AN: So sorry for the late updates! End of the year testing sure is hectic, but now it's the weekend! And WOW guys, SEVEN reviews! I'm so glad to have such faithful readers!
Her head was throbbing. So was her arm. Come to think of it, her entire body was one big pulsating mass of pain. Daine groaned, pushing herself up. Where was she? Then she remembered everything. The tranquilizer gun. Varice. Delphine. How could Delphine do this to her? Peering around, she realized she was trapped in some sort of basement. The ground was a bit damp, and it was chilly. The floor was cold cement.
The only light came from a single light bulb overhead. It was dim, and she could only see her cage. Nothing. It was a cold room, with three walls of cement. The other wall, oddly enough, had a metal gate, just like in the medieval times. She heard footsteps echoing from the walls as a person approached.
Delphine looked in, holding another light. "Oh, Daine, thank God you're awake."
Daine scrabbled for her notebook. Thankfully, she still had the clothes she had worn during the day she was kidnapped. What am I doing here? What are you doing here?
Delphine shushed her. "Quiet, the guards could hear you!"
Guards? Daine thought in amusement, despite herself. Are we really in some medieval age or whatever?
Delphine quickly produced a key out of her pocket. She quickly stuck it in the lock, turning it until she heard a gentle click. She hid the key in her pocket again, and opened a window. Daine moved closer. "Here," She said, holding out a roll. "It's all I could smuggle out."
Daine took it, suddenly aware of the hunger panging her stomach. "Listen," Delphine hissed, "We haven't got much time. You are currently trapped in the home of Ozorne. Ozorne is part of the black market, and does a living by smuggling drugs. I don't know what you did or why they're so intent on catching you, but they are." The words tumbled out, and Daine could see the panicky look in her eyes, and the sweat on her forehead. She was terrified of Ozorne.
"And whatever you do, don't make him angry." She told her. "He's okay when in good humor. Even if he's merely annoyed, it won't kill you. But if you anger him, he will hurt you, and bad."
Why are you helping him? Daine wrote, eyes accusing.
Delphine hesitated. When Daine continued to stare at her, she sighed. "Well, you might die in a couple of hours so I might as well." She leaned close towards Daine. "Varice Kingsford…is my mother."
Daine stared at her. "Like I said, Ozorne is practically obsessed with you. Somehow, he got your private information and found out you were coming here. So Varice got a job on short notice by bribing them, and then enrolled me as a student completely unrelated to her."
And it was as if a veil had been torn off her eyes. There were glaring similarities. The same blond hair, though Varice's was curlier. The same big, blue eyes.
Why do you still serve a person like her?
Delphine sighed, eyes far away. "I know she's terrible, but she's all I have, Daine. You have to understand that. She a cruel, rotten woman who would sell anyone out if it benefitted her. But she birthed me and raised me and she's my only blood relative. I love her."
Then she left, leaving Daine with the roll, and many questions. Daine sighed, eating the roll. It was soft and delicious, and partially filled her. It was useless to think on these matters, she decided, and she might as well sleep, for she would need the strength, if Delphine's warnings meant anything.
This time she was awoken by the screeching of the huge metal door being opened. Before she could even react, a burly man had scooped her up, restraining her arms and legs. Daine began to struggle and writhe. "Now, now, honey, no need to be difficult. Just follow me and then the nice man will let you go." Varice Kingsford said in sugar-coated tones.
Daine stopped. What was the use? The man had a viselike grip, and he wasn't going to let go anytime soon. He ushered her up a spiraling staircase. As they approached the top, the light nearly blinded her. She stifled a cry, instead turning her head until it was pressed in the crook of her arm, and let her eyes adjust.
Up from the dungeon—as she had begun to think of it—the building appeared to be an office of some sort. Lots of hallways, tiled in linoleum, with boring, nondescript doors. People dressed in business suits rushed by with papers, working in a quiet efficient way, not paying the slightest attention to her, as if it was normal to have a girl forced around the building.
At least, it was normal until they entered the elevator. Throughout the trip, Varice had remained silent, but once they had gotten in, she flashed Daine a wicked smile. "Are you ready to meet the Master?" She asked calmly.
The doors opened with a soft ding. This was the same, at first glance, but if you happened to glance into the windows, you would see something different. Not a studious person, typing away, but entire tables of men, talking in hushed tones, eyes looking around suspiciously.
Varice gestured for the man to put her in one of the rooms. He simply opened the door, and slammed her down on a chair. Momentarily stunned, Daine didn't notice Varice snapping built in handcuffs and ankle cuffs on the chair. Daine was now bound to the chair.
Footsteps sounded, and Ozorne walked in through the door. "Ah, little Daine, we meet again." He smiled a predatory smile.
Daine opened her mouth, but no sounds came out, only a rough, gasping sound. Ozorne looked at her. "Oh, I forgot," He said dismissively, "You're a mute. Paper!"
Someone handed her a pad of paper near one of her handcuffed hands. Why am I here and what do you want?
Ozorne read it. "Well, Daine, let me tell you a story," He said as he sat in front of her. "Not so long ago, about 3 months to be exact, a new person came asking for a job. Her name was Sarra Beneksri. Painfully thin, and you could see the desperation in her eyes." Daine's mind flashed back to her dream, and her sunken appearance.
"So, I told her that my line of work was exceptionally dangerous, and that once she was in, she couldn't be out. I even hinted that it wasn't completely illegal. You see, Daine, I do things. Smuggling drugs mostly, in fact. Your mother didn't like it at all. But she dealt with it, for the pay was good. But finally, I got wind of it that she was going to report me. So I…took care of things. Mobs are ever so useful, don't you think?" He smiled at her.
Why do you want me then?
"Because, Daine, I never lose. Sarra never told me if she told you about things, my dear. And who knows, if that memory comes back into your pretty little head, I would be in deep trouble." He told her matter of factly.
Varice trotted over. "I'm sorry dear," She said in fake sympathy, "But we must kill you."
AN: …don't kill me! Anyways, during the next chapter, we get to see Numair's side of this situation. Who do you hate more? Varice or Ozorne?
