"Isabelle, How lovely to see you again." He smiled at me with this horrifying expression. I could NOT move. It felt like someone glued my feet to the floor.
Richard and Julie turned to see who was talking and stood in front of me.
"M-Mark..." Is all I could manage to say.
"Hello Sir. Richard, It is nice to finally meet you. I've heard lots of things about you." He said walking over to him.
Julie could tell I was not okay, she would not move from standing in front of me. The Knight was standing next to Mark the entire time.
"You have?" Richard said standing more in front of me, next to Julie.
"My apologies, My name is Mark." He said bowing.
"What brings you to my castle Mark?" Richard asked, with a firm tone. He cut right to the chase, I could tell he was in the mood for any foolishness.
I felt Julie reach down and grab my hand and squeeze it.
"I would like to make a bargain with you." He said still smiling as he locked eyes with me and I felt my entire body go numb.
"G-get a-away from m-me..." Is all I could say.
"Oh come on now, That is not how we treat old friends Isabelle." He said, still looking in my eyes.
I started to back up slowly and Julie was still by my side.
"Friends?" Julie and Richard both said in unison.
I couldn't say anything, I shook my head slowly and kept backing up.
Richard stood in front of me so Mark couldn't see me and he broke the trance. I let out a huge breath.
"Knight Bran I need you to escort our guest to the courtyard. We will finish this conversation then." His tone was cold, It made the hairs on my arms stand up. Did he suddenly get taller? Weird. I noticed Julie was still next to me. She did not move.
"Yes Sir. Richard." He bowed and turned to Mark who smiled and nodded.
"See you soon, Isabelle. It's always a pleasure seeing you." He said while turning around and walking away with the Knight.
The Knight and Mark were out of sight and I let out a huge breath.
"Isabelle, who is that?" Richard asked, This was not Richard though, this looked like his evil twin.
"He... he is the one who kidnapped me.. drugged me... took my blood for days... a weapon..." My face clearly showed how scared I was because Julie started to rub my arm and leaned into me.
Richards face went... emotionless. "Say no more." He turned around and started to walk away.
"Wait! Richard!" I said running to him and grabbing his arm. I felt Julie quickly follow.
"Please.... don't leave me. He is very... sneaky and clever. Please." I said feeling my eyes start to water. "I can't go back there. Please!" I felt the tears poor down my cheeks.
He faced me and wiped my tears, "He will not get you Isabelle. He is in my country, my castle, my home." He said standing back up.
"Julie take her to the room and do not leave her side. Do not come back until you know it is safe. Understand?" He said to her and she bowed and nodded.
"Richard please, take me to my room. You do not understand what he can do or is capable of. He has spies everywhere. Please" I said begging him.
I could tell he did not want to, he just wanted to go see him... take care of him.
"Isabelle, this man does not deserve to be around you or even get to see you. What he has done to you is unacceptable. He must leave my country at once or he will face the consequences." He said sternly.
I nodded and I felt myself shaking. We followed him around the corner and there were Knights by each door in the main hall.
Richard yelled for two Knights, he told them to guard me with their life and escort me with Julie. They bowed and nodded. He turned to me, walked over and hugged... me. "I will make him go away." He whispered in my hair.
I nodded slowly and started to walk away with Julie and the Knights.
I turned to look back and Richard had multiple Knights already around him and them nodding to what he was saying.
"Come dear, we must move quickly." She said while grabbing my arm.
We went up many stairs and into a... study? "Why are we going in here Julie?"
She motioned the Knights away and told them to stand guard.
How did he find me? How did he find me before Jason? Something is not right.
"Come, come, my dear, hurry." She said rushing over to the desk. I followed her and she let go of my hand. She waved her hand and the lamp that was on the desk... moved. Then the bookshelf behind the desk opened. OH COME ON! Seriously? A secret passage way? OH This is a dream!
Julie grabbed my hand and walked to the opening, I couldn't help but stop. She turned to me, "Dear we need to hide you. I got very bad colors from him. He means no good. We must hide before he gets a chance to trance you."
I nodded and followed her into the opening. There was a staircase leading down. Before we headed down the stairs she stopped and waved her hand again. The lamp was back in the spot it was before and the door closed.
As soon as the door closed torches were lit. I jumped and Julie grabbed my hand. It felt like we went down 10 stair cases. She finally stopped, but I gotta give it to her... she sure was in shape to speed down these stairs like she did! I was out of breath. There was still more stairs to go but we stopped in the middle of the stairs. This time she was closer to the edge of the stairs.
"Julie? Are you okay?" I whispered to her. She started humming. Then all of a sudden the wall moved and another area was there. What in the world?! This is like a maze!
She motioned for me to come and I followed. The wall behind me closed quietly and we were faced with more stairs just like the ones we were on. Joy. She turned to me, "Almost there sweetheart." She smiled softly. She started down the stairs, and I followed. I counted the stairs we went down this time. It was exactly 67 steps. She started mumbling words and waving her hands around. A door opened in front of us, she walked in and I followed. She closed the wall and mumbled more words. I turned around and we were in... a room? She motioned for me to follow and I did.
"You need to change your clothes my dear. I also need to wash your scent away." She said opening a door and there was ANOTHER ROOM? This room had a bed against the wall and a dresser. It had a door that was a closet and motioned for me to stay.
"The bathroom is there dear, and here are some clothes. Use this to wash your hair and body, okay? I will be in the main room waiting." She said as she left the room.
I didn't waste a moment. I grabbed the clothes and went into the bathroom. There was a sink, toilet, and shower. There was... no mirror. Well that's interesting.
Anyways, I took a shower and did as she said. I got dressed and went into the room.
I walked into the main room and saw Julie at a table.
"Sit my dear. You must be thirsty." She said so softly.
I went and sat on the couch across from her.
Julie handed me a tea cup and sat on the couch across from me.
"Drink up sweetheart, It will make you feel better." She said then took a sip of her own tea.
"Julie... where are we and why did we run this far from Mark?" I asked curious as to why they went so... extreme.
"We are hidden, my dear. Once I told Sir. Richard I had bad energy from him he knew. He knew I needed to hide you. Once he saw how Mark was looking at you... he knew that man had to go. He reeked of power and he knew it wouldn't be easy to get rid of him. This is hidden so even Sir. Richard cannot find us. No one can."
I felt a huge relief and felt my shoulders relax instantly. She chuckled to my response.
"Are we.. underground?" I asked taking a sip of my tea.
"Yes and.. No. It is magic my dear." She said smiling and sipping her tea.
"You will soon learn all the ways of magic and what it can do."
I nodded and yawned.
"You may sleep if you like. I have some things to make that will take time, so please feel free to rest. I know you need it." She said while smiling and standing.
"How will you know If Mark is gone? How will you know if the coast is clear to go back?" I asked, trying to understand how this all works.
She smiled, "I'll know." She walked me back to the room and to the bed. There was a water bottle and crackers next to the bed.
"Just in case you wake hungry or thirsty my sweet girl."
I looked at her, and hugged her. "Thank you Julie. You have been so kind."
"No, thank you my dear. For helping save my son."
Wait.
"YOU? Are the mother of the sick nephew?!" My eyes were wide and my mouth wide open.
She chuckled as she tucked me into the bed.
"Yes dear, I am Richards aunt."
Well okay then. Now I see why she is so quick to hide me. I am her only hope at saving her son. A mother's love... is stronger than any kind.
"Please, rest. You need it. We will be here for awhile." She said as she cut out the light and shut the door halfway.
"Don't be afraid to ask for anything, or to get up. Sleep well." She said before disappearing into the main room.
I guess I did need rest, Once I got comfortable, I fell asleep right away.