It's been a while since I've posted. I've been super busy lately. I will attempt to keep up on this story!

Sanjay knocked on Rachel's door. She had never been one to sleep in so late. He wondered if perhaps she wasn't feeling very well. He patiently waited for a moment to allow her to get up. After a few moments she still had not responded. He knocked once more, then slowly started opening the door. To his surprise the room was empty. Her bed was still unmade. His brow furrowed. This was very unlike Rachel. Even though he had insisted there were servants to make the beds, she always did it herself.

"Sanjay!" Amir called. He was running towards him. "Is Rachel okay?"

"I don't know," Sanjay answered. "She's not in her room."

"What?" Amir asked.

"What is the matter?" Sanjay asked.

"Will is gone! He left last night sometime. Father wanted me to check to see if Rachel was okay!" Amir informed. Sanjay looked back at the empty bedroom. He started to feel afraid.

"She's not in her room," Sanjay replied.

"What?" Amir asked alarmed.

"Rachel is not in her room," Sanjay said again. He started to feel more
Panicked now. Did Will do something to Rachel? "There is probably a logical explanation. She has to be somewhere. I will look in the gardens."

"I will go into the courtyard. She never leaves the palace alone," Amir stated. "I'm going to get the servants to look around the palace."

"Meet back in an hour?" Sanjay asked. Amir agreed.

Will watched the girl sleeping in the bed. She was a spitting image of Chelsea, but she was not Chelsea. He felt conflicting emotions of love and anger. Because she had run away Chelsea had died! His beloved Chelsea had been his reason for everything he did. This girl was a poor substitute, but she still belonged to him. She slowly opened her eyes. For a moment there was a look of confusion. When her eyes met his, he saw a look of fear. She sat up quickly.

"What did you do to me?" Rachel demanded.

"I just took back what is rightfully mine. You are my property," Will growled. He came toward her. She shrank back in the bed, her bravado from a few minutes ago lost. He reached her and gripped her arms. She flinched against him.

"Ow!" She exclaimed.

"You bitch!" Will shouted. He lifted his hand and slapped her hard across the cheek. She fell against the headboard. Tears trickled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry." He gathered her into his arms. "Chelsea I'm so sorry. Chelsea I'm sorry!" He started sobbing uncontrollably.

Rachel shivered against his touch. She tried to pry herself out of his arms. This man was more dangerous than she thought. Immediately after slapping her, he hugged her and apologized. He was calling her Chelsea. Who was Chelsea? His sobs did nothing to abate her fears. She sat rigidly in his arms, unable to get away from his grip. Finally his sobs died down and he released her.

"I apologize," Will said. "This is no way to treat a guest." Rachel looked at him incredulously. Did he just call her a guest? She was not quite sure how to react, but did not want to anger him any more.

"I-it's okay," she stammered. She looked down at her hands.

"You look so much like her," Will murmured. "I mean of course you do. But it's like seeing a ghost." He reached out and twirled a lock of her hair around his index finger. His breathing was erratic. She watched him carefully, afraid to move. She did not want him to hit her again. "You will be mine. You will fill the void she left. After all, it's your fault she's gone in the first place!" His grip on her hair was tighter now. It was no longer a tender gesture. He pulled her face towards him and kissed her harshly. Rachel felt a teardrop slide down her cheek.

Tina had never been so exhausted in her life. The last few days had been taxing. Sheriff Winters had been very different than Tina expected. It appeared the good sheriff was on her side. She was no longer concerned with her story, she only wanted to help her friend. That is what Rachel had become. She entered Tumerton Palace, looking forward to relaxing for a bit. But as soon as she entered, she could see that the Palace was buzzing about something. She saw Sanjay coming in from the gardens.

"What is going on?" Tina asked. Sanjay looked up at her. The look on his face made her instantly feel the cold grip of fear.

"Tina, Rachel is missing," Sanjay informed.

"What?" Tina shouted. "How did this happen? What do you mean missing? What happened?" She couldn't seem to get a coherent thought to form in her mind.

"Will Regison came here last night. We suspect he has something to do with this," Sanjay stated.

"What was he doing here?!" Tina demanded.

"He's a friend of the King's. He claimed Rachel was his wife," Sanjay explained. Tina bristled at how calm he was being.

"How can you be so calm? He was lying! She's not his wife!" Tina insisted.

"You think I don't know that?" Sanjay hissed, his calm exterior cracking. "You don't think I'm not kicking myself at this moment? I should have been there to protect her!"

"Sanjay..." Tina started.

"No," he interrupted. "This is not my fault, it is. I have to accept my responsibility in this. If anything happens to her..." He stopped. He couldn't finish that sentence.

"It won't," Tina stated as calmly as she could. "We will find her."

Lyla stared at the man in her bed. She had fallen head over heels for this older rugged man. He believed that he was no good for her, but Lyla didn't see it that way. He was so good to her, and so gentle. Jack was the man that she had been waiting for all these years. She knew that she should be getting up, but since it was her day off, she could afford a little extra time. Jack's eyes opened slowly. As soon as he realized where he was, he smiled slowly at her. She loved that smile.

"Good morning beautiful," he greeted.

"Hello," Lyla stated. Their eyes met, and she could see the unmistakable look of desire in his eyes. She couldn't help but laugh. "You have a healthy appetite!"

"Yes I do," Jack said smirking. A shrill ring broke the moment. She sighed slightly frustrated, and reached over for her phone.

"Hello?" Lyla asked.

"Lyla!" It was Gwen's voice in her ear. Lyla jumped at the volume of Gwen's greeting. "Is Jack there?"

"Yes," Lyla answered. She handed him the phone.

Jack accepted the phone, he knew it was Gwen on the phone even before he heard her voice. He watched as Lyla slipped a robe on and made her way out of the room. She was a beautiful woman. It had been such a long time since he had allowed himself to feel anything for anyone.

"Morning sheriff," he teased lightly.

"We have a problem," Gwen clipped. Jack sighed. There was always a problem.

"What's going o-" his question was cut off by Lyla screaming coming from the kitchen.