Chapter 2: This Is Still Not Fine, Thanks for Asking
After Alessio left, I sat on the edge of the bed and did what any reasonable person in my situation would do: I gnawed on the chain like a medieval beaver for a solid thirty seconds.
"Ow."
Metal? Still metal. Teeth? Regretfully intact but deeply offended.
’Okay, plan B. Or maybe we’re on plan G now? G for Get Me Out of This Nightmare Before Marius Comes Back With Tea and Murder.’
The minutes passed slowly. The room smelled like lavender and old money. I tried counting the swirls in the ceiling again but got distracted halfway through when one of them looked like it was flipping me off. Rude.
Eventually, there was a soft knock at the door. I startled slightly, my heart pounding.
Please let it be a maid. Or a pigeon with a note. Or a mild hallucination. I’d take all three.
"Miss Sonia?" a voice called. Female, thankfully. Young and timid.
"Yes! That’s me! Fully awake, mostly sane!"
The door opened a crack, and a girl peeked in. She was small, brown-haired, dressed in a simple maid uniform, and wore the expression of someone who’d seen too much for minimum wage.
She curtsied nervously. "Good morning, miss. I’m Clara. I’ve brought your breakfast."