When I arrived home– if it can even be called that– I hustled to my room. A few of the maids wandering around snickered and jeered at my torn dress. I pointedly ignored them and slammed into my room– ripping the dress off.

Quickly I changed into a nightgown and sat on the bed. Now what am I supposed to do?

The Duke would be furious– had I not only failed to find a match I had caused a scandal thanks to Paulita. I had no intention of finding someone anyway, my goal was to leave not to play the match-making game.

I sighed, dropping my head into my hands. Several different outcomes flashed through my mind– and none of them were good. Either the Duke would scold me again– which I doubted. Or, he would transition to abuse.

"I need to leave this place." I mumbled. "The longer I stay without doing something, the more likely I can't control the situation."

I ran my hands through the long waves of Kyla's– no not hers any longer– my hair. I tugged out the pins I had put in to keep it from turning into a wild mess and sank back into the bed– arms spread wide.

What happens next in the story? I wondered– stifling a yawn.

After the wine spilling incident– Paulina was supposed to shyly ask the crown prince for assistance in finding a replacement dress. With the way he had acted toward her– I didn't foresee that actually happening.

If they didn't bond a bit at the ball– the story may be in danger of going off the rails. No, I shook my head and sat back up. The ball wasn't the beginning of their romance anyway. It had only been a soft introduction to the naive female lead.

Not that I want it to happen though. With their romance kicking off and the drama with the other two leads– and my death– them not starting to become chummy worked in my favor.

Absently, I rubbed the back of my left hand where the symbol of the contract between Sayvren and I disappeared. I should call on him. I don't have the luxury to sit around like this and wait for a beheading.

The problem was– I didn't know how to call the sprite. Do I just call his name like he said? The brand wasn't showing no matter what I did.

"Sayvren." I said, voice bouncing around the near empty room.

I waited for a few minutes and sighed when nothing happened.

"Sayvren, you told me to call on you– why are you not answering me?" I mumbled, rubbing the spot again.

Seconds passed and the symbol glowed faintly. A loud pop sounded before me and Sayvren appeared looking tired and bored.

"Hello, hello." He yawned, sitting cross-legged in the air. "I have come!"

"You don't say." I said, dryly. "I need your help."

"With what?" Sayvren cocked his head.

"You have magic abilities right?"

"Well, yeah. All of the sprites do." He scratched his head. "You felt it when we formed the contract after all."

"Right." I nodded, recalling the sensation of feeling the air and hearing sounds I should not have been able to. "I'm planning to leave this place, but I need your help to do so."

"Umm." Sayvren glanced away. "About that…I can't actually use my powers right now."

"What do you mean?" I jumped up, crossing my arms. He has to be kidding…right?

"Well, after a sprite and a mortal form a contract there's a cool down period." He shrugged. "I can't use my powers for a while."

"How long is a while?"

"Um, it depends on a few things." He said evasively. "Like weather and-"

"Did you scam me after all?" I reached out, wrapping a hand around his small body– pulling him close to my face. "You did, didn't you?"

"No!" Sayvren shook his head, trying to pry my fingers off. "I didn't lie about anything!"

"I can't believe this." I tossed him away and sank down into the bed, dropping my head into my hands for the second time.

Of course this damn novel would introduce some kind of useless magical creature. I didn't know why I expected it to be otherwise. Afterall, I was in the body of the villainess of all people. Villainesses never get a cheat code.

"I swear I can use them soon." Sayvren insisted, tapping my hand. "And you can too– once you stabilize and learn to control your magi-"

"How am I supposed to stabilize?" I asked, cutting him off and looking up at him. "I don't even know how I got here in the first place."

"Well," Sayvren tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I haven't seen a case like yours so, I'm not sure how long it will take." At my glare he continued quickly. "Okay, I have heard of an instance a long, long time ago from a crazy old man."

"How are the words of a lunatic supposed to help me in this situation?"

"Wait," Sayvren held up his hands. "Just 'cause he was crazy doesn't mean he didn't know anything. According to him it takes a few months and then you're golden."

"I don't have a few months."

"Just hold out until then and-"

"Leave. Right. Now. Before I throw you into the fireplace." I snapped– the thin thread of patience about to sever.

"Go ahead and try." Sayvren snorted. "A fire won't do me any harm, I'm the great-"

"Leave. Now!" I practically screamed.

Sayvren's eyes widened and his mouth formed an "O" before another pop sounded and he disappeared from view.

I'm going to have to escape on my own. I groaned, shifting under the blanket. What kind of nonsense was that stupid sprite even spouting?

It seemed more like he wanted to form a contract out of curiosity rather than to actually help me. It's my fault. I knew better and I still agreed to it anyway.

I lay awake for a long time that night– my thoughts swirling through every worse case scenario it could imagine.

When I did fall asleep– I didn't dream.

The only thing I saw was darkness.