"Do you have a room available?" I asked.
The burly man, with his graying yellow- streaked hair and greasy brown locks, looked me up and down.
"Theres nothing available in the inn.
I can only offer you the stable," he replied gruffly.
"Are there any other lodgings in town?" "No, just this one.
Do you want the stable or not?" he said impatiently.
I was about to agreeafter all, I was so exhausted I could have fallen asleep standing upbut a heavy arm suddenly draped over my shoulders, and a male body pressed against my side.
"Old Louis, I can share my room with this lady," I looked up to see a tall, thin man with greasy blonde hair grinning at me with yellowed teeth.
"Oh, shes pretty.
Whats your price, sweetheart?" "Whatever she does is her business.
If she wants to crawl into your bed and stay there for the night, ---- youll just have to pay me extra for crowding the room," the innkeeper added with a shrug.
"T want the stable.
Im not sharing a bed with anyone," I said, shaking off the mans arm with annoyance.
I finally paid the few coins the innkeeper charged me to sleep next to the animals.
"Hey, kitty! If you change your mind, Im in room sixlI pay well for the night!" the slimy man shouted behind me.
I didnt even flinch.
As long as he didnt touch me, I didnt care about the nonsense he spouted.
But some people just dont take NO for an answer.
Islipped into the dining hall and sat in a discreet corner, pulling down my hood under the cover of darkness and ordering my mealI was starving.
Around me, the loud chatter of drunken men filled the room, laughter booming as barmaids with their breasts nearly spilling out served drinks, getting groped left and right.
I didn't like this place.
Id spend the night and leave at dawn.
"Hey, they say the Lycan King is on the move.
His men are advancing through the southern border.
"You think we'll be ruled by Aldric Thorne now?" "T doubt it.
The sorcerers need to beat the vampires to take control of the castle.
Whoever controls the castle controls the Realm..." "But what about the curse? It activated after the Vampire King died, and now no one can enter the palace..
Bits and pieces of conversation floated around me, fragments of information I had been collecting.
Icouldnt care less about the internal struggle for power in this Realm, but I was heading south to meet Beof.
That night, I arranged my straw mattress on the old wooden floor.
Thad chosen the second floor of the stable, where tools were stored.
From there, I could look down at the horse stalls and keep an eye on the entrance.
---- I wasnt going to sleep with both eyes closedI had learned the hard way that danger lurked everywhere.
And as expected, my instincts were right.
That night, whispers in the dark woke me.
Crawling silently, I peeked over the edge of the platform, my vampire eyes spotting a group of about seven men in the shadows.
"Shes gotta be around here.
Have you checked all the stalls?" It was the same guy who had offered me money to spend the night with him.
"Yeah, are you sure she came this way?" "Ben, she better be worth it, or were gonna fuck you instead tonight." "Very funny, idiot.
If shes not here, there's only one place left," I shrank back as seven pairs of eyes turned simultaneously toward the upper platform.
Thad to escape.
I couldn't take them all on at once.
Jumping to my feet, I grabbed my hood and sprinted toward a small window at the back.
I'd jump from the second floor and lose them in the forest.
"Quick! Shes escaping!" their shouts echoed behind me, but I focused only on unlocking the latch, pushing up the glass, and slipping my legs through to leap out the back of the stable.
My legs landed gracefully on the grassthis was the advantage of wearing pants instead of a dress.
I sprang to my feet and the chase began.
It was still early dawn, and the forest was close.
I darted into the darkness, using my small lead to my advantage, but soon enough, they were hot on my trail.
They were hybrids like me, and some were witches.
Honestly, I didnt understand these foolshow could they discriminate against others when many of them were part vampire too? The sound of footsteps crushing the grass, their jeers, and excited voices grew closer.
Thad no idea where I was headed, but I pushed all my powers to their limit.
My vampire side was even faster than my wolf.
However, a sound behind meright at my heelsmade me lunge forward, rolling across the grass and landing in a crouch.
Thissed, baring my fangs, my blood-red eyes gleaming.
I had narrowly dodged a sneak attack.
They emerged from the trees, and I scanned for a way to slip through, but they had surrounded me, forming a tight circleI was the prey in the center.
"Mmm, you werent lying.
Shes real fine." "What is she, half wolf?" "They say women of that race are fiery and resilient.
Lets have some fun, little wolf..." The first one dared to step forward, reaching out to grope me.
I didnt hesitate.
My sharp claws slashed through his arm, tearing deep into his flesh with a painful wound.
"You fucking bitch! Grab her! Were gonna fuck you until you bleed dry!" That scream marked the start of the fight.
I moved quickly toward the weakest one.
While they spewed their filth, I was studying them.
---- He barely had time to react before I snapped his head to the side with all my strength, hearing the sickening crack of his neck breaking.
Astrong hand suddenly grabbed my braid and yanked it back, controlling my body.
For a second, I thought hed rip my scalp right off.
I kicked the man in front of me straight in the balls, making him double over, but two others grabbed my arms.
I knew I had to deal with the one holding my hair first, or Id be at their mercy.
Asudden gust of air whooshed past my earsomeone was aiming for my throat from behindwhile in front of me, a sorcerer prepared to cast a spell.
Everything felt like slow motion, my mind working on an escape plan, adrenaline surging through my veins.
Ireached up with one hand to grab the base of my hair while the other blocked the incoming strike from behind.
I took a nasty gash, but despite the blood dripping down, I tightened my grip on his wrist and roared, twisting my body sideways, using his momentum to drag him down with me as a shield.
Pain shot through my scalp, nearly making me blackout, but the scream in my ear and the smell of burning flesh told me my plan had worked my captor had taken the sorcerer's attack instead of me.
The pressure released, and I shook my head to clear the dizziness.
My eyes locked onto a gap a few meters awaythe forest seemed to call me to escape.
I wasnt a match for all of them, no matter how brave or reckless I was.
They had underestimated me, which gave me the upper hand for now, ---- but once they got coordinated, Id be cornered.
Before they could realize their advantage, I sprinted toward the darkness, free at last.
I didnt get far.
The crack of a whip sliced through the air, wrapping around my right thigh.
Abrutal force yanked me backward, slamming me face-first into the dirt, and I was dragged back toward those bastards.