That last chapter made me go back and find it from Magnus's pov hehe (its chapter 25 of AH if you want to look too!).  Quite diff than Alice's version in terms of inner thoughts. This chapter is also in AH from Magnus's pov (chapter 27)

Its funny but I wrote these books so long ago now it's like they have become something new when I reread. Like I am a reader and didnt put the words on the page lol. I always feel like my characters write the story anyway 😝

Anyhoo... things have gone well so mmmfar for Alice right? That changes now...

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When I awoke the next morning, I found a comfortable sleepiness still clinging to my senses, encouraging me to remain unmoving. There was an arm draped lightly over my body, the gentle warmth of another being beside me.

For a moment in my confused, dreamlike state, I imagined it was my mother who held me close, offering me protection as she had when I was a child. I realized she had been in my dreams. She'd been there, a vision of her youthful self smiling at me, proud that I still lived, that I had found release from the monster who had owned us both... But as my eyes focused more clearly on the arm holding me I saw the grey skin.

Magnus. The impossibly kinda sibla man. It was he who laid by my side. And yet somehow I felt no fear in his arms, no threat. It was entirely strange and confusing. He should be my enemy, a monster no different from the others I had slain and yet I felt no malice towards him at all. I felt safe with him beside me, like I lay near a friend, not a foe. But that's when I felt the rumbling.

Magnus had agreed to travel through the woods for the first two days of our escape, but he had finally convinced me to continue by the road that we'd found. I'd been paying close attention to the lack of tracks upon it and hoped it might be a deserted stretch of highway but now, I was certain I felt a distinctive shaking vibration traveling along the ground. My heart skipped in surprise at the realization. I sat up abruptly, throwing off Magnus's arm and startling the sibla man.

"Alice?" he said in confusion, "what's wrong?"

I ignored him, pricking my ears as best I could. A horrible sick feeling overwhelmed me as I recognized the distant sound I heard. A car. The authorities had found us.

I scrambled up from the ground in panic. What could I do? Where would I run? The vehicle drew closer by the second and here I was, a fugitive caught in the open with a man who could betray my culpability in a heinous crime. He'd seen me stab my Master!

"Alice?"

Magnus's voice again, filled with confusion. He had no idea what was just ahead. Of course, he had no need to fear. They would be after me.

"They're coming," I said.

"Who's coming?" he asked, climbing to his feet now. He must have seen the fear in my eyes, but he didn't understand the cause. How could he?

"The authorities," I said, feeling a shiver travel along the surface of my skin as I spoke the words aloud making them all the more real.

I cursed myself for my inaction the night before. I could be safely in death by now with my loved ones, protected from the pain I knew the authorities would soon inflict. My eyes flashed to the knife on Magnus's belt. There was still time to correct my mistake.

"Kill me now," I pleaded. "A swift death will be far kinder than what the authorities have in store."

As he hesitated I grabbed for the knife at his hip. Perhaps a threat would motivate him to take action. My efforts were futile.

"Stop this, Alice!" he said, turning to prevent me from taking hold of the weapon. "They will have no way of knowing you were involved. I can protect you."

Optimism bred of ignorance. The moment I was taken in my fate would be sealed.

"Please," I begged, grabbing his arm with the desperation of a madwoman. "If you hold any gratitude towards me. Even a modicum of sympathy, do not let them take me. You don't understand how cruel they will be. Escaped slaves always pay dearly, but after what we did..." I felt another shudder of true terror run through my body. I knew even I could not fathom the torture they would devise.

"I will save you, Alice," Magnus answered, with the confidence only a wealthy sibla man could manage. "Just follow my lead and trust me."

The car was upon us now. I had no choice but to trust. I also knew his efforts would prove futile. As I stood frozen by Magnus's side, I wondered if the sibla who climbed from the red and white van could see me shaking.

"You there," one of the uniformed men called out, "what is your business here?"

"Thank goodness you have come," Magnus said. "Rescue at last!"

I knew he was attempting to sound casual but I feared his ploy would be entirely transparent. As he spun some story, all too close to the truth, explaining how he'd escaped the attack on my former Master's estate, I kept my eyes downcast. Fearing to look on the authorities. Hoping against all hope that Magnus's lies would somehow spare me as he claimed they would, though I knew it was impossible.

"And what is that?" A deep sibla voice asked. I raised my gaze enough to see that the man's finger was pointed directly at me. I held my breath.

"That?" I heard Magnus reply. "That, is my slave."

My heart pounded uncontrollably in my chest. This wouldn't work. He'd already admitted we'd been on Dulane's estate. The authorities would have my records!

"And how did you come to be in possession of one of Cedrick Dulane's escapees?"

The question for which Magnus would have no suitable answer. The question that spelled my doom. My legs felt like jelly beneath me. I would be taken. I would suffer. I would face every pain imaginable. Every ounce of me knew this could not possibly work.

"I purchased her on the morning of the attack," Magnus lied. "She does not belong to Dulane but myself."

"And do you have the papers to prove that, Sir?" the officer asked.

Magnus gave some angry response, claiming he hardly had the wherewithal to grab papers as he was fleeing for his life. A reasonable complaint if any of his story made sense. I could see from the skepticism in the officers' eyes that they were unconvinced.

"And what is her name?" one asked.

Magnus looked at me with what almost passed for genuine confusion.

"All humans look much the same to me. I'm afraid I don't remember. It was certainly on her documents," he answered.

Convincing. The expression of indifference he wore was enough now to convince even me that he might truly see me as any other animal. It was not a particularly comforting thought. In the wake of his desperation and gratitude, kindness had shown through, but now that he had found true rescue? What was to prevent him from abandoning me? Especially if the authorities made it difficult for him to do anything else, which seemed to be exactly what they are intent on doing.

"You there, slave," Magnus said, addressing me now. "what is your name?"

Should I lie? I wondered. With the sibla eyes trained upon me, I was tempted. I had all but orchestrated the attack single-handedly. It was possible another had already named me. Charged me with culpability in orchestrating our acts of sibla murder. Would it do any good to pretend to hold a different title? No doubt they had a list of every one of my Master's livestock. They would check the brand on my skin. It seemed useless to claim another's identity.

"Alice," I answered shakily. The sound of my voice was barely audible, my mouth dry.

"Speak up." One of the sibla authorities barked. I jumped at the sound of his voice and cowered back, my heart pounding once again in terror. Only a moment later I felt the all too familiar sting of a hand striking against my cheek.

"What is wrong with you!" Magnus admonished, his gaze entirely devoid of an ounce of sympathy. "The officer asked you a question and I expect he will be answered properly."

How could this be the same man who had spoken so gently to me just one day ago? As he stared down at me with his cold blue eyes he looked every bit as monstrous as the creatures who had controlled my life since the day I was born.

I knew he was a farmer of humans. That was why he'd come to Dulane's estate. He'd been there to purchase human flesh. What if, in the end, he was just as cold-hearted as all the rest? The skin of my cheek burned with the imprint of his hand as if to reaffirm my fears. Act or not, I answered him with the same obedience I had learned well to give to all angry sibla.

"Yes, Master," I stuttered, "forgive me, Master."

Magnus grabbed a hold of my neck from behind and forced me to step forward, all the closer to officers and my doom.

"Now answer again," he demanded.

"My name is Alice," I said, louder this time, more clearly. What did it matter? I was already condemned. As one of the officers looked me up and down and then checked his clipboard, I knew the end was inevitable. They already suspected. They already knew.

"I'm afraid we will have to take her with us," the sibla man said as he checked off something on his papers."

Prepared as I was for this response, I could not help my body's reaction. A shudder of panic ran through me like none I'd ever felt before, as if all of my blood had frozen in my veins. As the officer reached out and grabbed hold of my arm it was all I could do to remain on my feet, terror threatening to buckle my knees and send me to the ground. But it was then that a large grey hand pressed against my chest, pushing me stumbling backward, freeing my arm from the officer's grasp. I blinked in surprise as Magnus stepped between me and my captors.

"Now see here!" he said, indignant, "That animal is mine. Bought and paid for with my hard-earned money."

The action filled me with a modicum of hope again. Magnus's act remained convincing but he clearly was still trying to help. Why else would he stop them from taking me? For a moment, I wondered if he might indeed keep me from certain death. But as Magnus and the authorities exchanged rapid, terse words, I could see my potential savior's arguments were not proving entirely effective.

"I see your predicament Mr.."

"Kendrick," Magnus answered sharply. "Magnus Kendrick."

Even in my panic I noticed that the officer seemed to respond to the moniker.

"Perhaps you have heard of my brother? Torvald Kendrick,"Magnus asked.

I knew that Cedrick too had seemed keenly aware of Magnus's brother's place in the human industry. Was this name one that could truly help? From what I had overheard of Dulane's conversation with his friend, Magnus's brother was far less interested in human welfare.

"I'm certain if you take myself and this animal to the station and summon my brother we could work out this whole predicament with little fuss," Magnus continued.

The officer did not answer. My heart pounded painfully in my chest. I hated how helpless I was. Reduced back to the status of animal, unable to do anything to help myself, stuck between men bargaining for my life.

"I understand your hesitation," Magnus said, filling the silence left in the wake of the authorities' refusal to respond. "But though I mean no disrespect to the deceased, Cedrick Dulane is dead and I still must live on. I have put a great deal of money into this animal and can not afford to lose my investment."

The cold tone of Magnus's voice was far from reassuring, even as I tried to console myself in the knowledge that this was an act. He had assured me of that, hadn't he? And yet, I realized how little I knew about the man I had followed into the woods. Nothing about him made any sense so why should I suspect I might predict his actions now? And I was entirely at his mercy. He knew what I had done. How long would he really maintain my secret? How much longer would he continue this charade before he decided it was all too much effort to involve himself with one who had murdered his own kind.

"Perhaps a compromise might be reached?" one of the officers said finally after eyeing me once again. "We will take both you and this human back into town and hold her in quarantine until we determine to whom she belongs and her level of involvement in the attack. Will you agree?"

My heart sank as Magnus began to nod his head.

"Of course, Officer," he said as if discussing matters entirely banal. As if my life did not hang in the balance. "Anything to cooperate with the law. But understand that my agreeing, to this arraignment in no way should be interpreted as a sign of my relinquishing my claim. This animal belongs to me and I will indeed fight to regain possession. I expect she will remain unharmed until this issue is resolved? She will be no use to me damaged."

He thought he was being so cleaver. He thought his show was fooling the officers and that he would have his way in the end, but I knew the truth. The authorities were playing Magnus like a fiddle. They were only waiting to take me into their possession and ensure they did not insult an affluent, well connected, man in the process. They had no intention of letting me live. As if to confirm my suspicions I noted a quick, knowing glance that passed between the two officers before they spoke again.

"She will be handled delicately enough," one of them said, the hint of a smirk on the edge of his lips. "But her treatment will largely depend on her cooperation in our investigations. She is indeed one of Dulane's human stock and there is no telling what she might know."

I wished I might fall to the ground and breath no more. I was already too broken to resit their torture for long. I wondered what I might do to achieve death before I might betray any of my friends. It was too late to hope for more than that.

"I will not have her interrogated without cause."

Magnus's curt response surprised me. It seemed he too had caught the nuance in the officers' words. Perhaps he was savvier than I'd believed.

"Take us back to town and give me at least three days to verify my ownership before putting the human to any sort of questioning. I must also insist that you keep her away from others you might have found during that time. Dulane assured me she was an obedient creature but I can't allow her wayward fellows to turn her feral. Humans are all too susceptible to the influence of those around them."

He was buying me time and I was grateful for his efforts but I wondered how three days might possibly make a difference in my fate. Magnus was only delaying the inevitable. Still, the authorities nodded in response to his words.

"Your request is reasonable," one said. "We will keep her in a private cell and refrain from any advanced interrogation for at least three days.

My nerves were no more soothed with this declaration. Now that the authorities had agreed to Magnus's terms and he to theirs, the situation seemed as hopeless as ever. I would be in the hands of the sibla authorities, marked as a slave with culpability in a large scale rebellion. One that had resulted in the death of at least forty sibla lives. My end would be long and painful.

"Bring the animal forward," one of the officers said. "She will have to be bound for the journey."

A nauseous feeling overwhelmed me at his words. After everything I had already suffered, after every bit of planning, Dulane's spirit would have its revenge. I would indeed pay for what I had done. I would not go down in a blaze of glory with a weapon in hand. I would be chained again, controlled by the very people I had rebelled against. All because I had chosen to be merciful and save one that didn't deserve death. Just as I had Lina. At least this time I would bare the consequences of my actions and not another.

"Come, slave," Magnus's voice boomed. I couldn't quite force my feet to move, panic overwhelming my subconscious and taking from me the bravery I wished I could show in facing my end. I was just too tired. I'd been through too much. But instead of offering sympathy, a deep frown formed on Magnus's face as he stalked over to me, grabbing my shoulders roughly and forcing me to meet his gaze.

"You will do as I say!" he commanded, "do you understand? Your former master assured me you were an obedient creature. If you can not be so now, perhaps I will leave you with the authorities.

"Please," I whispered, tears in my eyes. I knew in my heart he was only playing a part and yet in his feigned rage I saw the truth I was about to face. An endless string of angry sibla just like this character he pretended to be. Only they would not be pretending.

My whole body trembled as he raised his hand as if to strike. How many more bruises could I take without shattering into a million pieces! "Help me," I said, though the words were meaningless now. There was nothing he could do. He'd already tried harder than I'd expected he might. It hadn't mattered.

"I will save you, Alice," he breathed, as I cowered before him. I felt a manic giggle almost escape my lips. Such inane optimism. And in that moment I nodded my head. What was the point in begging and pleading for things that were impossible? I would have no choice but to pray. Pray that there really was a deity above who looked out for those who tried to do good in this life, as my mother had always taught me. As Dreda believed in without question. Pray that whatever suffering I faced, the end would come quickly.

"Forgive me, Master," I answered, assuming the role I had so many times before. The cowardly slave, asking for mercy from a man that would not heed her request. At least this had been one who might have been worthy of the title of "Master." I knew in my heart that Magnus would have saved me if he could. Still, as his hand fell and he took tight hold of my arm, it was difficult to cooperate, my feet dragging somehow though I was doing my best to will them forward.

I stood entirely still as the sibla authorities brought forth impossibly heavy chains and fastened them around my ankles and neck. I tried not to wince as they tied my wrists with coarse rope, tightening the bonds until I could feel the fibers cutting into my skin. My mother had worn similar adornment on her way to slaughter. Now it was my turn.

When the sibla men were certain I was fully incapacitated by my restrains, one of them took rough hold of my arm and dragged me towards the waiting trailer. It was difficult to move now, of course, the chains around my ankles weighing me down and constricting my steps. My captors had no sympathy. The man beside me only tightened his grip and pulled harder. So hard I nearly tripped over my own feet and stumbled to the ground. I managed to catch myself before it happened and reach the small trailer.

As they threw me inside I caught one more glimpse of Magnus before they closed the door of my mobile prison. In spite of the blank expression he wore, I could feel his regret. His message of hope and assurance that he would save me. Though I knew his efforts would be futile I took comfort in the knowledge that at least one might mourn my death. I tried to hold on to that final gaze of sympathy even as the door slammed shut, encasing me in darkness.

——

Yeah.... Things are not looking good. In AH we got account of this part of the story from Magnus's pov, but he was swiftly whisked to his brother's home. Given food & drink & comfort after his ordeal. Alice wasn't so lucky. So what happened next if we follow her story...