Page 1 of Captive Heart

1

LYRA

“You girl! Come here!” The arrogant boom of Master Viccar’s voice penetrates my skull.

My entire body lurches, nerves jumping from the sudden attention, and I snap my eyes up from the floor. His cold, gray stare regarding me as nothing more than a tool to carry out his will. Just as quickly, my gaze turns back toward the stone floor.

Stare at them too and they’ll consider it a challenge.

“Yes, sir?”

Master Viccar snarls. “Sir? Have you learned nothing?”

A swift and unnecessarily strong smack lands across my cheek as the elf backhands me for my insolence.

“You are to address me as Master, you worthless human.” He hisses. It’s clear he’s trying to raise himself up in the eyes of his dinner guests. “Well, don’t just stand there! Bring me my wine!”

Without another thought, I scurry out of the dining room and into the kitchen. I can hear the foul, senseless things they say about me as I hurry off to fulfill his command.

As I'm walking into the wine cellar, a sudden force grabs me and pulls me into a dark corner. My heart races as I'm jerked off balance, but before I can even think to scream, a hand clamps over my mouth.

"Shh, it's me." A voice whispers in my ear.

I recognize the voice as Brin's, another slave in the household. My heart rate slows, but only slightly. I'm still confused and scared.

"What are you doing?" I whisper back, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Brin asks, her voice barely audible.

I'm taken aback by the question. Of course I want to get out of here, but I've never even considered the possibility before. I'm too stunned to respond.

"Do you want to escape from Master Viccar?" Brin reiterates, her voice more urgent this time.

I hesitate, my mind racing with the implications of what she's suggesting. It's dangerous to even think about such things, let alone speak them out loud.

"Meet me in the garden shed when the moons are at their peak," Brin says, before releasing me and disappearing into the darkness.

I'm left standing there, alone in the dark corner of the wine cellar, my mind reeling. I don't know what to do. I want to escape, but I'm scared of the consequences. I don't know if I can trust Brin, or if this is some kind of trap.

But as I make my way back to the dining room, carrying the wine Master Viccar demanded, I can't help but feel a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there's a way out of this life of servitude.

When I return to the dining room, Master Viccar barely acknowledges me as I pour his wine. I keep my head down and my eyes on the floor, trying to act as if nothing has changed. But inside, my mind is racing with thoughts of freedom and the possibility of escape.

As the night wears on and the guests grow more and more rowdy, I can't help but glance at the window, watching as the moons slowly make their way across the sky. I don't know what the future holds, but I know one thing for sure: tonight, I'll be meeting Brin in the garden shed.

I slip out of the slave quarters, my heart pounding in my chest. The moon is high in the sky, casting eerie shadows across the garden. I make my way to the shed, trying to stay hidden in the darkness.

When I reach the shed, I see Brin waiting for me. She looks nervous, her eyes darting back and forth.

"Did anyone see you?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No," I reply, trying to sound confident. "I made sure no one was around."

Brin looks at me skeptically. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," I say, starting to get annoyed. "Why are you so paranoid?"

Brin doesn't answer. Instead, she pulls something out of her pocket and holds it out to me. It's a necklace, with a small pendant hanging from it.

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