The ship was anchored near a white bridge that connected with a wooden pergola. Behind the pergole was a white edifice that seemed sculpted straightly into the amethyste walls, its base submerged into the glowing waters.
The crew on the ship's deck bore a striking resemblance with those that I risked my life to save back when I was in the castle's secret halls.
"Is it my imagination? It can't be those ungrateful thieves..."
Two more steps and I could clearly see that I wasn't wrong. And my killer was resting on a crate, scrutinizing the surroundings.
I stopped, feeling that a few more steps would lead me into another trap, and this time I was out of tricks, since the innkeeper already knew about my healing pearl. All my instincts were screaming to run away, as I saw the woman slightly moving one hand.
"I'm sorry. My intention wasn't to deceive or hurt you, but there is no other way."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Suddenly, something hard hit my head, making me feel dizzy, but, although I saw an explosion of fireworks before my eyes, I managed to keep my consciousness and even tried to run. A second blow hit my legs and I fell to the ground.
"No! Don't kill her! We need her alive to buy some time to get out of here," said the innkeeper. "That creature has my skin. It's bound to find me."
"We can kill that creature. These weapons are..."
"This is different from the ones we saw feasting in the graveyards. With all my powers, I couldn't even give it a scratch. As we are now, we don't stand a chance against it. Besides, no matter how strong our weapons are, if you lack experience in wielding them, then, they are good as nothing. We must hurry and leave the kingdom. The soldiers know about our deeds. There is nothing left for us here. Now, tie her up and put this bloody sack on her. Also, she has some treasures in that pouch, and she hid a healing bead under her wig. Make sure you take everything! Then hurt her so much that she won't be able to move properly, but still able to walk on her own."
Hearing them talking so casually about my demise made my blood boil with rage and I couldn't stop my tears, but all I could say was:
"Please, let me go. You can take the pouch, just let me live. I saved your lives! You owe me that much."
"And we already showed you mercy at the castle, offering you a quick death," replied the blonde girl with an angry tone. "We owe you nothing."
"Innkeeper!"
The woman turned away her gaze, while the man that slithered my throat before stabbed me in the right eye and crushed my left knee. I didn't even have time to scream. Then they took all my clothes, even my wig and boots, and wrapped around me the filthy sack full of the innkeeper's blood. The man plunged his dagger below my left ribs. With all my might, I stopped my screams and pretended to faint, lying motionless so that he wouldn't hurt me more. He drew a deep cut into my arm, but since he got no reaction, I heard his steps depart, then the cracking of the ship and their orders on deck, and soon the only sound remaining was that of the river.
"I hate them! I hate them! I hate them! Why is this happening to me?! Oh, God! It hurts so much. I want them to pay!"
The pain was unbearable, but before it would cloud my judgement, I threw away in the water that bloody sack, since now had my blood on it, too. I was terrified that the same fate of the innkeeper would've become mine too.
"I don't want to be skinned alive. If I am to die, then let it be quick and less painful."
I pressed my wound under my ribs, trying to spare my blood as much as possible, and crawled near the closest wall. I just wanted to get away from that place. The darkness felt like I was beneath the water, very deep, and it was as if that pressure would crush me slowly. No matter how painful each step was, I didn't dare to make a sound, not even to cry. In the echoes of that place there were muffled, weird sounds of something that wasn't human.
"But isn't it a good thing they're not humans? So far, only humans have tried to hurt and kill me..."
Another growl echoed through the tunnels.
"Was this closer? Is it getting closer or am I walking towards it? I can't see a thing."
I stopped and listened. Nothing.
"Is this in my mind? Why do I even try? I lost too much blood. I will... die anyway."
An eerie growl split the silence of the darkness again, but this time surely was from a few meters behind.
"But not by that creature! Not by that thing!"
I started to limp faster through the tunnels, but no crevasse opened at my feet, just a smooth path, even the ceiling was glowing faintly now, and I went in that direction. To my surprise, soon, I saw the white light and the piling snow at the end of the tunnel. By the time I got there, I could barely stand on my feet and on the first step on the snow I slipped and fell in a little valley full of fluffy snow.
I couldn't move anymore. I looked on the bloody trail above me, while the snow kept falling on my naked body. This was another exit. I turned my gaze towards the grey sky.
"This is quite peaceful. It becomes warmer and warmer. Even the pain fades away. I'm so tired. This world is too cruel. It never gave me a true chance for a new life. This... may be a good place to die."
The sensations were somehow soothing. The warmth of my blood and the coldness of the snow seemed to blend together. I was encased in a tomb of snow.
"I regret many things. I had such an useless life. But in the end, none of this matter. I should let go of everything. This snow covers everything, all my feelings, all my regrets... my memories... my hate... me... "
Something moved the snow around me and the next moment a giant mouth was descending above me, but luckily, it all faded to dark, even before I could feel the sharp teeth sinking into my body.
"I am grateful for this last act of mercy," was my last thought, before darkness swallowed me.