Reasons for Silence

Kobe's Visitor

Chapter Twelve ~ Amador

            I knew that they wouldn’t let me see her until the ball, so I decided to go for a ride to get some information about Serefina’s disappearance.

            I had already sent out a search party for the man who kidnapped her so I would have to wait until he was brought to trial to deal with him. So I decided to pay a visit to the man who was responsible for the cursed ring on her finger.

            Though I didn’t give any notice to my guards, eight of them accompanied me on my spontaneous quest. They didn’t question me, only circled around me in defense as was customary.

            As I rode I did not think about what I was going to say to the owner of the manor that took Serefina away from me. I didn’t need a rehearsal, I just needed to find out about the ring and then see if there were grounds for an arrest.

            Once we reached the manor I didn’t wait for the guards to announce me, I just barged into the lobby.

            There was a small woman washing the first step to the grand staircase, her body turned to look at me when I entered. I surveyed the hall. Servants were busy with their work and they walked about as usual until they laid eyes on me and my entourage.

            “Where is your master?” I asked the woman at the stairs. She seemed shocked at my question and her response came out like a stutter.

            “I’m not certain, your Highness,” she said softly, “would you like me to find him for you?”

            “No,” I said bluntly and rushed towards the stairs. I think that I might have frightened the woman because she cringed and scurried to get out of my way. The thought of dirtying the stairs hadn’t even occurred to me.

            I felt like screaming, shouting, but my jaw was clamped shut. The man’s name was Kobe and I wanted to call him out but my mind refused to speak his name. So I just charged through any door that I found, slamming them as I left, not finding Kobe.

            Finally he seemed to notice the commotion and he emerged from behind a door.

            I wasted absolutely no time in shortening the distance between us and giving him a push hard enough to land him on the floor. I wanted to punch him – really badly – but I decided to restrain myself.

            “What did you do to her?” I yelled at him.

            The man wore a shocked expression when he found himself on the floor. He quickly recovered.

            “Who do you think you are that you can barge into my house and-,” he started while he got up and abruptly stopped when his eyes landed on my face.

            “Forgive me, your Highness,” he corrected himself and offered a slight bow.

            I only glared at him.

            “What did you do to her?” I pressed, my words slow and menacing.

            “To whom are you referring?”   

            “Don’t play the fool, Kobe,” I said purposefully leaving out his title.

            “I’m sorry,” he started, eyebrows raised, incredulous, “but I think that you are the one who should be giving me answers, you arrested my fiancé, after all.”