Page 49 of Demure
Nothing changed, and the men didn’t release their tight grips on her biceps.
“I’ll walk with you if you just let me go,” she tried a second time.
Again, nothing. Sierra wondered what they thought she was going to do. Even if she did run, she had no idea how to get back to her world, or what she would even do when she got back since Aodhan had said the entrance to Sidhe was quite remote and far from any human villages.
Aodhan would come for her, she was sure of it. And this whole strange situation would be cleared up. It had to be some terrible mistake. It had to be.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sierra wasn’t sure how much time had passed in her cell, but it was enough that she was forced to use the bucket in the corner. The two guards had brought her some sort of pastry with vegetables in it at some point. It was good, but not enough to calm the growling in her stomach.
There were no windows in her cell, and she truly had no idea what day it was, or whether it was day or night even, when the guards came a second time to collect her.
Clearly, they didn’t speak English, as she was roughly dragged through the castle a third time, though this time she recognized the route, and was relieved when they stopped outside Slaine’s door.
As soon as she was seated on the stool and the door was closed behind the two guards, Sierra turned to Slaine, questions burning in her irises, but she had no idea what to say, or how to ask.
Slaine noticed her dilemma. “I told them I would need to treat your ‘rash’ every day for the next few days.”
“So, it was yesterday when I was last in here?”
Slaine nodded a second time. “I’m afraid so.”
Sierra looked around the room, taking in the many plants she didn’t recognize. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask yesterday, but are you ahealer?” She vaguely remembered Aodhan speaking about the healers in Sidhe and Slaine talking about magic being able to heal the day before.
“I am, the only healer on staff in this household, in fact.” She replied, her hands busy cutting more fruit, which she was arranging on a plate just like she had the day before. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything more to feed you. They would be suspicious if I asked for extra meals.” She held the plate out to Sierra, who immediately grabbed several of the slices and began putting them in her mouth.
“It’s okay,” she said around the food crammed in her cheeks. She knew she needed to slow down, or she would choke, but she had never felt this sort of desperate hunger before. She hadn’t eaten dinner on Friday, and it was now Sunday, and all she had eaten the day before was that pastry they brought. She was ravenous. “This fruit is delicious.”
Silence settled over the two women as Sierra ate as quickly as possible without choking. When the plate was clean, she looked up to find Slaine observing her curiously.
Breaking the silence, which had suddenly grown awkward, Sierra asked, “So, where did you learn English?”
Slaine smiled. “Most Sidhe learn it these days, as long as they have an education.” She stood to stir a large pot that was hanging over the fire. “It used to not matter if they did or did not speak English when your world spoke the same as us here, but now, without English, they can’t leave. Otherwise, humans would become suspicious. It was made a decree that all Fae schools and tutors teach their students English about 100 years ago.”
Sierra tried to imagine what it would be like to meet someone who spoke only Old Gaelic in Ireland, but then she realized that people who moved abroad probably felt the same way when they went to a country that spoke a language other than theirs.
“That makes sense,” Sierra agreed, before changing the subject. “Have you heard of Aodhan arriving?”
Slaine shook her head sadly, sinking into the stool opposite the one Sierra was sitting in. “I’m afraid it won’t be that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Aodhan’s job, per se, is to help his father break the curse. The fact that he didn’t accompany you back tells me Aodhan and Conlan had a disagreement about something…and that something was probably you.”
“Wait…what?” Sierra felt the last glimmer of hope for her rescue drain from her chest.
Slaine set her hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “Aodhan was supposed to bring back anything that could help his father. Whether that was a person, book, or other material. The fact that you came back without him tells me he is likely in trouble with his father.”
“So…he won’t come?”
“I didn’t say that.” Slaine grasped one of Sierra’s hands, not seeming to notice, or mind, that they were a bit sticky from eating the fruit. “He may have already come back, but Conlan may have punished Aodhan for not bringing you himself, especially if he believes you are the key to whatever fake curse he’s dreamed up this time.”
Sierra hung her head, feeling the tears build in her eyes. “I…I…”
“I know. But don’t panic. I’m working on a plan to get—” Before Slaine could finish her sentence, the door was pushed open, and the guards came in, collecting Sierra as before.
Sierra kept her eyes on Slaine as she was dragged out the door, wishing they had more time, but she knew better than to say anything because, based on what Slaine had said, it was very likely her guards were just pretending not to speak English.
