Thana wasn't sure if she was glad to have Davion's arm to hold onto. It was a way to keep herself upright, but more than anything, she wanted to return to her room. The room she was used to at home, not the place where she felt she had been locked up for hours. During their walk through the long corridors, Thana tried to remember the way but failed. Her attention was constantly distracted by the peonies spread around in numerous colorful vases. She also encountered more people now, not just the three she had spoken with before. Each one of them nodded a greeting, but Thana didn't have the voice to respond. None of them seemed surprised that she was walking down the corridors on Davion's arm.

"So glad you're back, Mara!" smiled one of the men they passed, and Thana nodded briefly. She felt guilty every time she responded to the name Mara. It was as if she had stolen someone else's identity and left her own behind. Still, it felt like a kind of safety; Thana didn't know how Davion would react if he discovered she wasn't his beloved. He was so certain, and she didn't want to hurt him. By playing Mara, she could have the time she needed to find an escape. It was hardly a plan but something to hold onto.

Thana took a deep breath and composed herself. Together with Davion, she reached the doors to the outside, but all she felt was disappointment. The garden wasn't the garden she had imagined. The plants were tended to but not recently, as if a gardener had given up. Weeds were scattered everywhere, and Thana knew her mother could do better. The garden was also quite small, only a bit larger than at her home. Still, she forced a smile and took a deep breath. At least she had fresh air to calm down. She walked further into the garden and felt Davion release her arm, prompting her to look back at him over her shoulder: "Aren't you coming?"

Davion shook his head. "No, my dear, I have other matters to attend to, but enjoy the garden." Thana had to admit she struggled not to gape at him. It felt like she was a dog being let out while its owner kept an eye on it. Was he serious? If she had been Mara, she would have run away too. Thana couldn't help but chuckle softly. According to Davion, she had been taken, but Delilah had her own thoughts on that.

With a sigh, Thana placed her hand on the spot where her necklace was hidden. She didn't know why, but it felt like everything had started with it. The monster had been scared of it, she recalled. More memories of that night were elusive, as if everything had been a blur. Lost in thought, she began wandering aimlessly around the garden. It was colder than she had expected, and Thana already regretted the dress she was wearing. Now she felt even more like some lost protagonist in a book, being taken by a handsome character. But she had no intention of falling for Davion or any potential extra character who might come to save her. Unless Izara suddenly appeared at the gate, Thana couldn't help but wonder if Izara would look good in armor. Probably, she decided, Izara could make even a garbage bag look stylish.

Thana let out another deep sigh. It didn't solve much, but it felt good. It was time for a new plan, Thana decided, she had to get out of here. She now knew they intended to keep her for a long time, so she would take action as soon as she returned. She had no desire to stay here any longer. Alternatively, she could try to speak with Delilah, one of the few who realized she wasn't Mara. Hadn't the girl promised to help her? She hadn't been particularly helpful, but she might be the only one Thana could hopefully be herself around.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw Davion talking with a woman she didn't know. The woman was older than Saska and Delilah. Thana decided to take advantage of her ignorance and walked over to the duo. If she really were Mara, they wouldn't mind her joining them. But as soon as she approached within earshot, the conversation ended. Disappointed, Thana watched as the lady nodded and departed. She wanted to curse, but instead, she conjured a smile. "Who was that?" It was meant to be an innocent question and a way to gather more information. Yet Davion seemed surprised by her inquiry.

Thana struggled not to curse. Had it been the wrong question? Still, Davion plastered his smile back on his face as he took her arm again. "No one, my dear, it doesn't matter," he declared lightly, but it felt forced. Thana hesitated but decided to simply follow him as they walked through the corridors once more. This time, she paid close attention to the directions until they reached a staircase. She frowned in surprise; they hadn't descended any stairs on the way here. "What's wrong, Maar?" she heard Davion ask.

Once again, doubt crept in, but curiosity won out for Thana. "We're going a different way," she responded, "are you taking me somewhere else now?" That wasn't part of the plan in her head. She left out the fact that her plan only consisted of getting out of here and playing Mara. Davion's expression was hard to read, again.

"The door to the hall will come," he replied, "if you need it." It was an explanation that matched what Saskia had said earlier, but it still didn't make sense in Thana's mind. How did you know where to go, anyway? How would she know which way to walk? "You feel it," Davion responded, causing Thana to look at him in shock. How could he know what she was thinking? He started laughing, making the hair on her arms stand on end. If he could read her thoughts, why did he still insist she was Mara? "I can't read your mind, my dear," he reassured her, "but your face tells a story, you know?" Thana nodded, still somewhat startled by the idea that Davion might be able to read her thoughts. It had seemed that way during their first meeting as well, she realized again.

Davion opened a large door, and to Thana's surprise, they were indeed back in the large room where she had woken up earlier. The woman didn't know how many hours had passed since the monster had taken her, but the peonies caught her attention again. Mara had been gone for a long time. Thana knew that by now, they must have realized at home that she was missing. Would they be looking for her? Had Izara called already? She was sure her brother would understand that she would never leave voluntarily without taking her phone. She reassured herself that soon she would be back home. "Are you going to lock me up again?" Thana asked cautiously.

Davion's wounded expression made Thana regret her question immediately. On the other hand, she wanted his answer. "Of course not, my dear," he responded, colder than he had before, making her think of snow again. "I'm doing this for your own good while I search for answers to that shield, which seems more stubborn than I had thought." Absentmindedly, Thana nodded; it still sounded like confinement to her ears, but she feared that arguing about it wouldn't help her case. He would only watch her more closely, and her escape would be thwarted. One step at a time, she reminded herself, as he continued to escort her back to her room.

Davion opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Thana decided to put on her sweetest face. "When will I see you again?" she asked coyly. If she hadn't been in trouble, she would have laughed at those words. But they seemed to have the desired effect on Davion, who looked at her radiantly.

"I'll come by tomorrow after a good night's rest; hopefully, this nightmare will be over," he promised her. It sounded like music to Thana's ears. Not that he would return, but that she now had an evening to work out her plan. This nightmare would indeed be over soon, but not in the way he intended it now. Therefore, Thana didn't protest when the door closed behind her, and she heard the lock turn. However, the sound made her realize that she hadn't thought through a part of her plan well—that she couldn't leave her room's door.