Hours passed, no food, no water, just me, my aching body, and Ethan's severed head haunting me from a distance
No offense, but why go through all the trouble of chaining a defenseless girl? What, were they scared I'd… run?
Before I could finish my thoughts, the door creaked open, a man walked in.
And when I say a man, I mean devastatingly handsome, probably-not-human kind of man, i mean a Tall, Dark, Late twenties, maybe?
He looked at me with this unreadable expression and said the most unexpected thing:
"Hello."
I blinked, that was it? hello?
I stared at him, then blurted out, "You look so handsome"
The second the words left my mouth, I internally screamed. Luna, THINK before you SPEAK!
His eyes narrowed, and I prepared for the worst but then, he chuckled.
"I'm older than all of your grannies combined," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I frowned. "How?"
"In this world, we age differently."
This world?
Something was seriously wrong here.
"Hope you're enjoying your stay," his voice as grumpy as anything I have ever heard
I scoffed, holding up my shackled wrists. "Oh, right, love it here, why don't we pop some champagne and toast to my amazing vacation?"
He smirked. "A feisty one, I like that."
I rolled my eyes. "Look, can we just cut to the chase? Who are you, and what do you want?"
He stepped closer, the air around him thick with authority.
"My name is Judge, and you… have something I need."
I crossed my arms, well, tried to, considering the chains. "Oh? And what could His Majesty possibly want from a lowly peasant like me?"
His lips twitched in amusement. "A key."
My blood ran cold.
"If the King has it, we can save everyone from the destruction that's coming."
My hand instinctively moved toward the cold metal hidden beneath my clothes.
Why the hell did everyone want this key?
I put on my best poker face. "I think you've got the wrong girl, I don't have any key."
He studied me, eyes gleaming, then he smirked.
"I thought you might say that." The door creaked open and in walked Sabrina.
My breath caught. She looked like hell, Shackled, Dirty, Terrified.
"Let her go, you bastard!" I yelled, yanking at my chains
Judge's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Lost your confidence already?"
"Please let her go, I don't have any key with me," I pleaded, voice breaking, Sabrina whimpered, a filthy rag stuffed in her mouth. For a second I was tempted to give him the key in exchange for our freedom but what if I gave him the key and he doesn't let us go
Judge watched me for a long moment.
"Fine," he said, "but if I find out you are lying to me, then... I would make sure you regret it"
I gulped
"Take her back to the cell but feed her" he barked the other
I sighed in relief
"Make her comfortable" he pointed at me
But as he left, a terrible thought struck me.
What if he planned to hurt Sabrina?
I called him, my heart pounding.
"Please don't hurt her," I whispered.
He nodded.
"You have my word."
And somehow, that scared me more than anything else.