Angelica stepped back from the door and looked around the room again. She was of no use as a hostage. Why would angels want to keep a mere human prisoner? Had they found out about her learning magic? Perhaps she was here as a punishment for that.

No, The Choir was not so indirect as that. When a law was broken, it was stated clearly. She knocked firmly on the door. There was no response. She had to get out of here. Those demons had attacked and there could be more than those she had seen. Angels could fight them off, but they could not protect everyone. What if Nell was targeted as well?

In a moment of frustration Angelica kicked the invisible door. “Open up you bastards.”

Again there was no indication that she had been heard. She began running her hand along the wall, looking for more invisible doors. She had reached the other side of the room when another door slid open. Inside was a bed, and to the right a window. She rushed over, but though it looked open, her hand was deflected away by a barrier. She ran her hand over it, but it covered the entirety of the open space.

Outside she could see a lush forest spread out, with farmland in the distance. If she remembered correctly, Artena was only about a half a day’s travel from Sky Palace. If she could get out of here, making her way back there would be easy…if she could get out.

Angelica went back out to the main room and paced back and forth. If they did not know she could use magic yet, she could use the element of surprise to escape the room. But once outside it would just be a maze of halls. The only place she knew was that room they had teleported into, but she could not teleport out even if she could get there.

It was several hours later when she heard the door slid open from the bedroom where she was staring out the window. She rushed out into the sitting room to see an angel carrying a tray. He sat it down in the middle of the table before turning and going back out of the room.

On the tray was a collection of foods. Slices of meat that appeared to have been marinated in spices she could only begin to guess at. There was a cluster of fresh grapes and a slice of bread that was still warm to the touch. The drink was some fruit she did not recognize, and was entirely too sweet, though she drank it anyway. There was no point to starving herself.

When the door opened again that evening, and the angel reappeared with another tray, Angelica tried to start up a conversation.

“Thank you very much for the meal, Your Mercy.”

The angel deftly slid the empty tray off the table into his hand while sliding the new tray into place.

“My name is Angelica, in case they didn’t mention it. May I ask yours?”

There was no response as the angel walked back out the door. Angelica plopped down, munching at the bread. If they were going to stick her in here and have no contact with her, then she was going to have to force some contact somehow.

When the angel came the next morning with a tray of breakfast, Angelica was waiting just beside the door. He walked to the table exchanging the trays, but as he came back to toward the door, she stepped into his path. He tried to step around her, but she matched his movement, continuing to block him.

“Excuse me.” He stepped back the other way and Angelica reached forward, hooking his arm, pulling him off balance, and unceremoniously flipped him over her hip. The tray and dishes clattered to the ground as he thudded on his back, looking extremely surprised.

“Oh, pardon me. I didn’t mean to get in your way.”

“You…”

She offered her hand with a smile. He refused it, and climbed to his feet and crouched down to get the tray and its contents. As he started to lift it, Angelica stepped on the corner knocking it once again from his hands as he only just managed to keep his balance.

“Oh clumsy me.” Angelica lamented.

The angel stood, watching her carefully, and abandoned the tray as he went out the door. Angelica chuckled to herself as she cleaned up the tray and sat it on one of the extra seats. It was not more than ten to twenty minutes later when the door opened again, revealing the Seraph.

“Oh, Your Magnificence. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?” She curtseyed with an over embellished bow.

“Is there something you needed, Miss Angelica?”

“Well now that you mention it, I was wondering when I might be going home.”

“I’m afraid things are still not settled.”

“I can’t imagine that the One King, Dominion Kendall, and two Archangels would have so much trouble with so few demons.”

“There were more than what you originally saw. The situation is more complicated than-”

“You’re lying.” Angelica cut him off and then added. “Your Magnificence.”

The Seraph stared at her for a moment. “I’m sorry?”

“The only reason to continue to keep me here is if the situation was still dangerous. If is it too dangerous for a noble of little consequence, then it is the sort of situation that requires the presence of The Choir, and more importantly, you. Yet you are here telling me of these dangers instead of protecting the country’s king.”

“The matter is being dealt with.”

“While you keep me prisoner?”

“You are a guest here, Miss Angelica.”

“No, I am not. A guest does not eat alone. A guest is not cut off from all outside contact. A guest is not restricted to one room. A prisoner is, and that is what I am.” She glared at the powerful angel, now knowing that everything Dusty had said about him was true. He had been trying to put her in her place, but Angelica was no longer willing to be put there. “You did not even bother to come into the room and sit down while you were talking to me.”

“I am afraid I am very busy, though I wish I could allow myself such leisure time. I would be most appreciative if you would behave yourself and not do anything too…mischievous.” With that, he bowed and left the room.

He knows I can use magic. Angelica sighed to herself. That would make things more difficult if it was no longer a trump card. Though she still did not know why she had been taken prisoner. With Dusty on the throne and Nell back she was now no more than the second daughter of an Elder. If she were going to be punished for knowing magic, they would have accused her of such already.

Angelica plopped back on the sofa; urgently wishing she were back in the library, surrounded by the soft comfort of books and the warm embrace of Dylan’s music. Peace surrounded her like a warm spring breeze. She could almost hear the scratch of quill on paper.

She was interrupted from her daydream as the door to the room opened. It was a different angel this time, female, but she carried the same tray. Even though Angelica had not touched her breakfast, the angel switched the trays, giving the young woman an almost…amused look before going back out the door.

She reached for the plate, ready to throw it against the door in disgust when she noticed a piece of paper sticking out from under the plate. She took the corner and pulled it out slowly.

Keep this hidden. Read it in the washroom.