Disclaimer: See Chapter One.


The next day, Rae's adopted mother dropped her off at the front of her school. Rae was a bit early so she sat on the side of the path, to wait for the buildings to be unlocked.

She'd been only sitting there for a couple of seconds when she felt the same icy chill as last night. Jumping to her feet in remembered fright, Rae threw out her arms trying to defend herself from something she couldn't see. Unfortunately all she managed to achieve was to throw herself off balance, crashing forwards onto her stomach at the same time a heavy blow landed on her head. She fought a wave of dizziness, then blacked out.

Blinking slowly, and carefully, as dust and dirt tumbled down her face Rae awoke. Hearing a scuffing sound behind her, she attempted to turn, but her movements were hampered by the fact she couldn't move her hands or feet. Rae had a feeling they were tied together, she could feel something like rope across them, tight enought to be painful.She couldn't even move them forwards or back, giving Rae the idea that they were tied to something else. She simply couldn't move. After exhausting herself, wriggling around, Rae started to scream for help.

"Will ya look at tha',"a rough voice cut into Rae's cries. "'Er 'ighness's awake. An' it's no 'elp, screamin' like that, no one's around t' hear. Y' 'ighness." Rae swallowed her next yell in shock. The voice too had come from behind her. Rae could also hear what sounded like horses hooves, and as she was being bumped around a lot, she assumed she was in a horse drawn vehicle of some sort.

"Why the hell are you calling me 'your highness'?" She demanded, her voice dry and raspy.

"Well if i din't, you'd be insulted. It's y' title, ain't it? Y' a princess." Shaking her head violently, Rae disagreed.

"I'm no princess, I'm just Rae. Now will you let me go?"

For the first time, Rae heard confusion in his voice. "Rae? I was told y' name was Siani."

"Well now you know it's not, would YOU PLEASE LET ME GO!" Rae burst into the tears she had been holding back since she woke up. It was hard enough not being able to see in everyday life but when you've been kidnapped?

"Shuddup! If theys kno' y' awake, they're gonna com' in 'ere." the boy's voice was frantic and rushed, and Rae held back a sob, but it was a bit late, footsteps announced the arrival of two more people, heavy people, by the thumps.