Tired

Ugh. Company was over last night. Didn't get to bed until midnight, which is normal, but I am having a hard time staying awake today.

Had three cups of coffee. Actually 1 large red eye shot in the dark, but when I sugared and creamed it and poured it into my cup it turned into three cups. Of course my stomach is screaming at me about that now. I really should have known better, but I am just barely staying awake now even after that.

So with nothing else right now here is chapter 60. Which means that if everything goes well you will get the end of the story, chapter 62 on fri. I hope everybody has enjoyed this.

Torn
60

Maureen woke just after the dawn. She slipped out of Scott’s arms and went to the kitchen to make coffee.

It was going to be a long morning. She had better than three hours before she would know if her daughter was alive or dead.

Julius entered the kitchen. “How are you doing this morning?”

“I think that my nerves are going to kill me before he even gets the chance.”

“Kyra, don’t think that way. You know how well prepared you are. All you have left to do is go out there and win.”

She smiled. “I feel like I should be doing something, practicing, preparing in some way.”

He took her trembling hands. “Being calm and collected will be the best preparation you can have.”

“I know. It’s just hard to get that right now.”

“Think of it this way. Jack will try to use your nerves against you. He will try to make you second-guess yourself. If he succeeds he has won the mind game. Winning that is halfway to winning altogether.

If you can keep your nerves in check you will not have doubts. Without doubts you will be stronger and you attack will be better.

Do not let him control your emotions.”

She smiled, confidence in herself renewed. “I still feel like I should be doing something. I just don’t know what.”

“How about you make me a cup of that coffee.”

She turned to see Scott standing in the doorway.

She walked over and embraced him.

“I’ll get that coffee. How about you call your parents. See if anything was found overnight on their end, also let them know that you made it home ok.”

He kissed her nose. “Good idea.”

She handed him the coffee just as there was a knock on the door. They looked at each other, and tensed. Maureen looked at the clock; it was just past seven in the morning.

“Call your parents, I’ll get the door.”

Scott started dialing. Maureen went to the door, mussing her hair a little along the way.

Cameras and flashbulbs greeted her as she opened the door.

She wasn’t in the mood to deal with this.

“Leave us alone,” she shouted in mock agony. “All we want is the safe return of our little girl. We are praying for her return and here you are interrupting that.

Leave us alone,” she said again as she closed the door.

She walked back into the kitchen. “Anything?” she asked Scott who had just hung up the phone.

He shook his head, “No. Who was at the door?”

“The press. I gave them a good clip. Heartbroken mother praying for the return of her child. It’s all the truth, it’s just I am taking getting Karen back into my own hands”

Scott gave his wife a wan smile. He was having a hard time. He didn’t know whether he should fear for her or not. It was all just too much, first the disappearance of his daughter and now the possibility of his wife’s death.

Maureen kissed his cheek, and headed into the living room.

***

She spent until about nine that morning in easy preparations.

She made sure that her sword was in good condition. She did some minor magical practice.

Scott watched, and prayed. He prayed for his wife. He prayed for his daughter. He knew that prayers were all that he had to offer.

At nine Maureen went into the bedroom to change. She wanted to be ready with plenty of time. Fifteen minutes later she came back into the living room.

Scott’s jaw nearly hit the floor. He had never seen his wife dressed like she was, in the armor with her hair pulled back high on her head in a tight bun.

He walked up to her, and kissed her.

“You smell like bananas,” he said as he let her go.

She blushed. “Sunscreen. I was getting burned the past few days.”

He kissed her again. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Before we go outside I want you to promise me something.”

“What?”

“Promise me that you’ll win. Promise me that you won’t leave me and Karen here alone.”

She thought long about the request. It was a promise that she might not be able to keep, but would try desperately to.

“I promise.”

He kissed her again, long and deep and full of passion.

Julius looked on from the doorway. He too hoped that she could keep her promise.