The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 17

The van jostled along, heading out of the city.

Noella noticed they were headed towards Imperial West Hospital, and thought, “Well, ain’t that a stroke of luck! These goons are giving me a free ride.”

“Who sent you?” she demanded.

The kidnapper let out a sleazy chuckle, his face full of creep.

“Listen, girlie, we ain’t lookin‘ to harm ya, but you had to go and get greedy, eyeing stuff that ain’t yours.” he taunted.

“We’ll just dump ya in some mountain area, and don’t you worry, you won’t be seeing the light of day again! Lucky for you, you’re easy on the eyes. That pretty face of yours could bring in a good chunk of change up in the hills. Pop out a few chunky kids, and you’re golden.”

Noella swiftly reached for the small knife tucked at her waist and conked out a few of the kidnappers, then pressed the blade against the driver’s neck.

“Who sent you? My patience is wearing thin.”

The driver, shaking like a leaf and gripping the steering wheel, stammered out, “Oh please, have mercy! We’re just hired guns! It was Belinda! She forked over a cool hundred grand for us to whisk you away and sell you off in some mountain dump!”

Belinda hadn’t said that Noella could fight!

With a nonchalant “Drive to Imperial West Hospital,” Noella might as well have been the Grim Reaper sharpening his scythe. The driver nearly lit the steering wheel on fire getting her there.

As soon as Noella got out, she shouted at the guards at the door, “They kidnapped me!”

The guards had seen her coming and going from Imperial West Hospital and knew her as the pretty granddaughter of the Schnabel family who was also a chess whiz.

The hospital guards were special forces soldiers pulled from the ranks for duty. They were used to standing guard.

Hearing Noella’s cry for help, the special forces guys stepped up and quickly subdued the bad

guys.

“Thanks,” said Noella.

“Don’t mention it, Miss. Get inside. Mr. Marcel has been fussing over you for ages. We’ve got this!”

They all thought highly of Noella, a real looker who was polite and smart to boot–a true Schnabel family gem.

No sooner had Noella stepped into the ward than she heard Marcel’s robust voice, “Where’s my

13:13

say she was on her

you take

lit up at the sight

darling. Tavian from building three is waiting to play chess with you.”

Noella knew Marcel was dodging the subject of

knowing look and handed over the daily meds to Marcel and said, “Take

Grandpa. Be good.”

pulled a face.

morning and had

wanting to worry Marcel she kept mum about the kidnapping ordeal. She could handle.

fine. My granddaughter ought to dress to the

Thanks, Grandpa.”

her to another ward. “Come on, let’s go play

chess all the time. This time he was determined

games, Marcel’s face was beaming with smiles, Heh,

of Harmonia Country, looked on with admiration. Judging the player by the play, Marcel’s granddaughter was

“Noella, if you ever run into trouble, come to Tavian. I’ll

not having it. “Who needs

the bucket or not. My word carries more weight.”

fossil! Noella, go play. I’ve got

nodded and bowed to Tavian before leaving the

vanished, replaced by a chilling aura. She sensed

emergency corridor, pulling out her

Schnabel Mansion

burst through the door, flinging herself at

news!! saw Noella being taken

her $3 million watering can crashing to the ground

are you

hearing the commotion, came out of the study

discussing which country to buy Noella a castle in when

on

Why didn’t you call us? Why didn’t you call the police first? What if

saw Noella getting into a van. I was so scared and I ran home to tell Mom and Dad.” Yvonne sobbed,

work, she even strolled around Rising Glory Mall treating herself to a shopping spree, a nice meal, and a full–blown skin pampering session, all to be

phone and

went down at three in

pitiful tone, “What’s that supposed to mean, Jasper? Of course. I