Lydia sat on the platform and sighed. She felt kind of silly, just sitting here all day staring at her husband. What she needed was a hobby. Well, she had a hobby, but she liked sharing it with Darguni. This time of day, both Darguni and Bradly were in the yard. Knowing what she'd seen firsthand, while the sons were technically trainees, they were next under their dads. If Grogek were to fall ill, Darguni would step up and train the men. If Jordan were to be injured, Bradly would take over. No one had been promoted yet, but she knew it just was a matter of time.
Susan was off being a mother to the baby and would probably show up to the platform later. Elunara had clients all day, so the house was off limits. Lulu and Tina were off doing whatever teenagers did these days. Tina had become a whole lot nicer since her bad night. Lydia debated checking on Zelinnia, but she'd just be in the way or roped into an endless stream of paper work. Renwa had earned his place as second in command to Varian.
Maybe Chrissy or Jenny would be interested in some girly time. Tulani also had clients, and she was just afraid to knock on Gingy's door. It wasn't like she had many female friends. Most of them were actually Elunara's friends. Some of the men she had hung out with as boys, now saw her as an annoyance and their wives weren't much happier about it. Bryan was a friend, but he'd locked himself in his house to work on some project. Bradly and Darguni had been her permanent friends, and that was that.
With a sigh, she flagged down Darguni.
"Hey, babe, what's up?"
"I'm going to go sing."
"You look sad."
"Just feeling a little lonely is all."
He brushed her hair back. "I'm sorry. My dad would kill me if I take a day off so close to our vacation."
"I'm not asking you to." She brushed her lips over his. "I'm going to go sing. It cheers me up."
"Alright, you know how to find me."
She awoke in darkness. Jolting, she struggled; only to find herself bound to a wall.
"Hello, little girl." He grabbed her chin. "Well, you're not so little any more, are you?"
She tried to talk, but her mouth was stuffed.
"Do you remember me?" He rubbed his knuckles on her cheek. "You're older than I like em, but I have unfinished business with you. I like breaking the strong ones, so tasty."
Trying to scramble back, she shrieked into the fabric.
"I think you remember me!" He licked his lips. "This will be even better!" He clapped his hands together. "But, I'm not ready yet. I'll be baaack!" He called out merrily as he left.
She struggled against her bonds, only to discover she couldn't move at all. Yanking her arms, she pulled against the fabric. Her feet were somehow bound to her hands, because she couldn't shift them without tightening the wrists. With a shiver, she realized that she was naked, and began to scream.
Darguni jogged down to the amphitheater. With a frown, he poked behind the curtain. Shrugging, he left for the hill. His concern grew as he searched the entire city. Ignoring the sign on the door, he knocked.
After a moment, Elunara yanked the door open. "What?"
He put a hand over his eyes. "Momma, has Lydia been by here?"
"No."
"I can't find her, and I've looked everywhere."
She sighed. "Did you try the amphitheater?"
"Twice. I've been everywhere and I just can't find her."
"What was her mental state?"
"Lonely. She was going to sing to cheer herself."
"Try everyone we know."
"Alright."
She closed the door in his face.
"Jerry, have you seen Lydia?"
He shook his head. "Try Bryan?"
"Bryan said no. He hasn't come out of his house."
"Alright, I'll help you look."
"Aw, you made a mess."
Lydia jerked as she was doused with cold water.
"Scream all you want, little girl. No one will find you down here." He dropped the bucket and sat on the bottom of it. "I'm very angry with you. I don't like being angry." He threaded his fingers together. "You took me away from the thing I like the most for twelve years." He giggled. "Such a perfect age, twelve..." He shook himself. "After I'm done with you..." He giggled again. "Maybe I can make you twelve again." He licked his lips. "Then I'll go get the snotty one and bring her down here too."
Lydia tried desperately to fight the bonds.
"How ironic... how much you like to sing. I'm going to make you sing for me. Right here in your favorite place to do it."
Her eyes had adjusted to the light and she could see the stored props. Footsteps above them made her start to scream again. The man watched the path of the footsteps until they left. "See? No one can help you here."
Darguni was absolutely frantic. "No one?"
They all shook their heads.
"FIND HER, GODDAMN IT!"
Lydia was lightheaded and desperately thirsty. She rolled her head and stared, with some desperation, at the footsteps above her head. They seemed to be pacing. She tried to scream but her throat had been clogged with the fibers. Closing her eyes, she tried with desperation to wish.
"Lydia?"
It was a whisper, but she knew that voice well. She tried to remember what Elunara had taught her. She gasped as another bucket of water was tossed on her. How much she wished for just a drop of it to be in her sore throat.
"I think we can start again now." He whispered with a mad glee. "How fitting to break you in this place you love, with the beast you love above our heads." He grabbed her knee, and she screamed with her mind.
"Anything?" Darguni paced back and forth. "Anything at all?" He whispered.
"I'm sorry, we can't find her." Mark sighed.
Bradly scrubbed his hands over his face. "It's been three days, WHY can't ANYONE find her?"
Darguni paced and clawed at his own face. "I feel her. I can FEEL her, but not WHERE!" He flopped down on the stage and held his face in his hands.
"What do you mean, you feel her?" Elunara narrowed her eyes.
"When I stand here..." He wrapped his arms around himself. "I can feel her presence. I don't know... I think because she's spent so much time here."
Elunara climbed up on stage and moved around. "I feel her too... she's screaming." Elunara murmured. "Darguni MOVE!"
"What?" He scrambled out of the way.
"It's around here somewhere." She mumbled, her fingers trailing over the floor. "Gah, that's the last time I let someone modify my design without adding it to my books." Her fingers dug into the wood. "There!" She yanked the panel up.
"LYDIA!" Darguni dove into the hole and landed on top of the man, crushing his head into the floor.
Lydia struggled, as she began to cry.
Darguni wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, my sweet wife."
Elunara summoned her dagger and cut the bonds around Lydia's wrists, before getting the ones at her ankles. Once she cut the gag from Lydia's mouth, she shoved Darguni off of the man. "Looks like we're going to have a lovely conversation when he wakes up."
Lydia curled up in Darguni's lap. "That's... that's the man I saved Gingy from." She shook. "He..."
"Come on, love, let's get you home." Darguni cradled Lydia in his arms.
Elunara grabbed some spare fabric and tossed it over Lydia's body. "I'll deal with the bastard."
"Leave some for me." He growled.
