Everything was going black again.
The pungent smell filling Kel's nose was detestably familiar. What had they called that stuff? Aconitum? Apparently, it was the drug of choice in Serin for kidnapping people.
"Y-you.." she lifted a trembling finger toward the grinning figure in front of her.
"I told you, darling, this hurts me more than it hurts you," the figure chirped, rewrapping the powder-filled cloth and returning it to their pocket.
Kel tried to say more, to tell that person exactly what she thought of them, but she wasn't strong enough to cling to consciousness any longer. Her thoughts were melting away rapidly, and her eyelids refused to stay open.
With a thud, her limp body fell against the figure's exposed chest. Lifting her in their arms, the person clicked their tongue.
"It would have been easier, if only you'd behaved."
***
