LRAB Chapter 130: Forest lady
Chapter 130: Forest lady
"Wait, there are others down here?" Blake's voice echoed softly, his astonishment palpable as he watched the retreating procession of about twenty men, led by the enigmatic figure who had conversed with Elena.
A torrent of questions inundated Blake's mind, swirling in a chaotic dance of curiosity and confusion.
How had these people remained hidden for so long, their presence concealed from prying eyes? Or perhaps, he reasoned, he had simply failed to notice their existence until now.
As he raised his gaze, a faint wisp of smoke caught his attention, emanating from the depths of the forest. It served as a silent beacon, guiding his thoughts towards the origins of the mysterious visitors.
"They walked such a great distance in numbers, only for one individual to speak with Elena and be dismissed like a common nuisance. How pitiful?" Blake remarked bitterly, his disdain at how Elena treated the strange man that came visiting evident in his tone.
Turning his focus towards the first sitting room where Elena and Drake had been moments ago, Blake found it vacant, devoid of any trace of their presence.
Elena's absence hinted at a retreat to the privacy of her chambers, likely to shower or attend to other matters.
As for Drake, his penchant for disappearing after delivering messages to Elena was a familiar pattern.
With the coast seemingly clear and Elena out of sight, Blake's curiosity swelled, fueled by the allure of the unknown.
Eager to unravel the mystery shrouding the locals' destination, he ventured forth, emboldened by the absence of his insanely attractive yet terrifying hostess.
"There's no harm in taking a walk outside, is there?" Blake pondered silently before stepping out of the mansion.
Outside, an array of flashy cars adorned the compound, adding splashes of light and color to the surroundings. Some of the vehicles appeared untouched, while others bore signs of sporadic use, their engines ignited only on rare occasions.
Preferring discretion over spectacle, Blake opted to travel the grounds on foot, his legs serving as his trusty companions.
He scanned the area for any sign of Drake's presence, but the landscap remained empty, prompting him to venture forth alone.
Approaching the gate with measured steps, Blake slipped away into the wilderness beyond, his movements as silent as a whisper.
Following the trail blazed by the outsiders, he navigated the unfamiliar terrain with cautious precision, ensuring to memorize the route back to the mansion.
Her scrutiny intensified as she took in his neat appearance and expensive attire, prompting her to pose a pointed question, "You're not with her, are you?"
"Uhhh," Blake stuttered, caught off guard by her directness, but before he could offer a response, she continued.
"You're her bodyguard, the one always around her, right? How did I not notice this? You're just like her, a monster," the lady spat, her disgust evident as she directed her gaze towards the ground.
"No, I'm not Drake. I'm Blake," he confessed, attempting to distance himself from any association with the perceived malevolence of the mansion's inhabitants.
Her expression remained unyielding, her disdain palpable as she dismissed his attempt at clarification.
"Blake or Drake, you're all the same," she retorted coldly, turning to leave.
"Hey, wait!" Blake called out, hastily moving to intercept her, determined to address the animosity between them.
Gently grasping her hand, he pleaded, "I don't know what she did to you to make you see her as wicked, but I can assure you, she's a good woman."
"And now you're defending her?" the lady countered, her annoyance palpable in her tone.
"I believe that in every bad, there's good and... vice versa," Blake replied, his smile tinged with a hint of irony as he attempted to convey his perspective.
The lady's expression remained inscrutable, her silence hanging heavy in the air as she continued to regard him with a scrutinizing gaze, casting doubt on the meaning behind his words.
"I mean... What I'm trying to say is that she's a good woman," Blake clarified, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he sought to dispel the lingering tension between them.
"Depends on your own definition of good," the lady countered tersely, her words laden with skepticism as she pushed his hand away, severing their brief connection.
Before Blake could respond, the distant sound of a car approaching pierced the quietude of the forest, signaling Elena's imminent arrival in search of him.
Turning towards the sound, Blake caught a fleeting glimpse of the woman as she disappeared into the depths of the forest, her departure swift and graceful like a startled deer fleeing from its predator.
"Damn it! I didn't even get her name," Blake cursed inwardly, frustrated by the missed opportunity to learn more about the mysterious stranger.
In the next instant, Elena's car appeared, with her and Drake inside.