XERIS' POV

We were seated in Purit's apartment as he briefed me on the progress Victoria was making.

"Very soon, she will be able to fully take you on. Even now, I'm sure she could hold her own against you, that is, if you aren't scared of hurting her." He had a sly smile on his face.

"What do you mean by that? And why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that you seem to be a little soft on her, her being your partner and all. I'm sure you wouldn't want to cause her any kind of pain." His words made perfect sense but his tone held something in it.

I decided to ignore it. He just chuckled while shaking his head slightly.

"I think she's ready to be taken out of confinement. She's gotten stronger, and not just physically. I don't know her as deeply as you do," that look again, "but even I can tell that she is lonely. Your constant absences haven't been helpful." He was back to being serious again.

"I know, I've just been so busy checking up on the men and their progress with their partners..." he cut me off

"That you've neglected your own."

I sighed.

I wondered what she must be thinking

"Are you sure she's ready?"

"I am."

***

As I walked back to our apartment, I decided to finally show her the rest of the ship. Maybe that would occupy her while I carried out my duties. I had left Purit's apartment early planning to get to the apartment in time for supper. I walked in and went to the kitchen. I looked at the time and figured she must still be in the greenery. I ordered our meals and put them in the warmer.

I walked to the work table to look at the progress she had made on the work I left her. She had gone through everything already.

That's my girl.

I went through her answers and only had to correct her on one thing. She really was smart. I noticed that she had left her time teller behind. That must be why she was taking so long. She probably lost track of the time. I decided to take a shower. Once I was done and dressed, I looked towards the kitchen and still she wasn't there. The greenery was quite vast, she must have been on her way back. I decided to go and wait for her by the entrance. I walked in just a little and looked at the different paths ahead of me, wondering which one she was on. I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest, ready to give her a scolding for taking so long. She would have missed her meal time if I hadn't already gotten the food. I had already told her of the importance of eating to maintain her health. I looked at my time teller, twenty minutes and she was still nowhere in sight.

I started to get a bad feeling. The same bad feeling I got before finding her sprawled on the bathroom floor in a pool of her own blood. I couldn't just stand there waiting for her, I decided to go a little further out and look for her. The only problem was there where many paths that led to different parts of the greenery. Not really thinking, I randomly chose a path and decided to follow it. I walked for five minutes on that path and then decided to go back and take a different path. I did the same thing for all the paths that led from our entrance to the greenery. I looked up frustrated, then I saw them.

"Cameras."

In my panicked state, I had forgotten that there were cameras in here. I tapped the side of my head and said, "Control room."

The control room was the security base of this ship. It was the place that all activities on this ship were monitored and coordinated from. I was soon connected to the person in charge.

"Your highness, how may we be of service?" I didn't waste any time on formalities.

"Have the plant specialists already left the greenery?"

He took a second before answering. "Yes, your highness. If I may ask..."

I didn't let him finish, "How many people are registering in the greenery right now." I sounded a bit rushed.

He took more time to answer this time. "Only one. And that is your highness." He finally answered. I disconnected the call abruptly not letting myself feel relief just yet. I had to make sure she was in the apartment. I jogged back the way I came to the entrance. My heart was still beating faster than normal. I had to see her for myself. At the entrance to our apartment, I paused and took a deep breath. She has to be in there.

I walked in slowly. There was no one in the kitchen or the bedroom. I checked the closet and it was empty. I checked the bathroom, and it too was empty.

Where are you?

Just before heading to the control room to check the monitors myself, I checked our medical bay. She wasn't in there. I all but ran to the control room, I got in touch with Purit on the way.

"Control room, now!". I knew he would rush there just as I was doing right now.

After ten minutes, I was finally there. I cursed whoever suggested not having elevators or transporters of any sort. I walked in and everyone stopped what they were doing, stood up and bowed. Purit arrived shortly after I did. The head of security approached me.

"To what do we owe this..."

"Show me the monitors to the greenery as well as those showing the halls outside my private area."

He must have understood the urgency and without a word turned and led Purit and I to a room further back.

"The privacy of the royal family is of utmost importance. Only a select few are allowed to monitor your movements." He used a special key to open the door as he spoke. "In here, your highness." I walked in with Purit and the door closed behind us. There were various monitors in this room. A lot of them showed different areas of the greenery. I hadn't noticed any of the people sitting behind the monitors in my search for Victoria.

"These are the people handpicked to watch over the greenery and the outside of your private quarters, your highness." He said nervously.

I looked at the people he was referring to and was surprised at who I saw among them.

It was Anigra.

What the hell was she doing here.

Anigra was someone I didn't expect to ever see again. Yet here I was, looking at her bowed head. But now was not the time to reminisce. Show me footage of the greenery from this morning.

I stood behind the seated people who looked at the monitors. I could tell they were all uncomfortable in my presence. All except one, that is. They showed me the footage and I couldn't see Victoria in any of them. It didn't show her enter the greenery at all. Then where the hell was she? She was granted access to leave our private chambers, but she didn't even know she could leave.

"Show me footage to the outside of my apartment."

They did so without hesitation. "Purit, you left before she did?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yes, your highness."

"Speed it up to when he left." They did so and I saw Purit walk out. But I didn't see her follow. I watched the video until I saw myself walk in. She hadn't left.

"Show me the greenery again."

Nothing. She wasn't there. She hadn't entered, how could she possibly leave. But I knew her, she always went to the greenery after training. Something wasn't right. I looked at Anigra. She showed no emotion on her face. But I knew better.

"Everyone except Purit, and you," I looked in her direction, "leave."

"Your highness, you must understand that we cannot leave the monitors unmanned for.." I looked at him, barely controlling the anger I had.

"Yes, your highness."

Everyone stood up immediately and left. Once the door was closed, I turned to Purit. "How was she today. Did she show any signs of...anything?" I asked, just making sure with him.

"No. She performed better than she has ever performed." I'm glad he knew not to mention that she was learning martial arts, even if it was just one other person listening. "Nothing was amiss when I left."

"Ok, you may leave." Without argument, he bowed and left.

I watched the door close. Before I could turn around, I felt her hands wrap around me. before they could fully do so, I grabbed them and twisted them. I turned around and looked at her. She didn't dare look me in the eye. "Who do you think you are touching?" I said calmly, still reigning in my anger.

She bowed her head, "forgive me, your highness. I shouldn't have surprised you like that. I know it's been a while since we last saw each other."

She smiled to herself.

I didn't have time for this.

"Why are you here? Why are you on this ship?" I asked.

"I thought you would be excited to see me." she smiled shyly while still looking down.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing." I twisted her hands painfully and she cried out.

"I did it for you. For us."

She finally looked up at me. Her eyes looked wild.

She quickly looked back down.

Us?

I let her go, disgusted to be so close to her. I tried taking deep breaths. I wouldn't lift my hand against a woman. I balled my hands into fists.

"How are you here?" I asked again.

She giggled, "You know my father was in charge of engineering this ship. I was there with him every step of the way. Of course, due to his health, he couldn't personally come on this mission and there was no one better suited for the job than me. Not even Her majesty could deny that fact. She granted me permission to come if I promised to stay out of your sight. Of course, I took up her offer. I also managed to get a spot on the team monitoring you. No one outside our two families know what was happening between us anyway, so it wasn't too difficult. What with my background and all." She looked smug.

She now raised her eyes to look at my chest. "You've grown up so much. You're much taller than me now, no longer skinny. I've grown too. Aren't I even more beautiful?" She stretched out her arms and twirled.

I was lost for words.

"I did it so that we could be together. I knew the only way to make that happen was if she wasn't in the picture anymore. I didn't even have to do much. I watched her like I always did," she had a disgusted look on her face, "and saw her foolishly walk off the paths. She gave me the solution to our problem. She made herself disappear. All I did was erase her from the monitors and change the location of the paths when she got too near. If we leave her long enough, she'll die of starvation on her own." she looked up at me then quickly down when she saw my deadly gaze.

"I won't tell anyone what happened. We can just pretend that she ran away. We can act like she never existed. And then you and I can finally be together in peace. We won't have to worry about anyone coming in between us again. No one would suspect you because you weren't even there. I can make it seem like something went wrong with the syste..."

I couldn't take it anymore, "where did she go off the paths?" I asked in an even voice.

"Why? So you can go and look for her? I won't let you. I've been watching you two. I see how she has brainwashed you and manipulated you. I see how you look at her. I see how you smile when you're around her, but that isn't you. That isn't the real you. I'm going to fix you and bring you back. Just forget her and come back to me then everything will be alright. I'll fix you."

I looked at her and saw her for who she was. She was crazy. She had completely lost it.

"Does anything you're saying actually make sense to you?" I asked incredulously. "Do you really think everything will go back to the way it was because of this?"

"Yes. It has to. It will. I know it will."

"Undo what you did, Anigra. Right now!"

She violently shook her head from side to side, her auburn braid swaying as she did. She opened her blue eyes wide again.

"Never, I'm never going to let her close to you again. She'll be dead long before anyone can find her. I made sure of it."

I went to the door and opened it.

I saw my guards had also followed close behind when I came here. "Lock her up."

She gasped.

"You can't do this to me. You can't!" she kept on screaming like the deranged woman she was as she was dragged away.

The head of security approached me, "your highness?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose to keep from punching anything. When I was assured I had calmed down, I spoke through gritted teeth, "She tampered with the cameras. Fix it."

Everyone I had asked to leave earlier came back into the room and the door was closed again. I watched, as patiently as I could while they fumbled and failed to fix whatever it was she had done.

I don't have time for this

If anything happened to Victoria. I wouldn't live with myself. I couldn't lose her. This was all my fault. I had let this happen. I shouldn't have left her alone for so long.

* * *

"Your highness, you need to rest. You haven't slept at all since we got here." Purit spoke from somewhere behind me.

"Not until I find her."

"Yes, your highness," he said with a little sigh.

I was not going to rest until I found her.

Just when I thought they had cracked it, another challenge presented itself. My back and legs ached from standing for so long.

The technicians had been having shift changes while they searched.

"How long has it been?" I asked.

Purit answered, "fifty-three hours."

She hasn't eaten anything in fifty-three hours. She must be scared. Is she calling for me? Is she cursing me?

"Your highness, one of the technicians spoke enthusiastically. We've done it."

Finally

"Show me footage from when she entered to when she went off the paths."

I saw her enter the greenery and walk around. She would stop here or there to sniff at the flowers.

"Speed it up to where she went off the paths."

She was standing still, looking at an opening in the trees. She looked like she was contemplating it. I screamed at her in my head not to go in, but I knew she already did. I saw her walk slowly into the trees until she was out of sight.

Then the paths started changing. I asked for a new map of the new paths to be sent to me.

I looked at Purit and my guards behind me, they nodded and knew what to do without me saying it. Soon, all six of us were running to my apartment. Everyone in the hallways knew well enough to get out of our way. I had contacted Bulba before leaving and we found her at the entrance to the greenery, already waiting with the necessary equipment in hand and an attendant by her side. We ran through the paths until we reached the spot she had disappeared through. Bulba had already been sent the map as well and knew where we were headed and she followed at her much slower pace. The men fanned out and we searched.

I called out for her as I searched and listened for a sound, anything.

Where was she? I was getting frantic.

I can't lose her.

And then I heard it. It was faint but I could hear her. She was saying my name. She was calling for me. I followed the sound of her voice and then I saw her lying there at an awkward angle.

"No, no. Victoria! Victoria!" I was running to her. The men heard me yelling and followed the sound of my voice. I could hear their footsteps approaching. I reached her and fell to my knees. She was still saying my name. It must have taken a lot of energy just to breathe but she kept saying my name. I held her close to me, making sure to be gentle.

"Open your eyes. I'm here. I'm right here."

She struggled to do that simple task.

"Xeris?" she whispered.

"Yes, it's me. I found you. I finally found you. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

And then her eyes shut closed. "Don't leave me," I whispered in her ears.

"Get Bulba!" I yelled out loud not taking my eyes off her.

Moments later, "I'm here, I'm here," came a breathless Bulba as she knelt on the other side of Victoria.

"Your highness, I know this will be hard, but I need you to let go and step away so that I can work. We don't have much time." She held my hand. I looked at her, lost. She reminded me of someone.

"Leb!" she yelled.

Seems I was lost in a trance. It couldn't be.

Nala?

She looked at me frantically. I looked down at Victoria and kissed her slightly on her forehead. I put her on the ground gently and stepped back. I watched Bulba immediately start treating her. I looked at her from head to toe. Her right leg was facing the wrong direction. She must have fallen out of the tree. I looked up at the tree wondering how far up she had managed to go. Then I looked back at her.

Don't die

I kept repeating those words like a mantra.

Please, don't die

I watched as Bulba worked on Victoria. At one point, she asked Purit to help her straighten out her leg. I just stood there, unable to move. Bulba stood up after a while.

Why has she stopped?

She approached me and put her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes, "She will be fine. Her leg will take a bit longer to heal because I didn't want to bombard her body with so many treatments at once. She's alive, Leb. She's alive."

She's alive?

Bulba moved out of my way as I approached Victoria's still form. I knelt down again next to her. After seeing her chest rise and fall evenly, I heaved a sigh of relief and dropped my head in my hands.

"She's alive." I could feel the moisture on my face.

"We need to put her carefully on the.." Bulba started.

"I'll carry her," she didn't argue with me.

I carefully lay her head against my shoulder and put my arms beneath her. With Bulba's assistance, I lifted her off the ground and made my way out of the trees following the path we had marked on our way in. Once in the medical bay, I lay her down carefully and stepped back. Bulba carried on working and only asking me to leave when she wanted to change her clothes. Once she was done, she called me back in.

"She will wake up in a few hours. I suggest you get some sleep yourself."

When she was about to leave, I uttered, almost inaudibly, "Thank you."

She turned slightly, "Just doing my job."

She smiled at me.