My sleep could only be described as fitful, but desperate. My body needed the rest as much as my mind wanted answers and an escape route. Though the bed was softer than I could have ever dreamed and the bedding smelled like lavender, my eyes would burst open every few hours. I would fight and tell myself that, though rest was important, I had slept and now I needed to use my time wisely. Striking at night could catch them off guard. But my internal urgency would never matter. I would be sucked back into dreamland in a matter of moments.

When bright sunlight was streaming through my curtains, I knew my chance at a late-night disappearing act was long gone. My body ached and whined when I pulled myself out of bed, punishing me for what I had put it through. I wished I could tell my joints that none of this had been my choice. I winced as I moved, not even able to enjoy the soft rug beneath my feet. Even my toes ached.

It took me a few seconds to refamiliarize myself with my surroundings. My body automatically pivoted to where my cramped wardrobe should have been, but was greeted with the sight of massive windows instead. I moved towards the fireplace, ready to put my ruined dress back on. Sure, it was disgusting and I had barely been able to get it remotely clean, but it was still sturdier and more useful than this flimsy nightgown.

My gown was gone. When I paired that with the fact that there was a silver tray overflowing with food, I knew my maid had been here. The grumbling of my stomach was defeated with the sickened feeling I had, thinking that I had come to this new place under vampire rule and had allowed myself to sleep so soundly I hadn't noticed another soul entering the room. What if it had been the king or one of his goons that had entered and I had just laid there in my dainty nightgown, everything exposed?

I sniffed the tray of food, trusting my nose to weed out anything suspicious because I had no other tools. Everything smelled as it should, eggs and meat, bread and cheese. I began with gentle nibbles that turned into massive mouthfuls. The herbs, the dry crunch of the bread, the softness of the cheese. It was all incredible. I devoured it, wondering if I could ever have enough of the food. I felt like I would eat until I busted at the seams.

A knock on the door startled me so bad I nearly dumped the remains of my tray on the floor. I scrambled to set it aside and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand before a beautiful black woman entered the room. Followed by the towering and significantly less smiley guard from the hallway last night.

"Hello," the woman sang, her voice so beautiful and soft, the kind of voice that could sing you to sleep on a restless night.

"Um." I awkwardly reached around myself, trying to cover the bare skin that my nightgown exposed.

"Oh, please, don't be modest. King Xion has asked me to be your seamstress so you and I are going to get quite comfortable with each other," she giggled. With absurdly graceful steps, she swept forward, moving me to stand before her. "Such a rare beauty, I've never been able to work with someone with your colouring. Your hair is marvelous."

"And you?" I prompted, peering at the mean looking guard from last night. Her hazel eyes were just as sharp as they had been hours ago. "Are you also here to be my seamstress?" The blades strapped to her didn't seem to be of the sewing variety.

She snorted. "The king has told me all about your affinity for knives. I was not going to let Daisy in here with you, knowing that you might attack her."

Considering the fact that I couldn't even bring down a knife on the man who had ordered my kidnapping, I sincerely doubted that I would be able to do any harm to this woman. Her very presence felt like a ray of sunshine, but I couldn't fault the guard for assuming.

"You worry too much, Seraphina," Daisy tisked before turning her attention to me. "Now, let's get you measured so that I can get to work making some clothes that are going to make you feel incredible."

Seraphine kept her eyes on me the entire time I was being measured. I did my best to stay still and keep my mouth shut, but did yelp and jerk away once when Daisy pricked me with a pin. She just smiled apologetically and continued her work, nodding to herself, writing numbers down as she went. When she finished, she opened her little bag and retrieved two gowns.

"This one is a little plainer, but it matched the size of that white dress you came here in," Daisy explained.

The lavender gown was anything but plain to me with a structured waistline and intricate gold details sewn into the swooping neckline. If I were able to get this dress back to my village, it would be talked about for centuries. The next one she pulled out was a stunning navy-blue piece with short sleeves.

"Now this one doesn't look like much yet, but I can see it now." Daisy leapt forward, placing it against my shoulders. "Imagine a dark cape that is jewel encrusted floating behind you as you storm through the halls--"

"No storming the halls," Seraphina interjected.

"Fine, the cape would be floating behind you when you walk through the halls at a beautiful and graceful pace," Daisy corrected. "It would look like you were the ruler of the night sky. Now, which one would you like to wear today?"

"The purple one will be more than enough." It seemed like it would allow for more mobility and the blue one was strapless, meaning it wouldn't be the best option should an escape route present itself. I wasn't exactly hopeful, but it was always better to be prepared.

Daisy looked a little disappointed, but did offer to help me into the gown nonetheless. Obviously, I declined, especially when I caught Seraphine staring a hole through me. The two of them departed, but I could scarcely wrangle my body into the dress and suck in a proper breath before my maid arrived, immediately assisting me with my hair.

By the time the third round of knocks sounded on my door I decided that I was a fool to believe that I would be given even a moment's peace today.

Xion strode into my room as if he owned it, which he certainly did. A simple shirt was tucked into his tailored pants, the black sleeves rolled up past his elbows and the top two buttons undo. I snapped my eyes away from the exposed flesh at the base of his throat, only to meet dark brown eyes that made my cheeks flush red.

"Good morning, Lark," he greeted.

I hated him. I hated that I had to remind myself that I hated him, especially when I watched the way he brushed a hand through his unruly dark hair, grinning as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

"Is it a good morning?" I replied hotly, lifting my chin.

"Well, I cannot speak for you, but it is a fabulous morning for me."

"And why is that?"

"Because I get to have the opportunity to see you not only got a good enough sleep to get your spirit back, but I also get to see you in a beautiful dress."

As I rolled my eyes, I told myself over and over again that he was a vampire, that he was not to be trusted, and he was the reason that I had not slept in my own bed last night.

"And, I think it's going to be an even better day because we are going to spend it together."

"Are we?"

"You do not have to do anything," Xion stated firmly. "You are welcome to sit in your room and enjoy your own company. I just thought you might enjoy an outing. Nothing taxing, obviously. Just a walk around the grounds. I can show you the hot spring, some more of the palace, maybe we could go into town and get some fresh flowers, or go to the stables--"

"Stables?" I repeated, then immediately kicked myself when his eyes lit up.

"Yes, we have stables on the grounds. Would you like to see them?"

I said nothing. I didn't want to seem too interested, didn't want to offer him any more cards when he already held so many. But it could be a way to see more of the grounds, to get to know the schedule of the guards. And a horse would be a great tool...

"I thought you would want some answers to questions that I'm certain you have, but--"

"Let's go for a stroll then," I blurted, picking up my skirts in a way that was distinctly peasant and pushing past him, into the hall.

I could hear the smile in his voice when he said, "As you wish."

~~~Question of the Day~~~

Do you talk to your pets?

When I had my cat, Juice, I used to talk to her all the time.