EMMA

I play all the scenarios through my head, but no idea how I'm going to get out of this. Why didn't I tell ANYONE my plans? Daddy would be here in a minute if he had any idea, Aislin would ride her dragon-man to my rescue for sure. But NO - I just had to surprise her. I don't believe in knights in shining armor, and there won't be any hot Druids rushing to my rescue. I must save myself. I just don't know how to do it. I mean, I know I can't fight my way out. My training would save me on the street, one on one, but not here. Saving myself here will take my brains. I think about what Aislin survived. Even though I know she glossed over some of the details, what she had said had been enough to make me weep for my best friend. I don't know how she made it. She did sound better when she called to tell me about the wedding, so Kai is good for her. Sighing, I look around the room, realizing there is nothing but a bed and no bathroom. No bathroom means they must take me out of here at some point unless they throw a bucket in. My guess is Mister Tall, Blonde, and Brooding doesn't dirty his hands emptying buckets of piss. I ease down on the bed, pulling my knees to my chest. Resting my chin on them, I begin to plot.

The first step is getting out of this room. A bathroom break is the easiest solution and really that's as far as I’ve managed. My lip is hurting, and I realize I've been chewing it while planning. I can't get any farther than out of the room. I have no idea what lies beyond it. Daddy taught me to look at every side of a problem, and momma always says to amass all the information. I can't do either in this box. Standing, I move under the camera and wave my hands. "Hello? Can you hear me? Hello?" I wait, knowing he can talk to me.

"Yes?" It's him, his voice is like warm chocolate. I probably shouldn't even notice that. Angry at myself, I grumble under my breath looking down. Stupid chocolate; it's bad for me anyway. Schooling my face, I glance up. Time to pour on the sugar.

"Umm, hi. Well…, I need to use the restroom." I wave my arm around in question. Nothing. No response. The minutes tick by and I'm beginning to worry it will be a bucket when the door opens. I'm once again stunned by him. He is gorgeous, not like the guy Aislin met, Jason, but a very close second. He looks at me with his blue eyes, which are filled with some emotion I can't quite figure out. Normally, I'm very good at reading people, but this guy, he is a conundrum. He seems sorta safe, well as much as he can while holding me captive, but I also pick up a really bad vibe from him. My radar’s broken.

"I'm sorry, Emma. Please allow me to escort you to the bathroom," he says smiling a little too big. See, that right there seems nice, but also catch a hint of he would like to kill me… Slowly. I feel on edge around him, thrown off balance. Flustered, I blink a few times, trying to gather my thoughts. I need to stay focused. He is staring at me, waiting for something.

"Umm, yes, well okay." That was impressive, Emma. Jesus! Yep, I'm going to die here. I start for the door and then stop abruptly, so much so that he slams into me. I feel myself falling and brace for impact, but it never comes. His hands close on my arms and stop my momentum. He turns me to face him, a grimace covers his face. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I just had a thought and wanted to ask if I could take a shower." He stares at me, his body is inches from me, and I feel his heat. I glance down at his fingers still wrapped around my arms. His eyes jerk to them before he lets me go so fast you'd think I was toxic. Backing away a step, he looks down at his hands before looking back at me. There is a strange look in those blue eyes now.

"Yes, of course. Gather your things." He moves to the door and waits with his back to me. Clearly, I'm no threat, or at least that's what he thinks. I don't know if I should be offended or happy because he's never going to see me coming. I snatch up my things and shove by him, striding down the hall. He catches me in just a few steps, his fingers wrapping around my elbow, firm but gentle. We walk along, turning down other hallways. I try to keep track of the lefts and rights. This place is a maze and, if I'm not mistaken, a square. I follow him up a flight of stairs and to the end of a long hallway.

He pauses at the doors, grumbling, "I decided to move you to this room with its own bathroom. I believe you will be more comfortable here. While you are cleaning up, I will have your things sent up." He pushes open the double doors, and my jaw drops. I essentially grew up with Aislin in the St. Charles mansion, but I've never seen a room like this. It is all golds and blues, classically Greek. I step in and look at him over my shoulder, trying to read his intentions, but his face is blank. Turning back, I move to a balcony and throw open the doors. I step out and gasp. There goes my escape plan; it just flew right out these doors. All I see is water and rock. We sit high up on a cliff surrounded by a bright blue sea. "So, you see there is no way for you to leave." I jump as his voice whispers in my ear. He moved like a cat, and now I feel his heat behind me. I grip the rail, my heart pounding and my teeth clenching. I will not cry, not here, not in front of him.

I plaster a smile on my face before turning and looking at him. "I had no plan for escape. If Aislin is with these vile people you spoke of, I want you to save us both." I return inside and move to another door, opening it to find a massive bathroom with a huge soaking tub in the center. I can't hide the sigh that whispers through my lips. I joked about selling my soul for a tub like it before. I hope the devil didn't take me up on my offer. I run my fingertips over the cold marble before turning a real smile on my face. "If you’ll excuse me, as you said there is nowhere for me to run, I plan to lay in this tub until I look like a shriveled old prune."

There is shock on his face as I slam the door in his face. I lean back on it and turn the lock. I am under no delusion that it would keep him from me if he truly wanted in. I turn the water to hot and proceed to snoop as the tub fills. All I find is shampoos, soaps, and bath salts, which I promptly take possession of. I glance around, looking for cameras before I begin to undress. I need to use the step to get in, and as I lower myself, steam floats up. Leaning back, I think about how Aislin would love this, 'boobs and knees' she would say. It is every woman's goal to have a tub that covers both, well maybe not every woman, but ours. My tears begin to fall before I am even a little used to the heat. It doesn't take long before full-blown sobs are shaking my body. I try to be quiet, not knowing if they are listening.