Page 88 of Hidden Raphael
Chapter 25
Kimberly patted Michaela's arms to rouse her gently, but she was out cold. Any second, Roger and Harry might break down the door. Her limbs trembled. She shook Raphael's sister's shoulder to wake her up. Michaela's head turned, and she let out a loud snore. Kimberly's stomach was hard as rocks. What to do?
Raphael’s sister slept like the dead, and there were people here to kill them.
Kimberly turned on her heels, and then gazed at the medication at the nightstand. Despite how her feet itched to run, she picked up the pill bottles. She then gulped the rest of the water Michaela had left on the stand.
The coolness of the water did nothing to stop how dizzy Kimberly felt at the thought that they might be trapped. Sleeping pills? Oh no. No wonder she couldn’t wake Michaela.
Kimberly's leg muscles tightened. Roger and Harry might stay downstairs and out of the bedrooms. Noise would attract danger. She gripped the edge of the nightstand. On the other hand, they could be on the stairs right now. Her limbs shook. She wanted to run, but she had to stay.
She glanced around the room. The candles would attract attention, so she quickly blew them out. Raphael would come and save his sister the second he knew the castle was no longer safe.
Raphael had always saved her. She needed to find a way to keep Michaela and herself safe until he showed up.
She gazed around the room for any sign that they might be discovered any second. Raphael knew how to use weapons. The house was stacked with his defenses. Her hands were clammy and cold as she reached out to pick up the heavy candelabrum.
Footsteps clumped up the stairs. Kimberly flinched, but then quickly blew out the last flames of the candles on the other side of the room.
Michaela was still unconscious. Kimberly backed into the corner of the wall and tried to not make any noise. She held the heavy silver candelabrum to her side as she clenched the center of it. It was the only weapon she had.
Her heartbeat felt like it exploded as the door slipped open.
She picked up the candelabrum to wield it as a weapon, as the door closed. Her body warmed, though for a moment she couldn't see who came. Then her muscles relaxed as she stepped forward. Without one word, she crossed the room and hugged Raphael's strong chest. His arms wrapped around her as she tried to breathe. "It's you."
She stepped back and dropped her arms. He shook his head. "Stay quiet. I have my gun, and I'll get you to a safe place."
"Meg?" Kimberly's mouth dropped open. "Where is she? Is she safe?"
Raphael green eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Who is Meg?"
"Your maid." She covered her mouth with her hand. "Roger and Harry are downstairs. She can't be safe here."
"I don't have a maid." Raphael showed her the huge rifle in his hand. “I don't want anyone hurt in the crossfire. I came to make sure you were both safe." The gun was longer than her arm.
Meg couldn't be a figment of her imagination, but there was little time right now to decipher what Raphael had said. She gazed into his almost black eyes. "Try not to shoot them if you can."
"I don't intend to." He ran his hands through his hair like those words he'd uttered hurt. She rubbed her neck. Perhaps she was wrong in what she had said. It might be easier if they just killed them, but then she felt wicked for that thought. Raphael then offered his hand to her to shake. "If I can get them back in my dungeon, they'll rot there until spring arrives. Will that work for you?"
She couldn't take back her words now. She'd delay everything. She had to trust Raphael would do the right thing. She shook his hand, and he stepped around her toward his sister. She took a step forward to follow him and announced, "I'll help."
He stopped short and she marched into his back. "What happened to her?"
She stepped around his broad shoulders and headed to the nightstand. "Sleeping pills."
He shook his head. "Not a good plan."
"I know."
He turned back to her and handed her the same Taser she’d used earlier on Harry. "Take this. I'll carry my sister to safety, and double back for you."
She had no intention of separating, but she reached out, and her palm brushed against his calloused hands to take the weapon. "Did you recharge it?"
She clutched the Taser as he stepped back. "Yeah. It will work."
She fixed it in the back of her pants again. He turned to leave, but she crossed her arms. "I'll take a gun too."
He stopped and stared at her hard. "Kimberly, you don't know how to shoot."
