When I am finally relieved of having a sticky sack on my head, it is broad daylight. Or I suppose it is broad daylight, for it had been dark when Everett had kidnapped me, and I have not (to the best of my knowledge) fallen asleep. The first thing I notice about my new location is that it is very fine. Thick rugs carpet the floor, and a gorgeous four-poster bed with silken sheets stands in one corner of the room. The second thing I notice is that there are no windows. The third thing I notice is a tray of food. I see a chicken leg on a bed of mashed potatoes, a plate of greens with garlic, and a small almond cake.
I sniff the food. If Everett wanted to poison me, why could he not have just slipped a little into my breakfast this morning? At my castle. With no sacks or Halopods involved. Still, I can't take any chances. The almond cake could contain cyanide, and any of the food could contain a lethal and locally-made poison known as bluebottle. Bluebottle is an untraceable liquid. Just a tiny drop can induce vomiting, fever, and ultimately, death. It isn't colored and doesn't have a smell, so it is considered the most deadly poison. Sadly, even though I am starving, I can't eat for fear of bluebottle.
I search the room. It seems safe enough, but one can never be sure. If he wanted to kill me, he could have just stabbed me in my sleep. What his intentions are now, I have no idea. There are no spikes in the rug, and when I push the walls they don't move. There are no small vents to release gasses, and the chandelier cannot move. I feel satisfied that this room, at least, is safe. I gaze down at myself and feel a whole separate degree of panic. Worse, even, than being dragged out of my castle in the middle of the night, is that Everett had seen me in my nightshift! I race to the armoire and throw it open.
I don't know what I am expecting to see in the wardrobe. Maybe I expected some armored beast to leap out and attack me. But what is in the wardrobe is even worse: Dresses. Scores of them. They aren't the sort of dresses that I wear normally, either. They are heavy brocade and velvet that weigh more than I do. They are pearl-studded and dripping with diamonds. I also find a note.

Dearest Lorelei.
I have taken the liberty of filling this wardrobe with clothing for you. I hope that the dresses suit you well. In a few hours of me writing this, maids will come in and assist you in getting dressed. I wish for you to join me for supper tonight, and if you do not I am afraid that we will have to do this the hard way.
All my love, Everett.

I scan the letter a few times, and then shred it. I hear a knock at the door, and then answer it. Several maids march into the room. They all have blank, expressionless faces and dark, hollow eyes. Without a word, they begin tearing off my nightshift. One of the maids has me into a corset before I can blink. I would protest, but they tied it too tight. They must have made my waist an inch around. They start to fasten me into a dress, but I swat them away. I button where I can and then pitch a shawl over my shoulders. The gown is scarlet brocade with a mustard colored velvet outer 'show' corset. I can't trudge down to supper in my chamber slippers, so I have to put on gold shoes with long, curling toes. The shawl I selected is a rich, deep blue, which doesn't look nearly as bad with the scarlet-and-mustard dress as I had anticipated. I plait my hair to the side, put my game face on, and walk down to the banquet hall.