Worth More Than a Sapphire

Chapter 8: Think of it as an Unplanned Vacation

 Head. Ow.

Your ears were sore, like you'd slept on them wrong. You hadn't been knocked out, you thought, unless the bag had been lined with chloroform or something. Looking around, you could see a high ceiling and walls made of... Tin? Tin. A movie kidnapping destination for sure. The air was cold and dry, but the building was well-lit. You shivered, starting to raise your hands to cover your upper arms, only to realize they were tied down. In fact, your whole body was fastened to this chair, down to your ankles being cinched together.

You knew what this was about, and that almost scared you more than not knowing. If you were innocent in this situation, you might have had a chance of escaping safely, but you were guilty here. And they knew that. Otherwise, they wouldn't have brought you here.

Lupin said that "that baron guy" was thorough. He'd probably had tabs on Lupin the moment he stepped into your apartment, and Lupin probably knew.

What a dick.

"Hello."

All of your muscles tensed, and you turned with wide eyes to the entrance. You had options here. You decided feigning innocence, but not weakness, would be safest.

"Hello," you replied.

"I'd get on with it normally, but you're not quite a familiar face. Do you have a name?"

You remembered stories you'd heard of evil dragons using names to gain power. "Do you?"

The man smiled. "I think you have an idea."

You gave him a quick once over. He was tall, certainly taller than Lupin, but lean and thin. His face was sharp, but short, and he showed too many teeth when he smiled. His hair was slicked back with something greasy enough to cook bacon with. He looked less like a baron and more like a Western mob boss.

You swallowed quietly. "So... do you have to rent out spaces like this? Is there a waiting list to use the local kidnapping destination?"

His smile didn't falter. "Kidnapping?"

"I am tied up," you insisted.

"It's just insurance."

"Insurance?"

"I simply want to ask some questions. The rope ensures you won't leave before I'm done."

You absolutely hated the sound of that. "Like what?"

The Baron's eyes darkened. "What's your favorite gemstone?"

You were screwed. Undeniably screwed. "Normally you take someone on a date before buying them jewelry," you joked.

"Do you care for rubies?" He started to pace around your chair. Was there a class for supervillain monologues? "Topaz is coming back in style. Or do you go for diamonds, the cream of the crop?"

He stopped, right behind you. You felt sweat bead on your neck.

"What do you think of sapphires?"

"I don't see how this includes me."

He grabbed your chair, turning it around with an unpleasantly loud squeak on the floor. "Interesting."

He lifted something from behind you, then reached around you to hold it in front of you. You kept your head up, not wanting to look at it again.

"Familiar?"

You shook your head.

"You're not looking at it. How would you know?" His tone threatened you enough that you looked down. Surprise, it was your new favorite buddy; the stupid sapphire.