I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.
Chapter 14
When Rose woke up, she was in a black bed. Velvet blankets entangled her and it looked as if she was back home in her castle. The one she had shared with Marcus. She got up to take in her surrounds and noticed that this castle was much darker; even when she was with Marcus.
A servant came in with a tray of food. "Here is your food, my lady. We were wondering when you would wake. I will inform the master." She took off immediately.
Rose looked in the closet and found some of her old clothes hanging in the wardrobe. It was like Marcus had never left. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Good morning, love." Marcus said, coming up behind her. "Did you miss me?"
"Of course I did. What about Richard and the children? They'll be worried sick." Rose answered. "I need to tell them I am at least alive."
"They will find out soon enough." Marcus answered. "For now, you will remain here and be served by my servants."
"Are you going to take away Richard's bonding?" Rose asked fearfully. "Because if you did, Richard would fight against you."
"Yes, Richard seems to be his mother's son more than his father's half-breed."
"Please don't call him that."
"Kane taught him his magic no doubt." Marcus taunted.
"Lady Morgana did, actually."
"Interesting."
"Kane had no interest in teaching him magic." Rose answered. "Marcus, you can stop this."
"I've come too far to let this all die. You will be thriving at my side with another child and the children will be feared."
"Marcus, I am not a broodmare."
"No, but you are my wife, which means you obey me."
"You bed me and then what? You'll leave to fight your war and send for me once you've won your prizes?" Rose asked, horrified.
"That was the idea, yes." Marcus said, peeling off his shirt.
"Marcus, please. Stop this. You aren't yourself."
"Rose, my dear, don't you understand. This is how I earned my righteous nickname. I took what I desired and no one would stop me. You won't stop me and our son won't stop me." Marcus cackled as Rose backed into a corner. He came over to her and took out his knife. "Such a beautiful woman. You will cower in fear in my presence from now on." He dragged his knife across the folds of fabric. "You belong to me and that means anything you wear belongs to me as well."
"This was your favorite gown. I wore it every year on your birthday." Rose sobbed.
"I know, but I will buy you a new one when I am king." Marcus answered, ripping the fabric apart and letting it fall to the floor. She stood there shivering and naked. "Come to the bed, Rose."
She did as she was told. He held her, surprisingly gentle.
As if answering her thoughts, he answered. "You are still the mother of my children." His hard look seemed to soften. "Don't worry, love. No harm will come to the people or our children. Only those who fight for the usurper will pay with their lives."
Rose shuddered, wondering where Richard was.
Richard felt the shudder, which though a negative action was actually a good sign she was still alive. "My lady Morgana!" He called as he saw her in the hallway. "Mother's still alive."
"That's wonderful news, my lord." Morgana answered.
"I want you to show me how to do what father did in the throne room a few days ago."
"Move from place to place?" Morgana asked as he nodded. "That is something only a Reaper can do. I unfortunately cannot teach the trick to you. I taught you all that I knew, my prince."
"Can you tell me how he does it at least?"
"He wills it so and he goes to where he wills. If you will yourself to your mother, no doubt you will find her. But be careful. Your father will mean to trap you with her. If you are going to go after her, at least make sure that you can get her out of his grasp beforehand. Otherwise, you might find yourself commanding an army against the High King." Morgana warned.
"What would you do, Lady Morgana?" Richard looked at her.
"I chose to watch my son and my brother die by each other's hand. Do not make your mother endure the same fate as I. I do not believe she could handle the heartache of losing a child like I did. You must think of her." Morgana turned and left at that.
"Kane! Kane!" Richard ran to his chambers. "Mother's alive."
Kane looked up, from strategy with Lord John and Lord Adam. "You felt her?"
"She's scared, but alive." Richard confirmed.
"Good, that means he'll try to use her as leverage." Kane answered.
"Actually, I think he means to use her as a trap." Richard interjected.
"For what?" Lord Adam asked.
"For me. To lure me. He knows I've bonded to her. He will no doubt use that to his advantage. But, I believe that if we planned accordingly, we can ambush him and kill him."
"Don't be daft, boy, you can't kill a Reaper." Lord Adam admonished.
"But the kid does have a point." Lord John began. "If he could get to the Queen, he could get her out safely before we besiege the castle."
"A good plan. If we knew where the castle was." Kane answered. "Do you know where she is?"
"I don't know. I keep trying, but the details of the outside around her are cut off. A spell in its way and I can't see it." Richard said.
"Very well, we will prepare the army. You try to keep contact with your mother. Lord Adam, I want you to fortify this castle with whatever you need. The ladies and the royal children will be under your protection and will be forced to obey your orders." Kane then turned to Lord John. "Sound the call, in secret, for new recruits. We will strike in two months, whether or not Richard has found the Queen. I want scouts sent out in every direction looking for her."
"It shall be done, my king." They exited.
"Father?" Vivian was in the doorway. She looked so much like her mother. "Where's mother? Is she coming home?"
"We'll find her, Vivian. I promise." Kane hugged her close. "But I need you to do something for me."
"What's that?"
"I need you to be brave and always listen to Richard and your mother, can you do that?" The little girl nodded. "Good girl. Now go to sleep. Father will stay up and look for your mother."
"Father?"
"Yes, Vivian?"
"I hope you find the bad man who took Mother."
"I do too, Vivian. I do too."