Chapter 11 - The Night She Is Taken
Athena woke to the sound of tires on gravel.
Her eyes opened slowly, confusion clouding her thoughts. The room was still dark, the clock on the nightstand glowing 2:17 AM.
Beside her, James was already sitting up.
Rigid.
Listening.
Her heart began to race.
"James?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
Headlights flashed briefly across the bedroom wall through the curtains.
Athena sat up quickly. "Who is here?"
James swung his legs off the bed. "Stay here."
Fear slid down her spine.
"James-"
"Stay. Here."
His tone was sharp. Commanding.
She froze.
He had never spoken to her like that before.
She listened as he hurried downstairs.
The house felt too quiet.
Too still.
Then-
A heavy knock echoed through the front door.
Not polite.
Not hesitant.
Final.
Athena's heart pounded in her ears.
She slipped out of bed despite his command and moved to the top of the stairs, gripping the railing.
She could hear voices below.
Low. Deep. Unfamiliar.
And James's voice.
Tight. Strained.
"...I need more time..."
A voice she didn't recognize answered.
"You were given time."
Her breath caught.
Another voice. Rougher. Colder.
"The King is done waiting."
Her knees weakened.
King?
What king?
Footsteps moved inside the house.
Not James's.
Heavy.
Measured.
Athena's stomach dropped.
She stepped back from the stairs just as James appeared at the bottom, looking up at her.
His face was pale.
"Athena... go back to the room."
Her voice shook. "What is happening?"
Before he could answer, two large men stepped into view behind him.
She gasped.
They were enormous. Dressed in black. Eyes sharp and unreadable.
Predatory.
Her body reacted before her mind could.
Fear. Deep and instinctual.
James moved in front of them like he could shield her.
"Please," he said. "Just give me a few more days."
One of the men spoke calmly.
"The debt is due."
Athena's mind raced.
Debt?
James turned to her slowly.
And for the first time in their marriage...
She saw shame in his eyes.
"They're going to take you somewhere safe for a little while," he said.
Her heart stopped.
"What?"
"It's just temporary. I promise."
She shook her head. "James, I don't understand."
The second man stepped forward.
"We don't have time for this."
Athena backed up the stairs.
Her breathing grew shallow.
"This isn't funny. What is this? Who are they?"
James's voice broke. "I'm sorry."
The words hit harder than anything else.
"I'm so sorry."
And that was the moment she realized-
This wasn't a mistake.
This wasn't confusion.
He knew.
He had known.
They started up the stairs.
Athena turned and ran into the bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking it with shaking hands.
Her heart thundered.
"James!" she cried.
The door handle rattled violently.
"Athena, open the door."
"No!"
Her eyes darted around the room wildly.
She had nowhere to go.
Nowhere to hide.
The door splintered inward with a single forceful hit.
She screamed as wood cracked and the lock gave way.
The two men stepped inside like the door had never existed.
Athena stumbled backward until her legs hit the bed.
"Please," she begged. "Please don't do this."
One of them paused.
His eyes softened slightly.
"We won't hurt you."
They reached for her.
She fought.
Kicked. Pulled. Scratched.
But it was useless.
They were too strong.
Too fast.
They lifted her off the floor like she weighed nothing.
Athena's eyes found James in the doorway.
He couldn't even look at her.
"James, please!" she sobbed.
He covered his face with his hand.
And did nothing.
They carried her down the stairs.
Past the kitchen.
Past the front door.
Into the cold night air.
She screamed until her throat burned.
But the forest swallowed the sound whole.