Chapter 2

I had to leave the house for a while. Mara's parents had arrived and were very emotional. It was understandable considering they believed they had lost another daughter but some of the things they said about Valek made be quite angry. I wasn't worried about leaving Mara for a while. Her parents would probably do a better job at comforting her than I had been doing. I said I needed some air and slipped out the back door.

I decided that I would go and see Valek. Maybe he would be talking sense today and I would find out what actually happened. All anyone had got out of him so far was he didn't know how it had happened and didn't mean for it to happen. Well anyone can see that just my looking at him.

When I reached the door to the cells I was told by one of the guards that I could only have five minutes. I knew this already. They said that every time I have been. Apparently it was for security, just in case I was an Ixian in disguise or tried to break him out. I didn't think it would make much difference anyway. It would take far less than five minutes for one of his corps to break him out. He could probably do it on his own if someone slipped him some lock picks. That is if he put some effort into trying to get out. All he had done so far was sit looking at the wall, lost in his own thoughts. I think that is what scared people most he wasn't actually doing anything so they think he must be planning something big.

I went through the door and down the steps. I saw he was sitting looking at the wall again. "Valek," I said.

He looked up. When he saw me he immediately brightened up. "Is Yelena her?" he asked eagerly.

"No, I told you before. She won't be here by Saturday, which is why you need to tell me something that will delay things a bit," I explained getting frustrated. He always asked that when I arrived but never seemed to listen to the answer. He had already gone back to staring at the wall. It doesn't look like I am going to get anything out of him. Again!

"I didn't mean for it to happen," he said not taking his eyes off the wall.

"I know that, what did happen?" I asked.

"When is Yelena coming?" he responded.

I sighed. He just wasn't going to talk about it. Looking at him I thought he just looks broken. How can this be fixed without any help from him. "Yelena is on her way," I replied.

He turned around smiling. "Why didn't you say so? When does she get here?" he asked.

"I told you, she can't get here till Sunday at the earliest. By then it will be too late"

"Oh, she is not coming."

"She is. She just can't get here in time. Which is why you have to find a way to delay proceedings," I said. This is ridiculous. I have said the same thing every flipping time and it doesn't make any difference. Arguing with someone so stubborn is just pointless. I ended up turning and leaving.

I had just contacted Yelena. She said that she hadn't slept for two days because she had been riding through the night trying to get here. However she was still around seven or eight hours away and the council are refusing even to postpone it until she gets here. It is now Saturday and Yelena is so close. There will be no comforting her if she arrives too late and I fear no stopping her from going after the council members who ordered this to happen.

I headed for the cells, where they already had Valek in the manacles and were preparing to lead him outside. He saw me coming and asked "Is Yelena here."

This is going to be really difficult to answer. "No, she tried but is still a few hours away." I saw the disappointment on his face. "You need to stop this anyway you can think of," I whispered.

"Nothing I can do. I can't bring someone back from the dead."

The guards pushed me out the way and started walking him outside. "This is stupid. You can't do this. Think of the consequences." I yelled.

"We aren't happy about it either but we have our orders," said one of the guards. Whatever, the only thing there concerned about is there might be a last minute rescue. Then they would really have problems.

They moved quickly outside. I could see they wanted this over as soon as possible. Surely if a rescue was going to be attempted now would be the time to do it. I looked into the crowd. It was huge. It looks like just about everyone had come out to see the show but there was no-one I recognised who might be there to prevent it. However I was glad to see that Mara and her family weren't there. They must have decided to stay at our house.

Everyone watched in silence as he was put into the noose. I was horrified. I don't think I can watch this. The guards stepped back. The lever was pulled and he dropped. I shut my eyes tightly. I really didn't want to be here.

This story can currently go two ways. I have an idea of what I am planning. Let me know what you think.