Desiree The Half Elf Princess Warrior: Keeper of the Rune

RACE AGAINST TIME

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

     Something was horribly wrong. Right from the start, Desiree could sense the wrongfulness in the air. Seeing Aiden sitting there in the lit room, Desiree didn't know what to make of this. Was it really Aiden? Or somebody else? 

     "Aiden?" she said in a low voice, hoping the figure strapped in the chair was in fact her adopted father and not someone else impersonating him. She recalled how Isabella had impersonated Miss Wiseman prior to taking the guidance counselor's life. It could be a trap. "Why are you sitting in the dark?"  

     If it was indeed her adopted father, he did not answer; he remained motionless in the chair as though he was dead to the world. 

     "Aiden?" she repeated, this time a little louder than her previous attempt. She could feel the panic rising inside of her with each and every second that went by. She hoped he was alright. What would she do if he was dead?

     Once again, Aiden didn't respond to her inquires. 

     "Desiree?" Cordelia said. "I don't feel right about this. It could be walking into a trick." 

     Desiree shook her head. "No. It's him, alright. I know it." 

     Though she couldn't explain how she knew it was her adopted father, but she had known regardless. Ever since she first put on the necklace a few days ago, somehow all her senses had become heighten. She was seeing the world differently now. I guess that's one of the perks of being the Runekeeper, she thought. 

     The closer she got the more she realized with great horror why the figure wasn't moving: its hands were tied down to the arms of the chair and its feet bound to the legs of the chair by ropes. His face was swollen and badly bruised like he had been in a 12 round boxing match. 

     At first glance, Aiden appeared to be unconscious. His head was facing downwards with a discolored cloth stuffed in his mouth. Desiree rounded on him. She laid a hand upon his shoulder. 

     The moment she touched him, his dark brown eyes shot open. Aiden squirmed within the chair, struggling to free himself, nearly tipping the chair over in the process. He groaned in frustration as the robes retraining him would not give an inch. 

     "Aiden. It's okay," Desiree spoke, her voice was laden with emotion as she with great care, removed the rag from his mouth. "It's only me. Desiree. Your adopted daughter. Remember? Are you okay?" "

     Desiree? But how? What are you doing here? You shouldn't have come right now. If they find you who knows what they will do to you." his voice was softened. He stared at her with squinted eyes.

     Desiree didn't care. As far as she was concern the only thing that mattered was getting her adopted father out of the ropes. 

     "What happened?" she asked, frantically undoing the ropes as fast as she could. Her insides were quivering.

     "They broke into the house," Aiden explained. "Caught us by surprise. I tried to fight them off, but there was too many of them. They managed to overpower me and must've tied me up in this chair after I was knocked unconscious. My guess is that they took your adopted mother. Somehow they managed to get passed the protection spell." 

     Desiree couldn't take it in. If the Order was able to overcome the containment barrier designed to protect her and her family what could she do to prevent them from doing further damage. "They murdered the sentries. We came upon them in the yard."

     Aden gave an incredulous expression. "That explains a lot, but how did you get passed the Order?" 

      "I didn't. We came through the window. The Order don't know I'm here. With any luck I'd plan on keeping it that way. Where's Brenda?"