The Strings in the Shadows

Chapter Five- In which the search for Jack occurs

After the Crown Prince left, Jack shifted uncomfortably and tried to get out of the bed. He was feeling awkward, surrounded by all this wealth and grandeur (he was sure the glimmering ceiling was real gold) and he wanted to get back to the environement that he knew. But Luke looked up and stopped him, saying, "Oh, don't get up. You've been unconscious since we found you yesterday. The physcian thought that if no one had let you out soon, you probably would be in a coma by now."

"What?! What day is it?!" Asked Jack, who was now scrambling to get out of the bed, but his muscles seemed to be moving more slowly than he wanted. Did it always take this much energy to move his arm?

"Saturday. Now calm down. Edward and Kaira would probably both kill me if you died now, after we spent so much time trying to keep you healthy. Though, grant you, that's been pretty touch and go, all we really did was sit here and wait for you to get up. You were the easiest assignment I've ever had." Luke grinned. "All you did was lie there, after all."

"But Mam locked me in on Wednesday! Are you telling me it's been four days!? Oh, my stars," Jack laid back in the bed in defeat, after exhausting himself.

"That's more like it,"nodded Luke.

"And you got me out? Why'd you do that? You don't even know me, Lord Wellington," protested Jack.

"No, but I do," said a voice from the door, and Kaira walked in with Prince Edward next to her.

Jack gaped at her. "You just met me, my Lady! You were going to stab me!"

At that, Luke burst out laughing. "Don't worry about that, Jack! She does that to everyone!" He said when he got his breath.

Edward grinned behind his hand as Kaira made a face at Luke before speaking to the invalid in Luke's bed. "It doesn't matter that i just met you. I was looking for you, and found out that your own mother had imprisoned you in your bedroom. The least I could do was break you out. Besides, you still have Macintosh's notebook. I wasn't going to let that slip through my fingers."

Jack was slightly disappointed; she just wanted that book, she didn't really care about him- What was he thinking?! Of course she didn't care about him as a person! Noble's didn't care for servants-

A loud knocking suddenly rang out through the room. Prince Edward shot a questioning glance at Luke, who shrugged. He didn't wasn't expecting anyone, and maids never knocked loudly. Jack, on the other hand, guessed exactly who it was having heard that knocking all his seventeen years of living and turned whiter than the sheets he was resting on.

A manservant appeared at the bedroom doorway.

"Lord Luke, there is a woman at the door. She says she is looking for her son. I told her that you are taking no visitors at this time, but she has been most insistant."

"Let her in, Grange," said Luke in a strange voice. Startled, Jack looked over and saw a stranger. The laughing noble had transformed into the dark Shadow, his face expressionless, but nothing could mask the spark of anger in his eyes. Jack felt a chill come over the room and shivered. Glancing at the two other royals in the room, he saw the same features in their young faces.

Grange showed in Mam, who was still wearing her apron from the kitchens. The manservant left with a bow to his master.

"Ah, just the woman I wanted to-" started Prince Edward, but Gretta ignored the nobles, focused only on her son, who was desperately trying to sink into the bed and cease to exist.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? YOU ESCAPED AGAIN AND DECIDED TO GO SNEAKING INTO THE CASTLE?! YOU NEED TO FACE REALITY! YOU ARE A WORTHLESS, FATHERLESS BASTARD WITH NO FUTURE AND AIMLESS DAY DREAMS! AND IT'S TIME YOU LEARNED THAT LESSON!" shouted Gretta as she stomped up to Jack. He found the strength to sit up (to do what, he didn't know) just as her hand flew back. Wincing, he closed his eyes, waiting for the blow. When it didn't come, he opened one eye to find Lady Kaira suddenly by his side. She had caught Mam's blow by grabbing her wrist.