Kristen Discovers That James Is Missing - Chapter Twenty Three

William was informed that James was taken from his crib in the middle of the night. "The guards were on duty all night, and no one passed by them. The Ladies were not disturbed. It was like he had vanished into thin air," the guard informed William. With dread and despair, William alerted his guards and sent out search parties as he dreaded delivering the news to Kristen. He knew her past, and this was sure to devastate her. "What is all the commotion?' Kristen asked William as he entered. "I have grave news. Last night someone came into the castle undetected and took James," William managed to get out as Kristen began to panic. "My son is missing," Kristen screamed. "We will find him. Please stay calm," he said as he pulled her into his arms.

William could not console Kristen. She sobbed uncontrollably for a long time, then headed to the nursery to see for herself.

Kristen sees no signs of struggle, and nothing is missing from his room. Then she sees the stuffed dog in his crib that she had discovered a few days prior to his disappearance. She took it out of his nursery herself. "Who would dare put this thing back in his crib?" she shouted. Then it hit her, she knew instantly who had taken him and what her intentions were.

Kristen, in a fit of rage, yelled at her lady. "Where were you last night?" Kristen demanded. "I was here in this room with him, my queen. We were all here, and no one heard anything." the lady replied.

She started to fill with rage and began to lose control. Everyone began to back away in fear that she would kill them all.

Everyone was filled with fear, and right before she attacked, William came in and wrapped his arms around her to calm her. "We will find him. I will make sure we bring our son back home," William told Kristen as he held her in his arms. To everyone's amazement, it worked.

Kristen went from rage to sadness. Kristen and William sobbed together as everyone turned the castle upside down in their search for little James.

After Kristen pulls herself together, she summons the executioner, known for his unique ability to find certain people and his cruel way of killing. 

He went by no name and showed his face to no one. Kristen did not care. She hired him to be her new executioner's job to do her bidding. In return, he could never reveal his identity, and he could live comfortably at court in solitude. "Find my son no matter the cost. Bring him back alive and the witch that took him. I want to confront her before I let you decide how you will kill her."

In a deep voice, he replied, "Yes, your Majesty. I will find the witch that took your son and bring him home. I will make her suffer greatly for the deeds she has done unto you."

This made the queen happy, and she hoped that soon she would be reunited with her son. The executioner headed off into the darkness.