When they stepped into her closet, a smiling Mr. Edwards was there, with Ellen, whose face was red and swollen.
“So nice of you to join us, Princess Fiona.” The fake cheer left his face. “You’re late. It will not make your father happy.” He pushed Ellen forward. “Get her ready and downstairs in a half-hour, or there will be further consequences.”
He went out of the closet, and a minute later, she heard the door to her room shut.
Ellen came forward and took Fiona’s arm. “Please, you must do as he says,” she whispered urgently. “If you don’t, he’ll beat me again. We have to get you ready for the initiation, and we don’t have much time to do it. Please.” Ellen walked as if a herd of horses had trampled her, and Fiona had no doubt it was all because she had tried to escape.
She nodded. Ellen took her into the bathroom. It was a shambles. Blood was spattered over the walls, floor, and ceiling. The acrid scent of recent gunfire stung her nose. The bathroom door was shattered.
Bryn went into the bedroom, then came back with a beautiful white silk slip draped over one arm. “They’re gone.”
“Your man was here,” Ellen said in an urgent whisper.
“Kelan was here?”
Ellen nodded. Her face was tight. “They made me lie to him about where you were, then they took him to one of the holding pens.”
Fiona turned and looked at her. “Where? Where is he? I have to go to him.”
Ellen looked at the other girl. “Mr. Edwards said he would bring you to him when we were finished.”
“Then let’s hurry.”
“We have to bathe you.”
“There isn’t time. I showered yesterday. Please, we have to hurry.”
Ellen nodded. “Please, put this chemise on, then we’ll start.”
Fiona hurriedly stripped to her bra and panties. Ellen looked at her. “Everything must go.”
Fiona didn’t argue. She dropped her underclothes, then the girls helped her put on the tissue-thin slip. It went to just below her knees. They had her sit on a stool, then draped towels over her shoulders to keep any makeup from discoloring her slip. She felt naked. Why wouldn’t they let her put something more on?
She couldn’t help but think of last night, when she was here with Kelan, in this bathroom, getting the terrible stage makeup off. Were they going to put all of that on her again?
But why was it so critically important that she be perfectly groomed for this evening’s event? Why wouldn’t anyone tell her what was happening?
“Fiona, I think we will get to help you dress again tomorrow, but if we don’t see you before you leave, there’s something you must know.” Ellen was kneeling in front of her. “And I need you to make a promise to me.”
Fiona frowned then nodded slightly.
“I’ve sewn our letters into the cape you’ll be wearing tonight.”
The letters! She’d gathered them before trying to escape, then still hadn’t brought them with her. She was glad Ellen had found them.
“If you leave tonight, promise me that you will get them to our families in the Friendship Community. If you don’t leave tonight, pack the cape and the letters to bring with you.”
“I will. I promise.”
Ellen’s nostrils flared. The breath she took was jagged as she looked with relief to Bryn. Fiona almost started crying.
Max had said Kit and the guys were on their way. There was an end in sight. This wasn’t what the rest of her life would be like. She would get to see Kelan in just a few minutes. Maybe she could stall for time there with him until the guys found them.
It was going to be all right soon. Very soon.
“Don’t press your lips together like that,” Bryn said. “Stay still so I can put the liner on.”
At last, the makeover torture was finished. Fiona looked at herself. The woman looking back at her from the mirror was someone she didn’t recognize—someone beautiful, regal, poised, older than her mere twenty-one years. Twenty-one.
It was her birthday today.
She closed her eyes. This was the day she and Kelan had looked forward to sharing. He’d planned a special day for her, for them.
She stood up and moved away from the mirror, trying to keep hope alive. The team was coming for them. They would be found. Soon. Very soon. Tonight, even.
“What now?” she asked the girls. They passed a worried look among themselves.
“We have to do your nails.”
Fiona watched as they fixed long, ruby red false nails on her. Then Ellen led her into the dressing room. She selected a diamond and pearl necklace that hung low beneath the collar of her slip. She retrieved a pair of matching earrings and put them on Fiona.
“Where’s my dress?”
“Fetch her cape,” Ellen instructed Bryn.
Fiona pushed them away. “No. I’m not going out like this.”
“Your dress is kept in a special location. We’ll take you to it. But first, shoes.”
The girls helped her into a pair of red evening pumps that added three inches to her height.
“I have never been to an initiation ceremony, but I understand you’ll be given to your husband during it.”
“I’m not getting married.”
Ellen looked at her and blinked her bruised eyes. “I am not able to change your destiny.”
Fiona nodded. “I will change it.”
“Remember your promise about the letters.”
“I will.”
*
Kelan was led back to the stairs and through a door on the landing. This led to another staircase and to tunnels painted a utilitarian gray. A couple long corridors later, they were at their destination—a series of holding pens. Ten in all.
He tried to see if the other cells were occupied, but couldn’t make anything out through the narrow slit in the door. He heard at least two other inmates banging in their cells, so he knew he wasn’t alone down there.