rising.

"I said, get up!!"

Still yet, no answer.

"Fuck grace!!" Alex groaned.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Alex screamed again, "I said run! Run!!"

-///—

Drowning sounds…

A lighter familiar voice echoed in panic,

"Alex!!"

Alex eyes shot open-

She breathed out as her eyes slowly took in the boat cabin.

She sighed…

Her heart beat ran faster than ever..

What the fuck was that!