In His Arms

Chapter Four

It was raining. He was in her room. He found her, like he always did. His footsteps echoed has he moved closer. He was going to kill her this time. And this time she had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Screaming she hugged her legs up to her chin.

"Ssshh... Calm down, t's okay, t's okay." Duncan said in a hushed tone as he cradled her in his arms and shake her like a delicate young child.

Karma jumped awake, her scream coming from the bottom of her stomach traveled throughout the palace. She scrupled to the other side of the bed where she sat with her knees to her chest, her nightie dragged over her making her look like a fragile ball.

Duncan didn't like what he saw in her eyes. Her eyes were dark, troubled, broken. He had the strongest urge to go over to her and take her into his arms and let her know everything will be okay. But, from the way she embraced herself he knew that would have just frightened her more.

She tried to calm herself and asked. "What are you doing in my room?" Her face turning serious.

"Someone had to shut you up." He replied.

Karma face changed from serious to concern as she asked. "Was I that loud?"

"You almost woke the entire kingdom."

She became silent and said in an apologetic tone. "I'm sorry." Then she looked away.

She watched as he walked over to the adorning room door and turned the handle and she knew what she had to do. "Wait." He paused for a second and turned around.

"Thank you My Lord."

"No need to, call me Duncan." He said causally.

"Yes, My Lord, sorry, Duncan."

"Good Night Karmaline." His lips twitched and he went into his room.

Karma let out a breath of relief when she heard the door locked behind him. It was embarrassing enough that she woke the whole kingdom but to be seem by him in her night gown and if that wasn't scandalous enough she was in his arms against his bare chest. After all the things she had been though she cannot believe she's embarrassed.

Duncan knew it was difficult taking someone from their home, friends and family to a place she didn't know, but he didn't know it would affected her so much, unlike any other woman he has ever met she seemed so strong, that's why he was so cruel to her. He knew that was no excused and that is what tore him more. It was his fault why she couldn't even sleep in peace. The image of her came into his mind, she was covered in sweat, her eyes shut as she twisted and turned on the bed.

Duncan and karma sat in silence in the luncheon room. He watched as Karma played with the strips of bacon in her plate. He understand who hard it must be for her to sit in the company of the capturer and pretend that you are well, when truly she must be scared and lonely, missing her home, family and friends.

"A lovely day it is, isn't it Miss Karmaline?" He said, choosing the most appropriate topic to make her feel more at ease.

"Indeed, my lord, it is."

"Call me Duncan if you may."

"If I call you Duncan then you would think it would be okay to call me Karma."

"You think about everything don't you kitten."

"When I am captured and forced to stay in a dreadful place, yes I have nothing else to do, my lord but think." She was actually fond of her room. It is very similar to hers back at the Winsley Manor. And she don't even have any friends or family except Richard who she rather stay away from.

Everything in the room is the same except for the colour wall paper, hers at the Winsley Manor was peach. But she intended on been the most difficult captive until she escape. She was not running away because she hated the place but as ironic as it may sound she was running away for the safety of everyone there. Duncan, his soldier's and everyone there were noble people and her presence there would only bring harm to them all.

She had to escape. Karma thanked Duncan for the breakfast and excused herself from the breakfast table so that she can go upstairs to plot her escape. Duncan was about to ask her to join him at horseback riding but he sense that she wanted to get away from him.

Dark. Finally, karma came out of her room moving as quietly as possible. She looked around her then she went down to the kitchen and out through the door where she walked to the stable and climbed on the back of the smallest horse.