Nox felt as though she watched the exchange from beyond herself. She registered that Agnes was acting quite unlike herself. The woman should have been glad for a sale, rather than suffer the demands of reimbursement. It was mildly interesting, but that was all. It was not stirring. It was not moving. It was vaguely curious.

The Gray Matron made a face to protest, but it was clear she had no right to do so. A debt remained to be settled. Nox looked uselessly from the Gray Matron to the Madame, then to the black carriage. She hadn’t needed to inquire as to what was happening. She understood. Amaris was gone, and Millicent required someone to go in her stead.

Nox had promised Amaris that she would sooner die than let Millicent take her, and the All Mother was prepared to test that oath. The goddess offered Nox and her solemn vow on a silver platter.

Nox reached for an emotion but felt nothing. Invisible fingers grabbed for a hook within her body, trying to pull her back in, but she was too numb for emotions to touch her. She listened rather absently as the matron and Madame exchanged parting words. She remained loosely aware of Agnes’s fretful gaze, but she did not bother to say farewell. Millicent opened the carriage door and ushered Nox in. She absently wondered if this was what it would feel like to climb into the black coffin of her own funeral procession.

That had been hours ago.

Her eyes remained glazed as they continued to see same after same after same.

The Madame sighed loudly enough that Nox felt something within her stir, eyes drifting to disinterested attention. She needed to face her reality: she was in a carriage bound for Priory.

Millicent allowed her to despondently refuse food at first, but by their second meal, the woman forced her to eat. When Nox finally drank, she realized her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth like molasses. She hadn’t realized how dehydrated she’d become. Awareness of her thirst brought her more sharply into herself, though the darkness stood nearby, ready for her retreat. Nox clutched the cup with two hands. She gulped the water down, and soon after heard a ringing in her ears. The ringing grew louder and louder into a deafening, constant sound. The Madame’s smile drifted further away until Nox was asleep.

When she opened her eyes, the sameness had…ceased.

She blinked her eyes rapidly, straightening her stiff body as she pressed into the window.

Things were greener, somehow. Here, autumn had not yet consumed the land. How long had she been asleep?

“There she is,” Millicent cooed.