Chapter 18

ANA

Ana's frustrated scream pierced the silence. The gnomes flinched, hands flying to cover their ears. With a bone-jarring thud, she slammed her head back against the unforgiving wall. Vulnerability coiled around her, a serpent squeezing the air from her lungs.

Escape. She had to escape.

"We will be back soon." The wee females averted their eyes.

"Wait," Ana pleaded. "Help me! Please!"

The gnomes remained silent. After a shake of their heads, they scurried out. Minutes later, they returned, carrying buckets dripping with water and leather bags slung over their shoulders. The green one left again, only to return shortly with another stool, making a thud as it hit the ground.

Panic clawed at Ana's throat, but a desperate plan flickered to life. "You don't have to do this." She forced calm into her voice, not wanting to scare them more. "Just loosen the bindings and leave the door unlocked. I'll handle the rest."

The gnomes trembled. Fear and regret sparked in a brief exchange, a flicker of defiance quickly extinguished. Tears welled in Ana's eyes as they set about their grim task. Stools scraped against the floor as they clambered up to reach her.

"I beg you," Ana whimpered. " Don't let him take me. We can leave together. I know he treats you badly."

The red gnome cast her eyes down and responded, "Master will beat us and our families."

The green one wrung her dress. "We want to help, but it is not possible."

Ana's stomach twisted in agony. Another scream ripped from her throat, raw and primal. It echoed through the chamber. The gnomes flinched back, their faces pale.

Her sobs wracked her body, exhaustion settling in like a shroud. Silence returned, thick and suffocating. When the wee females approached once more, their movements were cautious and hesitant. Remorse hung in the air, a thin veil.

"We're truly sorry," the red gnome murmured. "But we have no choice."

As they began the chilling task, a detail snagged on Ana's desperate mind. The bindings remained tight and untouched by the gnomes.

Soap, scrubbing, oil. Each touch felt like a cruel countdown; the oil slicking against her skin was a mockery of comfort. Yet, a sliver of hope glimmered as they tied on ribbon-like clothing, leaving her half-clad and adorned with tinkling chains.

Disappointment stabbed Ana as the gnomes finished adorning her with a jeweled choker. Escape plans evaporated with their somber expressions. They gathered their belongings and prepared to leave. "Is there anything you can do to help me?" she pleaded.

The green gnome, her eyes downcast, murmured a soft, regret-filled, "No."

The red one lifted her head and said, "You have a few minutes to…" Her voice faltered mid-sentence.

"Prepare for the master's visit," the green one finished, her words barely a whisper.

They left, but not before one mumbled, "We will try to give you some extra time." It was a hollow comfort as the lock clicked, sealing Ana's fate. Escape through the door was gone. She looked dishearteningly at the open window, her only choice.

Despite her efforts to break free, the leather straps tightened with each yank. Her gaze landed on Quinn's gift—the anklet with a hidden blade. It lay tantalizingly close to her on a table the gnomes had moved to set their cleaning supplies. The knife, hopefully, was now within her grasp. Fueled by renewed desperation and a touch of hope, Ana strained against her restraints.

Frustration morphed into a steely resolve. The oil on her skin, a cruel mockery moments ago, now shimmered with possibility. It might be the edge she needed. A powerful tug, a sliver of movement. A surge of adrenaline charged her efforts, freeing her tail. Now, for the blade.

Her first attempt at the weapon, just beyond reach, nearly sent the cuff skittering across the table. "A little closer," she hissed, sweat beading on her forehead as she focused on the prize. It dangled precariously close to falling off.

Ignoring the burning strain, she persisted, growling under her breath. With a desperate twist, she grasped the anklet and lowered it to her foot. Clamping it between her clawed toes, she extracted the blade with her tail.

Her heart pounded with trepidation as she glanced at the door, unsure of how much time remained. As quick as possible, she clumsily sawed at the leather with the knife held by her tail. Sweat beaded on her forehead, stinging her eyes as she contorted her tail, the knife held precariously in its grasp.

"Almost there," she gritted through her teeth.

The polished metal glinted in the flickering candlelight, another sliver of hope against the encroaching darkness. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm upon her ribs as she darted a glance at the door.

Every second was precious.

Each labored stroke against the binding was a maladroit ballet of desperation. Crimson liquid welled from minor nicks on her tail, mingling with the oil, but she barely noticed. The only sound that mattered was the rasping of the blade and the silent prayer echoing in her mind: freedom.

The leather finally yielded, her hands slipping free in a slick of sweat and blood. Exhaustion clawed at her. With trembling arms and a final surge of defiance, she cut through the remaining bonds.

Collapsing onto the unforgiving floor, she allowed herself a single shuddering breath. Time for rest was a luxury she couldn't afford. She secured the knife and rose, her eyes fixed on the window—the gateway to escape or a perilous descent.

Her legs felt like jelly, but she launched herself toward the opening. Faint footsteps echoed in the hallway, each one a hammer blow to her chest.

A glance outside revealed a horrifying truth. No welcoming ground awaited her, only a sheer drop into an abyss. The thin mountain air clawed at her throat, the howling wind a chilling serenade to her panic. Goosebumps erupted across her skin, a cold sweat clinging to her body.

The lock clicked, and the door creaked open. Her hands trembled as relief warred with dread. It wasn't Gregor but the gnomes. Their wide eyes mirrored Ana's terror, their bodies trembling with a fear that paralleled her own.

Holding onto the window frame, she took a step up on the ledge, her fingers gripping tightly. "I can take you with me."

The red gnome shook her head. "Gregor will beat our families."

"Then I'll be back to free you all." Determined, she faced the daunting depths outside, her heart pounding in her chest. Unwilling to risk the torture that Gregor promised … becoming his sex slave… she had to do this. And she needed to see Quinn again.

"We have to tell Gregor you're escapin'," the green gnome said, nudging the red gnome.

"I understand." Ana summoned all her courage, squeezed her eyes shut, and leaped into the unknown.

The wind roared in her ears, a deafening symphony of chaos. She forced her eyes open. Below, the ground rushed toward her, a terrifying blur. Panic threatened to consume her, but a flicker of Quinn's voice echoed in her mind. Trust your wings, Ana.

With a desperate heave, she unfurled them, willing her wings to grasp the breeze. The air caught beneath them with a stuttering resistance. Relief washed over her in a tidal wave, a fleeting moment of triumph amidst the heart-stopping escape. Yet the earth was still far too close.

Gathering her remaining strength, she flapped her wings with a newfound urgency. Each stroke was clumsy, fueled by raw desperation, but it was enough. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the ground began to recede. The castle shrank behind her, a dark silhouette against the encroaching shadows.

Darkness swallowed her whole as the moon hid behind a veil of clouds. Ana squinted, relying on her superior night vision to traverse the treacherous landscape. Disoriented, she searched for any familiar landmark, a single detail that could guide her toward Quinn's kingdom.

Trusting her instincts to navigate her home, she battled against the gusts of wind that buffeted her, struggling to maintain her balance. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she pressed on, her flight a desperate dance against the elements.

A blood curdling screech tore through the night, sending shivers down her spine. It was the sound of a predator, a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in the forest. Fear gnawed at her as she had been warned about the treacherous nature of this area. Every fiber of her being urged her to remain vigilant.

She caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. Two glowing orbs stared back at her from the darkness. Her breath hitched. Without a second thought, she launched herself downward, seeking refuge in the dense canopy of the woods. Branches whipped at her face, the world a blur of frantic movement as she weaved through the towering trees.

Then, an unexpected jolt. A snare. It yanked her back with sickening force, the coarse weave digging into her skin. Pain exploded through her limbs, the world tilting on its axis. The forest floor rushed up to meet her, the brutal impact stealing the air from her lungs. A white-hot, searing agony consumed her, followed by the blessed oblivion of darkness.