stealing her ability to think straight. She choked off a scream when the door opened. Her mouth dropped open as a beautiful woman with long, wavy red hair stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. The woman walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully arranging her red robe around her.
“I am Raevanne, Shivana of the Roodmasi.” She said in a musical voice. Kim blanched and tried to draw herself into a little ball.
“Ah. I see you have heard of us.” She leaned closer and studied Kim’s face. “Where did you hear our name?”
“I… have… had a friend who messed around with satanic worship.” Kim swallowed hard. “He said the Roodmasi were the real deal, they had a real connection to the Dark Master.” She began to cry. “He wanted to join them and out of nowhere he started hanging out with these sickos who wore black all the time and claimed to be able to summon demons.” Kim sobbed and looked away, “He disappeared, along with his new buddies. They would hold their meetings in this old warehouse downtown. Me and another friend went to search it. The place looked like a war zone, chairs turned over, shell casings on the floor, the windows blown out. On one wall was this large symbol, it was painted in…” She swallowed, “blood. There were …body parts flung carelessly all over the warehouse. My friend grabbed my hand and we ran out of there. When we were back to our neighborhood, he finally told me the symbol meant Roodmasi and I should forget I saw it and I should never mention it to anyone.” Kim turned back to Raevanne. “I swear I’ve never mentioned it before and I never will again! So you can let me go!”
“You are not here because of your friend’s stupidity.” Raevanne said as she brushed her hair back. “You are here to learn to be a fitting gift to the Master. Your training will begin tomorrow. I just wanted to welcome you. Now, I will also require the name of the friend who asked you to forget our name.”
Kim swallowed, thought about her friend for a moment and decided she had no choice; they might not kill her if she told. “Bryce Markham.” Kim said with a shaky voice.
“Thank you. Unfortunately, we cannot allow him to live. You will be going to the Master soon, so you are no threat to us.” Raevanne’s beautiful face held an expression that went better with picking out what to wear, than the deaths of two people.
“No!” Kim struggled against her bonds. “No! Please! I don’t want to die!”
“Silence!” Raevanne hissed. “It is a great honor to be given to the Master!”
“My parents will be looking for me. I will be missed!”
“Perhaps. However, they won’t find you.” Raevanne stood to leave. “You’d best get some rest, training will begin early tomorrow.”
The door opened again and a young woman with blond hair entered with a serving tray.
“Ah. Here is Abigail with your evening meal.” Raevanne went to the door. “I will see you tomorrow, Kim.”
Kim began to weep when the door closed behind Raevanne. She jerked when she felt a hand pat her arm. She opened her eyes and found Abigail smiling at her.
“Fear not, Kim. We will not let you come to harm.” She turned and unchained Kim’s hands. “Now eat, you will need your strength.”
Kim rubbed her wrists, and began to eat the soup Abigail placed in front of her. She was surprisingly hungry and she quickly finished it and the bread that had been served with it. Her eyelids began to grow heavy and she fought to keep them open.
“Shhh… Kim, it’s alright.” Abigail helped her lie back on the bed. “When you wake up you will be home in your own bed.” Abigail made sure she slept, stood and walked to the door and opened it. Daniel came into the room, carrying a trunk. He placed it beside the bed, opened it and placed the sleeping girl in