Bliss tried to mumble something around the sock, but it was useless. The she-dragon sported a mean-looking grin and strolled over to her.
“What’s that? Speak up. I can’t hear you.”
I really don’t want to play this game. Bliss let out a defeated sigh and let her shoulders slump.
The woman ripped the sock out of her mouth. “Go ahead. Scream. No one will hear you.”
Bliss lifted her chin. “I wasn’t trying to scream. I just thought the idea of a bathroom sounded good right about now.”
The woman got down into her face. “Oh, yeah? Do you need to pee?”
Bliss so wanted to answer her with sarcasm. She could hardly resist the urge. Oh, what the hell. I’m probably going to die anyway.
Dragon Lady grabbed hold of Bliss’s hair and yanked her head back. “I asked if you need to pee.”
“No. I want to put on my makeup.”
To her surprise, the woman let go of her and laughed. “In another life I might have liked you. Unfortunately, we’re in this one, and you are in my way.”
“What’s your name?” Bliss asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
She shrugged. “I just want to know what to call you besides, ‘Hey you.’ That seems rude, and I really do have to go to the bathroom.”
“Well, since you want to be polite, you can call me Zina, like the warrior princess.”
It was all Bliss could do not to burst out laughing. She pasted on the blandest expression she could muster. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with that? I’m descended from dragon kings in the Amazon and my name is Zina, with a Z-I—not an X-E like the chick in the old TV show.”
“Gotcha. Okay, Princess Zina, may I use the bathroom, please?”
Zina blew out an exasperated breath. “I just asked if you needed to pee.” Then, as if she’d thought of something funny, she chuckled and threw her hands in the air. “You should have gone before we left the house.”
“I almost went in midair.”
Chuckling manically, Zina untied her. “Fine. Go, but be quick about it.”
As soon as she was free, Bliss prayed the bathroom would offer some way to escape. Although if Zina the warrior bitch was letting her go, she’d bet there wasn’t one.
Striding around the boxes, Bliss spotted a small door near the windows. She prayed there would be a stack of boxes, like stairs, leading up to an open bathroom window. Yeah, and with my luck, flying monkeys would be waiting on the other side.
Deciding she had seen too many movies, Bliss opened the bathroom door and took in the small windowless room. Damn.
“Disappointed, are you?” Zina called out.
“Why should I be?” Bliss yelled back.
“There are no windows to climb out of.”
“Gee. I never thought of that. All I wanted was a toilet, and it seems to have one. Maybe I’m not spoiled like you.”
The woman was silent.
Frig. Maybe I went too far. Bliss had to remind herself not to taunt the psycho. Kind of like not taunting tigers in the zoo. Hopefully, if she could just stay alive long enough, some kind of opportunity to escape would come up.
While she did her business, Bliss pondered possible scenarios, concentrating on the ones in which she’d get away in one piece. Zina would have to leave at some point. Bliss remembered reading an article on how to present your hands to be tied if you’re ever taken hostage. There was a way to look cooperative while giving yourself enough room to slip out when you changed hand positions later. Yeah, that’s what I’ll—
Suddenly, she wasn’t alone in the tiny room. A man was standing right in front of her! She blinked to be sure she hadn’t imagined him. Nope. He’s still there.
The well-dressed older gentleman was not an attractive man. His eyes were small and too close together. His face looked like a worn-out leather jacket, but if he was real, maybe he could help her!
He put his finger to his lips as if to say, “Shhh,” although he didn’t make a sound. Thank goodness he seemed to be aware of the danger on the other side of the door.
Bliss leaned forward, not only so she could be heard but also to protect her modesty—slightly. There’s nothing quite so embarrassing as being caught on the potty. “Who are you?” she whispered.
He smiled and whispered, “I’m your rescuer. Now get dressed.” He turned his back to give her a bit of privacy, so she quickly yanked up her panties and straightened her skirt.
“What’s going on in there?” Zina yelled.
Bliss started to panic when she heard heavy boots tromping in her direction. The man whirled around, grabbed her arms, and seconds later, she was blinking against a blinding light.