Story of a Princess Unknown – Chapter 16 - Kidnapped
This whole story, especially chapter 15, is dedicated to Matt, Vanessa and their family. Matt, rest in peace.
You guys are so lucky! It's the last week of school and I have no homework – plus the climax of this story is here! So you are getting an extra update – and the chapters will definitely be coming very fast over the holidays. Ahh, holidays. Holidays mean the three rs – riding, reading and riting. Ahem. Well. You know what I mean!
Don't wanna reply to everybody – just a few.
SerinaAngel – YAY! New reviewer! Thanks for your compliments!
Brain-brat – jeepers – I didn't know that the chapter would have such a big effect on you! Be careful!
Lady Gwen – you have begged, I have answered. Sorry – he is dead and done for.
Breathless74 – yes! Pippa and I are not the only nutty people who name our account after our horses! As I've said – holidays! RIDING! YAY!
Serendipity.Kwara – hey michelle. YAY! More new people! YAY! Oliver rocks! Well, I couldn't think of a name for the innkeeper – so why not Oliver?
Galelasa – YAY YAY YAY! I LOVE new people!
Ch33ky annie – language! hehe – glad you liked it!
JustWriter – I'm actually from NZ, not Oz – even more remote – and i STILL have NO idea what the Mew Mew thingy is!
You guys don't seem to like songfics – I can understand that as Everything Burns is a very new song – you kind of need to hear it to know what it sounds like to get the full impact of the story. Also, Eve is queen – but it is definitely NOT the end of the story – remember that there will be a sequel. I have the name and the beginning of it already – but I'm not telling! It probably won't be up for a while as I want to finish my Tamora Pierce story first.
Recap: As he flung the door open to Eve's room, she started and looked at him in surprise. Then her look changed to fear as she saw the blood on his shirt. He had to tell her. "Eve - I killed him. You. Queen." Then the pain in his chest became to much to bear - and he felt himself spinning into oblivion.
Eve was shocked. Jared – what have you done?
Then she came to her senses. "Oliver!" She called, her voice shrill with panic and fear, then bent down to try and lift Jared.
She heard the kind innkeeper's footsteps coming up the stairs. He started when he saw Jared's bloodied, unconscious body.
"What happened? Lass, don't try to move him by yourself." Oliver came and helped her lift Jared onto Eve's bed. He gasped when he saw the bleeding slash across his chest.
Eve, choking back tears of shock, replied, "I don't know. He just came in and said he killed someone." Then it dawned on her. His next words ... You. Queen.
"Oh no. No! He killed his father!" She couldn't stop the horror from showing on her face.
Oliver was lost for words. The kind, friendly prince he knew had killed his own father?
Why? Why would he kill Mordred? But Eve knew the answer, and her body was wracked with guilt. His last words came back to her - "But what about my duty to myself?" What about what I want?"
"We don't have time to think about this now," Oliver said urgently, noting her look of anguish and horror. "Lass, I need you to get a healer, a doctor. Quickly. We can't let him die."
Eve stared at him blankly for a moment, then her brain registered what he was saying. Can't let him die. She ran out of the room without a backwards glance, then out of the inn.
The words ran through her head in time to the pounding of her feet. Can't let him die. Can't let him die.
Luke and Callum stood once again in the same dark room, alone.
"It has happened, my lord! News from the palace spies - the prince has killed his father – it's our time to move!"
Suddenly Luke staggered backwards as Callum struck him full on the face. He raised his hand to his cheek slowly, imagining the imprint of Callum's hand glowing in the dark. But he stayed silent.
"YOU don't say when or where we move," Callum hissed at him. "And I have a bone to pick with you."
Luke tensed, expecting another blow. But none came.
"The girl." Luke flinched. "You TOLD me that she was DEAD! But no matter. I have a plan. You will bring her here. And this time, you will not fail."
Eve's breathing was harsh and fast as she ran, the rhythm of Oliver's words still pounding in her head. I have to find a healer, a doctor, quickly.
As Eve ran down a dark alleyway, she sensed a strange, tense atmosphere. Slowing to a walk, she backed away, meaning to get out of the alley. But as she turned around, she saw a dark figure silhouetted at the end she had come through. Whirling around, she saw another figure, clothed in black, blocking the other end at the other end. They were coming closer.
Eve stood her ground. She wasn't going to go down without a fight – for she knew now that these strangers had come for her, and her alone.
As the second figure came close, she spun around and lashed out, kicking him in the chest. She heard a sharp intake of breath and he fell to the ground, winded.
She spun again, quickly, to face the other figure. But he had been quick, advancing while she was engrossed with his companion, and a single, hard blow to her head knocked her to the ground before she was fully facing him.
As he bent to her level and grabbed her arms, she saw his eyes through the black mask he wore. She barely had time to register the ice-cold blueness of them before he forced something into her mouth – some sort of herb.
All of a sudden, though she badly wanted to fight, Eve felt her limbs grow weak and limp – they wouldn't obey her brain. She cried out in frustration and heard one of her captives laugh.
Then the one who had stuffed the herb into her mouth picked her up roughly and slung her across his back.
Eve felt her brain growing numb and fuzzy – she couldn't think. Her eyes blurred so that she couldn't see. All she knew was that soon she was being carried into a familiar, but blurry building. And she heard a familiar, harsh voice hissing at the men.
"Well, at last you've done something right. Brought me a pretty queen, I see." Callum's voice was mocking, then it changed back to his usual brusqueness as he spoke to Luke and her other captor.
"Well, nothing can be done with her right now. Lock her up – we'll put the plan into action tonight."
Eve felt herself being carried down, down to somewhere cold and clammy. She tried to hit out at Luke's arms in vain, but her limbs still wouldn't work.
Then he slung her roughly onto a hard stone floor, and she heard a clinking and grinding as if something was being locked. One last thought came into her head before the drug took it's full effect. I can't let him die.
Jared knew he was dreaming. His body was wracked with pain – and so was his mind. He knew he had done something awful, something for which he would never be forgiven. Then the pain took over and he was incapable of coherent thought.
Faces flashed past him – his mother, a distant, almost non-existent face from so long ago. His father, snarling, his face twisted with rage. Morgan, the powerful witch who had been his first friend. The man whose scream still haunted him as he was put to death. Then the face of a girl with deep green eyes and dark hair. His heart twisted.
Then it changed. Jared instinctively knew that this part of the dream was real. The same girl whose face he had seen before was lying on a stone floor in a dungeon, deep beneath some house. Suddenly Jared knew who she was – and his heart twisted again.
"Eve!" he tried to call, but he didn't know if he heard him. She twisted and cried out in her sleep. "He's dead!" And tears ran down her cheeks.
Jared tried to call out again. "Don't worry, Eve. I'm here with you. Stay strong, my love." Her eyes suddenly opened, and looked him straight in the face. "I love you!" She mouthed. He didn't want to leave, but he felt a powerful force pulling him. And he knew he had to go.
Jared woke, and looked into the eyes of a healer.
Eve was dreaming. She saw Jared, looking as though he was asleep on her bed at the inn. But she knew his was dead. "He's dead!" She cried. It's my fault! I tried so hard to fight them, Jared.
Then his eyes flew open and he looked her straight in the face. "Don't worry, Eve. I'm here with you. Stay strong, my love." And she knew that he wasn't dead, he was alive, he was going to be okay.
She tried to speak, but didn't know if he heard her. "I love you!" He smiled. Then disappeared.
Eve awoke. Her head felt much clearer, and she could move her limbs. Jared's words rang in her head – stay strong, my love. And she steeled herself for what was to come.
Oliver looked at the healer gratefully. "You saved him. The lass, she was so worried. I don't know where she is!" The innkeeper himself looked stressed and tired.
Jared was much more comfortable. The wound was healing, the blood was gone. His guilt ached inside of him. But he knew she was alright – Eve was strong, she would make it through anything.
"Don't worry, Oliver. She'll be alright." He said softly.
Eve was standing in her cell. Waiting. She knew that she was here for a reason. Late that night, Luke came, unlocked her cell door, and, holding tight to her arm, led her from the dungeons.
"How does it feel, Luke? To be the jailer of your old friend?" Eve said softly.
He spun her around, looking like he would like to slap her. But he didn't. "You have NO idea what it's like!" He hissed, angrily. But she could sense the pain radiating from him.
He led her into the room where they had beaten her up a day ago. Was it only a day? She marvelled. It feels so much longer.
The whole group was gathered there. As Eve saw a woman, her spirits rose. Mandy! If she's here, she won't let them do anything to me!
But as the woman turned, Eve saw it wasn't her fairy godmother. She felt like panicking. Then Jared's last words came back to her. Stay strong, my love.
She drew herself up as Luke led her up to Callum, who was standing next to the woman. There he left her as he went to sit with Blake and his friends.
"So. Queen Eve." Callum's words were mocking – but for the first time, it really hit Eve. I'm Queen. Jared said I'm queen – of Kyrria. And then she realised how much danger she was in.
"Queen – but not for long. Let's not waste time on idle chat – you are here for a reason, Queen Eve. I want the crown."
She gasped. Then angry words burst out of her – words she was afraid that she had known all along. "You never wanted this kingdom to be ruled by a fair leader – you don't care about my mother and father! You just wanted Mordred out of the way so that you could be king!"
"Clever girl! Precisely my plan. Now, you are the only one left in my way." Callum's voice turned from mocking to menacing.
"But I won't have to worry about you for long. Now, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. Have you met Lucinda?"
Ohh, evil cliffie, I know. But read and review and the next chappie will be up soon!
Love Amy