Haskel, unfortunately, didn’t mind as much as I wanted about the vomit. It grossed him out, but it didn’t have a big impact. He simply cleaned up and went about his way.

Two weeks passed in that cabin secluded deep in the woods.

I begged each night for salvation until exhaustion from worry and fright tepidly dipped me under sleep’s choppy waves. No help came. Felicity grumbled in taking care of me as Haskel coordinated safe passage north. The sweet and motherly woman I’d known the ex-maid to be died the moment the needle went in my arm.

While I wasn’t mistreated, Felicity appeased me by tossing tattered toys likely taken off previously captured children and read while I ignored them to crawl incessantly. Holding back now wouldn’t help. My chubby arms and legs could shuffle me far by the time the third week arrived.

“I managed to get in contact with Lord Creep,” Haskel announced to Felicity one day, using her mocking name for my buyer. “He’s arranged preferable treatment on the ship Messine docking at Pyrandi in a week. You’ll head out tomorrow morning with the baby by way of a friendly coach driver.”

“Were you able to get the dye for her hair?”

“I’ve had it for a week. Just didn’t want to do it too early and have the roots show,” Haskel puffed his chest out.

“Stop acting like there’s anyone here to impress,” Felicity rolled her eyes.

She took me and the box Haskel retrieved from a closet. I got stripped down and placed inside a small, wooden bucket in the bathroom. A smooth cream reminiscent of conditioner, but one that left my scalp tingling with a painless heat, prepped my dampened locks. Next came a tough, black block of goop mushed softer into a paste with a splash of water. I squirmed and fussed as the acidic charcoal scent hit my delicate nose but stayed perfectly still when the time came to rinse the dye.

“Shit. I forgot the eyebrows,” Felicity groaned as she dried my hair with a towel.

I cursed inwardly too.

Thankfully, Evthea’s version of hair dye didn’t turn my face into a red, sore mess or burn the thin hairs right off. Felicity handed a mirror over to keep me busy once dry and dressed for real this time. Honestly, the result wasn’t bad. I merely looked more like Heather, although I’d never forgive Felicity and Haskel for messing with my treasured blonde locks.

The sun dipped below the horizon. Dinner came and went. Haskel left to go meet with ‘the others’ as he did most evenings, and Felicity packed what we would need for the journey. Stars glimmering what light they could past the thick canopy sank in my cruel reality. All these weeks had passed and no one had found me? My parents had the full might of the country at their beck and call. If they couldn’t track down a few criminals, what did that mean for me? Dread slipping its barbed coil around my neck set me stationed at the thick front door. Someone was coming to help me. They had to come. I would be right here so they could scoop me up the moment they burst in.

The door remained locked and firm with no sounds wafting in aside from the cicada wails. Felicity let me be until bedtime where I struggled against being put in my nightdress and refused to be dropped in the old crib. With no other choice, she relented and settled me in her bed with her.

“Mama...”

I’d sniffled and cried for the past hour. I sat propped on the pillow an absolute mess and hating myself for only realizing now how deeply my new family held my heart. When I thought of my father and mother, Eagan and Renira came to mind first.

“Ma..ma...” I hiccupped, rubbing my eyes.

“Oh, get over it. Your mama’s not here. She’s not going to be here,” Felicity scoffed, frustrated. “You think we would have taken the request to steal a princess if we didn’t know what we were doing? Be grateful you’re this young. It’s better to go into such a situation not knowing freedom. Lord Creep will pamper and spoil you too. Even if he doesn’t, you’ll live. You’ll just have to suffer through it like so many other girls have. Like I did.”

My crying slowing for a moment, Felicity adamantly avoided glancing my way as her eyes swarmed with a confused mix of anger, regret, and hopelessness. Guilt pulled her expression tight. With a great rustle, she hurriedly flipped over to show me her back.

“That’s right. Consider yourself lucky. At least your parents want you back. Mine gave me away willingly so they could feed my brothers instead. You’ll continue to live in fine silk and sleep in a grand room. I was hidden in the basement of a brothel with a lone blanket as a bed. I could only bathe when one of the special clients came calling. Yes, you’re lucky.”

Felicity spoke her words firmly and defiantly. She spoke them with conviction. However, it wasn’t me she was trying to convince. I almost reached to touch her shoulder, but the soft, milky light of the moon hitting my face through the window as it rose higher signaled any hope left was swiftly running out. I sniffled again, more tears drenching my cheeks.

“Mama...”