Someone was stroking her back. No one had ever done that before. The unfamiliarity should have triggered alarm but, instead, she leaned into the sensation. It was pleasant, calm, as her life so rarely was. She longed to remain in that state forever. But other sensations kept intruding.

  She was lying on the ground, even though she never recalled moving there. She was also on her stomach, with her head tilted at an uncomfortable angle. And the hand stroking her had seemed to grow less gentle. Eventually, all the pleasure was gone, and only anxiety remained.

  With a sigh, she opened her eyes and turned onto her back.

  Then she shot to her feet.

  Mirab smiled from her still-seated position. She had that smile - the one that Eluvie could find no fault with. Her beautiful witch’s smile.

  “You’re awake,” she said. “How was your nap?”

  Shock and confusion kept Eluvie’s mouth shut. Nothing else about the room had changed. The tray remained on the table, above the note from her past self.

  Mirab rose to her feet and tried to wipe some dust from her dress. That did little but smear the dust.

  “It’s been hours,” Mirab said. “I was worried, but Amu said you would be fine.”

  Eluvie scanned the room again, searching for Amu.

  “He went to find water,” Mirab said. “He thought you would sleep longer.”

  That was clearly a lie. Amu would never leave her alone with Mirab. In fact, there was no reason that Mirab would be here at all. Unless she had escaped her captivity.

  Mirab sighed. “I suppose you’re still angry.”

  Caution, Eluvie thought. She has not attacked me. She might not know that I tried to kill her.

  “Angry?” Eluvie said. “About what?”

  “I don’t know,” Mirab looked pained. “Since you woke, you haven’t been looking at me in the same way. You seem suspicious. I wish you would regain more of your memory, then we could resolve this.”

  Eluvie struggled to understand the words. What ruse was this? What act of this drama were they on? And how had she survived the food?

  “It’s fine,” Mirab said. “We’ll find a way.” The smile returned. “Do you want something to eat? Their food is so delicious.”

  Eluvie did not know if she could move. Her whole body seemed intent on remaining in place. And Mirab did not seem interested in harming her. So, as long as she remained in place, remained compliant, there would be no danger.

  Mirab walked past the table and toward the divan. Someone had placed a tray of food there: some of the soup they kept offering Eluvie, and some bread.

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  “They’re so repetitive with the soup,” Mirab said. “But I still haven’t tired of it.”

  For a moment, Mirab’s back was turned and Eluvie’s gaze flitted over to the knife on the table. Mirab fiddled with the soup for several moments.

  There was time. Mirab was human. If she hurried, she could have the knife within seconds. With Mirab, surprised and unarmed, she would win, would she not.

  Her brain plotted out every step. It ran over the entire sequence twice. She had time to do that because Mirab seemed to be taking an astonishing amount of time with the soup. But even when she made her decision, when she ordered herself to attack, to rush for the knife before Mirab grew suspicious, Eluvie could not move.

  Mirab returned, holding the tray. When she reached Eluvie, she eyed the table.

  "Those chairs are so uncomfortable," she said. "Let's remain on the floor."

  She set the tray on the ground and sat before it. After a moment, she motioned for Eluvie to do the same. Eluvie obeyed.

  "You're still tired, aren't you?" Mirab pushed the tray to one side and adjusted her position so that her legs were outstretched. "Here," she said. "Lie down. I'll feed you."

  Mirab had never done such a thing as far as Eluvie could recall.

  "It's alright," Mirab said. "I've done it every time you've been sick. I'm not bad at it. Go on."

  Eluvie lay down as instructed, but only because it seemed easier than resisting. There was no danger in soup.

  Mirab did as she had promised. She carefully scooped a spoonful from the bowl and moved it to Eluvie's lips. She was as good as she had claimed. Not a single drop spilled.

  Spoonful after spoonful, Eluvie ate in silence. Mirab's smile kept her company, clean, and beautiful, and not explicitly threatening. But she couldn't taste the soup. All of her brain power was committed to one task: eating. As long as she did that, nothing would go wrong.

  "Just like that," Mirab said. "I told them. I've trained you. If I only ask, you will do it. Whether you remember me or not, your body remembers. And if it does not, well, the training can always begin again. It won't take so long the second time. So much complaining. Why do the baths and the blindfold? Only one is necessary. But it worked, did it not? You won't disobey me, will you?"

  Eluvie shook her head. She wasn't certain why she was doing that, but something in Mirab's tone told her to. So, she obeyed.

  "Good girl," Mirab said. "Keep drinking. There isn't much left."

  Her face was wet. She was crying. But she didn't stop drinking, and Mirab didn't stop smiling.

  "Poor child," the voice changed, but Mirab's face remained. "There isn't much left. We'll be done soon."

  "Why is she crying?" Another voice. Someone stroked her head.

  "I don't know. Just keep feeding her. Can you hear me, moonbeam? You have to drink all of it. Or I'll strangle Amu and earn my own banishment."

  "She's not waking up. She should be awake."

  "If I were an incompetent hack, I would keep my opinions to myself." That was Zaniba's voice. "What a day! Keep feeding her. And don't spill a drop. You need that much skill or I won't find a level to demote you to."

  A new round of tears broke free from Eluvie's eyes. As they fell, the blurry scene before her changed and sharpened. Gone was the ceiling of the secret room. Now, there was one made of brown wood. Mirab's face was gone too. It was Amu who held her, stark terror on his face. Zaniba knelt to one side. One of her guards was partially visible above Amu, looking as if his life was over.

  She opened her mouth to say something, to ask if it was real, but only a sob broke out.

  Zaniba pushed Amu away, pulled her up, and crushed her in a hug. "The Creator's Blood, girl." He seemed to be sobbing too. "Why? Why would you do that?"

  Eluvie gave up on a response after two tries. She didn't try to push him away, either. She simply waited to see if the world would disappear again, if anything else would turn out to be a dream.