Ok last night didn't go like I had planned, I had the strangest dream after I got to sleep though. I dreamt about Halaina and the elemental lords, how strange, I am getting deeper and deeper into this stuff than I thought. But I can't shake the feeling that they told me something in that dream that I really needed to remember. How can that be it was just a dream, well maybe it was just a dream. I really have to stop stressing so bad, like that is going to be easy, but I sure have to try.
"Kenna, hey Kenna."Shit Aidan, Dammit, I just fell right off the bed he scared me so badly.
"A little warning Aidan, you could break someone's neck doing something like that."
"It isn't like this is a real subtle thing, what am I suppose to do whisper?"
"Ok ok, but I haven't been able to reach you, I have been trying."
"I know I think it had to do with the distance."
"The distance, does that mean you are close now or something?"
"Closer, we are in Edinburgh now, Kenna is there anything you can tell me?"
"They are looking for you, they expect you to come after me, so be very careful, and they are keeping me in a castle."
"Ok, there are half dozen or more castles in and around Edinburgh, at least I am pretty sure you are in Scotland you feel a lot closer than you did before."
"Yea, but I could be anywhere in Scotland."
"You could, but we are going to assume you are near Edinburgh, we have to start somewhere."
"Your right, ok, I don't know much about this place, but I know the room they are keeping me in is higher up, and I didn't look out the window during daylight, so I don't know what's outside. Hold on a sec, I will check."
Dang, this is going to be harder than I thought. "Aidan there is water around us, and we seem to be on a strip of land, there is a building out in front and some parking or something, there seems to be only one road in, but that is all I got, not much sorry."
"It will help, I promise we will find you Kenna."
"My plan is to be out of here before you get here."
"Well keep working on that plan, we are on our way anyway."
"Aidan, I managed to find out that they are injecting us with a serum that suppresses our abilities. But each ability has its own serum."
"So you still have water, fire, and earth?"
"Yeah, they think I can only work with air, so I do have that to my advantage."
"Hey sis something is way better than nothing, have they told you what they want from you?"
"They questioned me yesterday, they put a truth serum in my food, I didn't eat it but they think I did. I told them things about our family, just to keep them from figuring out I didn't eat that crap."
"That's really good, but it probably won't work again. Hopefully we can find you before they decide they have no use for you anymore."
"One can hope, geez. You are such a buzz kill."
"Just being realistic."
"Go find something more productive to do, I have to figure out how to get out of here." God I hope I see him soon.
"See you soon Kenna, I will see you soon!"
"See you soon Aidan."
"I truly hope so Aidan, I really do." Of course talking to the room isn't really helping my sanity. But Aidan is close, I have to figure out something before everyone gets here and they are all in danger again.
Here goes nothing, "Hey, Hey Brad, do I get anything to drink or are you trying to kill mefrom dehydration? I could really use some coffee in here!"
"Quiet, you will get sustenance only when someone brings it to me, and not before."
"Brad come on, what am I going to do, I am stuck in this damn room, and in case you hadn't notices that is an oak door between me and you."
"Not working princess, the only way you leave that room is if I take you to the counsel, and the only way you get food or drink is if they bring it to me. Period, end of story."
Well, crap, I can't just sit around and wait. What now Kenna?
Hey maybe there is a room next door to mine. I just need to be able to see over there too. It's stone, I should be able to create a hole in the stone pretty easily. Let's see if my confidence in myself is warranted.
Ok, it took me longer than I wanted, but I finally managed to make a whole in the wall. And there is another room next to mine, well another cell anyway. But maybe the door to that one isn't locked. And I can see the makeup of the stone now, so I just have to focus on the ability I am trying to use, well with earth anyway, cause I never really used it before. Or maybe my powers are starting to really develop now that I am using them. Oh crap someone's coming in.
At least it is easy to hide a small hole in a wall. Of course it is Brad who walked through the door. I just glare at him. He is carrying a food tray. Do they really expect me to eat that food? I mean come on, like I am going to let them try and drug me again.
Brad just set the food on the dresser and turned around and walked out. Didn't say a word just walked out.
Brad came back in my room one more time with a dinner tray, didn't say anything, just took the other tray and left glaring at me the entire time. This has been an eventful day, created a hole in the wall, but what now?
I can work on making that whole bigger, I need to make a hole into the next room I can actually fit though, but where? There really isn't much to this room, but I could do it behind the dresser, really that is the only choice I have, but can I get this done without anyone noticing? I have to try.
I barely got the hole the size of my fist when, "Hey, what the Hell!" Oh shit, someone is in that room, I didn't notice that before. Within in seconds there was a blonde linebacker standing in front of my hole on the other side.
"Um, hi, who are you," yeah not the greatest response I have ever come up with, but give me a break.
"If I am not mistaken you just made a hole in my wall, and you want to know who I am?"
He has a point, "sorry I am Kenna, I am just trying to figure out how to get the hell out of this place."
He smiled as he said, "I'm Rick, how were you able to use your ability? They block us from using them."
Using them? He is like me, "I don't know why I am able to use my ability." No reason to let him know what I can really do. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you probably, they kidnapped me."
"They what? Why?"
"Same reason as you, we aren't meant to be in this world blah blah blah." He said with as much sarcasm as anyone could possibly put into a sentence.
"How long have you been here?"
"About six months."
"Six months! If they want us dead then why are you still alive?"
"You don't know yet? They want all like us out of this world, and they believe that using us to do that is there best way to go about it."
"So they are using you as a weapon?"
"Yes"
"You hurt your own!?"
"Don't get so high and mighty on me, they killed almost everyone I love, the only one they haven't killed is my sister, and that is because they haven't found her. I do what they want to keep her safe. And they haven't used me yet, I am still being 'trained'."
I can understand that, if they had anyone I cared about or there was a chance they could get to them I would do anything to keep them safe. "I'm sorry, that is something I can understand."
"So if you can use your ability we can get out of here. Come on lets go."
"Yeah, that isn't going to work of me."
"What the hell does that mean."
"They have something very important to me and I have to get it back."
"Nothing is as important as your life."
"Well, I am going to make this hole bigger so I can fit through, are you okay with that?"
"Yeah that is fine, at least now I have someone I can talk to, being left alone for days on end can really make you go crazy."
"I would imagine," I made the hole bigger and went over to Rick's room, "do you think my guard will be back in my room tonight?"
"He already brought you dinner right?"
"Yeah."
"You should be fine, usually you don't see anyone until the next day once they bring you dinner."
"Well that is good. But I did try to get out the window last night, and got caught."
"Then they might check on you a few times."
"Your right, I should just go back to my side and try and get some rest."
"Alright, I will have to move things around in here to cover that hole, but I can make it work. You are crazy you know, we need to get out as soon as we can."
"Thanks for that, but I am not leaving yet." I have to try and get my journal back, the last thing they need is something else to use against us.
He stopped arguing and just went back to some part of his room I can't see yet, "ok we will do this your way!"
It took me a while, but I finally got a hole big enough to fit through, Rick doesn't seem to happy with my idea of sticking around for a bit, but I am the one who can use their powers so he really doesn't have a choice. Now to get some sleep, tomorrow night we leave.
We have searched all the castles near Edinburgh except one. This has to be the one she is in. If she isn't here then our search area become a whole lot bigger. Julie hasn't really been any help on finding the castle either, she says she was never told where it was located. Lot of good that did us. "Hey guys, this has to be it. She is in there."
"Are you sure Aidan? We have searched all the other castles around here." Lexi said.
"She is in there Lexi, she has to be." That is all I could say. Kenna feels closer than she was before, but I can't guarantee she is in this castle. But I can't tell everyone that.
"Don't worry Lexi, we will find her no matter what it takes." Jake said. He seems to care a heck of a lot for Kenna. I truly hope he is right. But we are only a group of four and we are suppose to what, storm a castle? All we have is the element of surprise and I hope and pray that is enough.
"Hey guys, we can't sit here worrying if the next place we search is going to be the right one. We just have to keep looking and not stop until we find her. We have a castle to do some recon on, so let's get over there and get it done." Jake said.
"You are right, let's go." I said.
There is definitely something different about this castle. The others were residents and tourist attractions, but this one seems to be more of a military castle. There are even guards posted at what I presume is the gate house or guard shack or whatever it is called. "Looks like this one is going to be harder to get into guys."
"Your right Aidan, we are going to have to be a lot more careful, but I really think she is here, otherwise why all the guards?" Jake said, and I think he is right.
"Exactly, but going in this way is pretty much out of the question. Do you think coming in from the water would be our best bet Jake?"
"Yeah Aidan I do, they won't expect anything from the water because they could see it coming a mile away. But if we go a mile or so down the coast we can swim our way back in. They won't expect someone to be willing to do that, they will expect a boat. If you guys all think you can do it?" Jake said.
"I can do that." Lexi said.
"So can I." Julie said.
"I think we are all willing to do whatever it takes to get Kenna back. If we do this now while it is dark we can rest for a few hours when we reach the shore. That way we actually have strength to get Kenna out tomorrow." I said.
"We are gonna have to run back into town and see if we can rent some scuba gear. That is a really long swim, we really don't want to take the chance of drowning out there do we. Then get a fishing boat to take us over there, and we won't get a fisherman to take us out there at night. Let's head back to town charter a fishing boat for tomorrow morning, then we can scuba dive over to the beach, they won't see us that way either."
Jake is right, we have to do this right if we are going to get Kenna out of there. "Your right, sorry Jake."
"Don't be sorry Aidan, you just want to get her back, and believe me I do too. Once we get to the beach tomorrow we will have some time to rest then go in and get Kenna out."
"Yeah that sounds like a good idea. Well, let's get to it, we have a lot of stuff to get figured out for tomorrow." I am so worried, but Kenna is my sister and she went through so much to make sure we all got away, no matter what we are getting her out tomorrow!
Oh God, what is that noise? "Wake UP! Let's go, you are wanted in the Great Hall," Brad said as he is shaking me awake, real gentle guy Brad. Great, what the hell do they want now!
It was the same as before, eight chairs all filled and the man that questioned me before in the most decorative chair. "Have a seat again child."
So again I sat in a chair in the middle of the room with them around me. Well, at least they aren't ready to kill me yet. "Inject her, I don't trust her to eat the serum again." Was all the main dude said, so great another shot, but this time I can't fake it.
"Ouch, watch it Brad!" Brad just smiled like he was enjoying causing me pain, not a good sign.
Head honcho guy started talking again, "it will not take long for that to take effect."
"What else could you possibly want from me, I told you everything I know yesterday."
"Yes, well we have a few more questions that need absolutely honest answers before we decide how to proceed with you."
"What do you mean proceed with me?"
"Patience child, once the serum kicks in we will ask the questions, for now all that is required of you is silence." Silence, yeah cause that is an easy task for me, not! Something isn't right, they didn't really torture Aidan, and they have yet to torture me. I don't get these people.
Man he wasn't kidding, they started asking questions within five minutes of giving me the dang shot, and I couldn't help but tell them the truth.
"Kenna, if we gave you more food to eat would you eat it?" Ok must be starting with a question they know I would lie to.
"No." I replied, couldn't really help myself, I just hope they don't ask me anything about the questions they asked yesterday.
"Ok, she is ready. Kenna do you recognize this book?" Oh crap that is Halaina's journal.
"Yes, it is my ancestor's journal."
"Very good, can you read this?"
Oh no, not this question, please not this question. "Yes, I can."
"I thought you might be able to, do you know how many people are capable of reading this?"
"Just one."
"And why is that?"
"The language was passed down through my family, and I was the only one raised by a member of my blood line."
"So to your knowledge no one else can read this book." Talk about redundant, I just answered that damn question.
"No one else."
"Very good child, if asked would you translate it voluntarily or are we going to have to threaten to get you to do it."
"Threaten."
"And is threatening you going to do us any good or are we going to have to find someone you love?"
"Someone I love, I don't care what you do to me."
"As we expected, bring her in." Her, who do they have! I don't have any other family besides who is with Aidan.
"Oh No!" They brought Patty in, my neighbors little girl. Oh my the Grants have to be going crazy wondering where their daughter is. "No don't hurt her, I will do whatever you want, just please don't hurt her."
"As you wish, you just have to translate the journal for us. Then once that is done, she is free to go home." Oh my God, I have to get her out of here.
"I want her with me, so I know she is not being mistreated."
"No, she has her own room here and will remain there or you can guarantee we will miss treat her."
"Kenna, what's going on? Where am I," Patty said. This is so wrong she is only ten years old.
"Don't worry Patty, I will get you out of this. I promise."
"I am really scared Kenna."
"I know sweetie, but I need you to be strong. Can you be strong for me?"
"O Ok," Patty started crying and they lead her back out of the room. I have to figure out where she is staying.
"Sir, may I see her a few hours a day as I translate the book?"
He was quiet for a long time, I am sure he will reject my request, but he said, "Yes, that we can arrange. Brad take her back to her room. Kenna there are already supplies there for you to start translating the journal. I will be checking on you in a few hours, if I am pleased with your progress on it I will allow Penny to dine with you in your room this evening." He handed Brad the journal and ordered us out again.
I didn't need another twist in this plan, shit! As we walked down the hall Brad handed me the journal with a glare. He definitely didn't like me, and wasn't too happy I was still on this earth. "Get over it Brad, they will kill me when they no longer have a use for me."
He just herumphed, no response other than that. Huh, oh well I have much more important things to worry about.
Well back in my room I now have a desk, chair, stack of blank paper and pens galore. Guess they think I can get this translated in a day or something. That isn't going to happen. I may know the language but that doesn't mean it is easy to read. It isn't like I have ever really had occasion to use it.
It is still morning if my guess is correct, and still no food. But I know I will get something for dinner because Patty will be in here with me then, and they won't starve a child. Of course I have to have some of this dang journal translated by that point too, and how much is enough for them to let Patty come here? Just going to have to get started and see how far I get. But first, "Rick, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"They have my neighbor's little girl, her name is Patty, I have to figure out how to get her out of here."
"Shit, is that what you were talking about last night?"
No need for him to know any differently, "Yes. They are letting her have dinner in my room to keep me compliant. Patty doesn't know what I can do, but she will soon, we have to get out of here as soon as she is in my room."
"Agreed, you will have to make a hole in the wall in my room also, but you can't do that until later."
"Agreed, they have given me a book to try and translate, I have to get some done or they won't let Patty eat dinner with me."
"Ok, As far as everyone is concerned this hole doesn't exist until Patty is in your room tonight."
"Thanks Rick."
What seemed like forever later the head guy showed up to check on my work. I had done pretty well I thought, but we will see what he thinks.
"Let me see your work." He said, so I handed him what I had completed. I had completed about twenty pages, and I was just thankful that so far Halaina hadn't really given away any secrets. It was mostly about first meeting the elemental lords, and the courtship she seemed to have with each of them, which I had already read back at Granny's house anyway, so I wasn't really worried, but I haven't read much past what I translated for them, so I don't really know if there are any major secrets in this book. That is why I need to get it away from here. With my translated pages, if I leave the book then they can translate the rest, and I can't allow that. But I have to get myself and Patty out of here as well.
"You have had hours to work on this child, why is there not more?"
"I have done what I can, I may have been taught this language as a child, but I have never had a reason to use it until recently."
"Though you haven't done as much as I would have hoped, you are working on it, so I will allow Patty to dine with you."
"Thank you sir," I said, which had to be three of the hardest words I had ever said.
"Brad will be bringing dinner in shortly, and Patty will be with him. I will be generous and give you two hours and then Patty will be taken back to her room." He must be trying to get my cooperation, he is being awfully nice, and he knows he does not have to.
"What do you want sir?"
He laughed, he was not surprised by my question at all. "In time child, we shall get to that." And he walked out the door.
What the hell does that mean? I thought they were planning to kill me after I translated this book. Kenna worry about the here and now, you can't do anything about things you don't know.
"Hey Rick, I am coming over to get a better look at your room."
"Ok."
His room looks just like mine, pretty simple, "Hey do you have a guard at your door?"
"Na they stopped guarding me months ago."
"Do you know if there is another room beyond that far wall?"
"No room, the other side of that wall is a set of stairs that lead down to the kitchen."
Huh, this could work. "Well I can't just put a hole in the wall there then, but they are giving me two hours with Patty, so I guess we try then. Are you in?"
"Hell yeah, I have been here way to long and the minute they think they don't need me my life is over."
"Well, I better head back over before they get back, I am putting the dresser back to cover the hole, so hopefully I will see you soon." We both winked at each other as I slipped back into my own room. I just really hope this works out.
Dang that was luck, I just got the dresser put back into place, and stepped over and sat on my bed when Brad came into my room.