It's A Slaves' World - Chapter 9 Part B

Aidens POV

As I turned to walk up my driveway, I could see the lights in the windows glowing steady and unflickering. It’s amazing how no matter how badly I think the entire world has ended the rest of the world continues unwavering, unfazed by the devastation in one person’s life. I looked up at the sun just peaking over the mountain tops, stopping for a moment to look at my home. This is the first time I can ever remember admiring house that I grew up in. I wonder what people that haven’t been here before think when they see the house from a distance. I continued through the gates and looked around at the gardens I spent so many hours. The oaks and maples my father planted as a boy now towered over the walkway leading to the front entrance. The vast stretch of manicured lawn decorated by our fruit trees whose flowers are just now starting to droop in anticipation of bearing fruit. The flowers were even now being weeded by the dedicated gardener who seemed more proud of them than even I was in showing them off. And our pond. Big enough to be a lake and stocked with fish of all kinds to feed the house, a walkway went in a big circle around it. It was my favorite spot in the world. I smiled when I saw the old bench set under a willow tree. Mothers favorite spot. If I remember right that is where I was first introduced to Kiara.

Squaring my shoulders off, I pulled myself up and shoved the front doors open. The sudden halt of everyone inside the hall at my appearance was disconcerting. I walked slowly past a few startled slaves down the hall. Amazing how different things are when the slaves aren’t expecting you. There are a half dozen slaves in the hall with an assortment of mops and brooms and rags of all colors, all standing stalk still and staring at me. Cook bustled into the hall with her usual efficiency, not even noticing my presence, "What are you all standing about for?" Hands on her hips, she stood in the doorway looking out over everyone in the hall. Seeing the anxious look on her face, I could tell that she had been sitting up waiting up for mine and Kiaras return. As soon as Cook noticed me standing in the hall way, she looked around for a split second with a confused look in her eyes then bustled all of the slaves out of the hall. Walking up to me slowly, as if she was unsure what I was going to do, she gently placed her hand on the bruise on my throat. "Aiden what happened?" She spoke just above whisper in a voice cracking with strain.

I can’t even imagine the look on my face right now. I wonder if I look stunned and confused or tired or panicked. The long cold walk through the night seemed to have robbed me from my anger and feeling, I just stared at Cook in a contemplative silence. What do I say? That I lost her again? That I am such an amazing Romeo that I Treyton still has her and probably in his bed at this point? I have had all night to imagine what could be happening since my failed rescue and I am still managing to dredge up new and fantastic images to torture myself with. I swallowed to wet my throat and considered my words carefully. "Kiara is still at Treytons." I hesitated for another moment knowing that Cook would not appreciate a lie nor would she believe it, "Treyton managed to steal her paperwork from me when his guards restrained me and threw me out." I gently pulled her hand away from my neck, the memory, the anger and the frustration associated with it were still too fresh for me to be comforted about it.

"Should I have the carriage prepared?" He calm response made me falter for a second. A carriage? Of course! She already knows my plans. With a curt nod to her, I touched her arm and turned away. Walking towards my room I planned on changing and making myself presentable before I went and dragged people out of bed.