Dahlia was coming to visit me in my cage. She walked past the guards like she didn't see them; apparently, she was too important to notice the help. She stopped halfway between the guards and me.

I concentrated on the stitching on my sleeve and tried to change my expression into one of indifference. I didn't want her to know how much I'd like to beat the crap out of her.

When I glanced up, she grinned, "How are you enjoying your new home?" When I didn't react, she went on, "Well, I guess it might not be your new home. It all depends, doesn't it?" She stared at me, waiting.

Fine, I'd bite, "What does it depend on?"

She smiled, obviously glad I was playing along. "On whether or not Ash really cares about you as much as he said he did. The way he was talking about how amazing you are, I thought he'd have been here to rescue you by now."

I couldn't help it; her words made my stomach tingle. He said I was amazing?

"But, I guess he changed his mind and values his freedom over your life." She curled her lip in disgust, "I'm not surprised."

Looking over her shoulder, I smiled, "Or maybe he's behind you."

Her eyes flashed, and before she turned I had a second to see her fear. When she saw he wasn't there, she turned to face me and she was livid.

I chuckled, "I guess you're not so sure he isn't coming."

Dahlia watched me laugh at her as she shook with rage, "Be careful, human, or I'll wipe that grin off your face!"

Smirking, I put my hand up and waved her toward me, "Come on in red, let's do this."

She screamed and rushed my enclosure. Before she got two steps the female guard was in front of her, blocking her path. Damn, she's fast.

"Stop. Now. My orders are to keep her in the cage, alive."

Dahlia looked like she'd like to push her out of the way but thought better of it, "Fine, protect the human." Looking past the guard to me she snarled, "I'll be back when Ash doesn't show up to get you, and then we will do this."

"Looking forward to it," I smirked.

I really would like to get into it with her. After the whole drugging and kidnapping thing, I owed her, but I didn't plan on being here much longer.

Dahlia left without looking at me again, and the guard returned to her post, leaning against the tree. She glanced at me, and I swear I could see something besides the hate everyone else here seemed to have for me.

When she looked at me again I smiled and she only hesitated for a second before giving me a little nod. Huh, I might have a friend here or at least a less willing enemy.

After looking around in the daylight, I decided it was probably best to wait for dark to leave. I had no idea where I was going, so how well I could see didn't really matter, and the darkness might help hide me.

I'd head away from here and in the opposite direction of the path my few visitors used. Running into the middle of town or wherever they're all coming from would be bad, so I'd go out the back of the cage and into the thick woods.

Going through my school supplies, I set aside everything I couldn't use to escape. After making sure I wasn't being watched I slipped a pencil into my sock against my leg. As a weapon, it wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

I slid the binder to the side of the cage farthest from the guards, close to the spot I planned on going under. Leaning back I used my bag as a pillow and pretended to wait on my rescue.

I wondered if Ash was really coming for me and what Mark was thinking. I hoped Mom didn't know anything. She and Bea would be so upset if they thought something bad happened. It hadn't even been a whole day yet, maybe I'd be able to get home before anyone freaked out.

That was some pretty wishful thinking considering I didn't even know where I was. Where do faeries even live? Did I need a magic spell or something to get out of here? I decided it didn't matter, I didn't need magic to get out of this cage and that was the first goal.

The rest of the day was uneventful, no more visitors, no rescue, and shockingly, Blue had not decided he wanted to be friends. He continued to give me stink eye any time he caught me looking at him and the female continued to stare off at nothing.

The light was getting dim, and with the thick woods that surrounded us, it'd get dark fast. I sat up and tried to look uninteresting, I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention.

I thought about Ash. He must be important for them to kidnap someone for bait, and if I made good bait, then I must be important to him. Maybe he really did love me; they think he does. I needed to stop thinking about this, it was distracting and it wasn't going to get me out. Focusing on the guards, I waited.

When Blue looked away, I scooted to the back of the cage near the empty binder I had waiting. Opening it to make it wider, I slipped it halfway under the wall of my cage. Keeping an eye on Blue, I lifted the vines using the binder just high enough to slide my bookbag under and out with my foot.

So far so good! The guards weren't paying me any attention and my stuff was outside. I just had to get myself out without getting stung by the vines.

Using the thin sweater I had in my bag I methodically wrapped my right arm and hand. Sort of like I would to fight, except I kept going until I covered all the skin, being extra careful with the cut on my thumb.

I made sure to tuck in all the loose bits of cloth around my fingers and my forearm. Concentrating on the process and the feel of the cotton tight against my arm helped me focus. I took my time and tried to stay calm.

Laying down, I stared at Blue's face; I just had to wait for him to get distracted again. It was dark enough that I could barely see his eyes. As soon as his head tilted down and I was sure he wasn't looking at me, I moved.

I slid around lifting the binder with my left hand and worked my way under it headfirst. I used my wrapped right hand to keep the vines from sliding over the binder to land on me. Scooting my shoulders side to side and pushing with my feet, I was halfway out.

"Guards!"

Crap, Dahlia was back at just the wrong time.

"Be on alert! The Seer says they're near."

I heard wings beating as the guards both lifted into the trees, presumably to get a better spot to watch for my rescuers. At least they weren't looking at me.

I could hear Dahlia getting closer to the cage and I hurried to get my legs out before she caught me trying to scramble away. It was a good thing it was dark or she might have already seen me.

Sitting up on the outside of the cage, I set the binder down quietly and put my bookbag on my shoulders. I was ready to run.

"Where is she?" Dahlia shrieked from the opposite side of the cage.

I heard the guards fly up and around looking for me, as she started walking around the cage. Without standing up all the way, I moved the few steps into the trees. Stopping behind the first thick tree trunk I came to I squatted down in the brush at its base.

It wasn't the best hiding spot, but they didn't know how long I'd been gone, maybe they wouldn't look too hard this close to the cage. Holding still, I tried to slow my breathing.

Step one of the escape plan was taken care of; I was out of the cage. It would've been nice to get farther than five feet before they noticed, but I'd take what I could get.

Step two was run, but that was going to have to wait until all three of them weren't searching so close to me. I heard Dahlia coming closer, she had to be within a couple of steps.

Holding my breath I didn't move a muscle. Keep walking, keep walking, I chanted in my head. Pressing back into the rough bark on the tree I resisted the urge to turn my head and look at her. Keep walking, keep walking.

She passed my tree, but a second later stopped. I heard her move something on the ground, the binder.

"This way! She went out this side of the cage."

The guards came and landed next to her. Blue said, "She has to be right here somewhere, she wasn't gone long."

I heard a slap and a grunt of pain. "How would you know when you didn't even know she was gone?" Dahlia shrieked.

She was really pissed and now that it sounds like Blue had been bitch slapped, I didn't think he'd be too pleased either.

"Blue, you fly over and see what you can find. Dahlia and I will search the ground," the female guard always sounded calm, nothing seemed to affect her.

My legs were starting to cramp from squatting down but I wasn't going to move. I was barely even breathing. I heard Blue fly up but I couldn't tell which way he was going.

"I'll start here, you go that way and call me if you see any sign of her." Dahlia just had to tell the guard what to do. She didn't miss a chance to remind them that she seemed to hold a prominent place with the Queen.

I was glad she sent the female guard away, I was pretty sure she was the only one with any actual skill. Dahlia went a few steps back before I heard her crunching through the leaves and sticks to my right.

My heart stopped. All she had to do was turn her head to see me. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to be invisible. She didn't stop, she walked right by me and my heart started beating again.

When Dahlia got about twenty feet in front of me I couldn't stay still any longer. My legs were starting to shake, I needed to stand up. Moving as slowly as possible, I was careful not to touch anything around me.

I slipped the pencil out of my sock and held it in my left fist with the eraser against my thumb. My right hand and arm were still wrapped in the jacket and I didn't want to take the time to unwrap it.

Which way should I go? Not toward the guard, or Dahlia, or the path they all take. I'd need to go back toward the cage and then into the woods on the other side. Slowly, I slid around the tree. They'd gotten far enough away that I couldn't hear their footsteps crunching through the forest floor anymore.

Moving carefully, I stayed under the cover of trees, until I came to an open place. With the cage next to me and the trees I wanted to hide in about thirty feet in front of me, I stopped and took a deep breath. Sneaking around was wearing on my nerves.                                   

Adjusting the bag on my shoulders, I sprinted toward the trees. I made it into the tree line within a few seconds and raced toward the nearest brush that could conceal me.

I heard a thud as something landed behind me, but before I could turn to investigate I was lifted off the ground. Dangling by my bookbag straps, Blue turned me to face him. Damn, he was a lot stronger than he looked.