I don't want to say anything to this lady, I don't want to be here, I don't want to know what they're doing to that old man . . . how can she sit there, smiling, having just ordered those people to kill him?
Kayla felt sick to her stomach, thinking of the look on the old man's face. How can she be so cruel?
She's looking at me. I'd better say something, anything, before she gets angry at me. . . .
Oh God, I hope this is a dream . . . this can't be real, it can't . . .
"How . . . how did you know that he was the one who tried to murder you?" Kayla asked, hoping her voice wasn't trembling as much as she was.
The Queen shrugged. "I didn't. But I had to punish one of them. That particular lord had no loyalty among the others, none who would fight for him. And it certainly impressed the rest of these useless traitors." She gestured at the elven courtiers, who were casually but obviously making their exits from the hall. Only Kayla and the wordless guards remained close to the Queen, and Catt, who stood near the Queen, watching Kayla silently. "So, human child, the question remains of what I shall do with you," the elf queen continued.
Kayla thought about the elf lord who had just been dragged off to his execution and decided that maybe, just this one time, she wouldn't make any wise-ass remarks. "Well, uh . . ." she started awkwardly.
"Set your fears at rest, human child," the elf queen said, smiling indulgently. "I owe you a debt, and I would repay it. What do you wish for? Gold, jewels, fine clothes?"
These elves tend to think alike, Kayla thought, remembering a similar list that Nataniel had offered her. I wonder if she's going to offer me a Mercedes next?
"Actually, Your . . . Your Majesty, I'd really just like to go home. I didn't want to come here in the first place—I mean, not that this is a bad place or anything, I kinda like the dead trees and the moldy castle and all, and it's sure been . . . been interesting, but I'd really like to go home. You don't need to give me anything else, that'd be more than enough."
The Queen nodded. "A wish that is easily granted," she said. "Though I am surprised that you do not wish for anything more than that. I will draw a Doorway that will take you home." The Queen closed her eyes, her fingers moving in an odd pattern. Pure white light began to appear around her fingers, lines and angles growing brighter and brighter.
"Thanks. Thanks a lot." Except, what's home for me now? Not Suite 230—no, that really had never been home, and it sure wasn't now, not after everything that had happened. . . .
Maybe Elizabet's would be home someday, but I never spent much time there, not enough to make me feel like I belonged.
Another thought came to mind; she thought about someone else, the young man with laughing dark eyes and unruly hair, the way he smiled at her, the way he made her feel so happy and safe. . . .
She yawned, feeling very sleepy. Not surprising after everything that'd happened, all she wanted now was a comfortable bed, someplace warm to curl up and go to sleep. . . .
The room was very bright as the Queen wove her magic spell, so bright that she had to close her eyes against the light. She stood in the light, feeling the warmth against her skin and seeing it through her closed eyes.
"Fare thee well, human child," the Unseelie Queen said in a quiet voice, her words very faint, as though falling away. Kayla smiled and yawned again, pulling the blankets tighter around her. The bed was definitely warm enough, soft and comfortable. She snuggled up against the source of warmth, hearing an indistinct murmur in response. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep.
Something awakened her suddenly, someone shoving her away. Kayla yelled as she felt herself sliding out of the bed, unceremoniously dumped onto the floor. The light switched on suddenly, and she saw Ramon, a blanket clutched desperately around his naked body, staring down at her in surprise.
"Madre de Dios!"
Chapter Eleven
"Ramon, what's wrong?" someone called from outside the bedroom, then the door was flung open. Roberta stood in the doorway, looking down at Kayla on the floor, and Ramon, wrapped in a blanket, on the bed. She began to laugh.
"It's not funny, Berta," Ramon began indignantly. Carlos appeared in the doorway, looking over Roberta's shoulder, his hair still dripping from the shower and a towel wrapped around his midriff.
His eyes darkened when he saw Kayla, and she felt a shiver run down her back. This is going to be bad. He's furious, I can tell by his eyes.
"Where did you find her?" Carlos demanded of Ramon.
"I don't know, she just appeared, I woke up and she was here."
Carlos crossed the room, reaching down to grab Kayla by the shoulders and hauling her to her feet. "Where have you been, all this week? How did you get out of Luis' house?"