Catching Fireflies

Chapter Six

It had been four days since Emanuel had taken her away from her family, and although she was scared that she may never see them or Almoena ever again, Ariadna was glad she'd met Farah. Being on Ruman had numbed her feelings of hope, but at least she wasn't entirely alone.

    Ariadna hadn't seen Emanuel since he'd locked her in this tower, but she was grateful to have a break. Though her fear constantly lingered in the back of her mind, she was able to push it aside when Farah was allowed to visit.

    Today the girls had been locked in the tower since the early hours of the morning. As light shone through her window, Ariadna could tell it was reading noon. She and Farah ere sitting on her cot, and she was telling her new friend stories from her life on Almoena.

    "Tell me more about your brothers," Farah grinned. She could sense Ariadna's ease when speaking of her family.

    Ariadna leaned her head against the stone wall, a fond smile playing at her lips. "My oldest brother, Xavier, he's twenty-four. He's my best friend. Of all of the boys, he's the one I tell everything to. Don't get me wrong, I love all of my brothers more than I can say, but whenever I talk to Xavier, I know he won't judge me and he'll give me an honest answer."

    "Sounds like my kind of man."

    Ariadna and Farah laughed. "Then there's James. He's only twenty-one, but he's read every book in our family library. He's the most intelligent man I know. Nicolai and Elliot are the nineteen year old twins." A tear leaked down her cheek. "I miss their goofy smiles and how they would always try to make me laugh if I was upset."

    Farah wrapped a bony arm around Ariadna's shoulders and hugged her close. "They sound wonderful, and when we get out of here, I can't wait to meet them."

    Ariadna wiped her face. "I took them all for granted, and now I'm never going to see them again."

    "Hey!" Farah snapped. She grabbed Ariadna's face in her hands and forced her to look up. "Don't you dare give up. What was it you said to me when we first met? You told me that you would get us out of here, and I'm counting on that."

    Sniffing, Ariadna nodded and leaned back against the wall. "What will you do when we get out of here?"

    Farah sighed. "I don't know. I have no family, so that's out. All I've ever known is life on Ruman."

    "You will always be welcome to come live at the castle."

    "I do know," she said, "that when I get out of here the first thing I want to do is take a long bath, and then I want a man to feed me a cheeseburger."

    Ariadna laughed loudly. Her response was cut short by a loud knock. The door swung open seconds later and Emanuel strolled into the room with a large grin.

    "I'm glad to see my two favorite ladies are getting along," he commented. Emanuel kneeled in front of Ariadna and grasped her chin between his thumb and pointer finger. "Good! You look like you're feeling better." He turned to Farah. "Thank you my sweet for taking care of the princess. You may leave."

    He waved her off, but when she tried to protest a man came in and dragged her out. "Don't hurt her, you bastard!" She screamed, thrashing violently in the man's arms.

    Ariadna's heart pounded in her chest as Emanuel took Farah's seat beside her. "Now that she's gone, let's talk. Tonight I will be hosting a little soiree in honor of our engagement, and of course you are expected to attend this time."

    Eyes wide in disbelief, Ariadna couldn't help but laugh. "You're not serious, are you?"

    Emanuel instantly became cold. "Did I not make it clear to you back on Almoena the role you're supposed to play here?"