Page 9 of Legacy Ascended

“Some of the documents are kept by the families. Others are too fragile to move. I can have the first records ready for you tomorrow.”

“You don’t get tomorrow. You kidnapped me today.”

His mouth tightens. “You’re injured and still under the effects of the tranquilizer.”

“Because of you.”

“I know.”

“Stop agreeing with me and doing nothing about it.”

Frances sets the cloth on the table.

“If you want me to believe a single word you’ve said, show me the evidence you already have and unlock the door.”

“I can bring you the first records, but I can’t let you leave.”

“Won’t.”

“We believe you’re still in danger.”

“And I believe the man holding me prisoner doesn’t have a clue about where I am safe.”

“That doesn’t make the danger outside this valley disappear.”

Frances looks at the ring in my hand.

“You said your family serves mine,” I say. “Prove it. Open the door.”

“I can’t.”

“You can. You’ve decided not to.”

Frances stands. Before he leaves, he looks toward the man from the van.

“Benny, stay on this corridor.”

The young woman who enters carrying a tray is about my age, with dark hair clipped away from her face and her sleeves pushed above her elbows. Benny holds the door and starts to follow her inside, but she shakes her head. He hesitates before stepping back into the corridor and closing the door.

She sets the tray on the table.

“I’m Elise.”

She breaks the seal on a bottle of water and pours two cups. Without asking whether I’m suspicious, she drinks one, tears a piece from the bread, and takes a spoonful of stew.

“You always eat your prisoner’s dinner?”

“Only when she thinks we poisoned it.”

“I didn’t say that.”

Elise glances at the untouched glass beside the bed. “You didn’t have to.”

She pushes the fresh cup toward me, then opens the first aid box she carried in with the tray. Clean gauze, tape, scissors, a small bottle of antiseptic.

“The dressing is already soaked through,” she says. “May I look at it?”

The question catches me harder than it should. Nobody has asked before putting their hands on me today.