The Gifted guarding the door frowns. “You just ate. It isn’t time for your next meal.”
“Andra is awake. My sister needs to eat. Lady M wouldn’t want her weakened further.”
Her brow creases, and for a second, I allow myself to see her as a person instead of one of Lady M’s minions. How did she get here? Why is she helping Lady M? Was this her choice, or is she as helpless as we are?
Eventually, she nods, calling over another Gifted, who races down the hall after a whispered conversation.
My stomach sinks with dread. Surely she’s run off not to get Andra the food she desperately needs to recover, but to tell Lady M she’s awake. How long do we have before Lady M is forcing Andra to See for her again?
I sit down next to my sister, looking around the room as if a weapon is going to magically appear. As if I’m going to suddenly discover a secret way out of here that I haven’t noticed after staring at these walls for hours on end.
I don’t know how, but I know I cannot allow Andra to try to use her Gift. Not until she has had enough time to recuperate. Something tells me Lady M won’t have the patience to wait.
It doesn’t take long before the heavy wooden door slams open.
I hold my breath, but it isn’t Lady M waiting in the hall, but another unknown Gifted, a tray of food in her hands. I jump from the floor and snatch it from her, like she might take it away if I don’t grab it quickly enough.
“Lady M says she will be down shortly.”
I carry the food over to Andra, holding the tray steady so as not to spill a drop. “She needs more time to recover. She cannot try to See yet.”
The Gifted shrugs. “Tell that to her.”
The door closes before I can deliver a retort. Bianca takes a bowl of soup from the tray, holding the spoon to Andra’s mouth. I prop myself behind my sister, holding her frail weight upright so she can eat.
For several long minutes, there’s only the sound of slurping. Bianca feeds her slowly, and I know there’s a good possibility the food won’t stay in Andra’s stomach after going so long without. I rub soothing circles on her back, hold her cup of water to her lips, and care for her like I haven’t since we were children.
Eventually, Andra pushes the tray of food away. Her head sinks down onto my shoulder, and I want to let her rest, know she still needs time, but time is something we don’t have the luxury of.
“Can you See any way for us to get out of here?”
She stiffens, her shoulders going tight. “I don’t know. Everything is just blackness.”
Bianca glares at me. “Don’t try to read, Andra. Right now you need to focus on regaining your strength.”
I know she is right, just as I know that we need to get out of here, and I don’t see how we do that without some kind of help.
Andra’s eyes are drifting closed when the door opens once again.
Lady M stands in her usual black dress, the fabric swallowing her from head to toe. Her amber eyes glint when she sees Andra, awake and sitting up. “Welcome back.”
I shift my sister behind me, not that I have much chance of shielding her if Lady M is determined to make her read. “She needs more time.”
Lady M ignores me. Her head tilts to the side, her eyes so deeply focused on Andra I would swear they began to glow.
Andra gasps and I turn, tucking her into my embrace. Her hands fly to her head. “Harold is alive.” It’s all she manages to choke out before collapsing in my arms.
I turn my glare on Lady M. “What don’t you understand about she needs to rest? Look what you’ve done!” I know there’s no chance she didn’t hear what Andra said, and yet I do my best to distract her.
But Lady M cares not for what I have to say. Her eyes narrow. “Harold is alive.”
“You would think you would want that for your husband,” I choke out.
She doesn’t bother to respond, sweeping out of the room, gesturing for one of the guards to close the door behind her. It shuts with a damning thud.
I gently lower Andra to the ground and look helplessly at Bianca. She hovers over my sister even though we both know there’s nothing she can do for her.
“I don’t think it’s as bad this time. She probably just needs more rest.” Bianca rearranges Andra into a more comfortable position before looking at me. It’s the first time our eyes have met since we’ve been locked in here, and I see so much in their bright green depths. Fear and anger and so much sadness. “What do we do now?”
