Searching For Scarlett [Undergoing edits]

0.19

I seemed like forever, but finally Mariana heard something. She stopped and listened hearing it again. She couldn't really understand what it was, but she knew it was coming from a girl... And a boy, too.

And until that point, there was no proof of life except for Mariana and Taylor's breathing.

Mariana took off running, following the noise. She didn't look to see if Taylor was following or not- she just kept running. She wanted to see what it was. She stopped at a set of huge double doors... That was thrown open wide.

Through it, Mariana only was one person: Scarlett. She ran to her. "Scarlett!" She called.

Scarlett turned her head and saw Mariana. Instead of being happy and jumping up and down, like Mariana thought she would react, she shook her head over and over, muffled noises coming from her gagged mouth- so that was what the noises were.

Mariana slowed down when she realized that Scarlett was not only gagged, but tied as well, and that she was not alone. Rydel and Merlyn were also tied and gagged, sitting a few feet away from Scarlett and one another, all eyes on her, all full of fear and warning.

There was also a fourth person in the room besides Taylor who had joined her.

"Hello, Mariana." The fourth person said from the shadows behind Scarlett, Merlyn, and Rydel.

Mariana whirled around to see if she could escape but the doors were sealed, and the room was dark except for the lightly tinted light coming through the high windows.

Mariana could see nothing more than her sister, Rydel, Merlyn, Taylor and the black blob.

Mariana turned back around. "What do you want? And who are you?" She demanded.

The man chuckled. "Just someone looking for you."

"And what do you want?" Mariana snarled. He tied up her sister and­- dare she say- elven friends. Because of that, he was on her To-Kill list.

"I just want to return your sister to you... For a teeny favor." He chuckled.

"What? What favor? No favor is teeny." Taylor spoke up. Mariana backed up and clasped their hands and squeezed. She wanted Taylor to know she was scared out of her mind and needed comforting.

"I was not speaking to you." The man snapped at her.

"Hey!" Mariana growled. "If you want to talk to me, you talk to her, too. We're a team. Whether you like it or not." Mariana defended Taylor.

The man chuckled.

"And I agree," Mariana continued. "What is the favor?"

"Oh, nothing bad! Just something to help you with your powers."

"Powers?" Mariana echoed, dumbfounded. This guy was nuts!

He chuckled again. "I'm going to tell a little story." He began, "Once upon a time, there was a strange family. And that family came to Argontaluroy seeking Enchanted Blood." He chuckled.

"Of course, being the ignorant fools the Argontaluroy people were, gave it to them. That family wanted to use the blood bear children, but they found a natural way without the blood.

"So, they kept the blood stored away. And then you're their children, married and grown up, came along, and they, too, were having trouble bearing children. Of course, they were blessed with one child, but they wanted another. And of course, they couldn't seem to accomplish that. So, guess what they did? Huh?" He asked, amusement in his voice.

Mariana's fists were clenched, and she squeezed Taylor's hand so hard, it seemed as if she could break it.

"What?" She ground out, more annoyed than curious.