Gianna tried to open her eyes but failed before realizing they were open. The darkness felt heavy and oppressive, almost supernatural. She found herself swallowed up in the nothingness, not able to see her own hands in front of her face.
She couldn't hear anything but only a soft whistle of wind coming from a tiny crack in one of the window panes. All the window panes had been painted black.
This would be the perfect opportunity to escape. There was pin drop silence! She couldn't hear any movements or sounds. She tiptoed in the dark and could feel the cell's door. She extended her hand in the dark to open it but to her disappointment it was locked.
"Did you really think we wouldn't lock it?" Gael's voice came from the darkness. Gianna found herself retreating to the back of the cell.
When he put on the candles, Gianna could now see his face clearly. From the smirk on his face she could tell that he had been watching her , as she came back to her consciousness and even as she foolishly tried to unlock the door.
The door made of strong metallic bars allowed her to see clearly the book he was holding in his hands. "The Witching hour; spells and stones". Wait was he a witch? That would explain why he was able to materialize seemingly out of nowhere. But what about his supernatural strength? Did witches have that too? Maybe they did. But from the stories she had heard they didn't have such magic.
With a snap of his finger the candles went off. Gianna could feel goosebumps developing on her skin. She hated darkness!
"Just undo whatever you just did to the candles." She ordered.
"Or what? I am eager to know what you will do to me. From what I have seen, you're but a weak ... thing." From the way he emphasized that last word Gianna knew he was definitely mocking her and it made blood boil in her veins. But anger would fo little to help her get out of the castle where she was having the worst nightmares in her life.
"Please light the candles. Whatever you want from me, I will give if you give me a logical explanation." She started in an attempt learn more about this wretched place and its people.
"Is that so, you're going just to offer yourself to us like that?"
"I think you've misunderstood me. I am not offering myself to you and neither will I do whatever you want me to do without a solid reason for me to do it.",
"Interesting." He snapped his fingers and the candles were suddenly lit again.
It was as if they hadn't been blown out.
Gianna wondered how he could read in the darkness. Maybe it had something to do with his unique abilities. His dangerous aura made her believe she wasn't a...well, a normal person.
Gianna sat on the stool in her cell.
"Are you a... witch?" She started carefully. She didn't find any other reason for him to be reading a spell book unless he was a witch.
He chuckled.
Had she said anything funny? Suddenly he wore a serious expression, one that made Gianna squirm in her shoes.
"Are you seriously asking me that?"
"Yes, I..I just did." Gianna was confused. How was she supposed to know what he was if not by asking?
Standing up, Gael threw the book into the cell.
"You might need this to speed up your work given your inexperience." And with that he was out of sight.
How would the witches' book help her?
Good Lord! Did they want her to be a witch?
No, witches were evil and that's why the humans in her kingdom had eradicated their race. She threw the book out of her small cell.
"I don't what to practise magic."She yelled but she knew he probably didn't hear her because he was long gone.
She didn't understand why Queen Mazarine and her assistant were holding her captive. If they wanted her to heal Fiona they could have just taken her to the princess's room instead of tricking her and capturing her. Or maybe Queen Mazarine didn't want to pay her after she attended to Princess Fiona. Think straight Gianna. She urged her tired brain. Queen Mazarine was a very wealthy woman. She could afford paying all the healers in her kingdom to work together to cure her daughter if she so wished. But it seemed like she didn't want the public to know that the princess was sick.
And now Gael had left. She had hoped to trick him at least to get a chance to save herself. For the first time she thought about her husband Kyler. Sometimes she nearly forgot she was a married woman.Had he returned maybe?
No he couldn't have returned. If he had he would have looked for her. But she didn't trust Queen Mazarine. She could easily lie to everyone without being questioned because she was in authority.
And that's exactly what she had done. Queen Mazarine had ordered for an alteration of the gatekeeper's records to read that Miss Gianna had left the castle in the evening after visiting. That way her hands would be clean - at least to the outside world.
Suddenly her stomach grumbled. She was hungry and exhausted. When was the last time she had a good night's sleep or enjoyed some hot food?
The door to the cell creaked open and she saw an unexpected face. One she didn't think was part of this.
"Prince Ian?"
Gianna stood up immediately. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"You... you're part of this too?" But what had she expected anyway?
"I don't understand what you are implying." He wasn't even bothered by the fact that she had addressed him incorrectly.
"Stop pretending you don't understand what am saying." She crossed her arms across her chest.
"Why would I pretend?" He raised a brow and once again she took notice of his brown eyes. He seemed honest.
But looks could be deceiving.
"I am only here to take you out to have your lunch.'' He explained as he unlocked the door.
Out? She didn't trust him but she wasn't planning on objecting his offer either. Whatever he was planning she knew she had to kept alive and kicking to do whatever they wanted her to do.
Oh yes she could really use some food now.
Ian offered her his hand.
"I can walk."
Prince Ian retracted his hand and led the way. Gianna had a hard time keeping up with him.
"Don't attempt anything stupid once we are out." He warned.
Gianna didn't reply. She knew that escaping was almost pointless. They didn't leave her unguarded at any moment.
At the end of the dirty hallway was a small door. Prince Ian opened it and motioned for her to get out first.
As Gianna stepped out the first thing she noticed was the sun. It was such a beautiful morning. She had missed this.
The dungeon she had been locked up in seemed to be located underground. Ian led her to a quiet room where food had already been served.
Prince Ian pulled out a chair. Gianna was surprised. He was being very courteous - actually to himself as she watched him sit on the chair he had just pulled out.
Gianna sat opposite him annoyed. He seemed to be deep in thought and didn't seem interested at all in the scrumptious food before him.
"You can serve yourself." He told her after noticing she seemed reluctant.
Gianna was determined to observe all propriety and etiquette.
After filling her plate she cut her food into small pieces. She tried to eat slowly savouring the taste of the food but her hunger seemed to be in control. Within no time she had cleared her plate. She looked up and her eyes locked with his. He was keen to watch her next step.
But she hadn't been eating well lately. Whatever he would think about her didn't matter to her- at least not now.
She placed some food in her plate and this time she ate naturally, she was in no hurry after all.
"I see you're enjoying your food." Ian started.
"Why shouldn't I?" Gianna raised a brow as she took a bite of the grilled beef.
"Don't you think maybe we would poison your food?"
Gianna chuckled.
Prince Ian was surprised. This girl was really something. She should be afraid for her life yet she found his question funny.
"And why would any of you poison me? You went to great lengths to get your hands on me so I am certain that I must be kept alive for whatever you have in store for me."
That was true. If she died, she couldn't do what his mother wanted her to do. She was smart, so far. He gave her that.
Gianna observed the man. He was clean and well groomed. Even his hair was nicely combed yet he was a man.
And she...she looked like she hadn't had a bath for weeks. Her skin was covered in grime and her finger combed hair wasn't clean either.
"Is something wrong?" Ian asked noticing the disgusted look as she looked at him.
Everything was wrong. Couldn't he see that. She pointed at her green dress that was now tattered and covered in dirt.
"Oy yeah, you might need to take a long bath." He wrinkled his nose.