By The Skies

by J E Mueller

  But what chance did they have in finding me? My brain couldn’t focus as exhaustion plagued me, forcing me to suck in some pride. I begged Eastyn for a way to sleep. “There has to be a way.”

  Eastyn sighed. “There is.” He had come to retrieve me for a meal, one of the few reasons they’d let me out of the damned room. “We’d have to play his game, and I am not in the mood for it. There are too many parts if you ever want magic or sanity again.”

  “I need to do something, please, what does he want? I can’t prove anything to him.” Not in any way I could think of. Without my magic, there was really no way I was a threat.

  Eastyn grumbled before sighing again. “He wants it obvious you’re aligning yourself to me. That’s why he keeps sending me to get you for meals. So I am somehow the hero in all of this. As if that would buy anyone’s trust.” He scoffed.

  Of course, that would do it. It sickened my stomach, but pretending might be all I have before I crack too far. Madness could be consuming. “Fine, I’ll pretend.”

  “Heh, we’ll see for how long.”

  “You know more, don’t you?” I didn’t trust that tone of his.

  “Of course I do.” He shook his head. “Best I not tell you. Reacting to his words accurately will be better.”

  “But if you tell me I can know how to react the best.”

  “He’ll see through your lies. You’re too tired to come across as anything but desperate. I’m on your side, so you’ll just have to trust being surprised will be better than rehearsed.” Eastyn shook his head at me.

  Sighing, I gave up. Arguing with him was worse than waiting on canvas to dry. Instead, I latched on to his arm, hoping this would be the right move.

  I never expected I would have to trust Eastyn to get out of a mess.

  I was surprised with how much I needed to lean on him as we walked. I didn’t feel as if I had any strength or balance. My body ached from the lack of real food and the drugs they injected me with first thing in the morning. This new one didn’t cause me to blackout, but it still had an icy burn that took a solid hour to work through my system.

  Rather than putting me in the chair with my normal soup, Eastyn sat me in his seat, surprising me.

  “What do you think you’re doing now?” his father asked, exasperated.

  “She’s starving and not sleeping. You want her dead?” Eastyn took my seat and snapped his fingers. A maid scurried out of the room. “Anyway, she’s eating normally tonight and needs a night to actually sleep.”

  “If she agrees to stay the night with you.” Percival smirked, the corners of his lips turning up in a wickedly twisted way.

  “She smells like vomit.” Eastyn turned his face up at the idea. “She needs a bath.”

  “Just give her everything for nothing, I see.” Percival did not look impressed.

  “Yes, she deserves to be treated better than your latest project,” Eastyn retorted.

  Percival chuckled lightly. “It’s only been three nights here. The others have lasted five.”

  Others? That did not sound good. I did not want to know where that story went, what lives he’s toyed with.

  “And she’s not here for your fun. She sleeps tonight.” Eastyn glared hard at his father.

  “If she agrees to the terms.” Percival turned to me. “Well, do you?”

  My hands were shaking and I had to hide them under the table. I was certain I looked panicked and trapped. “I… I…” The words didn’t want to form. I was equally afraid to agree as I was to disagree.

  “That’s enough.” Eastyn shook his head as a maid brought out a proper plate of food for him. “She stays with me. The decision is made.” He glared at his father for a moment before cutting into his food and looking at me. “Well, eat up. If I have to put up with you I’d rather not see you all bones.”

  I couldn’t tell if any of this was an act. Was this really to help me? There wasn’t any gain to helping me try and escape, but he also didn’t seem interested in me. I just focused on trying to eat small bites instead. Sleep would help clear my mind.

  I had hoped food and rest would work their wonders. A bath did nothing to clear my mind. The maid left nothing but a thin nightgown after my bath. Fear gripped my body. I didn’t want his hands and lips all over me again. The maid quickly got tired of me stalling and one of the men I kept seeing lingering around escorted me roughly to Eastyn’s room.

  Eastyn did not look thrilled or even interested to see me. “You better not hog the bed,” was all he said. Not a single touch or threat if I didn’t listen. I was surprised how oddly comforting it was. Sleep readily claimed me, my mind longing for a moment to recharge.

  I was surprised I slept fairly well. My body ached a little from how I was curled up, but I was positive that as the day went the soreness would loosen up. I just hated waking up in Eastyn’s arms. It felt so wrong how warm they were, but he was soundly asleep and not purposefully trying to do anything. I carefully tried to get out of bed, hoping not to wake him.

  “What are you doing?” he yawned. “If you try anything, he’ll just throw you back in that room.”

  “Just getting up. I’m not leaving.” The odds of escape were not in my favor. Not right now. I needed my magic if I was going to get anywhere. I could at least teleport from danger.

  Eastyn muttered something unintelligibly before rolling over and falling back to sleep. I stared around his room and noticed there was not much in it. Were we at some sort of retreat or summer home? This couldn’t be his actual room. It took me a while to find a book, and when I did the only one I could find was a religious piece on the four dragons.

  I missed my dragons. I hoped they were okay. The book did little more than cause my depression to settle heavy over me like a cloak. I wondered how long this situation would continue.

  Time passed in a boring slog. The only extra thing I was allowed to do was follow Eastyn around. Nothing about him changed. He still seemed rather annoyed by my presence, but made sure I was getting food and allowed to sleep.

  One day, whatever day it was anymore, he made me wait outside his father’s office. He settled an even glare at me. “Don’t. Move.”

  I raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue the point as he went into the office and shut the door almost the entire way closed. There was just enough space that I could hear his conversation.

  “I don’t get what your goal here is,” Eastyn complained dryly as I heard him flop into a chair. “I’m bored, rather be at home, and having this useless hanger-on is tiring.”

  So I was right in guessing earlier this may not be their home.

  “She’s become more fond of you, has she not?” I heard his father ask, his words clipped with impatience. It sounded as if Eastyn had walked in on him doing something.

  “What do I care? Oh look, I’m the only one not being a complete arse to her. Yes, she’ll now fall madly in love with me. Thank you!” The way he exaggerated it was perfectly ridiculous.

  “Give it time. You’ll see that is exactly the case.” His father cleared his throat. “Do you have any real matters to discuss?”

  “I’m bored, I think sending for some friends will help,” Eastyn suggested, and I could hear the chair being pushed back. “Certainly there are no objections in that?”

  “If you must.” His father sighed.

  Eastyn exited the room and motioned for me to follow him. As we got far enough away he whispered, “Having friends over will be the best time to dial in on your fake affections for me.”

  “They can’t just help me escape?” That sounded like a better plan.

  Eastyn raised a brow at me. “Why would they help you escape when you’re trapped?” He chuckled. “A trapped girl with no one coming to save her. Your virtue wouldn’t last long with their help and that’s at the absolute best.”

  “Why be friends with such people?” Everything about that was slimy and wrong.

  “Plenty of reasons. I like to have fun.” He shrugged and stopp
ed in front of a door. “Some fun is a little harder to obtain on your own. I just had slightly different expectations for a wife.”

  I bit my lip. If he was implying anything like I thought he was, I was very lucky not to be in worse trouble. From his actions prior, I didn’t doubt my thoughts and fears to be true.

  Eastyn opened the door and I saw a giant black orb in the center floating just above a pool of water. He walked over to it and touched it while I hung back. If I was right, it was a Magneth calling orb, which was very expensive. One this big, the size of a well-fed goose, was a rare sight. The Lari’s just having one at one of their away places said quite a lot about their wealth and the ease in which they spent it.

  As Eastyn poured magic into the orb, it began to glimmer with gray sparkles. “This message is for Javen and Joseph. Blackwater, tonight.” He removed his hand, the magic instantly gone and the orb turned midnight once more. Eastyn turned to me. “There, now some fun can be had.” His smile was unsettling.

  “I assume you’d rather I stay away while you have time with your friends,” I stated, trying to be thoughtful. “Maybe I can find a book to read.”

  Eastyn clicked his tongue. “Do you think father would really buy that?”

  “No.” I sighed. “He won’t.”

  Eastyn nodded. “So, let’s play the game then.”

  I didn’t like the sound of it, but he was right. His father wouldn’t just ease off the drug until he was confident I wasn’t going to suddenly break free. Eastyn held out his arm and I accepted tiredly. This was not an act I wanted to put on. Hopefully, it wouldn’t have to last long.

  The thought of meeting someone that would be friends with Eastyn caused my mind to race, thoughts to fray, and soul to scream. Who would want to associate with someone like him? Let alone with how his family acted. It was impossible to focus on anything as more dread built. Not that there was anything worthwhile to hold my attention.

  The second they arrived, I knew it was going to be a night. Eastyn’s friends were not going to be my favorite people to deal with. They were loud and a bit too curt in what they had been up to.

  “Gods, has it been ages since we’ve done anything,” Joven huffed as they played cards.

  “Break starts and all the fun stops. It’s not normally that way,” Joseph agreed.

  “And you’ve barely explained the sweet being on your arm.” Joven waggled his eyebrows at me. “A new treat?”

  I tried to hide my disgust as I played my part. I wasn’t playing cards, just sitting close to Eastyn. Sitting there silently sounded like a better plan than being involved with them.

  “As I’ve said, my father hopes we wed soon, so not exactly that kind of treat.” Eastyn shrugged. “If you’re that hungry though I’m sure there are a few young maids around.”

  I looked up at him appalled, not being able to hide my dislike of his words.

  Eastyn patted my head. “Now don’t give me that look. We’re entitled to have fun, too, once in a while.”

  “She’s going to be a fun one.” Joven roared with laughter.

  “Better break her gently, she’s going to want to think you have some virtues left.” Joseph laughed equally loud.

  My stomach felt sick. It twisted and turned on itself, bile rising to my throat as I forced myself to hold back any retorts. If Percival heard about anything I said, this plan would only take longer.

  Eastyn just rolled his eyes. “She hasn’t much of a choice. She’ll be fine. I wouldn’t worry about the details, we’re a ways off from there.”

  Never. We were never going there. I wanted to scoot away, but then I’d be closer to Joven who I was confident I didn’t want to get any closer to.

  Their joking and jesting did not change much through the night. In fact, their jokes only got worse as they drank ale. Their drunken state inspired other ideas and motives, and while I hated knowing what treats they were after, I was far too relieved to finally be allowed to head to bed. These poor people. Did any work here willingly? I was willing to bet not.

  Eastyn seemed out when I finally laid in bed. I was thrilled to have a few moments without drunken boys making rude comments. I wanted never to hear another word from him. I closed my eyes, begging for sleep to come and hoping his friends would leave the next morning.

  Then he rolled over, wrapping his arms around me.

  “We could have had so much together,” he whispered in my ear.

  “You’re drunk Eastyn. Go to sleep,” I urged, my entire body tensing.

  “That I am.” He chuckled, too keen to agree. “That doesn’t mean my words aren’t true.”

  “Your actions say you aren’t a virtuous man. We would have had nothing true.” I tried to remove his arms, but he held on tight.

  “You’re pretty silly if you think half the men of the realm really care about that. It’s your job as a lady to wait, not ours.” He laughed at his own statement. “But you despise me and can’t do better than me. How silly.”

  “Go to sleep Eastyn.” I meant my words to be angry, but it was clear they were holding more fear than spite.

  “Can’t I get a kiss goodnight?” he asked, words slurred together.

  “No.”

  “At least I asked nicely.” He laughed before moving on top of me and kissing me hard.

  I tried to fight him off but his hands held mine down. My heart screamed and raced, but nothing I did mattered.

  “Come on, a little kiss before bed.” He nipped at my ear.

  I gave in, not wanting to but being too fearful where else this could go. He wouldn’t do more, would he? Eastyn had implied a lot of things tonight, and I wasn’t sure what lines he wouldn’t cross.

  Thankfully he seemed to be tired drunk and fell soundly asleep shortly after he was done forcing his kiss on me, his hands hardly roaming. I loathed the feel of him on top of me, but moving might wake him and I wanted that even less.

  The morning brought drunken grogginess for Eastyn and seething anger for me. He didn’t much seem to care though. The brute wasn’t even ashamed to laugh it off.

  “Oh, so what? It was just a drunken kiss. We’ve kissed plenty before. Anyway, you’re supposed to be pretending you’re giving in to your love. Father would approve of that and you’ve gotten the awkwardness out of the way.”

  “It is supposed to be an act and you were not acting,” I retorted crossly.

  “So?” He shrugged. “A drunken kiss isn’t going to change anything.”

  It was like fighting with tangled yarn better thrown away. There were no scissors to tame this mess. I sighed feeling defeated. “Can we please just keep it to acting?”

  Eastyn shook his head. “Fine. Let’s get to breakfast.”

  I hated how the one on my side was as pleasant as a thorn stuck in a stocking on a long trip. After his drunken conduct, I was far less trusting of his actions but pretended to play my part anyway. At least I could throw dark looks when someone said something scandalous.

  It seemed the friends weren’t due to leave today however. Their drunken rowdy behavior was quickly annoying and tiring. I mentally concluded I just would not go to bed until I heard snores. That was the safest plan I could come up with. After his friends were gone and the drinks removed, things would likely go back to how they were. It felt wrong to hope for that.

  “Hey East, your bride to be looks rather bored of us.” Joven laughed.

  “She just doesn’t like you.” Eastyn laughed. “Not sure what’s worse, your humor or your face.”

  Joseph laughed hard causing Joven to swat him.

  Eastyn got up and got more to drink, bringing me back a glass. “A drink won’t hurt. Might even make them more tolerable,” he whispered to me.

  “Ha, you gave the child a drink.” Joseph laughed.

  “She can’t handle a drink.” Joven doubled over.

  I didn’t see how either of those comments were funny. While I didn’t particularly enjoy it, it certainly wasn’t as if I had never had a sip o
f brandy before. A true toast called for it, from time to time. I knew full well one drink would do nothing to me, but it amused me that they thought it would be my undoing.

  I took a neutral sip. “Every lady can handle one drink.”

  “You’re no fun.” Joven scoffed. They went back to playing cards as I slowly finished my drink.

  It took me more than a moment to realize something wasn’t right. Eastyn moved me to sit up straight, my head sloshing to the other side as my brain fought for the why. There was something in the drink.

  “I had suspected she would be a little nicer with everything I was trying to do for her.” Eastyn chuckled. “But she’s determined to be as hateful as ever.”

  “Should have just put her in her place to begin with.” Joven laughed. “Playing the hero only works half the time, and it’s too long of a game.”

  While I could hear the words, my brain was processing them much slower, I couldn’t figure out what either of them were saying.

  “That’s what father said.” Eastyn sighed. “About time I did put her in her place.” He got up and dragged me off the chair, Jovin helping him while Joseph followed.

  “What’s our part in this?” Joseph asked while they laid me on the sofa “I don’t want to stand around just for you to have all the fun.”

  Eastyn laughed. “Get a wife then.”

  “Come on, share a little. She’s a pretty one,” Joven begged.

  Eastyn shook his head. “If you help I’ll let you watch.”

  “What a deal.” Joven rolled his eyes.

  Help with what? My brain sloshed around itself in confusion until they were starting to undress me. My hands vaguely flailed at them but did nothing. They easily had me in my undergown in no time. My brain whined ‘no’, but the response times were not clicking. My limbs were too heavy.

  Eastyn waved them back as his lips were on mine, his hand happily making its way up my skirt. I could hear laughing in the background before it sounded like something clattering and breaking in the hall.