Sacrifice
A Sequel to Quietly into the Night
Conventional Couples
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Sixteen
[I]Antar - Royal Palace[/I]
One of the guards passed his hand over the control panel and opened the door to the suite that Liz shared with Kyle and Kam. They unceremoniously dump her body on the floor and leave, securing the door behind them. Liz groaned on the floor and tried to stand up, but the effort sapped what little strength she had and she passed out. Several hours later, she woke and gazed around the room from her vantage point on the floor. When she realized that she was back in her own quarters, Liz pulled her self into a sitting position. The room began to spin and she quickly shut her eyes to block out the sight. She slowly dragged herself into a chair, her eyes still closed. She waited a few minutes and cautiously opened her eyes again. This time, she was rewarded with a room that didn't spin.
She slowly pushed herself up off of the chair into a standing position and looked around. The room seemed so empty without Kyle and Kam, but it was the best alone she had ever felt. Knowing her son was away from that mad man Kivar made everything she went through worthwhile. Slowly she made her way across the room to Kam's sleeping quarters and looked inside. She smiled when she realized that Balchie and Betchie, the two bears she had tried to make for her children while she was pregnant, were missing. She moved slowly to her own room and went to the place where she hid her journal. It was missing, but in its place was a letter.
[I]Dear Liz,
You must realize how much it killed me to leave you here, but I realized that you were right. It was the only way to save Kam, and I also realized that if I didn't do it, you would kill yourself trying to do it.
You know where I'm going to take him Liz, and I've told you how to get there. I won't write it down in case anybody but you finds this. I will protect your son Liz, with my life, and I will be back to get you, you can count on it. You are my best friend, and I can't lose you.
Love
Kyle[/I]
Liz wiped away the tear that slid slowly down her cheek. She passed her hand over the paper, causing it to burst into flames. Smoke eddied up from the ashes and drifted towards the ceiling. Coughing a little, Liz exited the room and stepped out into the main room. As she did, the door slid open to reveal two guards who rushed in and began to look around. "The sensors indicated that there is a fire. Where is it? What is burning?" asked one of the guards, while the other took her by the arm and tried to pull her from the room. "You'll have to come with me," he said. "While Krochi looks for the source of the fire." "I can't leave this room!" cried Liz. "The security bracelet, it will kill me." The guard grabbed Liz and pulled her out of the room into the hallway. As they passed through the doorway, Liz braced herself for the feeling of pain, but nothing happened. She looked at the guard questioningly, but said nothing. Noting her puzzlement, the guard looked around furtively and whispered, "Have no fear Your Majesty. The bracelet will only work if you open the door from the inside. If we open the door from the outside to bring you out, you are in no danger. The time will come when you can use this information, but you must wait. Do you understand me Majesty?" Liz nodded her head to show that she understood.
The other guard came into the hallway and glared at Liz. "There was no fire in there. What did you do?" "I didn't do anything," said Liz innocently. "I was busy being unconscious until right before you came storming into my quarters. I don't believe that Lord Kivar would want his fiancée to be treated in such a manner, do you?" The guard blanched but said nothing. "You there," she said pointing at the guard who had told her about the bracelet. "What is your name?" "I am Cadrik, Your Majesty," he said. "Cadrik, you may tell Lord Kivar that I am thankful for your assistance during this manner. You may also tell him that I never wish to see this buffoon near my quarters again." She looked at Krochi while she spoke and she noted that his face had gone deathly pale. "Aye Majesty," said Cadrik, nodding his head. "As you wish." "No, wait," Liz said imperiously. "I've changed my mind. Krochi, you have displeased me, but I do not believe I shall inform Lord Kivar. I shall keep my silence for a price." "Yes Your Majesty, I am your willing servant. You only have to ask for what you wish," groveled Krochi. "I am quite hungry, and feeling very weak. I will need food, and plenty of it to rebuild my strength," she said. "Can you do this for me?" "Yes, Your Majesty," Krochi said, bowing. "I will be most pleased to do this for you. Will you want anything else?" "If I do," she said with a slight smile. "You will be the first to know. Cadrik, will you please escort me into my room now?"
Cadrik and Liz walked into the suite of rooms. "Well done Majesty," Cadrik whispered. "Gather your strength for you will need it." "Thank you Cadrik, for everything," she said squeezing his hand. "No, those of us who support the Royal Family thank you, Majesty." "Cadrik, there is one thing," Liz said as he prepared to leave. "Is there any way you can tell Kivar I need to see him. I suppose I had better accept his proposal of marriage." She made a face as she spoke and Cadrik laughed softly. "Aye Majesty," he said. "It will be done."
Several hours later, the door to the suite slid open and Kivar walked in. "Elizabeth, I understand that you wished to speak with me?" he said. "Yes, I do. I have given your proposal serious thought, and I can see that it has some merits," she said. "Living, for one," said Kivar. "Yes, that would be one of them," Liz answered dryly. "But I do have some questions." "Of course you do. You are a wise woman Elizabeth, not one to rush foolishly into something with her eyes closed. Please ask your questions, and I will do my best to answer them." "If I were to marry you, would I still remain a prisoner in the palace, or would I be given my freedom?"
"Not right away Elizabeth. You will have to earn your freedom by proving to me that you are loyal to me and to no other." "My son. I want his safety, and the safety of Kyle to be guaranteed." "No, I cannot do that," said Kivar. "Kyle is a traitor, he took your son from the palace and has disappeared. He must be eliminated." "Interesting, you call him a traitor Kivar? Why is that?"
Kivar walked across the room and looked out the window into the courtyard below. "It is quite simple Elizabeth, he defied me." "Really, in what way? Did you ever specifically say that Kam could not leave the palace? If you wanted him to remain, why did you not fit him with a security bracelet such as mine?" Kivar started to speak when he realized that what Liz said was true. "It is true that I never stated any such thing. You are clever Elizabeth, very clever. You will make a fine wife." "I want your promise Kivar, that nothing will happen to them, my son Kam, and my friend Kyle will be allowed to live," said Liz firmly. "Fine," said Kivar, not meaning a word of what he said. "Kyle and Kam will be allowed to live, but never within the grounds of the Royal Palace. From here they are banned forever." "As you wish Kivar," said Elizabeth, also not meaning a word of what she said. "I will become your wife."
"A wise choice Elizabeth," said Kivar. "The wedding will take place immediately!" "Excuse me, but where I come from, the bride has some say as to when her wedding will take place. I will need some time to recover from my [I]ordeal[/I]. I will beg your indulgence and ask you for some time to prepare Lord Kivar." "Fine," said Kivar. "So be it. You may have one of your Earth months to prepare for our wedding." "Kivar, there is one other thing," said Liz. "I would like to spend some time getting to know you. Would that be possible?" "Yes Elizabeth, I believe that would be wise. Perhaps I could have the guards escort you my sitting room occasionally."
"That would be nice," said Liz. "And there would be no fear of my escaping as long as I was wearing this," she said indicating the security bracelet. "Precisely," said Kivar. "I shall leave you now Elizabeth, but we shall talk again soon.
He exited the room and walked down the hallway pleased with himself. By marrying Elizabeth, he would secure his position as ruler of Antar. Those loyal to the Royal family would look favorably upon him. He had Elizabeth firmly under his thumb after just a few short hours of torture. She was so afraid of the bracelet that she would never try to escape. The only other matter he had to attend to was her son. He would track down that brat of hers, and the traitor Kyle and kill them both.
Alone in her room, Liz smiled to herself. Kivar was an idiot; there was no doubt about it. He was so sure of himself that he never doubted her swift turn around. As if a few hours of torture would make her agree to marry him. She walked across the room and made her way into Kyle's bedroom. She looked through his clothing and found a pair of pants and a shirt that came close to fitting her. None of his shoes fit, but she would manage with what she had. Carrying the clothing she selected to her room, she hid them carefully where no one would find them. Feeling exhausted suddenly, she climbed into her bed and drifted off to sleep, secure in the thought that she had a plan for escape.
A Sequel to Quietly into the Night
Conventional Couples
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Sixteen
[I]Antar - Royal Palace[/I]
One of the guards passed his hand over the control panel and opened the door to the suite that Liz shared with Kyle and Kam. They unceremoniously dump her body on the floor and leave, securing the door behind them. Liz groaned on the floor and tried to stand up, but the effort sapped what little strength she had and she passed out. Several hours later, she woke and gazed around the room from her vantage point on the floor. When she realized that she was back in her own quarters, Liz pulled her self into a sitting position. The room began to spin and she quickly shut her eyes to block out the sight. She slowly dragged herself into a chair, her eyes still closed. She waited a few minutes and cautiously opened her eyes again. This time, she was rewarded with a room that didn't spin.
She slowly pushed herself up off of the chair into a standing position and looked around. The room seemed so empty without Kyle and Kam, but it was the best alone she had ever felt. Knowing her son was away from that mad man Kivar made everything she went through worthwhile. Slowly she made her way across the room to Kam's sleeping quarters and looked inside. She smiled when she realized that Balchie and Betchie, the two bears she had tried to make for her children while she was pregnant, were missing. She moved slowly to her own room and went to the place where she hid her journal. It was missing, but in its place was a letter.
[I]Dear Liz,
You must realize how much it killed me to leave you here, but I realized that you were right. It was the only way to save Kam, and I also realized that if I didn't do it, you would kill yourself trying to do it.
You know where I'm going to take him Liz, and I've told you how to get there. I won't write it down in case anybody but you finds this. I will protect your son Liz, with my life, and I will be back to get you, you can count on it. You are my best friend, and I can't lose you.
Love
Kyle[/I]
Liz wiped away the tear that slid slowly down her cheek. She passed her hand over the paper, causing it to burst into flames. Smoke eddied up from the ashes and drifted towards the ceiling. Coughing a little, Liz exited the room and stepped out into the main room. As she did, the door slid open to reveal two guards who rushed in and began to look around. "The sensors indicated that there is a fire. Where is it? What is burning?" asked one of the guards, while the other took her by the arm and tried to pull her from the room. "You'll have to come with me," he said. "While Krochi looks for the source of the fire." "I can't leave this room!" cried Liz. "The security bracelet, it will kill me." The guard grabbed Liz and pulled her out of the room into the hallway. As they passed through the doorway, Liz braced herself for the feeling of pain, but nothing happened. She looked at the guard questioningly, but said nothing. Noting her puzzlement, the guard looked around furtively and whispered, "Have no fear Your Majesty. The bracelet will only work if you open the door from the inside. If we open the door from the outside to bring you out, you are in no danger. The time will come when you can use this information, but you must wait. Do you understand me Majesty?" Liz nodded her head to show that she understood.
The other guard came into the hallway and glared at Liz. "There was no fire in there. What did you do?" "I didn't do anything," said Liz innocently. "I was busy being unconscious until right before you came storming into my quarters. I don't believe that Lord Kivar would want his fiancée to be treated in such a manner, do you?" The guard blanched but said nothing. "You there," she said pointing at the guard who had told her about the bracelet. "What is your name?" "I am Cadrik, Your Majesty," he said. "Cadrik, you may tell Lord Kivar that I am thankful for your assistance during this manner. You may also tell him that I never wish to see this buffoon near my quarters again." She looked at Krochi while she spoke and she noted that his face had gone deathly pale. "Aye Majesty," said Cadrik, nodding his head. "As you wish." "No, wait," Liz said imperiously. "I've changed my mind. Krochi, you have displeased me, but I do not believe I shall inform Lord Kivar. I shall keep my silence for a price." "Yes Your Majesty, I am your willing servant. You only have to ask for what you wish," groveled Krochi. "I am quite hungry, and feeling very weak. I will need food, and plenty of it to rebuild my strength," she said. "Can you do this for me?" "Yes, Your Majesty," Krochi said, bowing. "I will be most pleased to do this for you. Will you want anything else?" "If I do," she said with a slight smile. "You will be the first to know. Cadrik, will you please escort me into my room now?"
Cadrik and Liz walked into the suite of rooms. "Well done Majesty," Cadrik whispered. "Gather your strength for you will need it." "Thank you Cadrik, for everything," she said squeezing his hand. "No, those of us who support the Royal Family thank you, Majesty." "Cadrik, there is one thing," Liz said as he prepared to leave. "Is there any way you can tell Kivar I need to see him. I suppose I had better accept his proposal of marriage." She made a face as she spoke and Cadrik laughed softly. "Aye Majesty," he said. "It will be done."
Several hours later, the door to the suite slid open and Kivar walked in. "Elizabeth, I understand that you wished to speak with me?" he said. "Yes, I do. I have given your proposal serious thought, and I can see that it has some merits," she said. "Living, for one," said Kivar. "Yes, that would be one of them," Liz answered dryly. "But I do have some questions." "Of course you do. You are a wise woman Elizabeth, not one to rush foolishly into something with her eyes closed. Please ask your questions, and I will do my best to answer them." "If I were to marry you, would I still remain a prisoner in the palace, or would I be given my freedom?"
"Not right away Elizabeth. You will have to earn your freedom by proving to me that you are loyal to me and to no other." "My son. I want his safety, and the safety of Kyle to be guaranteed." "No, I cannot do that," said Kivar. "Kyle is a traitor, he took your son from the palace and has disappeared. He must be eliminated." "Interesting, you call him a traitor Kivar? Why is that?"
Kivar walked across the room and looked out the window into the courtyard below. "It is quite simple Elizabeth, he defied me." "Really, in what way? Did you ever specifically say that Kam could not leave the palace? If you wanted him to remain, why did you not fit him with a security bracelet such as mine?" Kivar started to speak when he realized that what Liz said was true. "It is true that I never stated any such thing. You are clever Elizabeth, very clever. You will make a fine wife." "I want your promise Kivar, that nothing will happen to them, my son Kam, and my friend Kyle will be allowed to live," said Liz firmly. "Fine," said Kivar, not meaning a word of what he said. "Kyle and Kam will be allowed to live, but never within the grounds of the Royal Palace. From here they are banned forever." "As you wish Kivar," said Elizabeth, also not meaning a word of what she said. "I will become your wife."
"A wise choice Elizabeth," said Kivar. "The wedding will take place immediately!" "Excuse me, but where I come from, the bride has some say as to when her wedding will take place. I will need some time to recover from my [I]ordeal[/I]. I will beg your indulgence and ask you for some time to prepare Lord Kivar." "Fine," said Kivar. "So be it. You may have one of your Earth months to prepare for our wedding." "Kivar, there is one other thing," said Liz. "I would like to spend some time getting to know you. Would that be possible?" "Yes Elizabeth, I believe that would be wise. Perhaps I could have the guards escort you my sitting room occasionally."
"That would be nice," said Liz. "And there would be no fear of my escaping as long as I was wearing this," she said indicating the security bracelet. "Precisely," said Kivar. "I shall leave you now Elizabeth, but we shall talk again soon.
He exited the room and walked down the hallway pleased with himself. By marrying Elizabeth, he would secure his position as ruler of Antar. Those loyal to the Royal family would look favorably upon him. He had Elizabeth firmly under his thumb after just a few short hours of torture. She was so afraid of the bracelet that she would never try to escape. The only other matter he had to attend to was her son. He would track down that brat of hers, and the traitor Kyle and kill them both.
Alone in her room, Liz smiled to herself. Kivar was an idiot; there was no doubt about it. He was so sure of himself that he never doubted her swift turn around. As if a few hours of torture would make her agree to marry him. She walked across the room and made her way into Kyle's bedroom. She looked through his clothing and found a pair of pants and a shirt that came close to fitting her. None of his shoes fit, but she would manage with what she had. Carrying the clothing she selected to her room, she hid them carefully where no one would find them. Feeling exhausted suddenly, she climbed into her bed and drifted off to sleep, secure in the thought that she had a plan for escape.