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“So what now?” I ask.
Slyth strokes his chin, his brows crossed in a manner of deep thought.
“You’re going to stay here for the rest of the evening. Make sure to lock your door and do not leave until it’s time for your duties in the morning.”
“Alright, I suppose I’ll just practice magic in here then.”
“No,” he returns. “It’s not safe for that right now. Us naga have exceptional senses, and Vippera’s on the hunt right now. If she picks up even just a whiff of you, then you’ll be done for.”
“Fine,” I say confidently, trying not to show my fear.
Slyth opens the door, glancing over his shoulder at me for a moment before leaving. There is a sudden quietness that fills the air in the room, like water pouring into a cup.
I retreat to the bed. Despite having pulled both a full day shift and a training session with both magic and weaponry, I’m too energetic to sleep. I mull over the many thoughts in my head, tossing and turning for what feels like hours until I eventually pass out from boredom.
* * *
“Wake up!”booms the loud voice.
I turn over, sitting up to find three large looming figures standing over my bed.
“You’re coming with us!”
Before I can say anything they all reach towards me, grabbing hold of my arms and legs. I’m whisked from the bed with force, my chest clenching with fear.
“What’s going on? Put me down!” I scream, lashing and kicking.
My foot lands hard on the guard holding my legs, causing him to reel back as he grabs his face. Still, even with my feet on the ground, my strength is nothing compared to the two guards restraining my arms as they throw me to the floor.
My mind immediately springs to the possibility of using magic, and for a moment I’m muttering a spell to myself. Suddenly, I bite on my tongue, realizing that even if I was to somehow get all of these guys off of me, I’d have many more to deal with. I’ll be dead if I use my magic.
“Stop resisting!” hisses a guard.
“Okay, okay! I’ll comply, just let me walk!”
The guards let go, each of them surrounding me as if they are my personal bodyguards.
If only that was the case. I’m led back down to the lower levels, to the same floor as the prison cells. There, I’m directed into a small room where the door shuts behind me.
A blinding light is lit as I cover my eyes. My vision adjusts to finally reveal Vippera standing at a table before me. Behind her to one side is an older naga dressed in similar clothing to her, and to the other is Zalith.
“What’s going on here?” I ask.
“Have a seat,” hisses Vippera. “I’ll be the one asking the questions here.”
I’m about to be tortured.
I shakily pull out a seat, trying to get a grip on myself as I shift uncomfortably in my chair. All around me are enemies, save for the exception of Zalith, but why is he here? Vippera draws herself up as I wince, but she instead spins around to Zalith.
“This is the human bitch you’ve been fucking, isn’t she?” she spits. “I can smell the remnants of her scent on you.”
Zalith says nothing, his arms crossed as if he couldn’t care.
“Hmm. Say nothing all you want, but this is her, I just know it,” snickers Vippera. “Guard!”
A guard from behind me steps closer, the sleek sound of his knife unsheathing ringing through the air as the cold blade presses against my throat. Vippera smiles, a look of sick delight on her face. Zalith’s fists clench ever so slightly.
“This is your choice, my love,” sneers Vippera. “Her fate lies in your hands. You can save her life by agreeing to marry me tomorrow, or she can die right here, right now. What do you say?”
