Free Captured by the Dark Lord by Jaide Fox Page B

gathered her
up and settled her onto a horse in front of one of the men.
     
    Bianca scarcely noticed in
her misery.  More than in her body, she felt a weariness in her mind that
refused to relinquish control.
     
    As the men began the long
ride to Raedan, she fell into a deep sleep.
     
    When next she awoke, it was
in her own bed.  A blurry shape stood above her, blocking the light from the
candle sconces.
     
    “Bianca?  Are you awake?”
     
    Bianca blinked rapidly,
adjusting to the light.  “Adriana?”
     
    Adriana threw herself at
Bianca and hugged her tightly, smothering her with her embrace.  She pulled
back to look at her, then laughed and hugged her again.  “Oh, Bianca, we
worried we would never see you again.  Father is on his way.  When you started
to stir, I sent for him.”
     
    Adriana sat on the edge of
the bed, patting her leg.  “Do you need anything?  Are you thirsty, or hungry?”
     
    Bianca smiled.  “No, I’m
fine.  And I’ll be glad to see father.  But really, Adriana, why do you carry
on so.  It’s only been--”
     
    The door burst open and her
father strode inside.  He shouted and laughed to see her and shuffled to the
bed.  After many hugs and kisses, he pulled back from her and collapsed in a
chair, holding her hand.  “We’d nearly given up hope of finding you.”
     
    “I’m sorry, father.  I
thought I was doing the right thing.  I never imagined things would turn out
this way.”
     
    John looked confused ... and
worried.  His brow wrinkled as he frowned, and he ran his fingers through his
thin, snowy hair.  “Daughter, I can’t imagine what you were thinking, but I
have some news for you.”
     
    Bianca sat up in the bed,
frightened by his and Adriana’s serious expressions.  “What is the matter?”
     
    “When you went missing,
Cerise struck out after you.  You know how bold she is.  I fear she is lost
somewhere in the valley ... or she has been taken into Hellsing.  She has been
missing for several days now, and I fear if weeks go by without her return as
with what happened with you, we will never find her.”
     
    Bianca shook her head,
confused.  “That’s not right.  I’ve only been gone a week.  Cerise cannot be so
deeply lost in that short a time.  You exaggerate, father.”
     
    His eyes widened, and he
released her hand as she pulled away.  “No, I do not.  It has been weeks, my daughter.  Weeks.”
     
    This wasn’t right.  Something
was terribly, terribly wrong.  Her world could not have skewed so horribly. 
Damian could help her set things to rights.  He’d been the impetus since the
beginning--he had to help her sort this out.  “I will ask Damian to help us.”
     
    “Who?” John asked, glancing
at Adriana.  Adriana shrugged, shaking her head.
     
    Bianca massaged her temple. 
Her head pounded like a drum.  “The death knight.  I forgot you would likely
not know his name.”
     
    “Please, Bianca, this is no
time for jests.”
     
    “You do not remember the deal
you struck with the death knight?  I ran away that night to save you.”
     
    “I know not why you left,
daughter, but I am glad you are home.  Perhaps you can help us find Cerise. 
The trackers picked up her trail heading to Hellsing.  I feel certain we will
locate her there, somewhere near the border.  I’ve already sent some men in to
continue tracking.”
     
    “This can’t be happening.  It
cannot.  He was real , father.  As real as you or I!”
     
    Adriana stood, looking
worried, and left.  Bianca scarcely noticed her passing, her mind in a whirl.
     
    “You are delirious from your
time in the woods.  I’ll leave you to get some more rest.  Do not worry
overmuch about Cerise.  I have our best men looking.  I should not have
mentioned it to you so soon, when you’ve not even recovered from your trials.”
     
    Bianca nodded and watched as
he left, dousing the candles near the door.  She was not so addle brained she
couldn’t