Daisy's breath faltered when Seraphina's cold voice slashed through the chamber.
She was searching for a best escape idea, as her wishes were granted too suddenly.
More of Seraphina's men came into the chambers to shower her with afternoon praise chant, according to the policy she had always given to them .
"Lock the door," she ordered her right-hand man.
Her tone was velvet woven with steel. "You all will have to remove your masks. I was about to catch a sneaky little rat… until one of you decided to shield her."
The room stilled. Shadows clung to the walls like witnesses awaiting blood.
The masked men obeyed, forming a perfect row before their queen.
Daisy's heart pounded against her ribs, a caged animal thrashing to be free.
She felt Seraphina's eyes like knives at her back. One command, one wrong movement, and her secret would be stripped bare.
One by one, the men pulled off their masks. Thirty in total.... Each face revealed, each breath heavy with anticipation.
