Captive Heart

Chapter 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.

"Take it," she says, her voice urgent.

I hesitate. "What is it?"

"Just take it," Brin insists. "You have to take it with you."

"Why?" I ask, my curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

Brin's expression turns serious. "You either escape with it or you don't escape at all."

I stare at her for a moment, trying to decide what to do. I don't like the idea of taking something without knowing what it is or why it's important. But at the same time, I don't want to jeopardize our chance at escape.

"Fine," I say, snatching the necklace from her hand.

Brin grabs a cloak from a nearby crate and wraps it around my shoulders. The rough fabric scratches against my skin, but I welcome the warmth it provides. She begins to explain her plan in hushed tones, her eyes darting around the shed as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment.

"You need to wait for my signal," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "When you see a light coming from the kitchen window, that's when you make your move."

I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. I can feel the weight of the necklace around my neck, a constant reminder of the risk we're taking.

"Once you see the light, head to the northeast wall," Brin continues. "A tree fell during last night's storm, and the guards were too busy with the dinner party to take care of it. Climb the tree and head east toward the docks."

I listen carefully, committing every detail to memory. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, my body preparing for the escape.

But as Brin continues to speak, I suddenly realize that she's speaking as though she isn't going to come with me. My heart sinks, and I can't help but ask, "What about you?"

She hesitates, her eyes avoiding mine. "I can't come with you," she says, her voice barely audible. "I have to stay behind and create a distraction."

I stare at her in disbelief. "But you'll be caught," I protest. "You'll be punished."

She shakes her head. "It's a risk I have to take," she says, her voice firm. "But you have to go. You have to get as far away from here as possible. Wait for my signal."

And just as quickly as before, Brin disappears.

My heart is racing, but I know that I have to do this. I have to be brave, for both of us. I do each of the steps as she said them. Wait for her signal. Climb the tree. Run toward the docks, north—no, east.

I run as fast as I can, my feet pounding against the ground as I make my way towards the docks. I can hear the sounds of the city behind me, but I don't dare look back. I know that if I do, I might lose my nerve.

Only, when I arrive, no one is there. Nobody is waiting for me like Brin promised. Which means I won’t be able to escape.

“Hurry up!” someone shouts from down the docks. “The Captain wanted to be on the open sea long ago!”

“Yes, sir, this is the last crate! Sorry sir, so sorry.”

I peer around the corner and spot the men as they load the last crate onto a ship that already has its masts drawn and ready.

         This is it, Lyra. Your chance at freedom.

         Hand clutching Brin’s necklace, I wonder what exactly that means.

         I don’t know where they’re going, and I don’t care. All I know is that my ticket to a new life was supposed to be gone already and, for some reason, it’s still here. I’ve never believed in fate, but as I sneak up the plank and dive behind a pile of sacks, I consider that tonight it might be on my side.