Bound Spirits

Chapter Sixteen

After spending five days without having to worry about Kayenä, Danica felt relaxed and almost happy. Especially since the man had promised to free her soon. She had two more days until Kayenä would return and the visitor had said he would take her the day before he came back. She only had to stay in that small room one more night and then she would be free.

Night was falling when the door to her room opened. It was earlier than usual for the mysterious man to arrive, but Danica hoped it was good news. But it wasn't him who walked into the room. Instead, it was Tòklis. Although she had spent a little time with him and knew he wasn't as terrible as she first thought, she still didn't really want him there.

"I'm sorry," he said. "His Highness has returned early and is demanding your presence."

"No!" Danica shouted, moving as far away from him as possible. "I'm not going back to him!"

"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice," Tòklis said as he approached her.

"What about the other man? Go get him and he'll get me out!"

"There's no time for that," he said as he grabbed her by the arm and started to pull her out of the room. Knowing how close she was to freedom, Danica struggled against him, trying everything she could to not be taken. She got a grip on the door frame, but Tòklis pried her fingers off. She then dropped to the ground, and when Tòklis tried picking her up, she hit him in the nose.

For a brief moment, he was stunned and Danica took the opportunity to run the opposite way down the hall. She didn't know where she was going, but anywhere was better than with the prince. She didn't get far, as Tòklis tackled her. He picked her up off the floor and carried her away, ignoring her as she screamed and kicked at him, doing everything she could to get away from him.

"Took you long enough," a familiar voice growled and although Danica couldn't see him with the way Tòklis was holding her, she knew Kayenä was there. "What happened to your face?"

"She's quarrelsome today," he said. 

"Good. We'll see how long that lasts. Just leave her on the floor and I'll deal with her."

Tòklis dropped her on the floor as instructed, a little more roughly than she expected, and she guessed he was angry that she had hit him. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, hoping he would change his mind and take her away.

"Please help," she whispered to him, but he looked away, his face showing no emotion.

"Is there anything else you require of me, Your Highness?" Tòklis asked.

"No," Kayenä said as he approached Danica. She pushed herself away from him, moving towards Tòklis even though she knew he wouldn't help her. He started to walk away, and Danica wondered if she had any chance of getting away. But if she couldn't escape from Tòklis, she knew she couldn't get away with both him and Kayenä present.

"Éliás," the prince said as the other man was almost to the door. Tòklis stopped and looked back at the prince. "You could stay and watch if you'd like. Maybe have a little fun with her yourself. Since she did make you bleed, it's only fair."