Eye on Orion (12 page)

Ryad

The movie was the perfect place to be with Jai. I sat close to him and held his hand in the dark. We ended up not watching much of the movie because we thought to each other for most of it. My little bottle of Densinne was awesome. At first he talked a lot about Amira, more than once saying he shouldn't have left her alone, but before long the topic turned to us. He asked me more about things I liked and what I did as a kid. I asked him a lot of the same things and about how much training he went through in order to be the bodyguard of the princess. Best thing was we were never shushed by others in the movie.

We did get some funny looks when we would laugh out loud during a part of the movie that wasn't funny. We would both duck down in our seats and giggle more. He seemed more relaxed toward the end of the movie. Hopefully, I'd be the only one on his mind the rest of the night. With the way he kept looking at me throughout the show, I had high expectations.

We were so engrossed in each other when the credits rolled, we didn't notice it. The slow lights coming up in the theater showed us to be the last ones still in our seats. Of course, there weren't many people here to begin with. I picked up my almost-empty bucket of popcorn and my empty cup.

“I'm going to need to visit the little girls' room before we go,” I said as we walked by the restrooms.

“I'll meet you there.” He pointed to the posters lining the walls.

I checked my lip-gloss in the mirror after I'd finished washing my hands. Would applying more lip-gloss make him want to kiss me, or would it be more of a deterrent because he wouldn't want to get it on him? I added a little to make them shine, but not too much. I was too distracted thinking about Jai and about kissing him, I didn't pay much attention to anything else. I walked out and ran right into a tall guy pacing by the water fountain between the two bathroom doors.

“Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't see you there.” I looked up, but before I could meet his eyes, he grabbed me, put one hand over my mouth, and hauled me to the side doors. I tried to yell but nothing escaped his hand. I bit him and I tried again.

“Help!” I squeaked before he clamped his hand across my mouth, putting pressure on my jaw so I couldn't open it again. I looked around at the mostly empty parking lot and panicked that there weren't any people out there.

The stranger dragged me to the car closest to the doors we'd come out of. I'd heard enough stories of girls being abducted that I didn't want him to get me in his car. If he did, I'd never see my family again.

I screamed but no one was close enough to hear. I yelled as loud as I could in my mind, hoping Jai would hear me. I fought against him and looked back toward the theater. Our movie didn't have many viewers in it, being a Monday night, and the movies weren't all that good. But where was the ticket seller? Where was Jai? Why didn't he come when he heard my screaming?

We were almost to the car. I tried to remember all the things I'd learned about self-defense. The most effective tool being to make sure you never put yourself in a place where you would need to use it.

Always be aware of your surroundings.
I was very aware I was alone with him. That didn't help me much.

Make lots of noise.
I tried, but it didn't help since no one was around.

Notice everything you can about the attacker.
He was a few inches taller than I. He had dark wavy hair and green eyes. His full eyebrows and chiseled face made him look like he'd been carved from marble. He had a mole by his left ear.

If required, fight the assailant.
I tried to hit his hand holding tightly onto my upper arm, but it didn't seem to bother him. He saw me swing at his face and blocked it easily. I tried stomping on his foot, but the way he dragged me made it impossible to reach him with my heels. I yanked and pulled at my arm and tried to get away from him.

Then for the first time he spoke. His voice sounded smooth and flowed over the words, yet I didn't understand a thing he said. He almost seemed to be pleading with me, but when he called me Amira I stopped trying to kick him.

My mouth opened but no words came. I tried screaming again to Jai in my mind. I was too stunned to tell him I wasn't Amira. He must be from their planet. I felt pretty sure he wasn't Shander. He was too young, but who was he? Since he was taking me by force, I knew her father hadn't sent him.

Once I stopped fighting him, he opened the door of the car and shoved me in the back seat. He closed the door immediately and got in behind the wheel. I lunged back to the door and yanked on the handle. It didn't do anything. I pushed and slammed my body against the door, then slid across the seat to the other side. The handles wouldn't open from the inside. My aunt owned a car like this, one you could flip a switch on the inside of the door to keep little kids from opening it while the car was in motion. The only way to open these kinds of doors was from the outside. The windows wouldn't even roll down. I lay on the cushion and kicked at the window. It only made my feet sting.

I growled to myself that I didn't have a cell phone. I should have paid for one myself. I'd never wanted one as much as I did now. I climbed over the front seat, trying to get out of the passenger door. He grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me back into the seat.

He spoke, sounding like he was warning me not to try it again, but I didn't want to just give up and go easily. I pulled on the door handle and had it almost open enough to jump out. He swerved wildly as he leaned over to pull me back in. He slammed the brakes and shoved the car into park. Gripping my hand in his, he bent it back until I felt the skin on my wrist burning from the tension. I cried out in pain, and he slapped his other hand on my forearm, just above the wrist. My body convulsed and I couldn't move.

“Ouch! What did you do?” At least I could still talk.

He looked at me with raised brows and pulled the seatbelt across my lap and buckled me in. I watched him in confusion. I guess he didn't want his princess to die in an accident. He buckled himself in and put the car into drive. He started talking again, not even looking at me as he drove. I was still able to see him, though I couldn't move my head.

I tried to calm myself and think of what I could do to make him let me go or at least not hurt me. Should I tell him he'd gotten the wrong girl, or should I pretend to be Amira and find out what he planned to do with her?

He wore one of those black medallions like Jai and Amira both wore. He was definitely from their planet.

He looked like he might be about twenty. If he hadn't kidnapped me, I might have thought him good-looking. He was still talking to me, but I didn't understand a thing. I tried to listen to his thoughts, but didn't hear anything from him. I'd been yelling for Jai constantly, but my abductor didn't seem to notice. Either he could communicate telepathically and was ignoring me, or he'd run out of Densinne.

I shouted in my mind, “
I am not Amira, you idiot! I'm from this planet, not yours! Turn around and take me back!”

That didn't elicit any response from him. If I pretended to be Amira, I could get him to give me information. Maybe I could help them out — if I ever got away from him, that is. I didn't want him to hurt me by any means, but wouldn't it be better for him to kidnap me and discover I was a fake than to catch the real princess? He would take her back to Rommader, and Jai would follow her. Besides, this guy couldn't actually take me home with him since I didn't have a Traveling medallion.

Trying to remember exactly how Amira talked, and the tone of voice she used when she wanted her way, I said, “Did you even bother to learn English before you came here?”

He stopped his ramblings when I spoke. He looked at me a little funny. It took him a moment to form the words, but he responded. “Yes, Your Highness. I have a talent for language learning.”

“What are you doing taking me in this manner?” I demanded louder than before.

He didn't answer, just watched the road as he drove out of town.

“I insist you answer me!” I wanted to bang my fist on the dashboard, but I still couldn't move. “Why are you taking me?”

“Shander sent me to return you to Rommader.”

I sucked in my breath. Shander had found them. I tried to think of what Amira would say. “I refuse to return to Rommader by Shander's insistence. He has no authority over me.” I hoped I wasn't laying it on too thick.

“But Shander requires you to calm the people down.” He glanced at me briefly. “They are becoming more and more worried about your father's health. Shander wants you there to ease the concerns of the people that the transfer of power will go smoothly,” he said as if that made everything better.

“How did you find me?” I asked in as close to Amira's tone as I could manage.

“I have a searching talent.” He sounded smug.

“You have two talents? How does that work?” I asked then cursed myself for wanting him to explain his talents to me. Amira wouldn't be asking him how his talents worked. She would probably know about it already.

“Yes.” He seemed rather proud of it. When I didn't say anything else, he continued. “I apologize for my roughness, Your Highness, but it is important that you return to Rommader.”

I tried to move, but I still couldn't control my body. What had he done to me? “You think by forcing me to return home and making me marry Shander that it will make things better?” The thought disgusted me, even though it wouldn't actually be me marrying him.

“Marry him? That's what he wants from you?” He seemed surprised.

“You didn't know?” I said with surprise myself. “Why else would he want me there? He figures if he marries me he will be able to get his hands on the throne.” At least that's what Jai told me.

“But would the king allow that?” He shook his head, as if to deny my words.

“How is the king? My father?” I added quickly.

“I have not seen the king, Your Highness,” he said, glancing at me again. “Shander has been the one signing the laws and decrees. He instructed me to come retrieve you and return you to your father. You are to be ready to take the crown. He also said you would refuse to come with me because you didn't know me, so I should take you by force if necessary. And to do it when I could keep Jai away from you.”

“If Shander actually had good intentions, why tell you to take me away from my bodyguard?” I asked.

He didn't have anything to say in response at first, but eventually said, “Perhaps he knew your new bodyguard would follow your wishes to shirk your duties?”

I huffed in indignation. My head moved slightly. “I did not shirk my duties. Shander is a threat, and my father sent me here. How did Shander get back into the palace?” I demanded. “The king banished him.”

“He was never banished.” He frowned.

“Shander is trying to take over the kingdom for himself.” I clenched my fist, excited that I could do that much. “He's been trying to cause dissension and undermining the king's rule for a while. He was banished when he tried to force me to marry him. The people should have been told not to trust him.”

“The people have no concerns with Shander.” He looked confused for a moment. “They think he is a logical person to step into power if your father dies before your return. He has been the king's counselor. In fact, many people are upset you are missing instead of ready to take your place as their queen. I wouldn't be surprised if they ratified a law that would allow him to rule without you.”

If that was true, why would Shander send this guy for Amira? Why not just let the people vote him in? “Why did you come instead of him?” I asked.

“I was told to come find you and return with you as soon as I had you, and we could get to a good spot for Traveling.” He glanced at me as he pulled onto the freeway.

“Where?” I asked. How long did I have to convince him not to kidnap the princess? There were few cars on the road, being a section of I-80 that wasn't used frequently.

“The Salt Flats.”

So it was true. The Salt Flats allowed them to Travel easier. They were less than two hours away. Not far, but not an immediate concern. I needed to get him to stop and give me time to convince him not to take Amira, or me really, back to Rommader.

“Shander is a terrible tyrant. How can you possibly obey his wishes and return me to him?” I asked, throwing as much disgust in my voice as possible.

“I…” he didn't finish.

“Tell me your name,” I commanded.

“Ryad Mynar, Your Highness.” He bowed his head.

I tried to fold my arms across my chest, but I could only lift my hands just a fraction of an inch. Instead I mustered up as much confidence in my voice as I could. “Ryad, as your princess, I insist you stop this car, and we will discuss your options.”

“I can't do that. I was told to return you to Rommader.”

“I can't Travel with you now. I don't have my medallion.” I insisted.

“Why would you ever take it off?” he asked.

“It does not matter. You will have to return me to my home here so I can get it.”

“And have your bodyguard attack me?” He snorted. “I don't think so. I will take you somewhere safe for now until I can get back to your place and find that medallion.”

I could let him try to do that. Jai would be there with the real princess and would stop Ryad from getting the medallion. Jai would probably even capture him then find out where I was. But if I didn't get home within an hour, my parents would get involved, they'd contact Jai, find I was missing, call the police, and get them involved, potentially causing Jai and Amira all kinds of grief, especially if Ryad did something weird or alien-like. No, I'd have to get out of this on my own, and soon.

I took a deep breath. “Return me to the theater and we can discuss this with the others who are with me.”