She woke to find herself tied elaborately in the carriage; her hands bound before her with a chain similar to the one Epharis had used on her. One end of the chain tied to one door of the carriage, around her wrists and then across to the other end attached to the other door. A shorter chain attached her wrists to the ceiling with a second chain around her ankles.
She had been able to lie down at least, and she pulled herself up into a sitting position to find Drizdan sitting across from her, his white teeth bright in the candle light as he grinned.
"Evening, princess," he said and she jerked back from him, her back hitting the wall of the carriage with a thud that had Izziah speaking out.
"Everything okay?"
"Just the princess saying hello," Drizdan replied, his black eyes never leaving hers.
He had gotten a tongue piercing at some point, the little silver stud looking odd against his dark red tongue, but somehow it worked for him.
Reaching out, he tilted her jaw to see the lingering hint of the bite on her neck, the actual bite itself scarred and refusing to budge.
"Got yourself a vampire problem?" he asked as his hand dropped.
She glared at him, her eyes sweeping the carriage for anything that could help her.
"Don't worry, I already searched you… thoroughly." He leered and her cheeks flushed at the thought of his hands running over her. He would have enjoyed searching her too.
Pressing her head back against the carriage wall, staring at him as to keep him from being able to make any move against her.
"Taking a page out of the lich's book?" she asked, making a gesture at her bonds.
"Very much so, quite the genius, that man," Drizdan said as he shifted his weight.
He was lounging, she found the position oddly attractive, his legs spread wide, leaning back and to the side as though he hadn't a care in the world. One arm rested along the backrest of the seat, giving him a lazy and sultry air.
His eyes dropped to her cleavage, made all the more spectacular by her arms being pulled forward and close together.
"Nice dress…" he said, reluctantly lifting his eyes back to her face. "What happened to your eye?"
She was surprised by the sheer number of people who were so enamoured with her eyes that the green specks even registered.
"Long story…" she said, not wanting to go into it.
"We have plenty of time. We're at least a day from where we need to go." Reaching out, he grabbed her knees and pulled her forward slightly, shifting her knees apart to slide his between them. "Or we could find other things to do in order to entertain us. I heard your lich has already gotten a piece, why not me too?"
She recoiled from him, pushing herself back against the wall of the carriage and away from him.
"Keep your hands to yourself, drow scum," she snapped and his face darkened.
Her face stung and she hadn't even seen him move, the sound of the slap resonating loud in the carriage.
He slid his arm around her and gripped a fistful of her hair, using it to pull her closer while his free hand pushed up the hem of her skirt, his rough fingers scraping her inner thigh.
"Don't think for a second I'm above taking you by force, princess, there's no one around for miles to hear you scream and we both know Izziah won't do a damned thing to help you."
His fingers scraped her undergarments, his nails scratched the skin of her thigh and she gritted her teeth.
"Get your hands off me, you bastard," she hissed, refusing to be intimidated by him.
"Stop the carriage," Drizdan yelled to his brother, who stopped.
Her heart began to race as she looked up into his eyes were alight with malice.
Reaching down, he pulled the chains around her and ankles free of their loops and jerked her off the chair and onto her knees before him, her arms held above her head.
Izziah stepped off the carriage and came around to see what was going on. He stopped when he saw them, Etani on her knees with Drizdan's hand still up her skirt, his face showing his feral intent.
Turning away from the carriage, Izziah left her to her fate and she hated him for it.
Spinning her around, he forced her forward onto the seat of the bench, her arms bent back painfully as he slid down behind her.
"All you had to do was be nice to me, Etani," he hissed as he gathered her dress and threw it up over her back.
Leaning over her, he dragged his tongue slowly up the side of her face, feeling that little metal stud that stung her skin, but she refused to make a sound or give him the satisfaction of knowing it hurt.
Reaching down, he grasped her inner thigh and forced her legs to part, growling his irritation at her refusal to cooperate with him.
"Damn woman, obey!" he snarled, his hand rising to slap her when a horn sounded in the distance.
His hand froze mid air and his head jerked in the direction the horn had sounded.
A moment later the sound of running footsteps reached them and Izziah was at the window.
His face was carefully schooled, but her face was turned in the right direction to see the pity in his eyes. She could only hate him more for pitying her after he had walked away and permitted his brother to do what he pleased.
"We have to go," Izziah snapped, the horn sounding again and it was closer, definitely closer.
Cursing, Drizdan pulled up his trousers and threw open the door, stepping out and she immediately dropped onto her side, allowing her skirt to drop back down over her legs.
"Get in, I'll drive," Drizdan snarled, thwarted by whatever it was that was heading their way.
Izziah moved to help her back onto the seat when he had climbed in and closed the door but she recoiled from him, unable to look at him.
She remained on the floor of the carriage, unable see anything but Izziah's retreating back as he walked away from her, leaving her to his brother.
***
By the time they had arrived, she had huddled herself as far into the corner as she could, her arms stretched out to where they were trapped. The door opened and Drizdan stood there, his eyes finding her and smirking.
He reached up to undo the chain, motioning for Izziah to do the same with the other side. Yanking hard, she was all but dragged out of the carriage, the short link between her ankles making it hard for her to walk.
Kneeling down, Drizdan looked up at her. "Harm me in any way and what I did to you in that carriage will be the least of your concerns," he said as he yanked up the hem of her skirt and removed the chains from around her ankles, freeing up her walking.
He stood and looked down at her, his eyes showing that same malicious need that had her stepping back from him, only to have him pull her closer.
"As soon as I'm alone with you..." he whispered, looking up when Izziah approached.
The white haired drow looked between the two of them and then moved on, approaching a group of six drow men and a single drow female.
Drizdan lingered behind, watching the group and leaning in to lick her jaw, laughing softly when she shuddered.
"I'm glad you didn't scream, it's more fun when they stay quiet. I can enjoy myself more when we're not interrupted."
She tried to tune him out, but it was difficult with his hot breath on her cheek and his eyes hungry on her chest. At least she had Letari's profanity to focus on, as the woman started screaming at him in her mind.
Waving them over, Drizdan pulled her along to the group and she noted that all the men looked very similar, all in various shades of greys, dark purples, and dark blues, with white, red, or black eyes and either silver, or black hair.
The woman was tall, slender and her skin was so dark purple it was almost impossible. Her hair was a pure silver and she looked haughtily at Etani.
"This is your princess?" she looked down her nose at Etani.
"Princess Etania of the Winter Court, yes," Izziah said.
The woman nodded and reached for Etani, touching her jaw and turning her head slightly to see the bite on her neck.
"Vampires are such pesky creatures. Don't suppose this one is doing too well," she said and released her. "Very well, put her in the carriage. You two can go in there with her and a guard."