“Andrei, take her somewhere and do what you need to, to find out where the book is and if she has made a copy, then dump her body.”
“No!” Beth struggled for freedom.
“But we need her,” the man who held her said. His voice was heavily laced with an accent.
“We have the mother. She can be groomed. This one is no longer any use, as she has become volatile.” He sneered at her.
“I will live, and you will regret you crossed me!” Beth screamed at him.
He laughed, now back in control.
“I want that book and the information before the sun rises, Andrei. Make sure you get it. Now leave. The lords are due to arrive, and I have men to incite.” He leaned closer, pushing his face into Beth’s. “I am going to assassinate your king tomorrow and cause riots in the streets. Westminster Bridge will see carnage like never before. I will then destroy those called Alexius. And you will go to your grave knowing you have aided me and those I work for.”
Beth fought with everything she had, but it was no use. Whoever stood behind her grabbed her arms and bound them behind her back. She was thrown over a broad shoulder, then something was tossed over her, plunging her into darkness. They left the room and soon were descending stairs. Beth felt the air change as they stepped outside. Where was he taking her?
Panic clawed at her, tightening her chest so she could hardly draw air through her abused throat. She was going to die, and her family would be at the mercy of that man. Nathan and his brothers would be targeted. The king assassinated. She could do nothing to save them.
Nathan!He would get the information she sent him in the morning. He would know what to do.
Hopeless desperation had tears slipping down her cheeks as she thought about never seeing him again. Her one true love. She’d laughed when Mary had said that, but it was true. She could never love anyone like she did him.
She was lowered to her feet but could see nothing, only hear the scraping of something moving over the ground. Beth tried to move, but simply fell. The man laughed and picked her up.
“Let’s have some fun,” he said taking off whatever was covering her.
He then lifted her, lowering her through the opening, and then she was falling, landing hard on her bottom on the dark, wet floor. He followed after closing the grate.
It smelled putrid down here, the stench making her nostrils flare. His hands were rough as he dragged Beth to her feet. The gag was torn from her mouth, so she screamed.
“No one will hear you.” He laughed. “Scream all you want. Now tell me where the book is or I’ll have my way with you, then carve you up like slab of mutton until you are begging me to kill you.”
Beth tried to run, but he caught her and dragged her back.
She had to escape, but how?
“Untie me, and I’ll do what you want,” she whispered, letting the fight go out of her body. “Anything.”
“Where is the book?” He ripped the bonnet from her head and grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked it hard. “Tell me!”
“I will tell you, but p-please, untie me. My arms are aching.”
“I’ll untie you, but only long enough to strip you.”
The binds at her wrists and feet were released. He blocked her exit into the sewer with his large frame, and she had no hope of making it upward without him stopping her.
“Now take off your clothes.”
Beth looked at the gun he pointed at her. She’d never be able to wrestle him; he was too big. But if she could run, then maybe she could escape, as it was dark down here.
Letting her shoulders sag in defeat, she choked back a sob. From behind them came a loud clang that had them both jumping. He turned to look, and Beth ran into him with everything she had, knocking him backward. He stumbled and fell. The gun fired, the noise deafening in the small area. Leaping over his body, she ran down the sewer away from him.
“Stop!” he roared, but she was nobody’s fool and kept moving. Picking up her skirts, she sprinted away from her captor and prayed there was another exit somewhere up ahead.
She ran until her lungs burned and the pain in her abused throat tightened. Ran, stumbled over debris, then ran some more. Finally, out of breath, she stopped and listened, but could hear no footsteps behind her. But that did not mean she was free.
There was no light, no sign of life down here. The squeak of rodents told her that was not quite true, and she vowed to keep moving so she didn’t get too close to them. She walked touching the walls, hoping to find another ladder, anything to alert her to a way out.
She had to get to Nathan. He would help keep her and her family safe. And Mary, Beth thought desperately. Mary too was in danger.
