Stolen Heart

chapter 11





Within just a few more minutes of walking, they had made it to their destination. Annika’s aunt lived in a lovely two story cottage. The front yard was bordered by a low stone wall that matched the slate tiles of the house. The front yard was ablaze with flowers of different varieties. Window boxes also hung below each window with flowers overflowing them like waterfalls.

Annika walked up the steps to the front door and knocked. The door pushed open on its own. She looked back at Kieran with concern on her face. He held his hand up, indicating for her to not go in. He moved past her on the steps and pushed the door open all the way. He walked in cautiously. Annika followed behind him and then tried to push past him, but he held her back with one arm. Giving her a hard look, he conveyed to her to be patient. Kieran pulled an energy ball into his hand, which not only helped light the way, but would prove an effective weapon if there was in intruder in the house.

After a quiet but quick sweep of the first floor, Kieran led the way up the stairs, with Annika right behind him. She had put her hand on the small of his back as he guided the way. He very much liked the feel of her hand there.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Annika pointed to a door on the left for Kieran to try first. Holding the energy ball in his right hand, he turned the knob to the door and pushed it open. It moved without making a sound. The room was fairly well lit as it sported a huge window looking eastward. Kieran immediately saw a petite, dark haired woman lying on the bed with her eyes closed. His heart sank. He immediately extinguished his energy ball and stepped to the side.

Annika looked around Kieran and saw the woman lying there.

“Aunt Mary!!!”

Annika rushed to her side and reached out to the woman. Putting her hand on her face, she looked back at Kieran and said excitedly, “She’s alive.”

Gently shaking Mary’s shoulder, Annika called out for her to wake up . After several long seconds, Mary let out a groan and her eyes fluttered.

“Aunt Mary… wake up. Please.”

That plaintive note in Annika’s voice struck Kieran through the heart. There was such love and desperation in that tone, and he doubted Annika had much love in her life based on what he had seen so far.

Mary issued another groan and her eyes finally opened all the way, slowly focusing. “Annika?”

“I’m here Aunt Mary. Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Every desperate question Annika asked cut into Kieran further.

Mary coughed, hard. It was deep in her lungs.

“I’m fine. Just under the weather,” she rasped.

“You are NOT fine! Please, what is going on?”

“Nothing for you to concern yourself with child. Let me look at you.” Reaching her hand up, she stroked Annika’s face. “So beautiful. Just like your mother.”

Annika looked back at Kieran, a wild look on her face. Close to panic. She didn’t know what to do. Kieran walked up beside Annika. “Hi Mary. I’m Kieran Dunne. I’m a friend of Annika’s. Do you think you could sit up and drink some tea?”

Mary nodded weakly. Kieran touched a hand to Annika’s shoulder. “How about you get your aunt some tea. If she has some dried Belladonna, add that in. It will help ease the cough.”

Annika stood from the bed and looked at him, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. Putting a hand on her shoulder and pushing her gently, he said, “Go on now. Make her the tea.”

Comprehension dawned and Annika nodded. She leaned down and kissed Mary on the forehead first, whispering, “I’ll be right back.”

Kieran watched Annika leave. After her heard her walk down the stairs, he sat on the edge of Mary’s bed. She watched him with weak eyes. Kieran had a hunch and he only had a few minutes before Annika returned to find out if he was right.

“Mary? Has Mason done this to you?”

Kieran saw it. Fear crept into her eyes but she adamantly shook her head no. Taking her hand in his, Kieran patiently talked to her. “Mary, we ran into Mason not far from here and that is too much of a coincidence for me. Please tell me the truth. I can protect both you and Annika.”

Mary’s eyes widened. “Is Annika okay?”

“Yes. But she was fearful of him. Just as I see you are. Tell me what is going on and let me help.”

Mary looked to the door. Tears misted in her eyes. “Promise me you can help protect Annika.”

Kieran didn’t hesitate. “You have it.”

“Mason didn’t make me sick, but he is making sure I don’t get any better. He has taken all of my medicines and the sickness is getting worse. He was just here a few minutes before you came.”

“Why is he holding your medicines?”

“He wants to find Annika. He wants me to tell him where she lives. But I refuse.”

Kieran cursed under his breath. What kind of monster was this guy? “So if you don’t cooperate, he slowly kills you by ensuring you don’t get your medicine?”

Mary nodded. “But I will never give Annika up to him. I’d rather die.”

A small sob sounded from the doorway and both Mary and Kieran turned to look. Annika was standing there with a cup of tea in one hand, the other covering her mouth as if trying to stifle her cry. Annika walked in and handed the cup to Kieran, who stood from the bed. Annika dropped to her knees and grabbed Mary’s hand.

“Oh, Aunt Mary. No. You can’t die for me. You should have told him. I can handle Mason.”

“My dear sweet, Annika. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, including leaving this life behind for your protection.”

Annika bowed her head down, laying her forehead on their hands as they were clasped on the bed.

“Annika,” Kieran said softly. “We’re leaving.”

“What? I can’t leave her…” Annika nearly screeched but Kieran held up his hand to stop her.

“All of us our leaving. We are going to Kestevayne now. Mary needs help and Ava is one of the best healers in Vyronas. Plus, I am betting Mason will be headed back here soon for you.”

Kieran saw hope and gratitude flash in Annika’s eyes. She blinked back tears and nodded her head. “Yes. We’ll go with you.”