Corabelle turned to face the Aldrian woman’s line of sight, to find three others standing in the doorway of the decrepit home behind her.

  A plain, skinny man stood in the front of the group. He was young, his hair messy and poorly cut, but he had the eyes of a scholar, beyond his age, scrutinous of the Demon before him.

  Behind him was a far taller blond man who looked as though he might be able to fight a bear with one arm tied behind his back, but his features were gentle, like her father’s. Despite his apparent strengths, he seemed to be having a hard time restraining the third person.

  Wrapped in his arms, trying to raise a heavy looking old crossbow was a woman. She had a tangle of beautiful dark ringlets spilling over her face as she struggled. Contrasting her dark skin was a thick spattering of old burns up her neck and cheek. Her face was full of fury as the large man held a firm hand over her mouth. Her whole body quaked.

  Corabelle froze. She knew this face, knew that fury, knew that weapon.

  The man in the front stepped forward with his hands raised, “Before anyone says or does anything else,” He said quickly. While his expression was annoying, it was barely masking sudden panic, “We didn’t know, we couldn’t know, there was history here. Please, I know you have no reason to believe me, but we won’t try to hurt you. We won’t let her try.” His teeth clenched as he looked back toward the girl.

  She could see in his eyes this was not their plan. Whatever was supposed to happen had clearly gone to the hells when it had been Corabelle to show up here in the village.

  Her eyes locked with the girl. She wanted, tried desperately, to put herself in the position this girl had been. On the surface she understood it. Her school had been invaded by monsters, but every time she tried to rationalize it more deeply, her mind returned to the black tendrils under Zaramir’s skin; her own hands shifting through jars frantically as she tried to figure out how to create an antidote to that horrific poison.

  Trying to kill them was expected, but that poison was malice. It was planned, deliberate, not like the others who ran in with nothing but crude weapons and righteousness. She was a hunter who found her prey and wanted it to suffer.

  Still, she did believe that the man in front of her wasn’t lying. It was just horribly unfortunate luck that it was her to show up.

  “I believe you,” Her voice cracked before she could steady it. “And, whatever she told you, I don’t want to fight her or any of you.”

  His posture relaxed, “Thank the gods,” He dared a small smile. “Fighting you would have gone poorly. But,” His smile fell. “If we’re going to take you somewhere safe, we’re going to have to restrain you. We’re not even supposed to be here. We weren't supposed to go after you. If we just show up with you…” He pulled a rope from the satchel at his waist with an apologetic look.

  Corabelle took a step back, her eyes returning to the woman.

  Her fury seemed to fizzle from a flame to embers as the man behind her whispered something into her ear.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The man followed her gaze, “I know,” He chuckled uncomfortably. “Of all the ways this could have gone wrong, all the ways we could have prepared, and the gods throw this at us.” He seemed to be talking more to himself than Corabelle as he lowered the rope to his side.

  She stared at them for a moment then at the girl.

  If their estimation was correct, she had little to no time left before the Fae could know where she was. Even if she decided to leave now, she’d never make it back.

  She’d come this far. This chance, as slim as it was, was the only one she’d ever get. Maybe the situation could be better but it sure as the hells could be a lot worse. There was no choice here.

  “That’s a normal rope?” She inquired.

  He looked back, surprised by her question, “Yes, why?”

  “It wouldn’t hold a Faedemon who actually tried to escape it. You know that right?”

  Corabelle jumped as a hearty laugh escaped his lips, “Of course,” he held the rope up, running his fingers over the rough hemp. “We know that, you know that, but the common people… It would certainly make them feel a lot better.”

  She extended her wrists toward him, “You superiors will know too.”

  He nodded, “Let’s just hope the fact you even came with us at all is enough to ease their worry.”

  He approached her, tying the rough rope around her wrists, tying the knot carefully, but not so tightly as to chafe her wrists.

  “Your note said the Dewsilver would last a halfday,” Corabelle commented as he worked. “I left at dawn. Is there time to get back to your home?”

  He froze his hand falling away from the finished knot, “I didn’t make the formula.” He replied softly.

  Corabelle turned to gaze at the Aldiran woman, hoping she was the alchemist responsible, but her eyes were already on the other woman.

  She’s the alchemist. Of course.

  Corabelle looked at her as the man behind her slowly lowered his hand from her mouth.

  The other woman worked her jaw, planning her next words carefully, “My estimate was conservative, assuming you didn’t make it out of the palace unscathed,” she finally said bitterly. “If you didn’t lose any blood, you probably have another six hours or so before we would really need to worry.” The look in her eye said she hoped her expected outcome had been the one to pass.

  “I snuck out,” Corabelle said to the man, “I’m not sure how long until they realized I was gone.”

  The tension in his expression relaxed, “Good. It’s a fair walk home.”He stood there silently for a moment, “I hesitate to ask this…”

  “Ask what?”

  He pulled a strip of cloth from his bag, “We can’t really have you knowing where home is…” he said in hopes it was enough explanation.

  Corabelle looked at the cloth.

  They wanted to blindfold her as well. She supposed she should have expected this. If something were to go wrong, her memories would be just as dangerous as she.

  She brushed the stray strands away from her face, so they wouldn’t get pinned beneath the material as she turned around to let him wrap it.

  He tied the blindfold far more tightly than the rope. Her face began to sweat immediately from the humidity as the material tightened over her eyes. Though, it felt thin. She expected she would be able to see through it if she tried to open her eyes.

  “If it’s alright I’ll lead you by the arm so you don’t trip,” he said as she felt his hands fall away from the cloth.

  “Alright,” She agreed. “Thank you.”

  As a warm hand took her by the upper arm, and they began the journey, she heard the sea disappear behind them. To keep them safe, this was the only thing she’d allow herself to know; they were heading inland.