Imprisoned

Chapter 1

Alexandra tried to remember what was proper at her house and what was not.

Her family had not met since Thanksgiving dinner, not that she regretted it. Every time she was supposed to have dinner with her people, it was a short hello and goodbye and an I'm sorry I can't stay, Mom and Dad, work won't finish itself.

Well, this time her parents and her sister had really outdone themselves. Her sister made sure that all her secretaries cancelled all work for the next week or so and put her work on hold, thus ensuring that Alexandra had to go to her parents' house for Thanksgiving and spend time with her family.

As soon as Alexandra got outside of Ory, she took as much time as possible to get to her destination. But her sister, the stupid thing, magicked her there.

Once inside, Alex tried to help her sister cook but she insisted on letting the kitchen do it. Melanie said she wanted to catch up.

"So, dear sister, tell me. How have you been?" asked Melanie, plopping down on the couch.

"Oh, just fine." Alex sat heavily next to her and pulled the throw onto her lap. "Where's Mom? And Dad, for that matter?"

Melanie waved a hand, as though swatting a fly. "Oh, they'll be back. Just out to get some groceries, I think."

"Didn't you see them when you got here?" Alex raised her eyebrows.

Servant came by and offered them a glass of juice.

"Thanks, Servant." Alex said.

Servant made to move away but she caught his hand.

"Oh, before you go, do you know where Mom and Dad are?"

Servant wrenched his hand out of hers and looked down from her eyes, reluctantly. "Out, Miss. They'll be back soon."

"Seriously, Sam?"

"I should get going, Miss."

He walked out of the room looking down to the floor and shut the door behind him.

"What?" Alex asked.

Melanie had been watching their exchange with almost too much interest. She gestured to the two of them.

"You have got to let it go, Melanie. It's the past."

The house's door opened and closed.

Alex sprang up from the couch and nearly ran out the door.

"Alex, honey. Why don't you stay?" Her mother's voice came in through the hall. She was back.

Crap.

"I'm leaving, Melanie. Tell them." Alex was urgent. She moved to one of the windows that lined the wall.

"No, no. We can't have that." Melanie pulled Alex through the hall and toward the kitchen. "Mother, is dinner ready?"

"Almost, Mel. Go get your father." Her mother was putting the finishing touches to the food and putting the kitchen to sleep. "Oh, Alex. Be a dear and finish setting the table, would you?"

"Actually, I was wondering where Sa-"

"Servant," her mother said harshly. "You are not a kid, Alexandra. And no, you may not see him."

"Mom, please." Alex realized her mistake as soon as she said it.

"No. Finish the table and go to your room." There was magic in her voice, Alex knew. A lot less than when she was little, but it was there.

Stay calm, stay calm. "Yes, Mom. But think about this. I get this house and our servants soon. Does that not give me the right to talk to any one of ours how I want?"

"No, it doesn't." The amount of magic was almost overwhelming. "Go to your room."

She almost gave in. "No."

"Excuse me?"

Alexandra felt the magic, asked it to do what she wanted. "No, Mother. No, I will not go to my room. No, I will not call Sam Servant. And no, I will not stay for dinner." Alex made to move out.

"Oh, yes you will." Her mother forced her to move toward the table and sit. She buckled her daughter in. "You will also enjoy this."

Melanie brought in the lasagna, her father the mashed potatoes. The plates were already floating and the servants waited right outside to obey their command.

"Oh, honey, let her go," Alex's father said, undoing those bonds that held her to the chair.

"Let it be," her mom replied, voice like steel. "Lets eat."

With that, the feast began - thoroughly tasteless and thoroughly meaningless.

---

Alex was still at the dinner table where she was the night before, suffering from a crick in the neck. Sleeping with hands and feet tied to a chair is never the best position, it was said, and she now understood why.

Bright sunlight filtered through the curtains while servants rushed in and out of the house, some fetching water, some taking out the brushes to clean the animals, some just wanting to be indoors for a little bit, even if they knew the punishment that would soon follow if Mam found out.  

A long time ago, Alex had helped these servants. Alex was a kid then, and the rules had not been so strict. That was ages ago; no point thinking of it now. No point, because Sam was approaching fast with a knife in hand.

She slammed him into the wall, breathing hard from the effort.

Her mom would not be proud.

"Miss," Sam choked out. At least she could do that well. "I's trying to get you out. Mam is waking."

"Forgive me, Sam." She breathed a sigh of relief and with that Sam crumpled to the floor. He was on his feet quick, though.

Sam ran fast and began uniting Alex from the chair right before the morning bell chimed seven.

Alex swore and began sending magic to Sam's knife.

The rope cut just as Mam entered the room completely dressed and holding a whip.

Sam gulped and stood. Alex followed suit.

"It's my fault," Alex blurted. She immediately pressed her fingers to her mouth. "Sam was just cleaning and I made him cut my ropes." These words escaped unwanted.

"You lie." Mam's voice was smooth, almost like honey.

"No, I don't."

"She doesn't," a voice from the doorway said.

Melanie entered the room.

"And you still need your sleep, Mother," Melanie said soothingly.

"Oh, yes. Pierre is still asleep. I'll go to him." Mam turned to Alex and Sam, who stood frozen in shock. "I'll deal with the two of you later."

She exited.

"What was that, Mel?"

"Mom's doubting herself right now. So much, in fact, that magic is leaving her. I just sent it back to her. She remembers what is important now, I think. Hope. Oh, and Alex? I really suggest you run. I'll cover up for you."

"What about Sam?" Alex asked.

"What about him?"

"Will he get beat up?"

"No. I'll send him after you soon enough," Melanie's tone was slightly suspicious, like it used to be when she lied about things.

Maybe that was just the crick in the neck talking. Cricks and cramps are funny things.

Whatever the case, there was no time to ponder. Alex nodded, and with a last look at Sam, jumped out the window.