Chapter 26: Why Still Read It?

Amethyst came the next morning and spoke more with Scarlet before Scarlet had to take her medicine and went back to sleep.

She smiled as she watched the sleeping Scarlet before her eyes went to the laptop.

"You can use it if you need to, I haven't placed a password on it," Scarlet told her last night.

"Use it..."

She sighed as she picked it up and opened it, after getting to the word with the intention to write something her fingers started trembling.

She chuckled bitterly, despite the fact that she wanted to start over, it seems that it wasn't that easy.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Her thoughts was disrupted when she heard a knock from the door, as she placed down the laptop the door opened and came a man she has no idea who.

"Uhmmm..." she started.

"Oh, have I startled you? I am Eduard Parkinson, Scarlet's editor," he introduced himself after seeing her unsure look.

"Oh, uhmmm, Scarlet had just fallen asleep after taking her medicine. Do you want to wait or do you want to leave a message?" she asked.

Eduard's eyes went to the bed and seeing her peacefully sleeping he smiled, "It is fine, I will wait for her to wake up. I have nothing else to do anyway."

"I see. I almost forgot, I am Amethyst Evans, it is nice to meet you," she introduced herself.

"So it is you," he exclaimed after hearing her name.

"Me?" she asked in confusion.

"Scarlet talked a lot about you for the past months that it feels like I knew a lot about you but still haven't seen your face," he explained.

"I hope it is not about me being a depressed lady," she replied.

"Nah, it is not about that. It is about an angel sent from above to help her."

She could only scratch her cheek after hearing this.

Wasn't that an exaggeration ?

"Anyway, it is nice to meet you too miss Evans," he extended his hand and she accepted it for a handshake.

"You can sit by the couch as you wait," she gestured for the couch.

"Thank you."

As he settled down, he brought out a book making Amethyst shock, "That's..."

He looked up before looking back at the book, "Oh this? It's Astral's new book, just came out the first batch of limited editions. The real first batch will be released in a month."

"Are you on the same publication company?" she couldn't help but ask.

"No, I just have a friend over there. Though it is indeed pricey since it is the first batch," he shrugged.

"I see, I'm sorry for disrupting you."

Eduard smiled at her before opening the book and he started reading.

Amethyst looked at the title, 'Her Hidden Self'.

She looked away, the title she had given that unfinished story was, 'She Hid Herself'.

It was a story about a girl just like her who hid herself from everyone until someone broke down her shell and brought her out.

Just as she had thought, Emerald had indeed used it. But after it what will she do next? Will she look for a ghost writer?

If she do, does she not know that in the world of writers, when you suddenly change the way you write. A lot of critics would surely notice?

She shook her head, 'She wouldn't be that stupid I guess. But to think that she really still kept going with her facade. I feel sad for her.'

She looked out the window, 'I couldn't even find it in me to get mad now, I just feel sad that it seems she still haven't found something that is for her.'

She sighed as she thought back.

Emerald was an achiever that their parents were so proud of her, while she was just average.

That is why she couldn't understand why Emerald chose to take her work and claim it as hers. She could have done something else, she was doing great as an editor so why did she want to become an author?

'Is it for fame? Was she that hungry of people's acceptance and attention? She will just hurt herself towards the end.'

Amethyst was not kind, because if she is, she would have stayed and allowed Emerald to use her works for herself. She left and that is why Emerald chose to stay quiet for a few years.

But because Ms. Night became even more popular that her popularity lessened, she ended up taking the unfinished book and either she finished it herself or she had someone else finish it.

"Was it my imagination?"

Amethyst was in these thoughts for a while that she only snapped out of it when she heard Eduard.

"What is it?" she asked, seeing as he seemed confused somehow.

"Well, I just finished the book and halfway through. It feels like it changed..."

He trailed off after saying this but his brows were furrowed.

"I-"

"Well are you really asking that or you already have an idea?"

Before Amethyst could answer, Scarlet's voice interrupted her.

Both Amethyst and Eduard looked at her.

She was awake and is now sitting down.

"You seem to know something," Eduard said with squinted eyes.

Scarlet shrugged while Amethyst looked at her with wonder if she will tell him or not.

She was not scared for anyone to know about it but she was adamant to say it herself.

"Tell me what you know," Eduard asked.

"Find out yourself, you have a lot of friends right?" Scarlet answered.

"You-" he wanted to rebuke but has nothing to say.

Scarlet loves dropping some news but she always stops with only the first part leaving him in suspense.

Eduard could only sigh, "Anyway, we have to talk."

He glanced at Amethyst.

"I'll go and have some coffee," she said knowing it was not for her to listen.

"Go on," Scarlet said.

"Oh, but can I borrow your book?" Amethyst stopped on her tracks before walking out of the door and looked back.

"I don't mind," Eduard handed her the book and she thanked him before leaving.

But before the door closes completely she heard him start in a serious tone, "We all talked about after..."

*****

"Slate, you're finally here," Scarlet said when Slate entered the room.

He furrowed his brows seeing her look, "What is it?"

"Eduard came with a copy of Astral's new book and when we were going to talk, Amethyst excused herself but she borrowed the book. It has been half a day since then but she haven't returned at all. I asked Eduard to ask the guard if she had stepped out but no one saw her," Scarlet explained.

They only noticed that she haven't returned because after their talk, Eduard waited for an hour for the book but she didn't return.

Scarlet tried to call her but to no avail either.

His frown deepen upon hearing this, "So she was here but was gone for half a day with that book?"

"Please look for her," she asked him.

Slate sighed before leaving the room.

When he did looked around he found her in the same garden he and she ate before. But she was in the corner that was pretty hidden by the plants.

She was staring blankly at the now closed book in front of her.

Her eyes was suddenly covered making her snap out of her blank mind.

"You knew what you would feel if you read it, why still read it?" she heard him say.

And without her wanting to, the tears just came out, drenching his hand that was covering her eyes and her cheeks.

Her hands clenched into fists in her lap.

Slate stayed behind her silently covering her eyes.