To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 11

"Eve" someone was whispering. "It's time for you to wake up now. Eve."

A horrible groaning sound filled my ears. Then I realized the horrible noise was me. My head felt as if it were splitting in two. I reached up to touch what felt like a massive goose egg on the side of my head but my hand wouldn't reach. Slowly I eased my eyes open. The light didn't help the pounding in my head. The room was fuzzy so I blinked to clear it.

There was a man smiling down at me. The man was tall with broad shoulders and dark hair. He had on an expression that I couldn't distinguish was he angry or happy I couldn't tell. Then I saw the shackle on my hand. The man smirked as I pulled against the chain. Then he turned and headed for the door.

"Wait!" I pleaded. "Don't leave me here alone!"

"Oh but you're not alone." He whispered as he shut the door behind him sliding a bolt into its place.

I glanced around the room and he was right. I wasn't alone. Across from me shackled to a bed was a girl. Her dress was worn and dirty. Her hair was unkept and frizzy.

"You're Eve!" She whispered in shock.

"Yes I am. Who are you?"

"I'm Liddy." She replied. "I know you're brother."

"My brother is dead." I whispered.

"What?" She gasped. "I saw him just last night. Did they kill him?"

I turned to look at her to see if she was telling the truth or playing a horrible joke on me. Her expression was sincere. "Last night? Are you sure?"

"Positive he sat right where you are sitting. They took him away last night and now you're here."

§

Jared burst into the throne room his rage driving him. Eve was gone. After he left her room Jared had returned a short time later to see how she was doing. She was gone. Her things were gone and the bed had been made up with fresh sheets as if nobody had slept there that night.

Jared marched straight for the king who was having a conversation with his two people. A man and a woman. His children from the looks of it. The king looked up at Jared's loud entrance. Two guards stepped in front of Jared holding swords. Jared didn't care he stepped closer and the swords crossed in front of him blocking his path. By now the kings children had turned to view the spectacle as well.

"Where is she?!" Jared snarled at the king.

His children looked at him wondering if they should stay but the king held up his hand to them indicating that they should stay. "Where is who?"

"You know who!" Jared growled. "She was there and then she wasn't where have you taken her?!"

"Ah this is about Eve isn't it?"

Jared didn't reply he just looked at the king through narrowed eyes.

"Of course it's about Eve." Said the king with a chuckle. "Everyone can see that you are head over heels for the girl. Well everyone of course, except for the girl." Said the king earning a laugh from both of his children.

"She wouldn't leave." Jared said trying not to rise to their taunting.

"But she did. And after you spent you're first night together. Now tell me son how is that my fault? Seems more like your problem." The king taunted.

"Nothing happened last night." Joseph insisted.

"That's for sure!" The king jeered earning a laugh from his children.

"She wouldn't just leave." Jared said as he turned around to leave the room.

"Then why would I have this?" The king asked. "She did give it to me after all."

Jared turned back around to see what the king was talking about. In his hand was the letter Joseph had left for Eve. The seal was broken.

"After her horrible experience with you last night and the proclamation of you're feelings she had had enough. She told me all of this while laughing. Laughing. Can you imagine? She was laughing at you Jared." The king snarled.

Jared walked towards the king but the guards clashed in front of him again. To his surprise the king waved him through. He reached for the letter. After a hard look the king gave it to Jared.

Jared took the letter and left the room. The king was wrong. Eve wouldn't leave like that. He had to find her. Something wasn't right and Jared was determined to find out what it was.