Page 26 of Ruby Queen
Chapter 17
Anthony stretched his legs slowly as his senses came to. He was in a dark room that smelled of mold and moisture. The clanking sound and heaviness on his ankle told him he was chained to something on the floor.
“You're awake.” A soft voice whispered from somewhere in the darkness.
“Whose there?” Anthony groaned as he tried to move.
“You’re the captain for the Ruby Queen, right?” the stranger spoke. It was a woman, that much Anthony was able to ascertain. But whoever she was, she was hidden in the shadows.
“Commander, actually.”
“That’s new. What happened to Commander Holsten?”
“Who are you?” Anthony questioned, trying to slide his body closer to the voice.
“I used to be a queen.”
“Dimitra?” Anthony whispered, “Is that you, Your Majesty?”
Sliding from the shadows, the Diamond Queen came into the light. Her once white gown hung off her body like a rag. It was torn and covered in dirt and blood.
“How are you feeling?” she moved closer, eyeing his shaken state.
“Sore… what happened? The last thing I remember was an explosion. Oh fuck…Christine?”
“Who’s Christine? Your wife?”
“It’s complicated…” Anthony struggled to sit up, “Who did this?”
“I don’t know. Whoever it is… has someone else doing their grunt work. I’ve never seen them.”
“Why haven’t you used your magic to get out?” Anthony wondered, knowing she controlled the light and air.
“These things are some sort of suppressor. I can’t even feel my magic.” Dimitra rubbed her hands over the silver cuffs encircling her delicate skin.
“Fuck.” Anthony tried to move, the pain lancing through his body. He realized the white fabric was wrapped around his ribs. “Rory must be beside herself. I need to get out of here.”
“There’s no way out. I’ve tried everything – trust me.”
Anthony scanned the space. It was utterly bricked in, with no windows and only one door.
“Is this where you’ve been since Emersyn’s party?”
“I think so… the man that grabbed me shoved a bag over my head. I remember driving for a while then being tossed in here.”
“Have you been…” Anthony waved his hands, trying to find the right words.
“No. No one has touched me. I don’t even know why I’m here. It’s not like whoever kidnapped me has made any demands. How long have I been gone?”
“Nearly two months.”
“Two months… wow. My kingdom?” Dimitra wiped the wetness forming beneath her eyes.
“It’s running smoothly. Commander Critcher has been doing a great job of keeping everything together. He and Constable have relied on the other kingdoms to investigate.”
“How about the other kingdoms? Is Emersyn ok? Did anyone get hurt at the party?”
“A lot has happened, Dimitra.”
“Well… tell me about it. It’s not like we are getting out anytime soon.”
Anthony gave a small smile and began filling Dimitra in on everything that had transpired since her disappearance. He couldn’t hide the smile or blush when he told her about him, Christine, and Rory. Dimitra didn’t seem at all surprised by his admission. She’d always known Rory was a different kind of person. And she wasn’t about to hold anything against her cousin. She was happy Rory had found two people to love. Dimitra was lonely herself. Hearing the love, Anthony had for her cousin gave her some happiness in the darkness she was stuck in. Dimitra vowed to ruin the person responsible for tearing her kingdom, and now Rory’s kingdom, in two.
