Sena slowly woke to the low buzzing in her head. Fighting a groan, she sat up in bed and brushed her hair out of her face and massaged one side of her temple. She yawned and slipped out of the bed and tried to look for slippers, her eyes closed when she froze and suddenly recalled the events. 

 Sena’s eyes flew open and a gasp escaped her lips as she belatedly realized the cavernous chamber was not her home.   

"I died." She muttered, trying to suppress the hysteria bubbling inside.  "This doesn't look like heaven so I probably ended up the other way. Great. Just great." 

 Surveying her surroundings for a weapon, she realized that it was probably of no use.  Although the room was spacious, it only had the bare essentials for a bedroom.  She eyed the gold trim on the bedding, the intricate designs in the wooden posts and even the nearby dresser looked meticulously crafted.  Such rich surroundings were definitely not familiar to her, let alone an era she could even begin to define. 

 “You can't die again, can you?”  She tapped her chin, glancing around again for some semblance of the familiar but with no success. 

"You're very much alive." 

 Freezing at the voice coming from the doorway, she refused to turn and face Ramses.  Frantically looking for a weapon, she only found a hairbrush on the bedside table. 

 She turned around to find him watching her in amusement.   

"You want to brush me to death?" He stepped closer and she took a step back in response, her back against the end of the bed.  "Not a bad way to go." 

"Where am I? Take me back. You have no right." Sena mustered, still gripping the brush. 

 Ramses raised an eyebrow but stopped a foot away from her.   Both hands remained in his pockets, casually leaning against the doorway. 

 She could see his profile clearly, even when the chamber was lit only by a soft fire to her right.  It was clean and masculine.  

 Like a wild hunter. 

She couldn't help but think, even as he watched her like a dangerous predator, waiting for her next move.   

With a determined purse of her lips, he watched her place the brush back on the bedside table and glare at him.   

 Fiery creature. 

 He mused, as she defiantly made her stand, her chin pointed up at him. 

"This is my kingdom.  You are under my care and I will safely return you in due time.  You have my word.  And I have never broken it once it is made."  He finally answered, nodding slightly at the servants who reappeared in the corner of his eyes. 

 Leave. 

 The servants melted back into the shadows. 

 She looked warily at him, even as she stood her ground.  "Fine words for someone who stole them away in the first place." She challenged.   

 Her hands tightened into fists as he continued to glance at her in amusement, his eyes unreadable. 

"I regret my methods were rash."  He admitted to her surprise.  "But it was necessary.  There is a lot at stake.  Events are unfolding that is greater than any of us."  His own gaze sharpened as he began to close the distance between them. 

 She took a hesitant step back, now unsure as to her next move.  "Not much of an apology but I guess I have no choice."  She grit out.  "I can't believe I'm somehow okay with the idea of another world," she gestured to their surroundings.  "But I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore."  She muttered, rifling a hand carelessly through her long dark hair.  He could see a hint of a curl in her hair, strands of darker hues of gold threaded throughout. 

 Ramses watched the gesture without expression before he finally nodded to her.  "Very gracious of you.  I'm relieved I don't have to waste time managing your hysteria." 

 She narrowed her eyes at him.  "I'm no damsel but this is a bit much.  Care to explain further?"  She strode towards the adjoining doorway and sat down by the fireplace. 

 He was amused to find her in his seat as he leaned against the doorway.  "How about we eat first?"  

 She opened her mouth to protest, only to have her stomach rumble at that moment.  With a flush, she stood up and nodded.   

 He made a gesture and she watched servants appear and prepare the nearby table with delicious items from a cart before disappearing as silently. 

 He nodded at one of the chairs, which slid back smoothly on its own and he glanced back at her.   

“Fancy trick.” She mustered, sitting in the offered chair and pushing it towards the table herself before he could do so. 

 He chuckled as he sat down in the opposite chair. 

“Does nothing phase you, my dear?”   

 She fought not to snort at the address.  “Sena.”  She calmly responded, picking up the napkin to drape across her lap.   

He reached over and placed a few different items on her plate, a charming smile on his lips.  “Pleasure is all mine, Sena.” 

 She fought not to shiver at the way he seemed to own her name with the way he pronounced it.   

 Ramses bowed slightly in his seat as he took his own napkins to place on his lap.  “I am known by many names.  But to you, you may call me Ramses.” 

 She raised an eyebrow, her fork and knife hovering over the food.  “What are you?”  

 He took a bite of the steak and slowly chewed as he watched her curiously watching him back.  He finally swallowed and reached to take a sip of wine. 

“In your world, you called us Gods.” 

She blinked, noting the plural.  “Where are the others?  And how many of you are there?”

He swirled the content of the wine and glanced at her from above the rim. “Aren’t you more curious as to why you are here?” 

 She grit her teeth as she dug into the food, barely tasting it as she warily watched him.  “Evading my questions.  Spoken like a true villain in a story.”  She muttered, taking a stab at the steak and hoping that none of the food was poisoned. 

 He chuckled and stood up from his chair. 

 She swallowed as he walked to her side and glanced down at her.  She gulped. 

 Crap, running my mouth again. 

 Ramses reached out and she flinched and closed her eyes, expecting the worst.  Instead, she felt the corner of the napkin dab at her mouth.  Her eyes flew open as he stepped back, his eyes unreadable. 

“This is not a fairytale world, my dear.  Everyone is predisposed to good and evil.”  He reached out again and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.  

 She gaped at him, speechless.  Then she shook her head to snap out of it and gripped the knife in her hand.  “Aren’t you a bit too comfortable touching and addressing me in this manner?” She grit out. 

 He leaned forward until his face was inches from hers. 

 She felt her breath leave her and her pulse quicken.  She tried to look away but those eyes held her in place. 

“If you truly knew who you were, who you are, then you would disagree.” He murmured, his warm breath reaching her lips. 

 She pursed her lips, fighting the irrational urge to bite his, and found the strength to look away.  “Just tell me how long you intend to keep me prisoner before I can go home.” 

 A pause that felt like eternity, before he moved away and sat back down opposite her.  “There is a festival that occurs every hundred years.  You will play a vital role that only your kind can play.  You will return to your world only after the festival is over.” 

 Her eyes widened, trying to absorb the information.  “A hundred years?!  How old are you?” Sena sputtered, sitting back in her chair and observing him as Ramses crossed his legs casually and drank the rest of the wine. 

“Time has no governance here, unlike your world.” 

 She sighed, getting used to his cryptic responses in a frighteningly small amount of time. 

“Fine, whatever.  Just tell me what I need to do at this festival.” 

 He placed the glass down and faced her directly, a determined look on his face. 

 I’m not going to like what he’ll say. 

 She found herself thinking, right before he answered. 

“You will help me hunt down a killer.”