Page 29 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

I sat up, only making my head spin more. I closed my eyes, trying to make any sense of what happened last night. The party started coming back to me, the dancing, talking to Octavio, dancing, going on a walk with that man…

Wait.

It all started flooding back. The walk to the garden, the broken magestone, my screaming. And then… nothing.

So where was I now?

I looked around, hoping to find something recognizable, but it was a sparse room, barely big enough to hold the small bed I’d rolled off of. There was a small desk and chair and a wardrobe that probably wouldn’t fit three of my ballgowns.

I had to think. I rubbed my temples, willing something, anything, to come to me.

What would Sorcha do?

Probably break the door down and start swinging the chair or something, but there was no way I was capable of that. So instead I just sat, pressing my back against the desk on the floor, and waited. Doing anything would have been better than this, but I was frozen.

I’m not sure how much time passed before the doorknob started to turn. My eyes widened, fear streaking through me. I crawled up onto the bed, pressing myself into the corner there. I was still in my dress from the previous night, its large skirts making me feel at least a bit more protected.

Light poured in from the door, making me squint. The silhouette was one I didn’t recognize.

As my eyes adjusted I could make out a girl. More light poured in, and I could see dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail. She was in an outfit that would be considered scandalous in Peradona. Her tight, black trousers hugged her body, and were tucked into large black boots that reached her calf. They looked a bit large for her, as if they were borrowed. She had a white tunic on, the top unlaced so I could see a bit of cleavage.

“You’re awake,” she said with a nervous smile. “I was worried you might not have ever woken, but Captain was sure what he gave you wouldn’t kill you.”

Captain? What was she talking about? My head was still spinning. She brought the tray I didn’t notice she was holding forward, setting it on the small table next to me. “It’s just some stew and water, I thought you might be hungry.”

I was slightly hungry, but I didn’t want to take food from some stranger. What if there was something in there that would kill me?

But as my stomach gurgled again, I reached for the bowl with a piece of bread sticking from it.

The woman smiled, seeming happy with my choice, so there probably was something in it.

Great.

“What am I doing here?” I asked.

She shifted on her feet. “I’ll let the captain know you’re up.”

Before I could demand more, her meek frame was out the door.

I rolled my eyes. Where was I?

Mindlessly, I took a bite of the food given. It wasn’t the best thing I’d ever had, but it was decent. And then I realized I instantly forgot every survival instinct and just… ate what was in front of me.

Whatever, I had already committed, so I continued, eating all the food in front of me. Once I was done, I felt a bit better, sharper even.

Sharp enough to realize if I pushed the desk over to the window, I could see outside. The perfect plan.

Except as soon as I began pushing the desk, I realized it was made of solid wood and had to weigh at least as much as I did. Why the hell was this desk so heavy?

I started pulling open the drawers, hoping to take out whatever was in there, but all I really found was a few papers and some ink. I pulled another one of the top drawers, realizing it was stuck. I gave it another yank, and another.

“Stupid little…” I yanked it once more, really hard, and it finally broke free. But it broke a bit too free, and came right out of the rails, sending me and the drawer flying back to the wall.

“Ow,” I whined as my ass hit the floor. Great, just fucking great.

I blew my bangs out of my face, before standing and brushing myself off, letting the drawer clank to the floor.

Anger coursed through me. Why was this all so difficult? I kicked the edge of the desk, and when I did, it slid way more than it did when I tried to push it.