165 Then what about me?

Life seemed to have drained out of Paulina as she found her way to the courtyard. She had been stupid. She had been so stupid. How could she not have recognized her mistress? How could she have doubted it the entire time?

"You finally believe me?" Her mistress had said when she asked her who she was. Or maybe it wasn't right to call her her mistress now. She was Alicia. Alicia Queen. 

"You... really aren't... my mistress?" Paulina had asked, dread filling her. When Alicia tried to touch her to help her sit down, Paulina unconsciously moved away from her touch and saw a flash of hurt in Alicia's eyes.