When Caroline regained consciousness, she realized that she was blindfolded. The tight cloth around her head covered her eyes, preventing her from opening them.

The ringing in her ears started once again and she became more aware of the thudding pain at the back of her head.

She was scared and confused, but she had to remain calm.

First, she had to know what happened. That was easy. She was at the cabin and then she was struck unconscious. Someone had carried her here, wherever it was.

Who could have done it?

Esther? But the princess was the one who requested her help. It made no sense that she would do this. There was no reason for it.

Unless Esther was correct about Albert and he found out. But how? Caroline and Trent had been careful. And they barely had no chance investigating Albert at Birth.

She would later find out, she assumed. Whoever took her wanted something from her, lest she would already be dead.

For now, she must know where she was.

With that thought, Caroline began to move and realized that she was tied to a chair. She stomped her foot.

Wood.

She spread out her hands that were tied behind her. No chance of escaping. The rope was too tight.

"She is awake," a woman's voice spoke. It had a soft tone.

Caroline turned her head to the direction of the voice. She could not recognize it.

"We were waiting for you to come about," another woman said. Again, she could not recognize the voice, but it was distinctly different from the other woman. This one had a higher pitch.

Caroline's jaw tightened as one word came to mind.

Belcourt.

"We shall not make this long, my lady, since my companion is rather insistent that we let you go soon." The woman was addressing her.

Light footsteps against the floorboards. The owner of the voice was coming closer.

"What do you want?" she asked, voice cracking. Her throat was dry and it hurt to speak.

"We believe that you went to Birth shortly after the princess gave you a visit."

Could Esther be right, then? Could it be that her fears were true and that Albert was planning something? He found out and now he wanted to know what Esther knew?

"I did, yes. A very fun party, unlike this one," she could not help but reply.

"She is trying to be funny," said the voice, chuckling with contempt. A sigh from the other woman.

"What did the princess want, Lady Caroline?"

Caroline scoffed, trying her best not to provoke the women, but also doing her might to not appear weak. "Nothing. She told me nothing. She merely wanted a chat. We are quite close, you see. Girl problems, tea problems, gown issues... trivial things."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Because you cannot relate to the trivial matters ladies such as I and the princess face every day?" she retorted fast. "If you must know, gowns can be a very huge problem. Buttons, the most."

She felt a presence right in front of her and her heart began to drum harder against her chest.

"What is this about?" she asked, feigning innocence. "Is this one of Albert's games? He must be disappointed that I escaped the consequence of that stupid card game."

"This is about the fact that Princess Esther asked you to go to the crown prince's party. Answer me," the woman asked, her voice close to Caroline's ear, "why did you go to Birth, Caroline?"

Caroline wanted to ask how the woman found out, but she refrained from doing so. She could not also engage in a conversation where she would appear to know more about Belcourt than she did. It was easier to play dumb. "I was invited."

"With your fiancé?"

"Of course. Naturally." She let out a sigh. "Look here, woman, I do not know why I am here or why you are doing this, but I can tell you I do not know anything. Esther and I discussed many things. I told her about my recent problems with my gowns and my upcoming marriage. She shared how she feels suffocated in the palace with all her maids in waiting following her every move. Her trip to visit me was one of her little escapades. She is rather good at it, if you must know. She was able to escape her guards and maids that day. And yes, she also relayed that Albert was having a party at Birth and he was expecting me to attend with my fiancé. The party was not the first I attended. There were many others before that."

Silence followed. The other woman had never spoken to her, and Caroline was certain she was not planning to. The person standing before her was the one in charge.

"Can you let me go, now? I left my horse where you took me. Take me back there and this shall be forgotten."

She woman scoffed with contempt. The other one spoke, "We must talk."

She heard more footsteps and a door opening and closing.

Their faint voices could hardly be heard, but Caroline was able to catch a few phrases.

"...not right..." the other woman was saying, the one who had been silent toward Caroline. "...take her home... at once before..." the same voice added.

The woman with the high-pitched tone remained silent.

"This is not you," said the soft-spoken voice. "She is...but a clueless, pampered chit."

Caroline frowned. She did not quite like that definition of her.

"This matter is not what Belles do." At those words, Caroline stiffened, her suspicion proven to be correct. How did Belcourt find out? "This is for the Soldiers to handle."

"I was given the assignment!" the high-pitched voice insisted, speaking for the first time.

"And this is enough," her companion sternly uttered. "We take her back now."

⠒♣◆♣⠒

It was that easy? Caroline thought as she was guided into a carriage, her mouth once more gagged.

The high-pitched voice was riding with her. The other carriage which probably carried the other woman, rolled ahead of them,

For the next hour or so, the woman sitting beside Caroline was silent, never saying a word. Caroline, on the other hand, suffered. Her hands were bound behind her, forcing her body to adjust and lean forward. Her hair was tickling her face. The gag on her mouth was getting damp. And her head was still throbbing in pain.

But her mind was never quiet. The questions kept coming. How did Belcourt find out? Was someone in Esther's circle working against her? Was Albert truly using Belcourt for his own advancement? But why? He would be king. That was made certain by his birthright. And who were these women? She desperately wanted to know so she could pull them by their hair when she saw them in the future. She would drag this woman to a silent and dark drawing room and scare her to death.

She heard a tap on the roof of the carriage. "Slow down," the Belcourt woman ordered the driver. The carriage came to a steady, slow pace.

They continued down the road in that manner, and it was then that Caroline noticed the carriage before them, the one that was carrying the other Belcourt lady, was long gone.

Her heart began to hammer.

She bit the cloth that gagged her, her body becoming rigid with tension.

This was not over, she thought as another tap resounded in the carriage.

"Stop," ordered the woman and the carriage slowed and came to a complete halt.

Her nose flaring, Caroline's fears surged. Images of everyone came to her. Her parents. Camila. Trent...

Was she going to die here?

The carriage door swung open and the woman climbed down. "Come," she told Caroline, pulling at her hand. And to the carriage driver, she said, "My friend needs to empty her bladder."

Caroline wanted to object, but then she had a much better chance of escape out in the open than inside the carriage. And so, with her legs wobbling, her heart hammering and echoing to her ears, she blindly stepped down the carriage.

"Walk," the woman ordered, pushing her forward.

Caroline stumbled and fell on the ground, having lost her footing as she was pushed to the side of the road.

"Get up," the voice ordered. "Go on, walk forward. A tree is right in front of you. Step to the right. Good. Now, move."

The rustling of the leaves and the smell of trees and grass indicated that they were in the woods.

But which one? There were thousands all over Sutherland, and hundreds near Remington if she was to assume that they took her nearby.

She could not speak and she did not attempt to. One wrong word, one wrong move, and the woman may not take mercy.

Trent had told her many times before that Belles, or rather, all ladies of Belcourt was capable of many things. She did not believe him entirely. Perhaps because she was one of the pampered lasses. She knew nothing apart from what her privileged life provided her. She never imagined that there were women capable of such physical harm upon another human.

While she stumbled on the damp and uneven path, she prayed that Trent would change his mind and come back. She prayed that he would realize that they needed to talk today. And maybe, by some miracle, he would realize she had disappeared and start a search for her.

The woman nudged her forward, pushing her to walk faster.

Caroline obliged until the voice said, "Stop. We are far enough."

The feeling of helplessness was overbearing. It was embarrassing. She was once more unable to protect herself. The questions that she asked herself seven years ago echoed back to her. How could she have been so careless? Why did she not see this coming? Was it her fault? Why her?

She turned around to face the woman. The cloth that covered her eyes allowed very little light, not even when she tried to look downward.

"This is as far as you go," said the woman.

Caroline was confused again. Was she letting her go?

The answer to her question was answered by a sharp pressure in her midriff. The tearing, ripping sound came with the feeling of being punched and her body arched forward. Something cold was digging inside her.

Knife.

And just as the pain took over, the woman pulled the weapon out of her and a sudden rush of both hot and cold overwhelmed her. And the pain as the blade was withdrawn, pulling flesh with it, was beyond excruciating.

Tears dampened Caroline's blindfold.

She was suddenly feeling sick and she gagged in pain.

And as if it was not enough, she received another blow to the side of her head. She was on the ground before she even realized she was falling. Twigs and leaves scratched at her face as she curled in pain, wanting to cover her wound but she could not. Her hands were tied.

She should be dead by now, but it seemed fate wanted her to suffer a little longer. The pain was unbearable, the real darkness creeping in.

Her breathing came short and in whimpers. She growled through her throat, angry and crying for help.

A pair of hands rolled her to her back. She could kick the woman, and she tried.

She did hit her, but the voice only said, "You are weak after all."

Caroline could not even swallow. Her nose flared as her body demanded more air. She knew she was losing blood.

Her head felt like it was being crushed, vibrating and thudding at the same time.

This was worse than her accident years ago. Nothing could compare to this.

Then the woman pulled the blindfold high over her forehead.

Caroline was losing consciousness, but if she were to die that day, she wanted to see the person who killed her.

And so, she forced herself to open her eyes.

"Hello, Caroline," Jade greeted with a smile, finally using the same voice she used during their first encounter.

Caroline's eyes widened. The bloody whore!

Jade looked around the woods and over her shoulder where they left the carriage and the driver. Her red hair was hidden from view by the hood of the red cloak she wore around her. She looked down at Caroline's confused, angry eyes, and smiled. "Oh, do not be curious. Belles have many special talents. Mine is with my voice. It can sound like a victim," she said, assuming a fearful voice, "a lover," she said with a moan and a sigh, "and I can sound myself," she finished, using her high-pitched tone as her forefinger traced a line along Caroline's jaw. "I am afraid I have to leave you here. I have reports to deliver to Belcourt." Her brows rose high when she looked at Caroline's eyes. "What is it, Caroline?" Then she smiled. "Ah, you must be curious. You were wrong, you know. I was not stalking you because I am obsessed. I have been watching you because you are my mission."

She cupped Caroline's cheek. "Just recently, my Mistress made things easier for me. Belcourt wanted to know what you were up to in Birth, but I believe my friend was right. You cannot offer us anything." She let out a dramatic sigh. Caroline's eyes faltered as her strength left her. "You are merely a useless, clueless doll."

Jade leaned closer and Caroline whimpered weakly. Tears rolled down her eyes as she realized that Jade was right. She was useless. And she was helpless.

"I would love to stay a little longer and watch you die, but I have things I need to do, so you will die here alone. Perhaps in a few hours if the boars do not find you first."

Bending low, Jade planted a kiss on Caroline's forehead. "Fret not, the pain will go away soon. And do not worry about Trent. He is mine and I shall take care of him in many ways you cannot." The woman's grey eyes looked into hers, soft and filled with pity. "I promise."

Caroline watched as Jade's cloaked figure stood and turned away.

The last thought she remembered thinking was that dead or alive, she would hunt down the woman and kill her herself.