just come through a portal, and I’m scared and nauseous and totally disoriented from the sensation of traveling through realms. Amias is chattering a mile a fucking minute like he expects us to suddenly understand every word he says as he leads us down a hallway of some sort.
“Oh god, I think I’m going to throw up,” Sadie cries. She leans most of her weight on me and almost causes me to fall, and I roughly push her away. I don’t even bother saying a word to her. I just keep hobbling after Amias while I try not to think about where he’s taking us or what’s about to happen to me.
Amias smiles at us over his shoulder and opens a large, wooden door. Two other bearded men appear behind him, both wearing the same ugly robe as Amias. They’re clearly excited to see us, whispering and laughing with Amias as they look Sadie and I over with interest.
A loud, booming voice calls out from inside the room, and Amias tugs on the lead attached to my shackles. I know I don’t actually have a choice, but I keep my feet planted and refuse to budge just to be difficult. The new monks widen their eyes at me and quickly lead Sadie into the room ahead of us, and Amias tugs on my lead a little more frantically.
He says something to me in a pleading tone, but I just growl at him. I figure whoever’s waiting in that room for us is my real owner. Amias must just be the unlucky delivery guy. I refuse to submit to these people, whoever they are.
I don’t even know where I am. I’m pretty sure Amias is human, and I have no clue why he’d specifically want human girls from an entirely different realm. For all I know, I’m being led into some kind of prehistoric, sacrificial ceremony. I have to force myself not to think about it, not really. Otherwise, I’ll probably break down completely.
Footsteps echo through the room and into the hallway where I’m standing. The person stops just outside the door where I can just barely see their shadow. Amias bows his head and says something in his complicated language, tugs halfheartedly on the lead and points at me, demonstrating that I’m the one who’s being difficult.
A tall, broad man steps into the hallway and glares down at me. I blink in shock for a quick second before I remember to school my features into an angry, annoyed expression. This man has a beard like the monk-guys too, but his is much shorter and better groomed. He’s also younger-looking, though probably in his late-forties or early-fifties. He’s wearing an elaborate military uniform with dozens of medals, and there’s an actual sword attached to his belt. He’s beyond intimidating, and my throat goes totally dry the longer I stare at him.
His icy blue eyes travel from the lead in Amias’ hand to the restraints on my wrists and ankles, to my bare feet and the torn, ragged gown clinging to my frame. When he finally meets my eyes, I refuse to blink or show that I’m scared at all.
A grin breaks out across his face and he barks out a laugh. He slaps Amias on the shoulder good-naturedly and takes the lead from him, and then he turns and walks into the room while dragging me behind him. I fight a little at first, but he’s much more aggressive than Amias was.
Once inside, it takes me several seconds to realize I’m in some sort of throne room. The space is huge with marble floors, high ceilings and ornate chandeliers hanging down. Beautiful lamps line the walls and give off plenty of light—there are windows high up on the wall, but it appears to be dark outside. Across the room, there’s a dais with four large thrones. Only one is occupied by an older woman who’s glaring down at everyone with pursed lips.
In front of the dais, Sadie stands with four other human girls. They’re all crying and looking around in confusion, and a few men in those monk-robes are trying to settle them down. There’s also another guy wearing a military uniform. He doesn’t have nearly as many medals as the guy dragging me does. Even though he has a beard like all the other males present, he can’t be more than twenty years old. He’s standing slightly apart from everyone else with a distraught expression on his face.
I’m pulled over