Chapter 24: Perhaps. . .perhaps not?
When she returned to a conscious state of mind, she realized she had been thrown over a shoulder. With the blood rushing to her head, it was hard to remember what had happened, or even who she was. Shortly, she remembered-her name at least. She was Elizabeth Turner. But whoever was carrying her was not her husband. She tried to open her eyes and found that a blindfold had been tied tightly over them.
Memory hit her. God, she was being kidnapped by Amos. She knew better than to test her bonds, or let him know in any obvious way that she was awake. Over the pounding of blood in her ears, she could hear him whispering to himself again, and still could not understand a word of what he was saying. Once she thought she might have heard him say "Amara," but once again, she no longer cared as she slipped into the oblivion of unconsciousness once more.
********************************
Still unable to sleep, Amara went down the hall to check and see if Elizabeth was still awake. Finding the door wide open with no light emanating from it, she immediately assumed that Elizabeth had indeed been unable to sleep and was perhaps in the library, and yet when she made her way down there, this room was dark as well.
In fact, the entire house appeared to be dark.
********************************
Amos brought Elizabeth in through the servants' entrance, knowing no one would be about to see him, and took her up to his quarters. He had one of his quarries in hand, and was infuriated that he had been unable to find the other. He had been absolutely positive that Amara had fled to her precious friend Elizabeth after the letters had been stolen, and yet he had not found her. When he tossed Elizabeth casually to the floor and noted with some satisfaction that she didn't move, he took to pacing, debating with himself over where his mother could possibly be, and what he could do about it. He thought about telling his father that she had sneaked out, but eventually decided that it would be best if he pretended he knew nothing of it. None of the servants that cleaned his room would dare mention anything about his "guest," they were all too well trained. Yes, he would pretend that Amara was missing while surreptitiously searching Port Royal for her by night. Smiling, he laid down in his bed-not even bothering to check that Elizabeth's blindfold had remained in place-and fell into a deep sleep.
********************************
She came back to consciousness once more, and when she automatically opened her eyes she found no barrier in front of them, only the natural darkness of night. Coming more to awareness, she determined she was lying on a carpeted floor-and she hadn't been gently put there, judging by the soreness in the side she was laying on.
God she ached. Her head hurt from being carried half upside down for so long, her body ached from being tossed to the ground, wrists and ankles chafing in the restraints put on them, and her mouth was extremely dry from the gag that had been placed in her mouth. Tears started, blurring the few shapes she could make out in the darkness, and she ruthlessly choked them back. She had to get out of here. She couldn't do that if she was crying.
Hearing a loud snort all of a sudden made her twitch violently, which made the pain in her body that much worse. When regulated snoring followed, she relaxed, knowing that her captor was asleep. Now, how could she escape?
********************************
Amara was panicked. She had checked Elizabeth's room, this time actually entering, and had found nothing. She searched the rest of the household and found nothing of her friend. Finally running out of places to look, she woke the few servants that stayed overnight. After she had told her story, they were inclined to dismiss it entirely, but searched anyway to humor her. When they too found no sign of her, they also became aware of the seriousness of the situation. Elizabeth never left the house after dark.
********************************
The clock struck three. She was at the doorway leading into the hall, her movements still punctuated by Amos' loud snores. God, she had to escape, she had to get out before he woke up. The gag muffled the sob that tried to escape her throat as she scooted herself the direction she prayed the door was.
********************************
"Well?!" Amara shouted in a shrill voice not her own. "What can we do?"
"Miss, we have to wait until morning. That's the only thing we can do. We can't report anything until the right officers are on duty. We're sorry, Miss, but there is nothing else we can do!"
She choked back the tirade she longed to launch at the man, knowing he was right, though she did not want to think that there was nothing to be done. She sat down, completely worn out, and hung her head in her hands, praying Elizabeth was safe.
********************************
She groaned inwardly when she reached the top of the stairs. This was going to be hell. Pushing herself carefully into an upright position, she began the long descent down the steps, praying with all her might that Amos would not waken. The clock struck the half hour. Several times during this journey down the stairs she had to stop and rest when the pain in her body became too much to bear. She was vaguely aware of tears streaming down her face.
When at last she reached the foot of the long stairwell, she rested again, absolutely exhausted by her efforts. When she raised her head to get her bearings, she found she was in a familiar room, one that led to the front door she herself had entered more than two weeks ago. She was so close to freedom! Frantic energy filled her and she scooted along the floor much like a worm or snake, desperate to reach the door that symbolized her freedom.
When she realized that she could see considerably better all of a sudden, she knew it was too late. "And just what have we here?" came a masculine voice from behind her.
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Well, I finally figured out why my ellipses would work and my sentences looked weird. Sheesh, dumb ff.net. Anyway, thank you very much to the three reviewers that informed me that Norrington's first name is, indeed, James, and does anyone else find it ironic that Arianne's suitor's name happens to be the same? Also, I changed my settings so that I can accept anonymous reviews, although I thoroughly enjoy the signed reviews so I can learn about my readers! As soon as I get some time, I'll start reading some of your stories! Alright, once again, I very very VERY much appreciate all the good reviews and the help you all have given me, though I fear you're beginning to hate me for my cliffhangers, lol. *wink* I also very much appreciate the people that signed in to review though they apparently despise doing so, and I'm sorry about my former settings, I think it did that automatically. :S Alright! So! What will happen in the next chapter do you suppose? Will we see what happens to Elizabeth? Or will we return to the Black Pearl? Who knows! I certainly don't! ^.^ Ta ta for now!
When she returned to a conscious state of mind, she realized she had been thrown over a shoulder. With the blood rushing to her head, it was hard to remember what had happened, or even who she was. Shortly, she remembered-her name at least. She was Elizabeth Turner. But whoever was carrying her was not her husband. She tried to open her eyes and found that a blindfold had been tied tightly over them.
Memory hit her. God, she was being kidnapped by Amos. She knew better than to test her bonds, or let him know in any obvious way that she was awake. Over the pounding of blood in her ears, she could hear him whispering to himself again, and still could not understand a word of what he was saying. Once she thought she might have heard him say "Amara," but once again, she no longer cared as she slipped into the oblivion of unconsciousness once more.
********************************
Still unable to sleep, Amara went down the hall to check and see if Elizabeth was still awake. Finding the door wide open with no light emanating from it, she immediately assumed that Elizabeth had indeed been unable to sleep and was perhaps in the library, and yet when she made her way down there, this room was dark as well.
In fact, the entire house appeared to be dark.
********************************
Amos brought Elizabeth in through the servants' entrance, knowing no one would be about to see him, and took her up to his quarters. He had one of his quarries in hand, and was infuriated that he had been unable to find the other. He had been absolutely positive that Amara had fled to her precious friend Elizabeth after the letters had been stolen, and yet he had not found her. When he tossed Elizabeth casually to the floor and noted with some satisfaction that she didn't move, he took to pacing, debating with himself over where his mother could possibly be, and what he could do about it. He thought about telling his father that she had sneaked out, but eventually decided that it would be best if he pretended he knew nothing of it. None of the servants that cleaned his room would dare mention anything about his "guest," they were all too well trained. Yes, he would pretend that Amara was missing while surreptitiously searching Port Royal for her by night. Smiling, he laid down in his bed-not even bothering to check that Elizabeth's blindfold had remained in place-and fell into a deep sleep.
********************************
She came back to consciousness once more, and when she automatically opened her eyes she found no barrier in front of them, only the natural darkness of night. Coming more to awareness, she determined she was lying on a carpeted floor-and she hadn't been gently put there, judging by the soreness in the side she was laying on.
God she ached. Her head hurt from being carried half upside down for so long, her body ached from being tossed to the ground, wrists and ankles chafing in the restraints put on them, and her mouth was extremely dry from the gag that had been placed in her mouth. Tears started, blurring the few shapes she could make out in the darkness, and she ruthlessly choked them back. She had to get out of here. She couldn't do that if she was crying.
Hearing a loud snort all of a sudden made her twitch violently, which made the pain in her body that much worse. When regulated snoring followed, she relaxed, knowing that her captor was asleep. Now, how could she escape?
********************************
Amara was panicked. She had checked Elizabeth's room, this time actually entering, and had found nothing. She searched the rest of the household and found nothing of her friend. Finally running out of places to look, she woke the few servants that stayed overnight. After she had told her story, they were inclined to dismiss it entirely, but searched anyway to humor her. When they too found no sign of her, they also became aware of the seriousness of the situation. Elizabeth never left the house after dark.
********************************
The clock struck three. She was at the doorway leading into the hall, her movements still punctuated by Amos' loud snores. God, she had to escape, she had to get out before he woke up. The gag muffled the sob that tried to escape her throat as she scooted herself the direction she prayed the door was.
********************************
"Well?!" Amara shouted in a shrill voice not her own. "What can we do?"
"Miss, we have to wait until morning. That's the only thing we can do. We can't report anything until the right officers are on duty. We're sorry, Miss, but there is nothing else we can do!"
She choked back the tirade she longed to launch at the man, knowing he was right, though she did not want to think that there was nothing to be done. She sat down, completely worn out, and hung her head in her hands, praying Elizabeth was safe.
********************************
She groaned inwardly when she reached the top of the stairs. This was going to be hell. Pushing herself carefully into an upright position, she began the long descent down the steps, praying with all her might that Amos would not waken. The clock struck the half hour. Several times during this journey down the stairs she had to stop and rest when the pain in her body became too much to bear. She was vaguely aware of tears streaming down her face.
When at last she reached the foot of the long stairwell, she rested again, absolutely exhausted by her efforts. When she raised her head to get her bearings, she found she was in a familiar room, one that led to the front door she herself had entered more than two weeks ago. She was so close to freedom! Frantic energy filled her and she scooted along the floor much like a worm or snake, desperate to reach the door that symbolized her freedom.
When she realized that she could see considerably better all of a sudden, she knew it was too late. "And just what have we here?" came a masculine voice from behind her.
************************************************************************
Well, I finally figured out why my ellipses would work and my sentences looked weird. Sheesh, dumb ff.net. Anyway, thank you very much to the three reviewers that informed me that Norrington's first name is, indeed, James, and does anyone else find it ironic that Arianne's suitor's name happens to be the same? Also, I changed my settings so that I can accept anonymous reviews, although I thoroughly enjoy the signed reviews so I can learn about my readers! As soon as I get some time, I'll start reading some of your stories! Alright, once again, I very very VERY much appreciate all the good reviews and the help you all have given me, though I fear you're beginning to hate me for my cliffhangers, lol. *wink* I also very much appreciate the people that signed in to review though they apparently despise doing so, and I'm sorry about my former settings, I think it did that automatically. :S Alright! So! What will happen in the next chapter do you suppose? Will we see what happens to Elizabeth? Or will we return to the Black Pearl? Who knows! I certainly don't! ^.^ Ta ta for now!