Chapter 74: Finding Her

“Ah, shit. I thought you would just go with it…” Edward replied teasingly as he looked up from his watch. 15 minutes…

“Edward! Natalia is out there!” Reiner yelled loudly.

“How long do you think it’ll take her to regain her memories?” Edward asked still very calm. Is 15 minutes enough?

“Move! I’m heading out. I’m going to find her,” Reiner stated as he pushed Edward aside.

“Human experimentation and trials. I hate them. Sometimes, though, they are necessary and unavoidable…” Edward started talking as he grabbed Reiner’s arm to halt him from leaving.

“What the fuck are you going on about?” Reiner asked in a tight voice.

“…when that happens, the best we can do is to make sure that the trial is safe and controlled…”

Edward continued in a levelled voice.

“Edward…Natalia is in danger. Move…” Reiner stated the reality from his perspective coldly.

“You see this red dot here…that’s Natalia,” Edward replied while smirking at Reiner.

Edward dangled his mobile phone in front of Reiner’s face showing him a rough map of the area and a red dot on the screen.

“…a tracking device?” Reiner asked softly as he took in this new piece of information before his eyes.

Edward made Natalia wear a tracking device? This mad genius knew all along where Natalia was and how to find her…

“You didn’t really think that I would leave My Princess in danger and all alone without a way to find her now did you? Not just this tracking device. I even built a metal wall around a small area in the forest to limit how far Natalia could go. I had a specialist team comb through the enclosed area to ensure that there were no wild animals that could bring her harm. An emergency rescue team and doctors are also on standby in case something serious happens,” Edward explained calmly.

Edward had all of this well planned out from the beginning and that was why it took some time until he could bring her here again. That and the constraint that he was waiting for some natural rainstorm.

“So instead of blindly going into the forest to ‘find her’, I suggest we wait until it seems like she’s done then we just go to the location of this red dot. Now shut up and sit down,” Edward snapped a little at Reiner with annoyance.

“You crazy bastard…” Reiner hissed as he sat down. At least, we know where Natalia is and quite precisely at that.

“Thin line between crazy and genius…or so they say…” Edward replied with a small laugh.

The red dot on his screen that was moving until just now had come to a complete stop. Natalia must have hit a wall of the enclosed space already. This is probably the time to pick her up…

…

“Natalia…Natalia…” I heard my name and a man’s voice. Is this a dream?

My body feels heavy. I feel so tired, and my muscles hurt all over. I’m drenched and I must be an ugly sight. I can’t even get my eyes to open and needless to say, my limbs won’t even move. I’m shivering, whether from the cold or purely from fear, I had no idea. I felt arms around my frail body and then the rain that was beating on my face and head stopped. Did he come to save me again…just like in all the dreams that I’ve had. I tried my best to open my eyes as I felt my body being lifted.

Green eyes…so beautiful…Lucien…

…

True to his words, Edward was able to find Natalia in the forest in no time based on the location identified by the tracking device. He wrapped a towel around her body before carefully lifting her into his arms. Reiner was there beside him but decided to silently watch. Natalia was shivering quite badly but from what both men could figure out, she didn’t seem to be in grave danger.

“Let’s head back,” Edward said to Reiner, his eyes never leaving Natalia’s face as he began to march back from the way they came.

Natalia was back inside the cottage now. Edward laid Natalia down on the bed carefully before smoothing her wet hair away from her face. His hand trailing softly down her neck to lightly touch the star pendant that he gave to her earlier. Then he checked her arms and legs a little, looking for large wounds. Although she was still unconscious, she seemed well enough. She was wet and covered in mud but didn’t seem to have any major injuries. Both men stared at her with deep concern in their eyes. The room was silent for a while as both men decided on what to do next.

After a while, Reiner walked over to Natalia before casually picking her up with ease into his arms.

“Where are you taking her?” Edward asked before glancing outside. It was dark and the storm had not subsided.

“She’s wet and dirty…I’m going to clean her in the bath. Isn’t it obvious?” Reiner replied without emotions.

“No. Put her down, it’s my fault she’s in this mess so I’ll clean her,” Edward said as he got to his feet.

“Back off, Master Edward. I’m her butler so it’s my responsibility to take care of her, not yours,’ Reiner replied as he continued towards the bathroom.

“I doubt Natalia would want you to see her naked,” Edward retorted staring Reiner in the eyes.

“Trust me, I’ve seen her naked often enough while we’ve been living together. At least I don’t have such a twisted taste to have her running around half naked in the rain. I won’t ask you why Natalia was naked from the waist down, in exchange you will step aside and let me deal with her. I need to take her home…before Lucien finds out that she’s gone,” Reiner threatened.

“I wouldn’t mind telling you though…” Edward replied as he laughed.

**ring ring**

Both men froze as Edward’s mobile rang on the table. One glance at the mobile and their eyes locked to come to a peaceful understanding.

“You better take that,” Reiner said softly before carrying Natalia off to the bathroom.

Edward watched them go silently before answering the call.

“Yo, Lucien. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Edward greeted his brother in a cheerful voice. Lucien must not find out about today…

--To be continued…