AN: The execution of this chapter and the next one is honestly lacking. Gonna be fixed in the future

I went towards the door as the kids were still playing behind me with each other. Somehow it felt weird to hear a knocking on my door in an inn, I certainly did not expect any visitors and Benjamin had a key so if they decided to come back, they would probably not knock.

Opening just a slit I saw a hand quickly reaching out for the door frame and opening it wide. Before I could do anything the figure came inside the room and I could do nothing but be surprised and took up my guard for whatever might come next.

“Hello, miss Elizabeth?” A woman stood there in a maids outfit. She was of middle age and her only distinctive feature were her cold eyes. “It came to our knowledge that there are a few guests of great fame in our humble establishment.” The woman that forced her way inside the room looked around and could only see me with 2 children inside. “As such we, the Uro inn would like to aid you with anything you might need. On our costs of course.”

Oh, yes. I have been told that a “video” was distributed between the strangers that made Ben and the rest very famous, even though until now we rarely came in contact with others since we mostly traveled in nature.

“Ahm.” I felt very awkward in front of the maid. “No thanks, we are fine but thanks anyway.” I smiled and scratched my head awkwardly. It was certainly weird being treated like this and I could not help myself as fidget with my fingers as I could not put them anywhere, the just would not want to hold still.

“Oh, this I can not do, an order of my master my lady. I will bring a few drinks and a quick snack here, you do not need to be so modest darling.” She said with her cold expression and left the room before taking a last look back at me and the kids.

I slowly closed the door and could notice that everyone inside the inn was very quiet all of a sudden. It was weird because it was an inn and normally lots of people would be partying right now at the ground floor...

I locked it with my key again.

Not thinking much of it however, I just went to the kids. Fiora and Hannah sat on the ground and played a game the others thought them: Scissor paper stone. It was a nice way to let time go by faster and would not allow you to get bored.

I sat right beside them and watched which was also very enjoyable since they were just so adorable.

Hannah spoke up, which sadly only she could. “Okay, now we do it like Papa said.” She liked to refer to Artjem as papa when he was not around but gets very shy when he is nearby so she calls him by his name. “The winner gets a wish and the looser must comply.” She smiled adorably at Fiora and implied that she would win now.

Fiora looked at her for 10 seconds, possibly thinking about it and then nodded firmly and with resolve which made me only chuckle since it was very adorable.

The started to swing their arms 3 times and on the forth they lowered their fists and showed what they had.

Fiora had stone and Hannah had scissor.

I enjoyed Hannah's crestfallen expression and chuckled as I could see that Fiora changed hers in the last second.

Hannah just looked down and almost cried and staid with quivering lips. “Good, you win, I never win anyway...”

Fiora just stood up and came behind Hannah. She sat down and embraced her back. A quick kiss on her check and she started to pet her head with her left while still embracing her with the right. Hannah got embarrassed but did not escape.

I could no longer contain my laughter and also chuckled. How fast they grow.

Suddenly Hannah spoke while snuggling onto Fioras tiny chest. “You know, whenever I feel very sad, I see a demi goddess in my dreams.” She yawned. “She always tells me about my parents and that they are in heaven now, that they say that I should no longer be sad and forgive them for letting me alone.” I could see that Fiora was not very surprised by that, unlike me that is. “ She also tells me that my new papa needs me, that he is a very hurt man and that we should help each other, that he would be very kind to me if I would stay with him...” She looked up towards the little Fiora and they both locked eyes. “But now I feel so happy that I think I won't dream of her tonight.” She beamed Fiora a smile and snuggled against her chest, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Fiora on the other hand looked towards me and held a finger in front of her lips, signaling me to be quiet and continued to pat Hannah's head, feeling very happy about something.

I watched this scene with tears in my eyes, this was just to much for me to handle, so much cuteness and such words spoken by a, what, 5 or 6 years old?

This was certainly very weird and unnatural, those hurt and traumatized children should be broken right now, I myself can barely function but they.. I wonder if it really is a goddess that helps them. It would be such a nice thought but I somehow doubt it.

Looking at them again my heart warmed.

During our little journey I most certainly spend most of my time with the little girls while others fought monsters. It was my task to watch them and to take care of them. They really grew on me during those times. And since all of us were victim of abduction and slavery, I could not help but feel overprotective of them, loving them as my own children.

Fiora, my child with Benjamin...

My heart skipped a beat as my face became very flushed. I wonder if we were to marry if Fiora would accept me as her mother... Or if we could even make a few of our own. I could now see smoke coming out of my head. It is not like we did not do anything needed for that. It is just that I was told Strangers do not make children unless they really want to, which must mean Ben did not want it.

Maybe he thinks of me as not fitting.. A whore such as myself...

I made a bitter expression and started to self loath myself, drowning in self pity.

No, like he told me, it is fine. I just need to live and see for myself. No reason to draw conclusions, like he told me, he really does love me.

I grinned like an idiot and got into the right mood. If only he was here, I bit my lower lip and tried my hardest not to go with my hand where the fun body parts were...

Suddenly another knocking on the door, louder than the last time.

Hannah immediately jumped up from fright, awakening from her very short slumber.

Fucking assholes, I will have a quick talk with them.

Walking towards the door that was still being knocked loudly at, I did not want to do the same mistake twice and would not let the weird woman inside again.

Slowly turning the key and opening the door I was on guard and held the door tightly, not willing to let anyone in without my allowance.

Suddenly from the barely opened door a hand shot out and tried to force its way inside. I could see it was a rough and manly hand with some rings on it, not someone I knew and certainly not anybody friendly.

Panicking a little I pushed my hardest into the door, not letting the man get inside no matter what. Behind my rock, I hid a small dagger for emergency. I quickly took it outside and started to attack the hand while yelling for help to the nearby rooms or just anyone in the inn in general.

As I stabbed the dagger inside of the mans hand and heard a “Fucking slut bitch” from the outside, the hand was taken back and I could close the door in hurry.

As soon as I did that, the man behind the door started to scream at me and called for assistance from his friends.

“You filthy whore! You fuck those stranger pigs, you will get what you deserve you traitor of your own race! And the small ones... unfortunately they are even worse and we can not have them killed but I guess you are already familiar with what could be worse than death, aren't you, you bloody whore?”

I looked towards the terrified Hannah and the excited Fiora and knew that I had a responsibility right now. It was to get them out of here unhurt.

“Darlings, we have to flee, immediately and get help. Something is very wrong here.” I walked towards the window and opened it. “i will go first and you will jump afterwards, do not worry, this is just the first floor and I will catch you but you will have to jump no matter what, understood?”

I saw Fiora nodding in resolve and Hannah shacking in terror. She could not give me an answer as I already jumped out and was waiting for them.

It took 10 seconds for the both of them to climb onto the window and they looked outside towards me. Hannah was shacking in fright while Fiora looked back and as she saw something, she just pushed the little girl outside and fell herself right after.

Unfortunately I only could catch one of them, which was Hannah since she fell with her head right towards the ground. The other child rolled herself on the ground as if it was very natural for her and stood up without injury.

I saw above me 2 men screaming that we are escaping and threatening us. I took the two girls by their hands and we ran for our lives.

It was still only evening so the streets were rather full. I was screaming and pleading for help, shouting that we would be murdered if no one would come to us as 3 men ran out of the inn and followed us.

“Halt!” I saw 4 strangers coming our way. “Dude, a dynamic event, how cool is that?” A man was grinning and then came in front of us as if to protect me and the girls.

The 3 men and one woman, the maid, caught up with us and looked towards the strangers. They then pulled something out of their pockets. It was a pocket watch with some symbols on it, symbols that I could easily recognize as the assholes that tried to enslave me. “Those people are to be taken into custody, this woman is a criminal and the children were kidnapped, stand in our way and you will face the wrath of the kingdom.” They shouted for everyone to hear and came slowly forwards.

I saw the strangers turning around and glancing at us with annoyance and as if we were traitors. They turned around and pointed their weapons at us, shouting at me to surrender.

I tired to run away from them but saw that people were blocking our way, there was no way out now.

The people around us also began to whisper as they seemed to recognize the symbol but for different reasons, they saw people of authority in them and believed every word. Why not, not many know the true face of their organization.

Some came forward and demanded that I let the girls free, shouting names at me and telling me to surrender myself or nothing good will come out of it.

Hannah, still frightened, started to scream at them that they are idiots, that they do not know what really happens here and that I was her friend.

“Poor girl.” A man with a bleeding hand said out loud. “She was victim to the Stockholm syndrome.” He shook his head in disapproval. “It will take her years to come back to normal life...”

“NO!” Hannah shouted and started to cry as she embraced my leg.

Fiora on the other hand walked in front of me and raised her arms in a protective manner.

The Uroboru members just walked towards her with their fake smiles and promised her that everything should be good now.

In that moment I knew what would happen.

They would take us to somewhere and then have their ways with us. They would kill me, probably just to send Benjamin a message and would enslave the girls, tormenting them until they either die of old age or are found and freed by Ben...

Yes, they can not die as they will return to their parents but...

It was my duty to do now what I had to, it was on me to ensure their safety.

I pulled the dagger out of behind my rock and walked towards Fiora while holding Hannah with my other hand.

I walked towards her and heard loud gasps and shouts of warnings all around us as people saw my weapon.

I embraced Fiora with my right hand and put the dagger in front of her throat. “Tell your daddy that I love him.” I gave her a kiss on her cheek and stabbed her heart as the girl watched me with wide eyes and teary eyes. The weird part was that unlike what I expected, she watched me with pitty... 'Really, such a weird girl', I thought and gave her a light smile. Slowly she started to cry as her wound bled out and sh moved her lips as if to tell me something, but nothing came out of her mouth.

Hannah saw that and cried out in horror. She did not know why I would do that and broke down on the floor.

The people around as also screamed out and some rushed my way but I placed my dagger on Hannah this time and shouted for them to stop.

I whispered inside of her ear. “I am so sorry. This is for the better. I love you.” And I stabbed her in her heart, killing her as fast as possible.

The Uroboru members ran towards me with a giant and disgusting grin on their faces. “There you saw it.” They pinned me towards the ground and restrained my movements. “We will make sure she will pay for her crimes.”

I was taken by them and lead through a crowd of people that looked at me with disgust.

I am not ashamed, I did what I had to.

“Take nothing from us.” One of them whispered inside my ear. “You are our property, you were then and you are now. Do one last useful thing in your life and serve the purpose of delivering a message for your filthy stranger, you whore.” He grinned.

“Pay for everything.” Another man told me. “ You were so much trouble and your pigfucker was even worse. Ohh, he will suffer, we will make sure of that. You think the girls are safe now? Such ignorance...”

They kept on feeding me those hateful speeches as we walked towards the poor part of the town, somewhere where my screams would fall on deaf ears, but my mind was somewhere else right now. I thought about all our happy moments and felt a bitter warmth inside of me.

As I was led towards my certain death and could do nothing against it, I thought on my first encounter with Ben.

“haha.” I chuckled softly, he was right.

I really do not want to die.

AN: Not really intended as tragedy/sad moment. I mean, you are free to feel however you like but I am fully aware that Elizabeth was an expendable side character that only had a reason to be here as to die of, and this is kind of the real tragedy here.

Anyhow, Arykai, really appreciating your review mate. Stuff like this wants me to keep going. Hopefully I won't disappoint any of you.

Oh, and...see ya in a dark alleyway ;)