Zoe’s eyes slowly opened. Disoriented, she stared at the ceiling for several minutes, desperately trying to remember what had happened. During this contemplation, it hit her.
“What the hell?!” she gasped, sitting up. Much to her surprise, she observed that she was now at home in her own bed. Her room was quite spacious, dimly lit by a single wall lamp near her door. Her feet met the thick velvet carpet as she sprung out of bed, bolting to the window. Opening the curtains, her eyes squinted tightly as the sunlight flooded the room. Nearly blinded by the sun’s luminosity, she quickly shut the curtains, rubbing her eyes as they readjusted. How long have I been out?
It was then that the images flooded her mind. Alex, smashing against the sharp rocks, helplessly tumbling down the mountainside to his death. Roshan, offering final words of comfort just before the blade sliced into him. Her fists clenched as she stormed into the hallway.
Slamming the door behind her, she marched down the long corridor. After hastily climbing the stairs to the mansion’s third floor, she approached the double doors leading to her adoptive father’s room. Angrily gripping the doorknobs, she threw both doors open at once.
Lord Quinn was seated at a small table on the far side of the large room, slowly sipping a cup of tea as she entered. He stared at her as she stomped over to him, her displeasure apparent by her intense gaze. Still dressed in the same tattered clothing she had been wearing in the prison, her hands and feet were noticeably dirty.
“Zoe,” Lord Quinn began with a smile, “you’re awake. Excellent.” Zoe halted as she reached the table. They stared at each other. “Care to join me for some tea?” he offered, breaking the silence. Zoe’s mouth twitched as her eyebrows lowered. She wanted to scream at him, but was somehow unable to find the appropriate words. He continued to smile softly.
“I suppose not. Very well.” He paused as he took a sip of tea. “I had Passford burn vitam leaves at your bedside earlier this morning. The effects were, apparently, successful.”
“You killed my friend,” Zoe finally muttered.
Lord Quinn’s smile suddenly vanished. “Your ‘friend’ was a criminal.”
“No he wasn’t!!” she yelled.
“Watch your temper,” he sternly replied. “Remember what happened last time?”
Zoe bit her lip.
“I could have quite easily deserted you to your fate as a prisoner,” Lord Quinn went on. “Instead, I chose to persuade the guards to turn the other way and allow you to return home. I expect a noticeable improvement in your etiquette and loyalty from this moment forth. Understood?”
Zoe was silent, continuing to stare directly into his eyes.
“Are we clear?” he asked. The room was quiet. “Answer me,” he growled.
She rolled her eyes and walked back toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
“You most certainly are not,” Lord Quinn quickly responded.
She stopped and turned back to him. “You’re not my father. I’m not a child. I don’t have to stay here, and I won’t. I’m leaving.”
Lord Quinn sat his tea down on the table. “Won’t wandering Aria’s wilderness be exceptionally difficult without the ability to use magic?” Zoe was quiet, puzzled by the remark. He grinned, gesturing with his hand toward a large mirror. “I presume you have yet to view your reflection.”
Zoe quickly approached the mirror. Her eyes widened as she noticed a small black ‘X’ on the center of her forehead. She hastily turned back to him. “You jinxed me.”
“I do apologize,” he answered, “but you left me no choice. Despite your failure to do so, you still attempted to assault me.” Zoe trembled with rage as Lord Quinn picked up his teacup. “Oh, and by the way... the servants have been informed of your ‘deteriorating mental state’ since you were kidnapped and brainwashed by that dreadful Spade guild. Therefore, I recommend that you keep your mouth shut about the entire incident.”
“You bastard!” she barked with watery eyes.
“Temper,” he reminded her, taking another sip. “I’m going to be attending a meeting with King Ashraf later this afternoon. In my absence, I expect that you will behave yourself and remain indoors. In the event that you choose to betray my trust, it would be most wise to note that the guards have already been briefed on the situation and will most certainly restrain your efforts.” He finished the contents of the teacup and sat it back on the table. “Now, if you would be so kind, please wash yourself and change out of that ridiculous outfit. You’re filthy, and your odor is absolutely repugnant.”
Gnashing her teeth, Zoe stormed toward the door. Lord Quinn got out of his chair. “Oh, and Zoe.” She stopped in her tracks, still facing the door. He pushed in his chair and walked around the table. “If you do not wish to be involved in my endeavors, I advise that you stay out of my way and keep your mouth shut. Understood?” Without saying a word, Zoe left the room.
After cleaning herself, Zoe proceeded back to her room dressed in a gray bathrobe. I have to find some way to get out of here. Entering her room, she caught a glimpse of herself in her dresser’s mirror. The black ‘X’ on her forehead seemed to glare back at her from its reflection. Uggh... even if I can escape, I won’t be able to make it back to the base without magic or at least a weapon.
She opened her closet. Shocked by what she saw, she let out a loud shriek. The contents of her walk-in closet consisted only of various styles of pink dresses. Quickly shutting the door, she stomped back to her adoptive father’s room.
Lord Quinn turned to his room’s doors as they burst open. “What did you do to my clothes?!” Zoe seethed as she emerged.
He smiled. “I took the liberty of upgrading your wardrobe.”
“I hate pink!” she snapped.
“Interesting,” Lord Quinn said calmly, turning toward a nearby window. “I’m not very fond of traitors, myself. Perhaps we will both learn to live with the hand we’ve been dealt, hm?”
Zoe became enraged by the comment. “What the hell is your problem?!”
“Language,” he remarked.
Ignoring him, she continued. “If you despise me so much, then why are you keeping me here? Why did you adopt me in the first place?” Without turning from the window, Lord Quinn shook his head in disapproval. Zoe went on. “What you’re doing to Aria is wrong. You’ve killed more people than you probably even know. Not that you care.” Still, Lord Quinn did not respond. His silence irritated her further. “Don’t you have anything to say?!” The room was quiet. “Why won’t you answer me?!”
Lord Quinn looked at her. “If I didn’t care about you,” he finally said, “you certainly wouldn’t be alive.”
Zoe was completely infuriated. “You don’t kill me and I’m supposed to feel loved?! You murdered my closest friend!!” Tears were trickling down her cheeks as Lord Quinn unsympathetically returned his attention to the window. “UGH!! You don’t care about anyone but yourself!!” She stomped toward the door. “I hate you!!” Lord Quinn said nothing as Zoe left the room.
“Brat,” he muttered to himself.
As she reached the second floor and stormed down the hallway toward her room, she was met by Passford, one of the many servants on the mansion’s staff. “Miss Zoe!” he said cheerfully, “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“Awful,” she softly answered.
“Well, your wounds have recovered quite swiftly,” Passford commented. “Perhaps lunch will lift your spirits? Once you have dressed yourself appropriately, you may proceed to the dining room. Chef Jero has prepared an exquisite dish for your dining pleasure.”
“I guess I am a little hungry...” Zoe admitted.
Passford smiled. “It’s wonderful to have you back, Miss Zoe. I’m terribly sorry you had to go through such a horrific experience with that Spade guild. I can’t imagine how frightened you must have been.”
“I wasn’t kidnapped!” Zoe snapped, startling Passford and causing him to stumble backward. “I ran away! I don’t want to be here!!”
“Oh my,” Passford said, trembling. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
“I wasn’t brainwashed!!” Zoe screamed.
His eyes bulging from fright, Passford hurried down the hallway without another word.
“I’m not crazy!!” she shouted. “He’s the crazy one!! UGH!”
Once she had returned to her room and reluctantly put on one of the many pink dresses which flooded her closet, Zoe viewed herself in the mirror. “Just kill me now,” she grumbled. Picking up a brush from the dresser, she aggressively fixed her hair. If I can just get rid of this jinx, I shouldn’t have any trouble getting back to HQ. I think I read about these stupid things in one of my books...
As she stood there in silence, her thoughts gradually drifted back to the horrific scenes from the days before. Her eyes glistening, she clenched her jaw. No. I can’t think about that. I have to stay strong.