Threatened [W&W Book 2]

Chapter 32

The hours dragged by and the only happening that marked the passage of time was the sun's light moving across the room through the tiny window. Once in a while the guard—probably Marvin—would walk around the corner. Anya wondered why he bothered. She had no way of escaping. If she had access to her magic she might have a chance, but not as she now was.

The magic inhibitor was a terrible thing. It made her feel disconnected from herself. She still could feel her magic inside of her, but it was almost as if it was lying just out of reach. It was a frustrating feeling. She wondered with a sick feeling if that was what if felt like for Lord Wildwood when she was stripping his magic.

With the inhibitor, even her body felt as if it was not quite right. While she could move her arms and legs, everything felt wooden and odd. Unfortunately, Anya's mind remained active and sharp apparently unaffected by the inhibition. Anya spent a long time agonizing over everything that had happened and everything that might happen in the future.

Anya spent a lot of time lying on the cot, or pacing around the room, forcing her oddly disconnected limbs to move. She still wore the clothes from what might have been that morning and they were not overly filthy yet.

The monotony of the day was broken only once by the unbelievable discovery that her remaining potions were still tied to her arm. They were not easily visible, but it was shocking that her captors had overlooked such an important detail.

Anya's mind immediately began to race. The unused ignition potion would not be of much help to her here because it would have little to no effect on the cold stone and hard iron bars, nor would the untested potion of flying. However, if she was allowed access to an area with larger open windows, even high up, she might find an opportunity to escape.

It was a small hope, but Anya grasped on to it desperately. Surely now that Anya had been discovered, if she somehow escaped, Thorne would let her and the twins depart. She could not be useful to him any longer.

Or she could pretend to agree to do another task for Thorne if she had to and then somehow find her way to the twins. She really had tried to complete what he had desired of her. It was not her fault that she failed.

A familiar woman's voice from just out of sight broke into Anya's thoughts. "I don't want to talk to her." It was Ildri.

"You don't have to talk to her and I'm not getting up just to take it in to her.  You do it," responded the heavy male voice.

"If I go in there, she might hurt me. She's a witch." Anya felt a sharp twinge at the words.

"Don't be ridiculous. She can't use her magic right now."

"Fine." Ildri sounded sulky. Anya watched as she came around the corner.

Ildri wore an unpleasant scowl on her face. Anya supposed that it was a natural expression for dealing with a traitor like herself.

"Here's your lunch," Ildri said.

"Thank you," Anya said in the most gracious voice she could imagine.

"I can't believe that you did that." Ildri glared at Anya.

"I'm sorry."

Ildri shoved the tray under the bars. "Everything was a plot, wasn't it? Everything you did was to get closer to Lord Wildwood. It was all an act."

"I'm sorry." Anya did not know what else she could say. Nothing would make her actions better. It had not all been plotting and scheming, but Ildri would never believe her. None of them would.

Ildri turned and walked away, her footsteps clipped and angry. Anya felt empty. It was not as if she had not known what it would be like if she were caught, but knowing did not make the reality any easier.