472 The Long Lost Tale Part XVIII (1/2)
Sitting on the bench, young Abigail was staring blankly at the forest, waiting again. It had been many days since Alexander had gone and he had not returned yet. She was devastated and so damn sad but she never stopped believing that one day, Alex would come back to her. He had promised her that he would return so until that time, she would wait for him.
But she was missing him very much. She missed his smile, his voice, those nights they both just sat on the bench staring at the sky, and all those times they spent together. Why? Why was he not back yet? How long was she going to miss him like this for?
She felt like there was a lump in her throat. She didn't know that missing him would feel this awful. It was a misery she was unprepared for.
”Abigail!” She was jolted by Zeres' voice. When she looked at him, his face was utterly displeased. ”Please stop thinking about him already,” Zeres said, his jaws clenching. ”He's not coming back so forget about him.”
The young woman bit her lips and her eyes started to well. She couldn't accept what he said. 'Alexander was going to come back!' she told herself strongly.
”No. Please don't say that. He promised me he would come back, Zeres. So I will wait for him,” she told him.
Zeres rose, clenching his fists tightly as he stood before her, locking his eyes with hers.
”Listen, Abigail. I heard from my mother that he is leading an army to go north. The vampire king is ill and I heard that he offered Alexander the crown. You know what that means right? A vampire, especially a royal and a crown prince like him will never marry a human like you,” he told her and Abigail just looked at him, shocked, as her tears silently flowed down her cheeks.
Seeing her tears, Zeres' gaze softened and he knelt before her. He lifted his hand to wipe the tears on her face.
”I'm sorry. But… I couldn't take it anymore. I hate watching you looking so sad like this every day. I am saying this because I don't want you to wait for something that isn't going to happen. Please, can you just forget about him and let's go back to how it was before he came?” Zeres' eyes became pleading as his other hand held her hand.
But the young woman didn't stop crying. ”But Zeres… I can't do that anymore,” she replied as she clutched her chest. ”I already love him… more than anyone and anything.”
Zeres eyes dimmed and his head slowly sunk as he stared at the ground.
”I… I was here with you before him, Abigail. I have been here with you much longer than he has so why didn't you fall for me?” he mumbled. ”Why him? I always…” he paused, choking, as he looked up at her again. ”I have always liked you, Abigail. I fell for you since the day you found me in the forest.”
Zeres smiled bitterly and he looked down again before he rose and turned. The moon was shining bright again. ”I am going home now, Abigail. I will come back early tomorrow.”
Zeres glanced back and then he stepped forward, ready to leave, but he halted. ”I will not stop liking you and loving you. I will not give up, Abigail.”