The Game of Hearts

16. Taken

My eyes opened to a dark room. Warm stone pressed up against my body, which lied against it. I must've been there for a while if the Stone was warm. I moved my hand out slightly, an attempt to find the cold parts. When I did, I shuddered. It took a moment for my pupils to adjust. When it did, I saw a pillar holding up the ceiling in the very center of the room and then other pillars in the far corners helped lift the wall. A staircase led upwards on the wall farthest from me. When I turned around I saw a wooden chair with all sorts of fun devices.

I remembered finally. I was hit and taken out. Was I kidnapped? Oh, my, god. I was kidnapped. A hazy memory flooded my mind of my almost lifeless body in the back of a van, hands tied. I remembered the slight bumps and the chatter on the radio. I tried searching for the time of day that it was In my memory. Evening. It must've been late evening because the sun had begun to set. But... I was attacked shortly after Rowan left. Which was the morning.

I gasped when the door opened shortly after, making my insides turn. My body scooted towards the farthest wall from the door. Very suddenly, a light flickered on, almost blinding me.

"Aria, isn't it?" A deep baritone voice asked of me. A man walked towards me in a brown suit and black dress shoes. His hair was a dark brown, his eyes the same shade.

"What do you want?" I asked, lifting myself and using the wall as support. I was glued to the cold stone, since it was the only way I could stay as far as possible. My eyes fluttered to the pillar and the chair, thinking I could make my escape that way since the door was open behind him on the staircase.

"No use running. I'm not going to hurt you," he said calmly. His accent showed he was from somewhere in the UK. My eyes flickered back to his.

"I doubt it," I murmured bravely. His eyes became menacing for a moment, before going back to the original stone like caliber.

"I promise. Once our little Rowan comes out from hiding... well I'll let you go," the sound of Rowan's name made my heart flutter with hope. He could save me.

Wait.

"I'm bait?" I asked slowly.

"Yes, darling," he paused, as though trying to find the right words. "You see, I've been on his tail for months now, trying to find a way to capture his interests. After he found you, I decided to be on your tail. Of course, that Hunter is a bit of a complication. But I can handle him. When Rowan approached you and admitted his feelings for you, well it was a sublime opportunity."

"Wow... smart. W-well," I stuttered out in attempt to find the words to get out of there. "Well, I'm not useful. I basically rejected him. He won't come after me," I spat out.

"If that's the case, I could kill you for being no use to me," his voice became dangerous again, leaving chills in my spine.

It was clear. I had to get out of there. I watched him carefully, wondering what I could do. "So, what did Rowan do to you?" I quickly asked. This caught his attention.

"Oh, you know. Stole something precious of mine, killed my best friend, the list goes on," he said, but it wasn't enough to get an escape from.

"Why would he do that?"

The man scoffed and turned his back to a different wall, making for a perfect escape route. At the first few words he spoke, I sped past him in my normal human way and flew up the stairs. He didn't even try.

"That is unwise Ms. Evelin!" He called to me as I went to the first floor. The house was full of Knickknacks and clocks. It reminded me of one of those old grandma houses. I didn't have time to take in all the details. I ran to every outer wall of the house until I found the front door. I felt my heart in my throat, my stomach in my abdomen, and my brain throbbing tiredly against the back of my head. I threw myself out the door.

"No!" I cursed out again. What lied in front of me, under a dark sky and a bright full moon, a land of growth for what seemed like miles. I was on a farm. In the middle of no where. I turned to find my kidnapper standing in the door way, a hand beckoning me back inside. I swallowed my tears and followed him back inside. Rowan better save me, or so help me-