Burned at the Cross

Burned at the Cross ~ Ch. 11

        {[Alyssa]}

        I woke up with my head pounding, the sunlight blinding me. It was strange because I hadn't had a lot to drink last night... so there was only one real reason to it. I got up, and went out into the hallway, still in my night dress.

        Making my way towards Aiden's chambers, I ignored the protests and fighting of the servents. "Get out of my way!" I gritted out as I flung someone away, and knocked the door to Aiden's room down.

        A girl stood with a dagger at Aiden's spleen, glaring at him. She didn't even glance over at me. She looked to be about fourteen, her brown hair down and shaggy. "Where is she?" she screeched. Obviously, she was too into her job to notice the menacing growls of predators.

        Calmly, I walked over to the girl, grabbed her ear, and hauled her away from the Overlord. "What do you think you're doing?" I demanded. I really wasn't in the mood to go and get my sword out. It was too early in the morning.

        The girl thrashed, and tugged, but I didn't let go of her ear, where she wailed in protest. "Tell me!" she snarled, half mad. "I have to know, or she'll kill him! I can't let him die!"

        I plucked the deadly weapon out of her hand and tossed it to one of the servent, who caught it by the hilt. I turned her and placed my hands on both of her shoulders. Her brown eyes were filled with tears and hysteria bubbled in the surface.

        "Calm down." I said, gently. "No one's going to hurt you here."

        "No... I can't! She'll hurt him. I have to find her and bring her back, so I can free him." she sobbed, still frantic.

        "She won't hurt him." I soothed. "Who is the lady that wants this girl that you came to find?"

        She opened her mouth... but before a syllable could come out, she dropped on the floor screaming. The girl writhed, trying to crawl out of her own skin. I sank down beside her, gripping her arms so she didn't hurt herself. Tears leaked out of her closed eyelids. "I can't tell you... I can't..." she sobbed.

        "Sh... It's okay. That's fine. Can you tell me who you were looking for? What's your name?"

        Everyone was staring at me and the girl, mesmerized, for some reason.

        The girl seemed to stop jerking and calmed down. "Erica. That's my name."

        I smiled. "That's a pretty name."

        Erica took a deep breath. "She told me to bring back a girl that lives in this house." she whispered.

        "And what was her name?" Aiden asked, still in his bed. His voice was cold.

        She flinched at his tone, and I shushed him. "Who were you seeking?" I asked, gently.

        "I don't know. Her name... was... Alyssa... Bell? I think."

        My breath wooshed out of my lungs. So they weren't after Eamon or Aiden; that was a relief. But who would want me? I don't think anyone has a grudge against me... Well, maybe that one guy... but he's dead.

        No one was talking now, and Erica was looking around, scared.

        I recovered. "Can you tell me where this lady is? Maybe we can go rescue that boy."

        She didn't even try to open her mouth this time. "No." was all she said.

        "Then let's find a loophole. What's the closest town to the location where she's at?" I asked, smiling.