Keditha's Beloved

Chapter Twenty

It's been many weeks since Julian's twenty first Birthday. I haven't seen Julian or any of the Kleinhaus since also.

I was still mad at Julian but I could feel myself slowly getting over him. Slowly but surely, I was healing.

But on a brighter note, my father said that him and Nicholas have decided to discuss the terms of the treaty over again. One that doesn't involve me marrying Philip. Nicholas was extremely kind about he whole thing, even apologized to me about Philip's behavior. He must've had everyone fooled.

Everything pretty much has gone back to normal, back before I met Julian. Except father, he was still sick but at least his health has gotten worse, it just hasn't gotten better.

Recently I decided to continue my nature walks. Being out here, I forgot how much I missed it. There's was nothing besides the rustling of the leaves and soft whistling of birds.

Perhaps I should head to the enclosed pond. But there could be a chance Julian will be there. Maybe I should skip it for the day.

A crack sounds behind me and before I could react, someone grabs me from behind placing their hand over my mouth so I couldn't scream.

A tall muscular man steps in front of me, a piece of cloth covered half his face so I couldn't tell who he was. All I could tell is that he had icy blue eyes. "Hello princess." He coos. "We have someone who would very much like to see you."

I try to break free but the man holding me was too strong and my screams only come out muffled.

The man in front of me straightens. "Tie her up and then bring her to the horses." He snaps.

The man holding me pins me to the ground. He too had a cloth across his face, only showing his light brown eyes. He ties my hands and feet. He then ties a cloth around my mouth.

He drags me to my feet, placing me on the back of his horse. I kick and try to scream. But it doesn't work.

"Ready?" The blue eyed man asks, already on his horse.

"Yep." The other man says, climbing in  the saddle in front of me. Both of them snap the reigns and horses start into a steady gallop.

I wrestle against the ropes tied around my hands. They cut my skin, causing them to bleed. Tears sting in my eyes from the pain and the fear.

Why was going on? What did they mean about having someone who wanted to see me?

I should've just stayed home. This was all a bad idea and no one knows I'm even missing. No one knows where I am.

I continue trying to loosen the ropes but nothing worked. It was hopeless. That thought only makes the tears fall faster.

We ride for what felt like hours. The sun was starting to set when they finally stopped. But we were still in the middle of the forest.

"We'll set up camp for the night." Blue eye man says. "Get her off the horse." He commands.

The other man pulls me off the horse and dragging me over to a tree, shoving me down. "Don't move." He snaps.

I sniff. I probably looked terrible. My hair was a disheveled mess and my eyes were probably red and puffy from crying.

The blue eyed man crouches in front of me. "Are you going to scream?" He ask nonchalantly. I shake my head in response. "Alright." He pulls the cloth off my mouth, allowing me to talk.

"What do you want from me?" I ask.

He grins. "I want nothing from you. It's what my payer wants. And he wants you."

"Who is your payer?" I ask.

The man pulls the cloth back up. "Alright enough questions. Just sit back darling, we'll be there tomorrow." 

"Why did you even let her talk?" The Brown eyed man snaps. "You're going to mess everything up!"

"Just build the campfire." He snaps back.

They spent the rest of the evening arguing with each other. It was annoying but at least they weren't focused on me. I soon doze off as they continue fighting.

               ____________________

Water splashes on me, waking me up. I try to gasp but it comes out muffled and awkward sounding.

Brown eyed man roughly pulls me to my feet by my wrists. I wince at the pain. My wrist were raw and bleeding. It was extremely painful. "Time to keep moving princess." He sneers.

He tries to put me back on the horse but I kick him in the shin. He shoves me to the ground. "Listen here princess, the only reason you're still alive is because our payer wants you that way. But do not test my patience."  He picks me up, placing me on the horse.

"Let's go Simeon. We're going to be late." The blue eyed man says, already riding away.

Simeon mumbles something, climbing into the saddle. He snaps the reigns and we ride after the blue eyed man.

Hours pass and we continue riding. Where were we going? I can't think of anyone I knew this far away. All I know is I was tired and desperately wanted to be home. Surely someone noticed I was gone, right?

Another hour passes and we arrive outside of a castle. From the looks of it, we were behind it.

Simeon drags me off the horse again, taking me into the castle through a door I assumed servants used to go collect food and water from the forest.

The blue eyed man comes up next to me. He tugs the cloth off my mouth. "Now listen, I expect you to be respectful." He grabs my chin forcing me to look at him. "Be a good little princess, understand?"

I nod rapidly, tears streaming down my face. He only rolls his eyes. "Go tie up the horses, I got her." He tells Simeon.

He grabs my arm in a tight grip, practically dragging me. He takes me into a throne room.

I gasp when I see who was sitting on the throne. "Philip?" Vikya? I was in Vikya? But where's Nicholas? The man  shoves me to my knees, stepping back.

Philip stands up, fiddling with a knife. "Hello my dear bride. I hope you weren't treated to roughly."

"But-but where's your father?"

Philip steps towards me. "He gone. I killed him. He didn't understand how humiliating it was when he "apologized" on my behalf and canceled our wedding. But now he does."

"Why am I here? Why can't you leave me alone!" I snap

He crouches in front of me, lifting my chin with his knife and makes me look him in the eyes. “Like I said…” he sneers. “I own you.”