Speculations

Edward strode back inside the house in a rush while pulling me along with him. I wonder what the two men were just talking about before I got here. They seemed very serious as if a fight had broken out.

Edward seems very unstable and stressed right now as well. Edward led me to the living room, and we sat down on the sofa together. We were alone and the house was completely silent.

“Edward…is everything ok?” I asked in a small whisper.

“We don’t have much time before Reiner takes you away, so I’ll just get to the point. If you sense that Lucien is acting strange; I want you to leave the house immediately. Call me if you can and I’ll be there to pick you up. If you can’t call me…tell Reiner and keep Reiner close to you. If you’re in danger, Reiner can help you when I’m not there…” Edward explained in a rush.

“Sorry, I don’t follow…I could be in danger? How?” I asked, seriously confused with what he just said. I could be unsafe with Lucien?

“Don’t panic. It’s all just speculation at this point so just act like you normally would. I pray that what I’m about to tell you won’t ever happen. However, I would prefer to be safe rather than sorry. So here goes.

If you start seeing signs of Lucien limiting more of your freedom, I want you to get out from the mansion. Either contact me or tell Reiner to get you out,” Edward instructed at a slower pace.

“Lucien will restrict my freedom? Like…keeping me in the house?” I asked still a little confused. Lucien has grounded me in the house before and perhaps, I’m still supposed to be under house arrest right now.

“Yes, or it may get worst. Locking you up in your room, limiting your interaction with other people, taking away your phone; for example. If things along these lines start to happen, no matter what reason he gives you as justification, you need to get out of there immediately,” Edward said as he stressed every word.

“Ok…” I replied as I tried to take this in. Those things won’t happen, right?

“Always keep the necklace on. If you’re not allowed to wear it, hide it somewhere on your person. If you have it with you, I can find you. Well, now it seems like Reiner can find you too…” Edward said with a comforting smile as he held my hand. I still couldn’t understand where his concern stems from. As far as I was concern, being with Lucien is as safe as can be.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. If you’re worried, you can always call me…” I replied with a small smile of my own.

“Natalia…please think of my proposal seriously. I hope you know how serious I am about this,” Edward said firmly, and I couldn’t break eye contact with him.

Judge a man by his actions, right?

“I already know that you’re serious. All clothes and shoes in the dressing room were all my size and favorite brands. They were all prepared for me and not just for some random woman that you would bring over…” I replied with my own observations.

“So, you figured that out…good for you,” Edward said as he laughed a little and put his arms around me.

Actions could speak louder than words but sometimes, we just want to hear the words all the same…

…

After picking up my things and getting dressed properly, I got in the car with Reiner. Edward did not see us off. He probably didn’t want to get into another argument with Reiner. For the first time, I had very mixed emotions going back home. I hope this feeling is momentary and that things will return to normal soon because if I kept feeling this dread while heading back home, could I still call that place my home anymore?

“You look very worn out. Was Edward very rough on you?” Reiner asked with concern but perhaps a little too straightforwardly.

I wanted to reply with a big shout of a ‘YES!’ followed by a description of how much my opening stings and aches with every step that I take. However, I decided to keep that little detail to myself. I still hated the fact that Reiner seemed to see me at my worst moments and never at my best. Ever.

“I’m ok,” I replied vaguely.

“You should rest when you get back. Things will get busy soon with Lucien’s wedding just around the corner,” Reiner said without looking at me. He was driving quite fast.

“Yea. Did Lucien ask you to pick me up?” I asked curiously as I glanced over to look at Reiner’s face.

“He didn’t ask me. I figured that if I didn’t pick you up, Edward would keep you there for at least a few days and I wasn’t wrong.” Reiner said with a long sigh. I wonder how Reiner figured out what Edward planned to do.

“How did you find this place?” I asked further.

“Edward didn’t tell you yet? The necklace that he gave to you has a tracking device embedded in it,”

Reiner replied casually like it was nothing new.

“…What?” I replied blankly.

“The star pendant has a tracking device in it. Edward put it in so that he would be able to locate you when he left you in the forest that day in the rain,” Reiner explained as he continued to focus on the road.

“Edward…did?” I replied in surprise. So, Edward, had a way to find me when he left me in the forest?

“Yeah, that’s why we could find you that day and also why I could find where you were today,” Reiner replied flatly.

“I see…” I replied softly. So, Edward didn’t leave me without a way to rescue me. It made me feel a little better that he didn’t just leave me to completely fend for myself, but it will still a very mean thing to do.

“We’re here,” Reiner said abruptly after a while of driving.

--To be continued...