abcnovels
Chapter 165 165 The Prey Being Pursued
Chapter 165 165 The Prey Being Pursued
Chapter 165 Chapter 165 The Prey Being Pursued
It was like she was suddenly naked- like a defenseless city without is military outposts.
Or,
Like a prey targeted by a wild best. She couldn't seem to shake it off.
"I need to get out of here. . ." she rasped to herself; "Something's creepy going on, and I ain't the one."
Quietly, she snatched her white fur coat from the table, and stormed out of her office- feeling the croaking, taunting presence watch her from the shadows.
"Manager!" she barked as she rushed down the stairs; "Update me on the current status of the delivery boy's rounds today!"
"Uh, ma'am, there was a problem with the scheduling. . .so he couldn't make. . ."
"Never mind, I'll handle it myself."
"Ma'am?" he stuttered in surprise.
"I said I'll handle it myself. Besides, I need to talk shop with these hospitals. Their growth needs to reflect in their payments. . .I'll be out for a while. . .don't wait up."
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From the insides of her olive colored carriage, she heard and felt the steady galloping of the horses outside as they raged through the city. With her white fur draped across her shoulders, and through her narrowed eyes, she watched nervously from the windows as life outside streaked by in blitzes of dust.
Even on the move- she still felt watched!
The encompassing presence, with a blood-red deathless mask, hovered over her moving carriage- barring its fangs at her, screeching silently, and curling out wordless threats right into her rabid beating heart.
Selina blinked ten thousand times within that short journey. The taste of the dust in the air stole into her mouth through her slightly parted lips. Along her skin, a fresh bout of sweat broke through- clamming up her pores. Outside, the rushing sounds of galloping horses and screeching carriages made her more nervous- bringing her no reprieve at all.
She was surrounded by life.
Still, she felt alone- singled out by a faceless beast, feeling it barring it sharp teeth at her- waiting for her flesh.
Suddenly, Selina began to feel like a trapped animal. She eyes sank back further in their sockets, and her lungs contracted- she couldn't breathe. She needed air. She had to get the fuck out of there.
"Stop the carriage!" she yelled;
The driver didn't hear. Her heart sank even farther.
She tightened her fists, lurched forward to the dash, and banged thrice on the scaffold-like place;
"I SAID STOP!!"
Confused, the coach driver pulled on the horses' reins, gently pulling the beasts to a stop, and guiding them over to the side of the road in soft gentle trots. Behind him, he heard the door crack open. Before the carriage even pulled to a final halt, the lady jumped out- landing on the curb of the street.
Eyes bloodshot, head swooning, and with her knees buckling, she clutched a small package under her arms, and blended into the throng of pedestrians lining along the sidewalk- hoping to find comfort in the anonymity of the crowd.
For a moment, the feeling ebbed- but it was only for a moment.
Selina felt like she was in a group of deers, and a wild beast had set its sight on her- watching her, and preparing to take her as the weakest in the herd. Her full, waist-long, bleached curls bounced on her head with each desperate stride she took.
Melting through the throng of bankers, lawyers, and teachers, the five-foot ten stallion kept looking over her shoulders- not stopping, not taking any lonely paths, straight ahead- until she reached the hospital.
By the time she got to the second hospital, Selina was convinced her enemy was death itself.
"Not today buddy, not today. . ." she whispered bravely; "I ain't the one you're looking for, so back the fuck off!"
But it was like pouring water on a wall.
Its black leathery wings were spread out over her. She felt it eclipsing the sun, and encroaching on her skin with an unnatural coldness. Only a short while ago, she had been feeling on top of the world- brimming with confidence, and thinking about just how untouchable she was.
The voice in her head rang;
Pride goeth before destruction.
She chuckled to herself;
"Is this retribution for feeling proud? Huh? What's so damn wrong with feeling confident?!!!"
Through out the rest of noon, she spent her hours doing her rounds, and making deliveries. She took public transport. She switched carriages multiple times. She bought a change of clothing twice.
She even bought a ridiculous blond wig- just so she could throw the presence off.
But it didn't matter. None of it did. The crazed feeling pursued her. Until she couldn't take it anymore. She needed help.
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"Take me to the North Brook avenue," she ordered as she got into a horse drawn cab; "To the castle on the northwest corner. . .you can't miss it. . ."
The coachman nodded; "Three silver pieces ma'am."
"Get on with it."
The coach pulled gently into the street, with its stoked wheels silently purring as it wheeled out into the stone paved road. Huddled in the back seat, biting on her nails, the boss woman fought to stay her breathing as the coach headed straight for the Russell estate.
Eyes round in despair, and breaths frantic from fear, she tried to listen to her thoughts-
'Madeline. . ,I need to get to Madeline. . .when this enemy finally shows himself, he'll have the two of us to contend with!'
A momentary relief came flooding through her- soothing in ecstatic waves;
'One A-class mage is problem enough. . .but no one can handle two A-class mages. . .especially if those two happen to be Madeline and I. . .'
However, when she recalled that her best friend had her own worries, that momentary relief dissipated like vapor into the air. Quickly, she reconsidered her position. Her eyes glazed as she pondered in deep thought.
'No. . .this isn't an A-ranked mage. . .'
For the first time, she fully considered the sheer overwhelming presence, and the staggering reality dawned on her with a quickness;
'S-rank. . .'
Her heart sank;
'Has to be an S-rank. . .'
Instantly, she cowered in the fast moving vehicle. Pulse racing wildy, her body turned to water, and her heart broke into a thousand pieces. Hopelessness came crashing through with the rage of a sledgehammer- paralyzing her with fear.
With a start, she realized she was bringing fresh trouble to her best friend! She had to divert the carriage before it was too late!
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A quarter hour later, Selina pulled up at the Hermes' farms- the popular herb garden and plantation.
Like a doped up animal, she bolted out of the coach in a blinding flash. Hair scraggly, with her mascara running down her cheeks, and her eyes bloodshot, she slipped the coach five silver coins, and marched right into the farm.
She approached the loose wooden gate, still stubbornly clutching the small parcel under her arm.
Storming through the farm, and stubbornly threading along the rich soil of the earth, the chanced on the manager. He beamed shamelessly;
"Lady Selina!" he tipped his hat; "I wasn't expecting you tod–"
"Zip it," she rasped coldly; "I'm not in the mood today Hermes."
In a blur of white and flapping blond hair, she breezed right past the shocked man in the hat and leather boots.