The lack of Sofia wasn't common these days.
Amber sighed as she looked up from her homework, seeing Marcy at the door.
"Sorry to interrupt my lady," The maid said. "But there's news about your sister."
"Is she home?" Amber hoped.
"Unfortunately no but you're requested by your father to be in the throne room."
"Thank you Marcy. I'll be there in a few minutes."
She quickly scribbled down an answer, cringing at the messy penmanship, but she told herself she would fix it once she came back upstairs.
She stood up, straightening the bottom of her dress, before making her way out of the room.
She wondered what could be going on that her father needed her down there for.
Maybe they've gotten another note from Sofia.
A location perhaps?
Amber frowned, realizing that wasn't the case as the anger in Roland's eyes were present as she sat down on her throne.
"Daddy? What's going on?" She spoke.
Her body pricked with worry. Her father had never seemed so angry.
Miranda sat beside him, gripping the arms of her throne, her eyes glassy.
"We got this note from Prince Hugo and.." Roland paused, feeling his anger rise again.
"Sof got abused," James explained, his voice cracking.
Amber's eyes filled with horror, "what?"
She could feel James move his hand onto her shoulder and she didn't bother to react, her shock too much for her.
"Why does Hugo know this?" Her voice grew quiet as she processed what she was being told
"It's because he witnessed the whole thing," Miranda croaked. "He and his dad tried to get Sofia home but that magician wouldn't let them!"
Amber felt tears in her eyes. Sofia could've been home five days after her kidnapping.
Five days.
She wished she could kill the magician. It may not have been a proper thing to think, but she was beyond livid.
She was shaking with anger towards the magician, her eyes welling up with tears.
She turned her head away from the rest of the family.
She felt disgruntled, wanting nothing more then the magician dead and her sister, so little and innocent, home.
Sofia had to be scared to death after being abused. No one ever hit her before.
Unless it was playful swats.
She remembered all of the times she, James, and Sofia had played games together that resulted in one of them swatting the other.
She sighed as she realized those games would likely change once Sofia returned.
"Amber?"
James' voice of concern brought her to reality as she felt him squeeze her hand.
"Sofia has to be so scared," Amber sniffed.
He nodded, getting up from his throne and walking over to offer her a hug.
Amber accepted the hug by sobbing into his chest.
He held his sister close, his eyes filling with tears.
None of them could imagine what Sofia was going through, especially when she didn't have someone to support her like they did at home.
When she did come home, they would support her.
Even if she had nightmares that would wake them up in the middle of the night.
They would always support her.
Amber just hoped she would come home soon, and that the magician could be executed.
He had to be executed so no other little girl would go through what Sofia was going through.
Miranda stood up from her throne, walking over and wrapping her arms around both of the children as they cried.
"She'll be fine," Miranda promised. "And when Sofia comes home, we'll still love her."
"Even if she's not the Sof we remember?" James asked.
Miranda nodded, "families love each other unconditionally." She hugged the twins tighter.
Amber released herself partially from James, moving to hug both of them at once.
"But what if Sofia's too traumatized from what's happened to her?" Amber wondered.
"Then we'll help her get through it slowly," Roland replied.
Miranda smiled softly, "exactly."
Amber nodded, seeming to understand the point. She sniffed, still trying to calm down.
"I don't want that magician to survive after what he's done," she spoke, her voice blunt.
"Believe me sweetheart, he won't," Roland assured. "I'll personally have him executed."
"And we get to watch?" James grinned.
Roland let out a small laugh, "if you think you can handle it."
James nodded quickly. He wanted to see what would happen to the magician.
Amber didn't know how to respond. On one hand she wanted Sofia to get justice but on the other hand, she wasn't comfortable seeing her first dead body.
Roland seemed to notice her uncertainty, "you don't have to decide what you're going to do just yet. It's a hard thing to watch, but sometimes it has to happen, to keep people safe." He laid his hand on her shoulder gently.
"Especially other little girls like you Amber," Miranda added.
"Maybe Sofia could testify against that magician," Amber suggested.
As he straightened out his jacket, James gave her a curious look, wondering what she meant.
Until he realized what it meant.
Sofia would have to relive her trauma all over again just to keep others safe.
He seemed concerned at the idea, as did their parents.
"Amber," Roland spoke, "Sofia might not be able to talk about what happened while she was gone for a long time after she returns."
"Even if she was ready, just facing Boswell would send your sister into a panic," Miranda added. "We know you mean well but imagine if you're in her shoes for a second. How'd you feel if you just got reunited with us only to have to relive everything all over again so everyone else can be safe?"
Amber nodded, "I understand."
She wished things were simpler, and that her sister didn't have to go through trauma in the first place.
She couldn't get mad at Sofia. Her sister had to be worried about her bunny Clover without realizing she would get kidnapped in the process.
No one could predict being kidnapped.
Especially not a child.
She hoped Sofia was alright, and that she wasn't hurt too bad after what the magician had done to her.
If it was so, she'd be an angry overprotective sister until Sofia was ready to face him again.
Whenever that may be.
She came back to reality as Miranda knelt down to hug her, eyes concerned.
She could tell something was wrong as Amber buried her face in her chest, unable to move away.
Miranda gave Roland a concerned look. She was realizing just how badly Sofia's kidnapping was affecting Amber.
Not to mention James, who unknowingly to them, had just left the throne room.
They couldn't imagine how her return would affect the twins and they didn't dare think about it.
...
A scream ripped through the wagon walls as Clover jolted awake. He thought Boswell was hurting his kid again until seeing that the magician was nowhere to be seen.
The screaming came to a halt as Clover came face to face with a baby tooth lodged inside a carrot.
"Wha-" his voice was confused.
One moment he was sleeping, the next he was being scared half to death by screaming.
"You alright, kid?" He asked out of instinct as he processed what was going on.
"Clover, I lost my tooth!" Sofia giggled. "I was biting into a carrot because I was so hungry and it just came out!"
There was a slight lisp as she spoke. Sofia's Rs were now Ws but she didn't seem to notice.
He let out a small laugh, "that's great, kid!"
He was glad she was so happy about something.
Even if it was over a baby tooth with the top of it completely covered in blood.
Though the rabbit hoped that next time, she'd keep the screaming down to a squeal.
She looked so excited that it made him smile as he watched her.
"Mom always said to wash my tooth and put it away. But where do I put it without Mr. Boswell finding it?" Sofia frowned.
Clover looked around, unsure.
He considered telling her to hide it with the lanterns but the movement of the wagon might make it easier to lose.
He didn't want to devastate her.
Sofia looked around before noticing the pockets to her riding jersey pants.
Maybe she could put her baby tooth in there.
She reached her hand into it, trying to see whether or not the pocket was loose, or if it was tight enough for the tooth not to fall out of it.
It seemed tight enough as she started to remember some money she had packed just in case she had gotten hungry while searching for Clover.
Sofia couldn't believe she forgot about it.
She was glad she realized it was there, though.
She slipped the tooth inside of the pocket before pulling the money out to look at it.
Some coins that would've been enough for food. Possibly a snack or two.
Except now what? She couldn't go anywhere with Boswell around.
If she tried he would probably hurt her, yet again.
She sighed, playing with the coins for a moment.
She wished she hadn't back talked. Otherwise she'd have something to do while Clover was away.
Had she not talked back, Boswell hopefully would have gotten her the books she asked for.
Because of her reaction, she was still stuck in constant boredom.
But he seemed to be kind enough the day before, telling her she had a surprise waiting for her that morning.
She thought back to that moment. She had wondered since day one why the magician was so angry with her. Especially over Clover.
Clover belonged to her. He didn't need a name tag or collar for her to know that he was hers.
She stared at the door of the wagon, watching it open before seeing Boswell come in.
She quickly stuffed the coins in her pocket as the door opened, before staring at him.
She didn't want to take her eyes off of him, for fear of a sudden change in his mood once more.
"I see you're waiting for your surprise," Boswell smiled.
"Yes sir," Sofia muttered.
He nodded. She had been keeping her hope up for a while. As annoying as she could be, he needed to do something to keep the princess happy, that way she wouldn't completely lose her mind and risk him getting caught.
In his hands he had a pile of something covered with a cloth as Sofia took off the cloth and gasped.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
A pile of books. Just what she had asked for.
Her face lit up into a smile as she stared at the pile, glad she would finally have something to do.
"Just take it already," Boswell sighed in annoyance. "It's bad enough I had to buy them for you."
She nodded, immediately grabbing them from the magician and carrying them to the side of her corner to set them down.
"Thank you," Sofia smiled, showing the magician a gaping hole where her loose tooth had once been.
He gave her a curious look, wondering when she had lost the tooth.
It seemed to be recent but he didn't question it, walking over towards her.
"Stay out of trouble. I don't want to be caught," Boswell sneered. "I'll let you go when the tour's over."
Her eyes widened in hope. Finally there was an end in sight. She just hoped the tour wouldn't take too long to end.
She only needed Roland and Miranda's lanterns. Then she could go home with her pieces of hope.
She nodded at the magician, not wanting to appear too excited, at least not until he left the room.
Hearing his footsteps fade, she went to her corner and picked out a book from her pile, beginning to read it.
She smiled, focused on the task in front of her, barely noticing as Clover came over and nuzzled up against her.
"Glad you got something to do while I'm gone kid," the rabbit smiled.
"Me too," Sofia agreed. "I'm just excited I can finally go home when this is all over."
"Actually Sof, that's not the case. The dove and I overheard him last week and..."
"I'm not going home?"
Clover glanced up at the dove, unsure of how to explain things.
The dove shrugged at him, eyes sympathetic to the small girl who now looked rather worried.
Tears started to flood her eyes as Sofia took a shaky breath.
Boswell had lied to her. She wasn't going home at all.
Clover nuzzled into her once more, only to be pushed away gently.
"You didn't tell me?" She asked him. Her voice was sad.
"It was for your own good," Clover sighed.
"I still can't believe you lied to me! I thought we were best friends!"
"We are. Kid, I only did it to protect you."
"From Mr. Boswell?" Sofia asked.
He nodded, "I may be too small to protect you physically," he admitted, his voice rising in anger at the magician, "but I'll be damned if I sit back and watch him harm you emotionally."
The curse slipped from his mouth before he could prevent it.
But Sofia didn't seem to notice. If one thing, her vocabulary seemed to be increased by hearing the vulgar language.
Clover only hoped she wouldn't repeat it.
She sighed, "I just wish I would've known."
"I know, kid," Clover's voice was sympathetic.
Sofia was only eight years old and what hopes she had of home were dashed not even a day after being told that she would be going home.
Maybe she needed to escape while Boswell was in an act then she could alert a guard and have the magician arrested.
Just as long as she had the hair pin.
She smiled at the thought of the pin, grateful she had ended up with it. Her connection to the outside, even if she could only go out in the cover of darkness.
If Boswell were to destroy it, it would end her remaining sanity.
Being trapped with a rabbit and a dove for a week, she'd already begun chewing on things in frustration.
She thought about home and what her family would think if they saw that new habit. What Amber would think.
What would her mom think?
Her chewing on things like a wild animal?
Roland would immediately blame Boswell for the trauma.
It was Boswell's fault, after all.
James would probably be fascinated by the new behavior, as he was with pretty much everything, Sofia knew.
He would think her new behavior was brilliant.
The only sanity Sofia had was trying to be a normal eight year old girl. If that was broken, she'd be nothing more than a scared child.
She hoped she wouldn't be reduced to that.
She worried her chances to escape would be reduced to zero if her sanity left her.
"Clover, can you do me a favor? Don't go with Mr. Boswell when I escape," Sofia requested. "He may be bigger than us but we're stronger."
He nodded at her, though he was curious. She had spoken of escaping before, but there had never been a set plan.
He worried about what would happen if Boswell caught her.
Clover didn't want her hurt again.
He didn't want her to cry again.
He had already seen too much of that. He worried how angry the magician would get if he saw her actually manage to get out of the wagon.
"Clover?"
Sofia's soft voice broke Clover out of his thoughts as he looked up at her.
"Are you alright kid?" Clover asked gently.
"I'm starting to feel a little itchy wearing the same clothes," Sofia confessed.
He sighed, "I wish there was something I could do about that."
He wasn't sure what could be done, though. Boswell had declined getting her a new dress, and there weren't any other clothes in the wagon.
Sofia started to scratch herself in frustration before Clover noticed little red bumps on her skin.
He looked concerned.
"Sof, you're gonna make yourself feel worse if you keep scratching," he spoke. He couldn't keep his eyes off of the bumps, worried.
Did she leave her clothes on something she wasn't supposed to?
"Sorry," Sofia muttered. "There wasn't anything I could lay my clothes on yesterday so I found a bush and..." She stopped scratching her arms, putting a hand to her mouth. "Oh no. Poison ivy."
The rabbit sighed, "just our luck."
He looked around, thinking of a way to help her get relief from the itching.
He remembered Boswell leaving lotion on the table the previous day.
Why the magician needed it the rabbit didn't question it. Sofia needed relief from her itching.
"Hey kid," he spoke, trying to get her attention.
She had started itching more subtly than before, and was distracted from his words.
She wanted the itching to stop before hearing Clover's voice again.
Seeing the lotion, she took off her riding jersey and undershirt, revealing more red bumps that she hadn't scratched yet.
She grabbed the bottle of lotion, though she didn't like the idea of using something Boswell had touched.
But it was better than itching and getting scars from scratching.
Clover smiled at her willingness.
Had she been home, Miranda would have had a problem like that dealt with in an instant.
Miranda would've given her comfort and a hug if she were home.
Sofia sighed, applying the lotion on herself.
She just wished she had something to cover her hands with.
She glanced around, trying to figure out if there was anything around that would work.
She couldn't see anything that could help her, though.
Then she spotted the curtain that Boswell had put up. Sofia knew he wouldn't be thrilled seeing it in shreds but it was the only way she could cover her hands.
"Here kid let me help," Clover offered, seeing her hands still covered in lotion.
She nodded and he made his way towards the curtain.
She watched as he hopped up onto the ledge, almost slipping in the process.
"Easy Clover. I don't think Mr. Boswell would like it if his magic bunny got injured!" Sofia giggled.
Clover gave her a playful glare in response.
"Maybe if I couldn't work he'd throw us out and we'd be free," he grumbled low enough for her not to hear him once he had turned back to the curtains.
He wished Boswell wouldn't have lied to her, trying to get her hopes up.
Sofia was too innocent for such a thing.
She smiled, holding back a giggle as she heard the curtain tear.
Usually she wouldn't be happy with destruction but in this case, she didn't care. Boswell had no respect for anyone, so why should she respect him?
The only answer was fear but after his lies, she didn't care enough for that.
He had lied to her, dashing her hopes so teared curtains was her way of revenge.
As Clover hopped to her, Sofia let out a giggle.
"Thanks, Clover," she said as he brought her a couple of strips off of the curtain.
He nodded, setting them down beside her.
"Anything for you kid," Clover smiled. "At least now you can see out the window during the day."
She smiled, "yeah, hopefully Mr. Boswell doesn't get angry about the curtain though." She rolled her eyes.
"Believe me Sof. Boswell probably would be too busy counting money to notice."
"Other than smoking his cigars?"
The rabbit laughed, "I'm glad we mutually hate him."
The dove nodded from up in his cage, silently agreeing with the two.
He didn't say anything, on account of Clover wanting Sofia to stay innocent for the time being, but even he was enjoying their happiness.
Clover nodded back at him, a silent thanks on his part.
Sofia slowly wrapped her hands up, trying not to irritate them more as she did so.
Once they were wrapped, she sighed in relief.
The lotion felt good on her body as she didn't notice Boswell coming in.
"What do you think you're doing?" The magician growled, seeing her covered in lotion. "That wasn't for you and now you got your kid germs all over it."
"Then you wouldn't like the curtains either!" Sofia giggled.
His eyes widened as he looked towards the curtains, "what did you do?" His voice boomed.
She shrunk back for a moment before straightening herself back out, "I had to do something about these." She showed him the bumps, bordering on an attitude.
"Poison ivy? Of course you had to be a little idiot to lay your clothes on a poisonous plant!" Boswell yelled, taking Sofia's undershirt and began to rip it.
"Hey! I need that!" Sofia cried, walking towards him.
He rolled his eyes at her, "you rip something of mine, I rip something of yours," he sneered.
"But I didn't do it! Clover helped me out because I had lotion on my hands!"
"You're blaming my magic bunny for you childish behavior?"
"Oh I'm being childish?!" Sofia growled. "I hope you burn in hell when you're executed by my dad!"
Boswell glared at her, "I won't get executed if I don't get caught."
She glared back, her eyes filled with anger.
He continued, "and you don't want to make things worse for yourself and not go home, do you?"
"You lied to me!" Sofia shouted, pushing him back. "I'm not going home like you promised!"
"And how would you know?" His voice was taunting her, "it's not like I said it around you."
Sofia looked at Clover, fiddling with her amulet. The magician might think she was crazy but she had to tell him.
She took a deep breath to calm herself down.
She wasn't sure what to say, how to say it.
"Clover told me," Sofia confessed at last. "My amulet lets me talk to animals."
The magician laughed, "you really expect me to believe that?" He seemed unsure of himself, but he didn't want to believe the eight year old.
The princess was a stupid girl. Talking to animals had to be her imagination.
Sofia held up her amulet for him to see. She was just thankful he didn't know of its magical abilities.
He rolled his eyes, "you probably just heard me from outside." He couldn't believe what she was trying to say. It was too outlandish, even for royalty.
"What do you need me for?" Sofia demeaned as tears went down her cheeks. "For a profit? As someone to get your frustration out on? Maybe you just kidnapped me because you couldn't understand from that big fat head of yours that Clover doesn't belong to you? He was mine first!"
The magician let out a growl, "be careful what you say, Princess." His voice held a hint of warning.
Sofia growled back, pushing him away once more.
She was close to the window! She could escape and alert the nearest bystander!
She glanced at Clover to see if he would understand what she was going to do.
She hoped her plan would work and that someone was actually outside.
If not, it would be another day with the magician.
"Excuse me? Is anyone out there?" Sofia wondered as she poked her head out the window. "My name is Princess Sofia of Enchancia! I've been kidnapped!"
She felt Boswell pull at her. The magician was furious.
"Get back here!" His voice boomed.
Sofia spotted a tree branch, reaching for it with all her might.
Until she remembered her wrapped up hands, feeling herself slip as she screamed in the hopes someone would hear her.
She wanted out, no matter what it took. She was terrified as the magician grabbed at her once again.
She kicked out at him, continuing to scream.
Her eyes started to light up, seeing strawberry blonde hair, brown eyes, and a blue suit.
Desmond? She was in Desmond's kingdom?
Sofia prayed that it wouldn't be like Hugo's kingdom all over again.
She screamed his name as he came closer to the window, and he looked alarmed by the sudden noise.
She wished she could simply jump out and run to him, but her hands prevented her from doing that.
"Sofia?" Desmond held back his shock upon seeing her, taking one of her hands. "Is that you?"
"Yes!" Sofia cried, stopping her screaming. "Is anyone else with you? A guard? Your mom or dad?"
He shook his head. As far as he was aware, he was alone.
"Do I need to go get someone?" He asked her.
Sofia nodded softly, wishing her plea in his ear.
Boswell seemed to be losing his grip on her which she was thankful for.
Desmond saw her nod, and made his way quickly to find someone.
He wasn't usually one to run, unless he was running from something, but he knew it would be the best way to help her.
Sofia sighed in relief, returning to the inside of the wagon.
Boswell looked at her, his eyes burning with hatred.
"I've warned you Princess!" He growled, moving towards her.
"What are you going to do?" Sofia gulped.
She could see Clover behind him, the rabbit looked scared for her. She wished she could reassure him that she would be okay but she didn't know if she would.
She shrunk back, terrified of the magician. She hoped Desmond would return quickly.
Sofia only prayed Boswell wouldn't hit her again or find the lanterns.
She didn't care what he did just as long as it wouldn't affect her physically.
He continued moving until he was less than a foot away from her, crouching down so their faces were even.
Sofia could smell the cigars from his breath, trying not to gag.
She moved her face so she wasn't facing him directly, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"What is this? A game to you?" Boswell asked. "Are you trying to get free?"
"Isn't that the plan?" Sofia giggled.
He growled, "it may be in your plan, but it isn't in mine."
He shoved her away from the window, not wanting her to scream out of it again.
As her body was shoved, Boswell hid a laugh as Sofia bumped her head and fell to the floor.
She let out a small huff, her head hurting where she had hit it.
Boswell rolled his eyes at her, "don't be so dramatic."
With that, he left her alone to sob in her corner.
Her hope of freedom dashed as she heard the wagon move.
Next time she had to escape while he was doing an act.
She just hoped there would be a next time.
She wondered what kingdom they would end up in next, and whether Desmond had alerted someone.
Sofia hoped that he did, feeling Clover nuzzle against her.
"Clover, I'm so sorry," Sofia croaked. "If I didn't get poison ivy, we'd be free right now."
Clover shook his head, "it's not your fault, kid. At least now someone else knows where we've been."
"Yeah but what does that help us?" She sighed.
Clover nuzzled her again, laughing softly. "It means there'll be more people hunting Boswell down. Possibly to where they'll be at his acts."
She nodded slowly, "I guess you're right."
He smiled, sitting down close to her, "is your head alright, kid?"
Sofia shook her head a little before smiling softly.
More people would know what happened to her.
Boswell would be trialed by the four kingdoms he went to on his tour and Enchancia for his crimes.
She would have victory once she escaped.
That thought made her happy.
It seemed to make Clover happy too as he curled into a ball in her lap and went to sleep.
She laid her head against the back wall, petting him.