Waiting and Awaited

Chapter 8 - A Choice, Or Not

Cai froze, gripping her silver when the lights went off and the silence settled. She hated the dark. Hated the fact that she was blind from whatever could be right in front of her. Hated the fact that she could not even run. She was frozen until she felt his hand and heard his command. Then she had no choice because he proceeded to half-carry, half-drag her away from the table to who knows where. She cannot see a thing and she had to trust that it was the Duke taking her.

"Mum and Dad," she whispered and bit her lips to keep herself from whimpering. She knew she would be embarrassed once the lights went back on and she could see the Duke's arrogant face.

"We'll send Scouts for them as soon as the lights are back," she heard Rone's low voice close to her ear.

They stopped moving and stood still and she realized they were in the lift. A few seconds later, blinding light greeted them as the door opened to the Penthouse. Bob and Braid were there to meet them and lead them to the massive door. They stopped at the entryway where Rone turned to Rivas. "Her family."

"I'm on it." And he rushed back out.

Cai stood by herself and couldn't stop shaking. She was breathing hard even though she hardly walked on their way here. Bob came in and gave a report to Rone in low tones. The rest of the ducal family aside from Rivas were already inside. Scouts and maintenance were already at the generators to restore power, while all guards were called on deck.

Cai ignored it all as she struggled to calm her breathing. When Bob was finally done, Rone turned to her and frowned when he saw that her eyes were still unfocused. He pulled her to a chair and hunched in front of her rubbing her arms. He did not think she was a fainting sort.

"I'm sorry, I just...the dark.."

"Hush, it is all right. You are safe."

"What is happening?" she looked at him with eyes suddenly alert.

"This does not normally happen. Something can go wrong when the power is out." He felt there was no need to further explain yet. It would only alarm her more.

"I should go to my family," she said standing up and he pulled her back down.

"Rivas is taking guards with him to escort your family back to your apartments and stay with them there. He will explain to them as best he could."

She frowned. "I should be safe with them then."

Rone stood and started pacing. He did not know how to say it. It could only go one of two ways. She would feel more alarmed, or she would hate him more for dragging her into this. Or both. But she would eventually be dragged into this. Was it too much to hope though that it would be after she came to accept the match?

"There is a reason why the Scouts as well as the guards Cali. Broken machines are the least of the possible dangers."

Cai felt her usual self coming back with a vengeance and his cryptic answers were not helping.

"Sir, I swear, if you do not stop talking in riddles, I will walk out that door, brave the darkness and not care if I drag you if you try to stop me." They both knew it was a meaningless threat. He was probably twice as heavy as her, but it was her best under the circumstances.

He didn't know if he found her amusing or irritating. The whole Manor was threatened and yet here he was arguing with his match, barely inside the Penthouse where the ducal family was supposed to be, while he should be out there with Rivas. He took a deep breath and prayed for patience.

"It is highly likely that this is an invasion, woman, and you, being my match, are in grave danger."

As he said it, the door to the Penthouse opened at the same time the door from which they came in did and Rivas and their mother and father walked in only to stop in their tracks and gape.