Bewitched (Snow White with the Red Hair Fanfic)

18.Captor

The morning sun rays trickled through the room as I slowly opened my eyes. It had been two days since I had been kidnapped and held captive in the middle of nowhere.

I yawned quite shamelessly since there was no point in being classy after having slept on a hard wooden bed. Stretching out my arms, I finally made out my surroundings after the morning blur stopped.

"You know you have quite an energetic morning routine." Kaine commented and I immediately stiffened up. "Y-Yes, sir!" I responded. I hadn't noticed him in here.

Had he been watching me sleep!?

I stood up alarmingly from my bed. "Now you've got bed hair..." Kaine came closer and caressed my hair. I clutched my eyes shut in case I might stare rudely into his eyes.

"Stop being so stiff, squirrel face. Come on. Today, you are allowed to have a look at what I had been working on for the past few days." Kaine smiled.

It had been weird lately. Kaine left me alone for the past few days and when he did come to see me, he did all those nice things no one would think a captor would do.

"Ahh...." he stopped suddenly and I bumped into his back. We were on our way to whatever he was going to show me. "First, you need a blindfold. We wouldn't want you remembering the way in and out, would we?"

He took out a piece of long white cloth and tied it around my head, causing complete darkness for my eyes to see anything. "Much better..and don't worry about stumbling."

What was he going to do?

Suddenly, I felt a warm sensation envelope my wrist. He was holding my hand. I was surprised not because he made physical contact with me but the fact that he wasn't being harsh on me.

"Ready?" he asked and I nodded. What was he trying to show me anyway? Releasing me would be the most impossible thing to expect from him.

We walked for a while more as we descended three floors. The floor layouts were so complex I wasn't able to remember much. I don't suppose Shirayuki would be in here as well.

Once we reached the first floor, Kaine opened the door that led to the outside. As soon as he did, I felt the cool breeze pass through me and I could smell the familiar nature.

It was really hard to feel or sense anything from the fourth floor. Kaine untied my blindfold and my eyes finally adjusted to the wonderful scenery I had been separated from for two days.

But the thing was that. Flowers were growing unaturally wild around the entrance. Roses, periwinkles, orchids, chrysanthemums and every shades of flowers I know.

My eyes sparkled to the view before me and quickly rushed forward as my feminine mind wouldn't let me resist the beautiful petals.

"Do you like it?" Kaine came closer to me as I just plucked a rose and took a smell. It smelt lovely. "Yes, very much. Perhaps you planted all these?" I asked, considering his absence in my room for the past two days.

"Of course. It was hard work too so you better appreciate it." he smiled. On closer look, I noticed his long eyelashes and his straight long hair. He would have led a wonderful life if he hadn't decided to become a kidnapper.

And he surely must be talented and capable to have managed a garden of different types of flowers in just a few days.

It was sad to see such a fine man gone to the bad side. I was not able to smile as these thoughts came rolling into my head. How cruel can this world be?

"Oi, squirrel face. What's wrong?" Kaine asked. "You suddenly lost your energy from earlier..." he crouched down. We were both sitting on the grass.

"Why....why are you doing all of this...?" I asked. He looked surprised for a moment before grabbing my chin. My tears were visible to him as he wiped them away with his thumb.

His silvery blue eyes stared right into mine and I feared it might be going in the wrong direction. His face came closer. My eyes widened in surprise.

He's really going to...!?

I immediately brought up the rose I had been holding and it was able to stop any more contact between us. He finally let go and settled by sitting back down on the grass. He had a slight blush on his cheeks but he tried to cover it up with his hand.

Now it was just pure silence. I blushed a bit considering the man had just tried to perhaps.....kiss me? I needed to break the silence. "Um....these roses are reall-"

"Marry me, Hira."

♢♢♢

Meanwhile in Clarines...

"What do you mean the princess had been taken!?" The King roared. News of Lera missing had just reached Clarines as Kinare finally made it to the coachmen and after failing to find Lera back where she had last seen her, Kinare decided to alert the palace.

"This is absurd!" The angry king said for the third time that day. "Then would you mind telling us exactly where you had last seen her?" Izana calmly asked rising from the shadows.

He had been the first to read Lera's letter as he went to her room to apologize for his actions after having heard from Zen that it was just because they were tired after a pillow fight.

He thought he could live without Lera. But he was dead wrong. He realised it then. And he was determined to find Lera no matter what the cost.

"Yes, certainly, your Highness." Kinare replied instantly. Out of all, she felt the most guilty for having left her mistress and failing to find her even when she found help.

"Good. Rest for now, we shall have a search party out by dawn and Lera shall return." Izana declared. "And I shall lead the search party myself."

The King finally let out a sigh. "I shall leave this matter to you, my son. Surely, you will be able to resolve the political issues before it happens."

Behind the curtains, Zen had been listening to all the conversations and finally decided to do something about it as well. He immediately went to the one person who could give him clues about Lera's whereabouts.

He knew that now. Now that she went missing. He felt empty. Even if he did feel a little something for Shirayuki, his feelings for Lera were completely different.

Zen knocked before opening it after getting permission. "Kinare....tell me exactly where you met her!" After hearing a detailed piece of information, Zen immediately went out and readied his horse.

Luckily, both Mitsuhide and Kiki were by his side after hearing his plan. Of course, it took a little convincing to persuade Mitsuhide.

That night, the three of them rode through the town and through the meadows in the hope of rescuing Lera and returning her back to where she had called her home.