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Kerrigan straightened, reaching for Doma authority. “I am here for Nella.”
The guard jumped to attention. “Who goes there?”
She fixed the man with an imperious stare that said she didn’t need to explain herself. “I said, bring me Nella.”
The man blinked at her. “Nella?”
“Yes. Must I repeat myself? Bring her here to me.”
He looked her up and down. She hoped he didn’t see her dirty hemline or the scraps from her climb. Only saw the pink skin, red hair, and expensive clothing.
“Are you …”
“Deaf?” she cut in. “I said, bring me Nella. Now.”
The man grasped her tone and ran off toward the house without another word. He was used to being given orders. That worked in her favor.
Kerrigan pushed the gate open and stepped out of the pool of light. It was taking forever for the man to bring Nella. Then suddenly, two figures appeared at the back of the house and were heading her way.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized the girl who walked toward her with wide, terrified eyes. They grew even wider when they recognized her.
“Felicity?” Nella asked in disbelief.
Kerrigan rushed to her, taking her hands. “Nella, are you all right?”
“What you doing here?” She was shaking.
Kerrigan glanced at the guard. He’d moved back into position, but he watched at them curiously.
“I got away and came back for you.”
Nella shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“We can get you out of here. You don’t have to be a servant for the rest of your life. We’ll run away.”
“Away?” she squeaked. “And go where?”
“Carithian,” she said at once. Then backpedaled at Nella’s terrified expression. “Anywhere. We’ll get on a boat tonight, and we’ll head out of here.”
“But … what?” Her face moved back toward the mansion Kerrigan had just woken her from. “We don’ have money.”
“No. I can figure it out,” she assured her. “We just have to leave tonight. Now. They were going to force me to be a mistress to this horrible man. His name is Tarcus, and he’s despicable. I can’t do it. We can get away. We don’t have to endure this.”
“Senator Tarcus?” Nella asked in shock. “He important.”
“Yes. But that’s not important. What’s important is us leaving.” She took the girl by her arm. “Come on. Leave with me while you can.”
“I … I got to get my things.”
“There’s no time.”
“I’m in my night things.”
Kerrigan wanted to curse at the poor thing and tell her to forget it. They could get new things. But Nella shook her head, promised to be back as quick as she could, and then rushed into the house.
The man at the gate was still watching her with interest, possibly growing suspicious. Kerrigan didn’t like it. She should have gone with Nella and sped her along so that they could be out of here. They didn’t need to wait around long enough for someone else to notice they were gone.
Time crept so slowly that Kerrigan almost gave up. Then, Nella appeared at the entrance to the house again. She hurried out in the same nightclothes she had been wearing before. Kerrigan’s face scrunched up.
“What?” she got out.
Then, she saw Nella’s tear-streaked face, and another figure materialized behind her. A male figure.
“Close the gate,” the man called. “Seize her.”
Kerrigan rushed toward the exit just as the guard slammed it shut in her face. She reached for the handle, but the man pushed her backward. She jerked an elbow into the guard. Something cracked in his face, possibly a few loose teeth, she was already reaching out for the gate again. Before she could dash through it, the other man was there. He grasped her arm and whirled her around. She got her first glimpse of him—an older man with silver hair and an ugly expression. He looked so much like the other men who had tried to purchase her that something erupted in her at the sight of him. Amoral, disgusting slaver.
She lashed out, going for the most fragile parts first. She jabbed her hand into his kidney. He grunted, doubling over from the pain. Then, she brought her knee into his groin, and the man fell forward. She followed it up by thrusting her knee into his nose, the sound of it breaking under her force satisfying as blood spurted everywhere.
“Don’t touch me,” she snarled as she shoved the man over.
“Felicity, no!” Nella cried. “I’m sorry. This is for the best.”
The first man recovered and he wrapped his arms around her body, pinning her hands to her sides. She laughed a distorted sound as she elbowed him in the ribs and then twirled in a perfect arc, throwing him bodily over her shoulder. He landed in a heap next to his owner.
She ignored Nella’s tearful pleas behind her. This was a mistake. Just like taking Flavia’s help had been a mistake. She didn’t understand this world, and she kept making mistakes.
