Amelia Vanishes - Chapter Fifty

Amelia lay in the dungeon, barely able to move. She was in and out of consciousness. When she was awake, she knew it was only a matter of time before the wizard would be back with a different potion to have her try. 

James sat pondering a way to get Amelia to safety. He knew that the experiments wouldn't be needed once she was an adult since they were trying to find a cure for a child with the curse. Time seemed to pass as he ran through all the ideas on where to take her and how to get her out of the dungeon without anyone knowing it was him. Then he had an idea: He could talk to her sister and arrange for her to take her to a place where no one would think to look for her. She would make sure she was safe. Now, he had to find a way to get her out of the dungeon, and he knew who he could go to for help. 

James found his father alone in the corridor. "Dad! I have to talk to you. Remember the little girl, Amelia. The wizard has her locked up in the dungeon trying to find a cure for this baby that I know doesn't have the curse. It's only a matter of time before mother will see he's not mine, but until then, they're set on finding a cure for this child. They will stop at nothing until she's dead. I can't let that happen. I love her," James told his father. This was a lot for his father to take in. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I have seen her there myself. He's already been doing things to her, and she's barely hanging on! And the baby does not have the curse. He's not mine. Julia has been with someone else. Mother will not listen to me. I have never been with her. I can't, I love Amelia. No one can replace her in my heart. I know everyone wants me to be with Julia, but I can't love her like that," James explained. "Love can make you do crazy things. I know your mother can be difficult sometimes. She loves you and means well. If what you say is true, then I will help you. We will keep this secret between us. I will come and get you when it grows dark. Figure out where you want to hide her so no one will be able to find her," William told his son. 

James then found Sara. "I have a plan; here are directions to a cottage where no one would think to look for her. It's very secluded and far from the castle grounds. It's the perfect place for you and Amelia to hide until she's free of this. It's only a matter of time before they realize there is no need for a cure, and they will leave her alone! Meet me in the field when it grows dark, and we will meet you there with Amelia," he told her. "Ok. While you are getting her out of there, I will send John, my husband, ahead to meet us there and prepare things. Then I will head straight to the field and wait for you," she replied.

 James's father found him in the study. "Come with me; it's time," he told him as they made their way down to the dungeon, where Amelia lay motionless in one of the cells. James pulled on the doors but could not open them. His father reached into his pocket and pulled out a key that allowed him to unlock the door. "Where did you get the keys?!" James asked in shock. "I know several people, and let's just say we need to hurry up and do this before we get caught," he told him with a smirk. James hurried over to Amelia's side.

"Amelia, wake up! We're going to get you out of here," James told her. Amelia opened her eyes for a brief moment and then drifted back off to sleep. 

James picked Amelia up and followed his father out of the dungeon. 

They arrived outside to see Amelia's sister riding up. 

James put Amelia on the horse in front of Sarah so she could hold on to her. "Take and hide her. Stay out of sight, and I'll be there as soon as I can. Please take care of her," James told Sarah. "I will, and we will see you when you arrive," she replied, then rode off into the darkness.

The next day, the Wizard went to try a new potion out on Amelia only to find the door open and the cell empty.

"What is this?! Where is Amelia?!" He looked at the lady and yelled. "I checked on her yesterday, and she was there! I don't have the keys to unlock the door. So I couldn't have let her out," she replied.

"You were supposed to watch her! You tell me who has the keys, and I'll deal with them myself!" he screamed at her. "It's..... It's one of the dungeon guards! The one in the black robe, the executioner!" she managed to get out. "The queen is going to have all of our heads!" he screamed and walked away.

The Wizard found Kristen in the banquet hall. "Your majesty, someone has taken the girl out of the dungeon. We have searched the whole area, and can't find her. No one is speaking about it," he told her, trying to stay calm.

"I give you this little task, and this is what you do!? You can't even keep up with one girl?!" Kristen yelled at him. "It wasn't me! The executioner has the keys, no one else! He has to be the guilty one!" he told her quickly. "That seems very unlikely that he would do that. He doesn't care for anyone or the fate of others! He's here for one purpose. You better find her and soon!" she told him.

The Wizard gathered up a couple of the guards and instructed them to search for the girl. "We have to find her before she turns into an adult, or she's useless to us!" he stressed to them.

William found Kristen all upset in the banquet hall. He already had an idea of why but didn't let it show. "What's wrong, dear?" he asked. "The stupid Wizard managed to lose this girl that we needed to help us find a cure for our son and grandson!" she told him angrily.

"I didn't know we were experimenting on innocent people for the sake of finding a cure for a child. We have one that works on an adult. Why is one life less important than others?!" he asked her. She was a bit shocked at his response. "It's our son and grandson, so there is no comparison. What if the potion does not work on them like it did me. I was a normal human who was cursed; they were born that way. I will stop at nothing to find a cure that will not endanger the life of my son. That girl was born just to cure him. I will find her, and the traitor that betrayed me will be punished for their crimes," she responded.