A Slightly Different Turn: Chapter Two

Trapped

A/N: Thank you so so so so much everyone! The reviews were very helpful, and if anyone would like to beta this story for accurateness for me, just let me know in a review! One thing though – I HAVE NOT read "Beauty," and don't know what happens in it, so that might change some things here. I am hoping to get the Firebirds book and read it sometime soon.

A sudden shaft of light swept over my eyes and I crinkled them shut, groaning.

"Time to get up my beautiful countess," said a voice I knew only too well, and I shivered. I sat up, finding myself in a large white four poster bed. Flauvic was standing next to me, holding open the bed curtains with an evil smile on his face.

"I'll never get up for you," I spat, then immediately regretted my words. If he thought I was compliant, he would bore of me and ignore me. Flauvic just continued smiling.

"There is a breakfast set up in the dining room," he said nonchalantly, "but in order to have it, you just have to give nice Flauvic a little kiss." I cringed at his words and moved away from him. Flauvic's face hardened. "Then you will go without breakfast." With that, he swept out of the room.

Once left alone, I looked around my place with curiosity. Apart from the bed, there was a small white desk in the corner and a side table on the bed with a candle on it. 'Where is this place?' she wondered. 'This doesn't look like anything I've ever seen in the palace. And Flauvic couldn't have brought me all the way to the Merindar house.' She walked over the door and pulled on it, not surprised to find it locked, and then walked over to the desk. She sat down and pulled some papers towards her, not quite sure what she was doing.

'Yesterday was horrible. I suppose I'm writing this because it's available; no doubt Flauvic has some sort of spell on it to see what I'm writing. But I don't care. If anyone besides him sees this, please try to help me. I'm trapped in a room of all white with no windows. I'm sure you've probably never heard of it – I hadn't – but please try to find me! I've only been under Flauvic for less than a day, and I feel like I'm being ripped apart one hair, one piece of skin at a time. Something happened to Danric too, and all the others in the city. Danric is under Flauvic's control and the people of the city are all statues: he shattered one of them yesterday. I saw the expression on Danric's face too. He's not human anymore. He has no emotion. I love him, but not what Flauvic has made him. I suppose I shall just have to find a way to break through the magic. Surely love is stronger than magic?'

I was interrupted in my writing by a sharp rap on the door, then someone walking in. My breath caught in my throat when I saw who it was.

"Danric?" I asked hopefully. I suppose I was still harboring the slight chance the Flauvic had been lying, that Danric would be all right, that this had just been a very bad dream. When I looked at his face, however, I knew that all of my hopes had been just that – hopes. He was still being controlled.

"Meliara," he stated mechanically, "you are to be escorted by me to the dining room. Flauvic has granted you breakfast." I nodded, frowning slightly. What had caused Flauvic to change his mind about breakfast?

"Thank you Danric. Would you mind waiting outside while I freshen up a bit." Once again, Danric nodded abruptly and stepped outside, not quite shutting the door. I went over to the desk once again, thinking. If I said Danric's name enough, and was nice enough to him, perhaps he would begin to remember who he was. I picked up the letter and folded it, sticking it into the body of my dress, then walked over to the door, opening it.

Danric looked up, his face still devoid of emotion, and I inwardly cringed. I tentatively reached out and placed my hand on his elbow. I felt him flinch slightly and smiled to myself. He did have feelings! We proceeded down some stairs and corridors, and after a few minutes, I was thoroughly and utterly lost. Finally we came to another door, also white, and Danric reached out to open it. I looked up at him, willing him to look back. When he finally did, I looked into his eyes, reaching my other hand up to brush his cold cheek. I saw that my touch caused a flicker of recognition in his eyes, and I smiled, ready to face anything that Flauvic could throw at me.

Walking in, I saw yet another white room, with a long colorwood table in the middle. At one end sat Flauvic, who looked up when I entered and smiled that cold, horrible smile that I had begun to dread.

"Hello, dear Meliara. I wasn't sure if you would consent to meeting here with me."

"I didn't," I replied, hoping I sounded just as cold as he did, while in reality my heart was beating with nervousness.

"Didn't my dear servant inform you that this meeting was optional," he asked with wide eyes, feigning innocence.

"You know very well that he didn't," I replied, hoping I sounded at least a bit strong and steadfast.

"I must confess that I don't know what you are talking about my dear, but do come and dine with me." He nodded towards a chair that was situated very close to him. I walked over, but instead of sitting down, I took the chair and carried it to the opposite end of the table which regrettably had no food. I was hungry.

I looked over to Flauvic and saw that his face had hardened, and a vein was noticeably popping on his forehead.

"Shevraeth," he called, and Danric walked in.

"Yes, my lord," he said bowing.

"Show mistress Meliara to the downstairs please." I frowned at that. My previous bedroom had been upstairs, so what was downstairs? I stood up and placed my hand once again on Danric's sleeve, sneaking a glance back at Flauvic to see his reaction. My eyes caught his for a second, and I quickly looked away, such a look of hatred there was in his face.

For the second time that day, I found myself being led in was seemed like circles, but this time we weren't going to see Flauvic. After what seemed like an hour of walking in absolute silence, I found myself being led into a dark, damp cell, and I realized what Flauvic had meant. I was going to prison. I turned around, and fiercely grabbed Danric's shirt in both my hands.

"Please remember Danric! Remember what we had, even for so little a time. I know that our love can overcome Flauvic's spell, and I know that you're still in there." Through all that, Danric stood as still as a pillar, and I almost lost hold of my emotions right then and there. Instead, I leaned up and gave Danric a quick kiss. I was surprised when he returned it. I broke away and looked up at him, finding his eyes closed, but then he turned away, close my cell door and walked off.

I leaned against the wall, and slid down in despair.

A/N: Well, I didn't really like this chapter, but it needed to get done. Sorry for the shortness and the boringness, but I promise better will come! Please feel free to review!

-Crystaltambaia