The morning light brightened up the whole chamber. I was still sitting down clutching my dragger to me. After last night I don't know if it was alright to sleep in here without having any consequences. I am afraid, so much. And that was not just for me, I am afraid for Mr. Rodriguez, who is still very much unaware of all these happenings here. I can imagine if he was here when it had happened. He would have locked me in and himself , probably he would have used me as a bait.
A smiled spread across my face thinking about him. How much I miss him, how much it hurts when I think about him. How much it hurts, inside thinking he may never ever be near me or hold me in his arms. We may never embark on the journey to find some ancient city of gold. Or chase some ancient pyramids. Or he may never again teach me how to operate any new weapon. I can never spent any other night under the stars watching them shine like pretty diamonds.
Or maybe we never ever share another dance, have another fight, and... I cried yet again. His not being here is too much for me. I cannot just wait anymore. I need to find him. I need to have him beside me. I need him, so much. So much... I promise Christin I will not fight ever again, if you just give me one chance to explain just one last chance. I cannot take it anymore. This loneliness, it is killing me little by little. It is and I am just...
I heard a knock on the door. "My Lady, your guests have arrived." I heard Abe's voice. He was standing guard all night? Isn't he? I wonder if this man sleeps ever. "I will be down there, please tell maids to assist them." I said and I heard his footsteps leave as they have come. I pulled myself up, it pains, I saw why when I changed my clothes. There are bruises lining all over my body.
I gasped touching the bruises, it was hurting me too much. I pulled my dress in place, this is no time to dwell on past, I need to prepare for my guest as the lady of this manor. I walked down towards the sitting area, probably Ibrahim was keeping them company but he was not much of a talker. I walked past the room that lead to the basement. One which he always kept me away from. Even when I have the keys I didn't dare dwell on the chance of finding out about what secrets it contains.
I do not wish to disturb anything so that he gets his house back as he left it. I am also going to return this manner papers to him. What use I have of this? I have a home with servants and maids to wait on my hands and legs day and night. I don't need to be Lady of this manor anymore.
Good excuse Kathy, why don't accept that this is too much for you to bear his memories are lying on every corner and it is too much for you to take.
I walked towards them James and Dana, they sure looked lovely. Specially Dana, she was glowing. This means James is keeping her happy. I walked towards them Ibrahim looked at me bowed and disappeared somewhere. Dana pulled me into a hug, I winced. Making her gasp. "Are you alright sister?" She asked. "Yes, I am fine." I told her, it is definitely not true.
"You told me you have a proposal Lady Katherine." James sounded so cold, so formal, so distant, almost like... No, I cannot think about Christin now, I just cannot. Dana looked at him and I saw a blush coating around her cheek. At least one of us is happy. "James, you told me you will try haven't you?" Dana said looking at him. What is she talking about? Is it possible that I am reading their situation very much wrong? James closed his eyes taking a deep breath and then he opened them and looked at Dana. He nodded looking at her.
"We heard last night you have been attacked" James said as we sat in study. It looks like he had decorated this place up to his liking, again I felt like an invader. "I am fine, thank you for asking James." I said. "Here are this month's financial statements, of the empire" Why is he giving me this? "So, you don't know that he had given you his empire too?" Why? Why Christin? I never asked for this, I wanted you, not your money. Never your money. "I don't know first thing about running a business, what should I do with this?" I asked him.
"How should I know? It is yours to take Lady Katherine." I shook my head. "I don't want anything to do with it. But I know who can, and I am going to return this to him." I said. "For that you have to locate his position, which is very much impossible. When he doesn't wish to be found, he will not." But I am not giving up. Not this easily that is. I am not going to let him ruin it all for me. No, I cannot. "Ibrahim told me it was our old friend who had attacked you, so you need not to hide things from me Lady Katherine. Rest assured, he did told us all to protect you, guard you with our lives"
I stood up taking the papers and put them under lock and key for safe keeping. "I am not fragile as I look and it is not Mr. I-know-it-all Rodriguez, so do not bother with my protection Lord James." I replied in the same cold tone as he used with me. Just for a thing he had broken a beautiful relationship we shared. James was one of few who I thought was innocent and just have a pure heart. He holds no malice in his thoughts. But I judged wrong. "Tell me the real reason why you called me here Lady Katherine."
"I am offering you a trip to France as Honeymoon. Since I haven't given you anything as a present I was thinking that maybe you could use a little alone time with my sister." His brown orbs access me. Then his lips curled into a mocking smile. "I guess, he did teach you how to impress people with words. Mr. Rodriguez have this unique talent he can make anyone work for him just with his words. That my lady now, is a very rare and unique and equally deadly talent to have, to be Charismatic."
"I am not trying to use you Lord James, not for any purpose. It is my genuine concern that my sister remains happy." I said. "Or you are thinking of a way of making yourself happy My Lady, by trying and following the trail of your beloved." James said. "I don't say you are wrong, but as you see, Lord James she is my little sister, someone who had always looked after me, it is my turn to look after her." He twirled the crystal paperweight on the table. "It is a good thing that she didn't picked up on your hobbies and your love for danger." He stood up ready to leave.
"If not for her, then for Christin, My step mother and Captain Williams too found his trail and I am afraid he is no longer safe." I said. "That is nothing new for him, It is Christin Ace Rodriguez we are talking about. He doesn't cower away from danger." That is what I am afraid of because sometimes, he cannot be Mr. I-am-always-invincible Rodriguez, can he? Sometimes he get defeated and I don't want him to be alone then. "Please as his friend, I am asking you one last time help me find him"
"What friendship we had is long gone. Maybe we could have rekindled something from it if you haven't selfishly decided to abandon him and I both, so lady Katherine it is all your fault for not making up your mind and leading us both on." He said. "I never lead you on James," I shouted. "But you never said no. What we will make of that? And now loosing only hope of light he had in his life, he jumped into that eternal darkness again, as a lone soul he is, and it is all because of you. So, No Katherine Davis, it will not be my fault, it will be yours, solely."
He left me there I held on to the desk for support. He was not wrong, it was I who had laid to all these events if he wasn't related to me, he might not have gotten involved with Captain Williams or Emilia or even Judah. No, he wouldn't have and I am the sole reason for this. He is right. I cannot ever be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to Mr. Rodriguez. If I am to choose, I will trade places with him. And I will take his fate as mine. Maybe I should. Maybe then...
"So, when do we leave for Paris?" I heard a voice that took me back to reality. "I heard you are arranging an honeymoon trip for both of us?" I nodded looking at my sister. "Yes, I was, but it is for both of you, not for me. I am not going with you. I want you two to have a safe trip..." She hugged me. " I know you want to find Christin, and you will Kathy, I know you love him with all your heart, He is one lucky person." She said. I wanted to tell her that it is I who was lucky if I ever find his whereabouts.
"How do you know I love him?" I asked. "Because your eyes reflect the same emotions as mine. I love James Kathy, and I can never ever be more indebted to you for making this happen. You did a lot for me. And I want you to find the same happiness. Your happiness, even with your cold exterior, your iron like resolve, your beautiful but determined soul, and your resilience that can make you win every argument and every fight, I know when it comes to your heart, it is fragile little thing. We all have that fragile little thing in us Kathy. You have saved mine, now it is time you saved yours too."
"When did you grew up this much? In two months, you have changed." She laughed. "No I didn't. But you were crying your heart out. If he makes you cry like this again, he has me to answer Kathy," I smile. "And beside if he rejects you then, we will marry you to Prince of some place. Then he will surely regret it." I laughed more. "You know what? Let's just buy some dresses for the trip it will cheer you up and we can talk too. It is been days since I talked to you properly even after living this close." She said.
I saw Ibrahim was following us from a distance. "A man from the estate is following us Katherine." I nodded. "He is Ibrahim. Mr. Rodriguez's gift. He was his protector until he left him for me." I clarified. "He cares for you deeply then I can say this." Dana said. "Maybe you are right Dana, but I do not know, I do not know anything anymore." I said as we took the stroll through the busy market selling all kind of things.
I saw a woodwork shop. And I thought if he can gift me something special why cannot I gift him something too. Something he can have for lifetime? Something that will remind him off me? I know what I want for them to make. I walked inside the establishment and Dana looked at me confused. "I will be with you in a moment, why don't you pick somethings for yourself till then?" I told her. She didn't say a word and left the shop.
"Lady how may I help you today?" The shop attendant asked. "I am looking for something very special, and I want it done by tomorrow, it is a gift for someone very special, can you carve me something special?" I asked looking at him hopeful. "First I need to know what it is that is you want me to carve and if you can pay me for it. Also, if it is possible to make one in such a short time, after that I will tell you my decision." He said. "Alright then, I will tell you what I want and I want it done at the earliest by tonight, if you may or early tomorrow." I said.
Dana was looking at the gowns at a dressmaker's shop as I walked out of the place. I was informed about the same by Abe. "Thank you, Ibrahim for being this attentive." I told him. "It is my duty towards you My Lady. And towards your family. And your sister is your family." He said. I am very much overwhelmed about all this. Him leaving Ibrahim behind for me, I cannot bear if something does happen to him. "let's go we have much to conclude before we embark on the journey and I need a change of clothes. Also, I need something more." I said.
Dana was talking to the dressmaker when I walked in. "Liked something sister?" I asked and she turned around to face me. "Yes, I did, but I am not sure what to take." She said. "Let me see the dresses you selected and I will choose for you." I told her touching her cheek tenderly. It doesn't feel like she is my step sister. It is like she always had meant to be here with me. Only if she finds her true happiness with James. I wish they remain happy for rest of their lives and his past with me doesn't overshadow their future.
"These are three dresses I have selected for the journey among others but I don't know which one I shall choose for the big event of meeting my brother-in-law."
The who?
"Who are you talking about?" I asked. "I know your real purpose for this journey is to find the one you fell for Katherine. And no matter how much you think you are born under unlucky stars you too will find your Prince Charming. You too will be happy" "Indeed, I sometimes like your optimism sister, but he is someone who is as hard headed as a coconut, nothing pierce his thick skull." And then she begins to laugh. "That means he is softer on the inside and maybe somewhere he feels just the same?" She asked.
I am not getting my hopes up. Only for it to be crushed, because if Judah is right and he already have a woman in his life, I can only hope he doesn't ignore me. He listens to the things I have to say. I can only hope for this only. "Don't be dishearten Katherine, the Katherine I know is not a quitter and that is in any situation." I am happy to have her around. "Let's give you the perfect honeymoon Dana. You deserve it."
"The blue is your colour, Dana, it will look perfect." I said. "I know, how about the green and black one?" She asked. "It is good but it will not quite bring out your eyes." "No, it will not, but it is perfect for you." I looked at her confused. "I want you to wear this when you meet Mr. Rodriguez. If this cannot do it for him nothing can." She explained. "No, I cannot, I mean I am not even sure if I will meet him, if I will find him"
And what condition I will find him
No, he is alright. "I think you should start being a little optimistic now. Start with the dress, I think it will provide you the courage you need to have to face him. Think it as a gift from me. I never given you one." She said. "But Dana..." She took the dress from me and talk to the dressmaker and she took my measurements. "All the dresses will be ready by evening My ladies" She said. "Thank you" Dana replied politely. "Let's get few more things for you Katherine, for the journey." Dana pushed me outside the shop. I just let her do whatever she liked to.
As we were passing the town square from corner of my eyes, I caught some movement. Few men were surrounding us little by little they were just Cornering us. I know I can see them trying to get the best possible route to corner us in an alleyway. And for some reason they were getting exactly what they wish to. With Dana with me, I cannot risk it. So, I just assessed the situation. And then I shouted.
Word Count: 2875 Words