Bound in Black Magic
Sighing heavily, I let my head drop back against the lumpy mattress, closing my eyes in a desperate bid to pretend this whole cursed life was just a terrible nightmare I would soon wake up from.
My brief fantasy was violently shattered by a sharp, authoritative knock echoing loudly through the room, announcing the presence of whoever stood on the other side of the heavy wooden door. Maria hurried over and pulled it open, her shoulders tensing.
Standing in the doorway was a stern-looking woman dressed in neat, immaculate maid attire. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight, flawless bun, and a small, distinct mole rested gracefully on the corner of her nose. She radiated the strict, unyiel