When Roo woke, his stomach was hangrier than a troll after an unwanted bath, except he felt grimier than a troll after its daily mud dip.
Very cold mud. Especially against his back. His wrists and ankles.
And that smell of serpent and furball and filth … Roo was already shivering.
So cold.
His body didn’t want to move. He was lean and mean yet he ached worse than a fish wacked around on a small boat.
And the boat he was on was waving all too jerky.
Worse, down … lower … so cold. He wanted to cringe, but his wrists and ankles, too, far too … restrained.
He was shackled. Without even opening his eyes.
Yet.
The room he was in … darker than his mother’s favorite coffee sludge, and felt just as thick and foolish. Creaks wailed here and there but … too dark too see. Even a glint of light.
Just … nothing. Just cold and dark.
“Enjoy zee nap?” Fleur said.
She was across from him. Only a few paces away, yet her strawberry and cream smell was kinda faint.
Worse … chains rattling by her?
“Fellow captives now,” Roo said, “That Camilla …”
“Hush, my Beloved Fool,” Fleur said, “She is a vampire, and can hear everything said in zees place – and beyond. Some say she can hear so vell she could can thoughts. So be careful, no?”
Roo took a deep breath, and yes, he could smell Fleur, her strawberry and cream scent now, but that serpent musk was hers, and too much filth and furball.
“What’s with all the furball smell?” he said.
“Ah,” Fleur said, “Our trusty guards, no?”
“Can you see …” he said.
“Of course,” she said, “I am a serpent, no? It is you who cannot see.”
“A drop dead gorgeous serpent,” he said, “Bare in the scale?”
“If you vish …” she said, and giggled, until some chains rattling by her.
Roo knew better than to push further. Yet. Her good attitude made him want to familiar her even more.
Even if Peaches would disapprove.
She definitely wanted to be his only familiar, but he needed a team of familiars. Skills he didn’t have. Or backup for when he couldn’t be there for the others.
And Fleur was clearly fond of him. Maybe.
Unless she was pulling a femme fatale thing.
But while being chained and … no. Probably not.
Probably.
But he’d have to be extra careful about lamping her next time.
“I’m ass naked,” he said, “Enjoying the view?”
“Oh yesssss,” she said, “Quite the delight, no? Tables have turned, in a sssense.”
Roo chuckled. “But for how long …”
How long was he out? How many bursts had he recovered? The chains, they were cold but not burning, so not red iron or crimson steel, thank the Lightful Ones, but he’d only get once chance at escape.
Unless Camilla was expecting him to …
Better not do the predictable either so …
“So Fleur La Noir,” he said, “With your martial artist badassery, can you slip out of your shackles?”
“I vish, but …” she said, “These shackles are quality cold silver, so I cannot. Zorry.”
A sharp rattle around her sounded like it confirmed another try and fail on her part. But the rattles echoed sharply around them. They were in a tiny room. His back to the wall. Her back too, probably. And the way out … he heard no side with extra echoes.
Maybe they were boxed in?
“See?” she said, “Or, more like hear, no?”
“I hear,” he said, “Looks like …”
Like a bow string released, he triggered a power burst.
Let his body expand in brawn. Become a brawned war god of sorts.
Snapping the shackles like a puppy through a twig cage.
Hands out in front of him, Roo hurried carefully over to Fleur. The ground underneath his bare feet was colder than ice and as mushy as mud. He refused to think of what it could be.
But right now he was thankful there was no light here.
Until his hands landed on what he least expected.