These Streaks of Blood

37

Maybe it's best that I stay in chains.

It's the only thought that continuously runs through Olivia's mind. Everything happens for a reason, right? So there must be a reason that she became a horrible, beautiful monster. There must be a reason she was locked in a dungeon. There must have been a reason that she was ordered to kill someone that's even younger than her. There must have been a reason that she was chained up again.

But no matter how many times she repeats these things to herself, they don't get any easier to accept.

She has been pulling at her restraints for hours; besides tugging and chafing her wrists, she tried slamming them against the wall in the hopes that they would break with enough force. She has even tried teleporting, though she had already known it would be impossible.  

Now she's stuck again, just hanging here, wondering how long they will let her live. They have no need of her. Amelie and Cecille already think she's stupid, useless. Cecille has wanted to kill her probably since she was first thrown into Ryffin's prison. Now she is just dead weight, holding no appeal to any of them now that Danny has forgotten about her. They'll kill her soon, she has no doubt. They didn't even bother leaving a guard for her; not even one of Amelie's little apparitions. It's like they all think so little of her - of her intelligence, her abilities - that they did not find even that tiny precaution necessary. Though of course she is glad for the lack of a guard, the scorn still stings.

Just then, the impossible happens.

She hears movement above her. She knows she's in a cellar, but she doesn't know where. Amelie had blindfolded her - probably Danny, too - as she teleported them here and dragged them down the steps. Her sight was only recovered after she was chained against the wall.

Well, she decides, shrugging internally, I guess yelling couldn't hurt, at this point.

So she does. And the movements pause. A moment later, the cellar doors are heaved open from the outside, and down walks someone Olivia was hoping she wouldn't see again for a long, long time. The only thing that runs through her mind is No. Why? How? How? How?

"Olivia," Lady Nelye says through gritted teeth. "What in the hell are you doing in my cellar?"

Olivia just continues to gape. "I don't-- I didn't--"

Nelye glares, crossing her arms angrily. "Who brought you here? Tied you up like that?" she demands. Olivia thinks the Lady should be more surprised, but she just seems aggravated. Upon closer inspection, she actually looks awful, something Olivia has never known Nelye to look.

Olivia swallows. "Amelie. Then Cecille showed up--"

Nelye's eyes flash. "Don't speak to me about that woman. And Amelie... she brought you here? To my house?"

Olivia doesn't respond, as this question has already seemed to answer itself. Nelye runs a hand down her face in exhaustion, and Olivia can't help but think how lucky she is to catch the Lady in this strange, uncommon mood. She has no doubt that Nelye would be deadly if she was her normal self; if Olivia was caught in her basement after she was outspoken in her criticism of the Lady in front of Galador... after Nelye had sent Olivia to kill Natalee for her and she had not succeeded.

"This must have been the first place she thought of; the last place she had been, besides Ryffin's," the Lady mutters, and Olivia can tell that she's talking to herself. Then she turns and addresses Olivia directly. "I assume she caught you while at Ryffin's?"

Olivia just nods silently. Nelye fidgets with the belt fastened around her trench coat.

"Okay then. That must be the explanation," she states, and, just like that, she turns on her heel and gets ready to leave.