13. Chapter Thirteen

By the time we reach the door that opens to a small room, I've lost count of the steps we've climbed. The guard deposits me onto the floor of a small chamber and I am surprised I have not been thrown into a cell in the dungeons. My entire body is hurting and my spirit falters at the thought of what is going to become of me. The room is small and round, no larger than twenty feet from wall to wall. Thick burgundy velvet drapes obstructing the view of what I assume is a window. The material looks plush and luxurious to the touch, the color a deep shade of red that catches the eye. A small fire burns in a fireplace to the opposite wall illuminating the scarce furniture in the room; a small writing desk, a chair, a double bed, and an empty shelf.

A small wooden tub nestled against the far wall, barely spacious enough to accommodate a seated person. The memory of Aramis towering over me in the tavern chamber surfaces and makes my eyes swell with tears. The aged wood is smooth, with a faint scent of earthiness emanating from its pores. Despite its diminutive size, the tub's presence adds a cozy and rustic vibe, contrasting the cold barrenness of the room. Alice swiftly walks over and pulls on a chain hanging from the ceiling. A hollowed wooden beam folds out from the wall, and with the tug of a second chain, steaming water pours into the tub. Despite everything that has transpired, my mind fixates on the intricate and fascinating design. How can a place filled with such evil also contain such wonder?

"How does it work?" I ask Alice, my voice breaking over the words. I push my body into a sitting position while waiting for her reply. My wrists and ankles are raw from the heavy gold chains, but I'm otherwise intact, aside from my pride.

Alice stares at me with her glassy, blank expression. Her eyes remind me of a glass doll, void of emotion. She then pulls a bar of soap from her apron pocket and a wooden comb.

"The queen has ordered you bathed and changed," she replies in a monotone voice, standing still as a statue.

"Your queen seems to think a lot of herself. She is not my sovereign, and I don't appreciate being bossed around." I push to my feet, my head spinning as the room partially spins. Stumbling, I catch myself on the footboard of the double bed. The air is thick with silence, and the only sound that fills my ears is the sound of my own breathing. Disoriented and confused, my head pounds with a dull ache.

"It would not do well to displease her." Her lips press into a thin line of annoyance, the only sign of emotion that I've seen from her yet. I wonder if she's always been this way, or if she is under some spell.

I lift my gaze, taking in the sight of Alice as she approaches me, silent on her feet. She grabs my elbow and guides me towards the tub. I wrench out of her grasp and take a few steps back, but she only stares at me with her absent glossy eyes, the same ones as the king's. Another wave of insufferable pounding hits my forehead, right above my star mark, as I remember the feeling of my magic being drained from my very soul against my will. I have never felt more violated… or weak, in the face of the queen's powers.

Sighing, I glance down at the bruises forming along my pale skin. The bath at the tavern feels ages ago. Dirt covers my calves and forearms from my struggle to get away from Aramis. I do not want harm to fall on this girl because of my defiance. If I want any chance of escape, I need to be at my full strength.

"Alright, hand me the soap and I'll bathe. Is there at least a gown I can change into when I'm done?" I hold my hand out towards her.

"Yes. When you finish, pull this chain to drain the water." She drops the soap and comb into my hand then gives me a small curtsy before laying a thin cream chemise and gray overskirt on the bed from another pocket. Turning, she leaves the room without another word. The metallic click of a lock echoes in her wake. Embedded in the door is a window with thick metal bars.

I'm not in a room. I'm in a cell.

After I finish bathing and changing, I pull the chair in front of the fire and begin combing what little remains of my hair. I'm not particularly attached to the locks, but the absence of its weight is a heavy reminder of the previous evening's events. I try to reach for the soothing warmth of my magic, but all I discern is the small flicker. Is it gone for good? Is this spark all I have left?

There has to be a way for me to get my power back.

Despair coils like a snake writhing in my stomach. How could I have been so na?ve? I have often felt loneliness in my life, especially after my parents' death. Our family cottage suddenly felt too big for one person, so I learned to fill my days with activities, enough to keep the terrible thoughts at bay. I tried to find my place in the little community in my village, surround myself with people and Lemon's existence filled some of that void too. But I have never felt loneliness as strongly as I do now, in the face of true danger, knowing there is no one left in this world who is coming to save me. My eyes sting from the bright flames in front of me and I let the comb fall into my lap as my shoulders curve in under the weight of my desperation.

You are brave, Sybil.

Aramis's words come back to me like a lifeline. I quickly wipe away the tears that are now cascading along my cheeks. I am brave and I refuse to let this be the end for me. Thoughts of Lemon fill my head, and I feel renewed determination. What happened to him after I left the throne room? He is clever and I pray he finds a way to escape. Just as I need to escape, rescue him, and return home. Or make a new home. As a citizen of Kallistar, I could request shelter and protection from my own king and queen. Now that the kingdom of Shadowvale has outwardly kidnapped and imprisoned me, they have a duty to protect me. I just need to make it out of here alive.

I search the room for anything that I can potentially use to defend myself but only find a silver gilded hand mirror in the small drawer of the desk. I catch my reflection and gently prod at a bruise forming on my cheekbone where I hit the ground. My hazel eyes stare back at me, dark circles blooming under them. Not entirely recognizing the woman staring back at me, I place the mirror back where I found it, noting that I could break it and obtain shards sharp enough to cause some damage. Pulling apart the thick drapes reveals a small glass window, too small to fit my body through. I push the glass and it swings open on small hinges. My cell floods with a cool breeze and the scent of the night blooming jasmine. Stars pepper the sky before me. Below me, I can see the dark shadows of the forest and mountains.

Less time has passed than I thought, considering all that has transpired. I close the window, and turn away, lying down on the bed, pulling the coverlet to my shoulders.

Who knows what trials tomorrow will bring me?

***

A knock on the door awakens me from a dreamless slumber and I sit up, my body tensing in defense. The door quickly opens and a tray scrapes across the stone floor before it shuts again. Sunlight is now streaming through the window. The fire has burned down to embers overnight, and I do not see any logs in the room to feed it. The temperature has dropped, the cold stone biting into my feet as I walk carefully over to the food.

At least they aren't starving me.

Picking up the tray, I carry it over to the table. Slices of bread, a broth, and a small plate of cheese with fruit are strewn across the tray. There is a stoppered pitcher of which I remove the cork and sniff the contents. The sweet smell of wine reaches my senses, followed by the sickly sharp undertone of valerian.

But it seems they're trying to poison me into submission.

Used in small doses, valerian root helps with treating insomnia. In larger doses, it can render the victim into a comatose state, or worse. Turning to the rest of the food, I notice all of it has been dusted with a fine powder that I do not recognize. I push the plate away and rub my temples, wishing I had learned more than the basic herb lore.

Resentment pushes me away from the table. I try the door, hoping whoever brought my poisoned meal left it unlocked, but the thick wooden door doesn't budge. Standing on my toes, I grab the iron bars and peer out. A winding staircase spirals down into shadows.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I call to the dark, my voice, raspy and dry, echoes off the stone before it's met with silence. My tongue is dry as sandpaper, my stomach growling in protest. When was the last time I ate? A person could last for some time without food and water, the body turning to its stores for energy. Gazing down towards my slender body, I gently prod my bony hips that protrude through the thin fabric of my dress. After two weeks of lean rations on the road, I have little reserve left.

The wooden tub catches my attention in the corner of my periphery, and a smile tugs at the corner of my lips. Without food, a person could fast and live for a couple of weeks. Without hydration, a person could only survive up to a few days. Luckily for me, they unwittingly left me with my greatest necessity untampered.

Repeating Alice's motions, I pull the wooden beam down, then pull on the chains. I let out a small whoop of victory before cupping my hands and bringing the water to my lips. I greedily gulp at the liquid, filling my aching belly and thirst. A tug at the chain stops the flow and I discreetly push the wood back into place. My body craved more, but I knew if I drank too much too quickly, I would only make myself sick.

I don't want to know what the punishment is, should I not appear to look like I was adding nourishment to my body, so I push the food carefully around my plate and dump the liquid down the tub's drain.

***

Hours pass as I watch the trail of the sun move across the floor. I wish I had more than an ounce of my magic. Not that it would do me any good. Just as I am powerless in this mortal body, I would be just as powerless in my mystical equine form, trapped in this locked tower. If only I could turn myself into a bird, then I could fly far away from this nightmare.

The sound of the lock turning whips my head to the door, but it is only Alice and the guard from last night. His tall frame blocks my exit, his eyes watching my every move as I push myself up from the bed. Alice sets a tray with roasted meat, potatoes, vegetables, and dark brown bread on the table along with another corked jug. She frowns at the still full plate from this morning.

"Unicorn, you must eat more," Alice states matter-of-factly, then frowns taking in my thin form. "You are too thin and you need your strength."

"I need to leave and return home," I reply, meeting her glossy stare. My stomach twists with hunger as the scent reaches my nose. I dare not throw the accusation of poison around. They don't need to know the extent of my knowledge.

She turns away from me and grabs a stack of wood from the guard's arms, carefully arranging them in the fireplace. With a snap of her fingers, there is a buzz of magic in the air before a blazing fire roars to life.

"The queen will be displeased."

"She cannot keep me here forever," I protest, bunching the fabric of my skirts in my hands. "I'm a healer, I have a life duty to fulfill."

"The queen has plans for you. Your duty is now to serve her. Eat. You will need your strength." At her words, she grabs the old tray and heads out the door, the guard locking it behind her.

"Wait!" I jump and run to the door, banging against the bars with my fists. "Please."

They ignore my pleas, continuing down the steps into the darkness. I slump against the wood. Hot tears spill down my cheeks as the silence once again creeps in.