Page 57 of Dark Elf's Good Girl
“You and Father will be proud to know I closed that deal all by myself,” he beams with cocky pride.
“Well done my son,” chimes Talara. “I had no doubt you would do it.”
The news surprises me, knowing that Aiken is the one who normally carries the inner workings of the business.
“When will Aiken return?” asks Calix.
I stop cleaning for a moment, also keen to know the answer.
“I’m not sure. Town is quite far from here, safe to say he’ll be another while.”
I spot Calix eyeing me up with a sinister smile in the glass reflection. I do my best to ignore it but the way he looks at me fills me with fear. Just then, a zagfer knocks and enters the room.
“Your carriage is ready Lady Detlar.”
“Excellent,” quips Talara, rising to her feet. “Calix, your father and I will be gone for a few hours. Keep an eye on Isla here.”
“Most certainly,” he smiles. “And what about the last carriage servant? Has that been repaired?”
“Just a few minutes ago.”
“Very well,” he nods, smiling at me.
Shit… I can’t afford to be alone with only Calix in the manor. I need to finish up here and go back to my room, or go be with Lorien. I only hope Aiken gets back soon.
I hurriedly leave the lounge, working with shaking hands as the worry grows in me. Soon, I finish my afternoon chores and eagerly make my way up to my bedroom for a break.
I’ll say I’m sick and need the rest of the day off. That should keep him off of my-
I open the door to the horrifying sight of Calix standing in my room, clearly having waited for me. He smiles and waves, then snaps his thumb. My world instantly turns to black.
* * *
I wake up, my body bouncing up and down as if on a bumpy road. My vision is obscured, blocked by some black bag over my head. Groaning, I try to speak but find my throat is too dry.
“Wakey, wakey sunshine!” laughs the evil voice of Calix.
The bag is whisked off of my feet, the sudden beam of light from the sun blinding me for a few moments. Gasping, I cover my eyes, my vision slowly but surely returning to me.
The first thing I see is the ground passing below us at a rapid pace. I realize that I’m on a moving carriage, led by a pair of burly equus. I turn to face Calix but am immediately caught off guard by a burst of water thrown my way.
“Drink up before you lose your voice!” he chuckles. “I bet it was hot under that bag, eh?”
Reluctantly, I take a sip from a bottle he offers to me. I look around, finding us on a country road surrounded by hills and trees. Up ahead, the path leads into a forest.
“Where the fuck am I?” I ask.
“Where do you think?” he quips. “Did you think all that talk about the cabin was a lie? We’re on our way there for a nice little vacation.”
Panic suddenly fuels me, rising in my body like a volcano about to erupt. I turn to hop off the carriage but before I move any further, a cold sensation of a dagger’s edge rests across my throat.
“Stay right where you are, Isla!” he yells, pressing the dagger harder against my skin. “I’m not afraid to use this. All those girls who thought I was… Ha! They never lived to tell the tale!”
“You’re a monster!” I shout, my body frozen with fear.
“Come on now, that’s not very nice. I’ve been so patient, my reward is owed.”
“Aiken,” I groan. “Where are you?”