Alexander felt nervous as he took Annie’s hand to dance the first dance. It was a ritual, something everyone would have anticipated to watch but he did not feel all too well for such a big role. Annie as usual seemed delighted to have been asked and eagerly took his invitation and walked towards the middle of the ballroom with her head held high.
Alexander met Timothy’s eyes and looked at his friend desperately for help but Timothy had only smirked and gave him a wink. Groaning and complaining on the inside, he led Annie the first steps of the dance. He had one hand on her waist and the other clasped to her hands; hands intertwined in what some people would think a passionate way but it was only because he was good at faking. He had been doing it for years now to hide away from something other people did not want him to be. It was only Isabella who was able to decipher his true feelings. Although they had always constantly argued in the past, she knew him the best.
The simple thought reminded him of her and he could not stop thinking about her. He hadn’t seen her since the battle arena and noticed she was not accompanying Timothy. This worried Alexander but he knew he had no chose but to go with what the evening was already planned out for him. Annie was in his arms and at the moment, he had to follow what he had been told and forget about Isabelle.
“What are you thinking about?” Annie asked, looking up at him, her eyes sparkling fromt he reflection of the large chandeliers hung high above the ceiling. Alexander gave her a reasurring smile and squeezed her encouragingly.
“Nothing of any concern. You look quite beautiful tonight, Annie,” he complimented, steering her questions away. He really meant it though and awed at her beauty but he didn’t look at her in a way that portrayed their engagement but rather as a woman of her own integrity.
“You really think so?” Annie asked, wishing her fiancee would sweep her off the floor and kiss her passionately but she knew it would not happen because of the bodyguard. She despised her with a great passion and was glad she was taken care of. She wasn’t particularly proud of her actions but she knew it had to be done and for that, there would be no regrets.
“Never doubt me love,” Alexander smiled and planted a kiss on her cheeks. Annie sighed inside her head, wishing his kiss would match her fantasy but for now, it was only progress.
*************
Timothy scanned the room, taking every detail that a normal person would never be able to do. His eyes watched for the slightest incorrect motion that would trigger his senses as danger; so far he hadn’t found any potential harm.
Watching the dancers in the ballroom, he noted Alexander’s discomfort as he danced with Annie and reminded himself to scold Alex for being too obvious. He would have to teach his friend how to act like he loved Annie. Was it morally wrong for Alexander to marry the girl she did not love?
The question stumped Timothy. Timothy knew every battle techniques and how to use any kind of weapon but it was love that was his weakness. He could not give his friend a wise answer on love, only advice he thought what the heart would feel because how could one love the one person they cannot love?
Isabelle was definitely a grown young woman who was unfortunate to be born of such a low class. If only she was born of a great line would she be loved by all the people. If only… Timothy thought.
Halfway through the party, Timothy began to grow worried. He had not seen nor heard from Isabelle all night. Usually she was late but being this late was pushing his superstition.
Timothy crept along the perimeter of the ballroom, searching for a waitress or a house maid to ask Isabelle’s whereabouts while at the same time, keeping a close watch on Alexander and Annie. He spotted Irene walking around with a platter on one hand as people either took drinks or returned their empty ones. She was in a plain black dress that brought out her bright blue eyes and Timothy had to focus a minute more before remembering his mission.
“Irene,” Timothy called out and immediately her face lit up as she saw him coming towards her. They barely got to see each other and every time they did, Irene’s heart gave its own little beat and it became hard to act normal. Just the way he called her name made her platter swing back and forth, threatening to drop.
Timothy instantly came to the rescue and took the platter before it could fall. “Woah there. Be careful,” Timothy mumbled, giving Irene her platter back after he knew for sure she was steady.
“My deep apologies,” Irene said, blushing slightly and then straightening herself. “What can I do for you?”
Timothy looked at her for a second longer than he should have. Irene blushed but continued to look at him for his requisite.
“Do you know where I may find Isabelle?” Timothy questioned politely.
“I haven’t seen her all day. Is something wrong?” Irene asked worriedly. She was fond of Isabelle as she was only a few years younger than herself and it worried her that she was not by Alexander’s side. Isabelle was never the one to skip her duties and loiter elsewhere.
“I don’t know but I have a bad feeling. Excuse me,” Timothy said quickly, nodding his thanks before quietly moving towards the exit.
Outside the ballroom, he looked down the empty corridors. There was no one around but he knew Isabelle was still out there. Timothy moved quickly down each hallway, checking to see any viable signs of life but he could find none.
Timothy climbed to the third floor where the servant’s corridor was and suddenly he heard a faint bang and rushed towards the east wing where most of the empty, abandoned guest rooms were located. He ran down the long hallway that seemed to stretch on for ages and he could hear the pounding grow louder with each step.
He stopped at a inconspicuous door that was closed off from the rest of the room. It was like the other doors but it was slightly hidden by the shadow where the light did not touch.
“Isabelle! Are you there?” Timothy called out desperately.
“Timothy?” a raspy voice called out. He would have mistaken the hoarse voice of Isabelle but listening closer, he knew for sure it was her. The first thought that came into his head was how she had gotten locked in there in the first place but he knew not to scare her with too many blunt questions.
“Are you okay?” he asked but he felt like an idiot for asking. She sounded barely conscious and in need of a medical assistant. Timothy knew he had to attend her quickly or else he was afraid he would lose her. The thing that scared him the most was that she must have been too weak if she could not knock down the door.
“Izzy, stay with me,” Timothy said, his heart beating faster by the adrenaline. He never felt nervous or scared during dangerous missions but knowing that Izzy was the one that needed to be saved scared him to death. He couldn’t lose her.
There was a small groan in reply and Timothy examined the door. It was old and had not been refurnished like the other doors closer to the heart of the palace. He knew he could break it down easily.
“Izzy, stay away from the door. I am going to kick it open,” Timothy advised and upon hearing a crumpled body drag itself away made him wince in pain. Whoever did this to Izzy would pay.
Timothy channeled all his anger and worry into the swift and powerful kick that splintered the door on his first try. The second time he made sure that it would never hold itself together anymore. The wooden door finally broke with a loud crack and made entrance for Timothy.
He entered the unlit room, looking around the room in less than a second to familiarize with the room. It was simple box room, one for the servants, and currently held no residence.
Izzy coughed on the ground and Timothy instantly went to her aid. She was bound by thick ropes that acted as shackles from her legs and her arms.
“Izzy, look at me. Don’t lose me!” Timothy shouted, grabbing her face with his hands. He made her look at him but her eyes were glassy and droopy. “Who did this to you?”
Izzy murmured something he could not quite get but there was one thing that surprised him as he understood before she passed out. King Henry.