CHAPTER XII: BETRAYAL
They found the clearing where Chase instructed them to wait for them. Still, no sign of Sofia or Chase. The rain had stopped but the fog was blinding them. Tristan went with Raven to find them. Iris was left. Her head was somewhat aching with pain. She could not help herself to keep thinking of Chase. She wondered where the two had gone. Iris sighed and buried her face on her hands. A figure appeared beyond her knowledge. It wore a foreboding smile on its lips.
“You’re thinking of someone I guess,” a voice intoned. Iris lifted her face and grabbed the dagger on her side. A woman dressed in bright red appeared on her front. Her face was covered with black veil and she wore a fury muffler around her neck. “I believed that was not necessary. I am your friend, Iris.”
Iris stand back to her feet and took steps backward. “H-How do you know my name?”
The woman smiled. “I’ve known you long enough to see how much you loved this man.” She draw near Iris who was astounded. She could feel the jealousy that dwells inside the young lady’s innocent heart. An insolent smile drawn on her face. This was getting brilliant.
“W-What are you talking about?” Iris asked, holding the dagger on her hands. The lady vanished in front of her and appeared by her side. She could feel its hands taking her dagger away. She tried to move but her body does not create any motion.
“Sofia,” the woman whispered on her ears, touching the strands of her ebony hair. Its voice seemed to magnetize her senses. The words echoed on her thoughts. “She betrayed you. She stole the man you love away from you.”
Iris laid in silence. Sofia? How could she do something like that? No. She will never do that. “She’s my friend. She would never do that,” Iris intoned.
The woman simpered. “How do you know? You were not there.” She touched the tip of Iris’ chin, down to its stiff shoulders. “Why do you think you could trust Sofia when at the first place, she was a rival of yours?” She titled the girl’s head to meet her gazed. “Listen to me, Iris… she failed you. Sofia steal your first love. What else would that Hunter want to take away from you? Your friends? Your Gift? If she had the courage to hurt you, she will also hurt him in the end. She was just playing with you. She was just using all of you… If she found the book, she would just use it for her own good.”
Iris clenched her fist. She would never forgive Sofia. “You’re right. She was just using us,” she said. Her heart beats furiously on her chest. She trusted Sofia and what did that girl repay her? No. She would never forgive her. She would do anything to keep her away from him, from her friends, from everyone… from this world.
The woman smiled wickedly to herself. She had no idea that it would be that easy. Young love. What a wonderful game she played. “Kill her, Iris.” She held the young woman’s hand, giving back the dagger that she took away. “Kill Sofia… Kill the Hunter.” The woman disappeared with a smile on its lips. Iris stood in nothingness. She sank helplessly to the ground.
“You will pay,” she whispered, staring at the dagger on her hands. “You will certainly pay, Sofia Lockheart.” A treacherous plan was made on her mind. Iris smiled wickedly. Chase will definitely be hers if Sofia was gone. Besides, they knew where the book was. They have no use of that human anymore.
***