The waves swash with loud sound, rumble every time it hit the hull, the wood shrieking along with the ship movement. The wind ripping through the air in the high pitched screams, lightning tearing the sky with a blissful light, thunder roaring till the air shakes.

The cold wind chilling the skin, meanwhile the smell of liquor blends in the air with the smell of urine. The room is in the dim light showed in the small candle light, and with the gusts of the wind it shaken the spirit to light. As if it not willing to light. But time already witness, it continue to light even when the wind trying hard to blow it out.

There is a square table in the center of the room, nailed at the floor. Two wooden beer stain sit on the top of it. In the front it two sailor man sit across each other. The wave make the ship tilt to one side, Their beer stains slide to the corner of the table but before it reach the end of the table, the waves move the ship to the other side. And again their beer stains slide to the other side following the ship movement.

“Damn storm!” babbled the slim man. Ned the one eye. He catch the mug with outstanding accuracy reckon the way he speak already show how drunk he is. “This cold wind make m’ feet hurt.”

“I know what make ye warm,” the stumpy man smirked, his eyes winking to the other side of the room.

The girl that curl up in the other side of the room trembling in fright, she embrace her knee with her fastened hand. Her hand is tied in the front. A bars separate her room with the sailors, but not for their gaze and their mumbling. Laughter roaring for the mount of the two sailors when the saw the girl frightening.

She became unusual view in that room. Her modern outfit contras with the sailors outfit, the look like out from historical fantasy book. The girl repeatedly repeat the spell in her mind this is just a night mare. But she never woke up.

“Master must be like you,” said Tod, he link his lips. The girl doesn’t need to take a pick to notices it, that man often sand near her bars and throw disgusting words.

“Ned the one eye laugh. “don’t make he’ freak, Tod! Ye know it what will happen to them, I hope I can taste this on’.”

“ye right Ned, hopefully Master will keep he’ in tag after playing with e’.”

Tod gulp his beer. They laugh and throwing another dirty world for some time. The girl trying her best to not listen.

They has been sailing for a couple day, the storm rampages for a couple night ago. The sound boisterous sounds.

The girl pray for their ship to be sink since the sound of thunder reverberate at a distance. But the ship that looks rotten has survived for storm from the very beginning. Time seems stop for her or may be is just her feeling. Fear come on and on, pierce on her and don’t want to go.

And when the sound of the storm start to calm, the girl fear begin to worsen. This is her ending.

Night, brings mild cold wind that breezily. The leaves dance in their branches. The sky twinkling like the eyes of the lovers. She not yet sleep, don’t know since when. Times turn over her without her notice. It so tiring.

Everything feels like dream.

Is this truly life she wanted? Is this really the things she wanted do? Once again everything feel surreal. This is not the life she wanted to lives. This is other people life.

Not her….

Morning soon will come. And one again she will see the twilight, for the zillion times. She sigh. And rise for her place she rests. She parted the curtain that separate her room and the outside world. She stepped out, the night wind dashed to her face, whistled through her hair with light wave. From the balcony where she stand she look at to the outside, to the night sky.

The sky studded by stars, the moon shine in the small light tinge.

This is her life now and what would she going to do about it.

She climb to the top of the edge of the balcony.

She have to end this.

She jump to the empty air in front of her. Open her arm like a bird want to fly.

Her body slide down fast, land at the ground majestically. And then she run as fast as she can.

Her step stopped. The palace gate stand in front of it. The gate keep slides down in front of her. They take bow with one knee.

“Princess, may I know what bring you here.” Asks one of the gate keeper.

“Rise! I will take a walk to the wood, no need to make caution.”

“We understand,” said the gate keeper. The dawn not yet rise. They want to ask but didn’t dare.

The door gate open. She take small step before she run again. Not to escape, but to find her self again. She has to find herself again, and out of this. The purpose of her life.

Her blonde almost white hair flu behind her back.

***

On the other side, in another kingdom, Herados bored, bored to the death with all the stupid rubbish in front of him. He sit at one of the chair in the podium, his father sits in the middle and his uncle sits on the right side, while he sits on his father left side. In front of him some Svartálfar sit in the high chair along the side of the room. His father forces him to follow the council meeting. Don’t know until when this councilors will use flowery phrase and strike to the point. They has been talk almost a half day, and just finish talking about the nation situation when a Nosy wizard came. This is not the first time so Herados knew exactly what to expect.

Herados yawns impolitely, of course with intentionally. Something that he actually know it’s useless.

His father casts a cautionary look at him. Indeed, what was his father expected for asking him, ah… not asking, but command him to joint this council meeting, with a Nosy wizard which are always lick his father ass’s. Herados wonder how his father still sit firmly on his thorn without slide.

“Your Majesty,” The Nosy wizard rise and begin to talk. He is the only wizard in this room, and the only one that stand in the middle of the room. “With all difficulty and all sorts of dangers, recently I already put my live on the edge for a couple of month, in the mission to find the Ljósalfar sword.” Herados sneered. He know prissily that wizard has been do nothing. He just stand idle and spying the people that actually look at the sword. But Herados doesn’t care to any kind of sword. He just feel sick with the stupid people in front of him.

The wizard look at Herados with unhappy look. But too smart to let his behavior affect him.

“We have to destroy it as soon as possible your majesty! Before the hybrid found it. I heard that the mongrels has been start their movement to seek. They, the damned people can’t have hope to reign Ar’chismaytopia.” Herados look at the Nosy Wizard with bored. He found that wizard glimpse guiltily at his uncle.

His Uncle staring at the wizard indifferently. It was a common secret that his uncle has a hybrid son. Unmitigated he impregnated a Ljósalfar, not only a witch but rather a Ljósalfar. His uncle never truly admitted publicly, but he also never deny him as his son also, in additional their face was to alike to be deny. Everybody talked it behind his uncle backs. Meanwhile his uncle_ Prince Holgafar handle it nonchalantly. As if that boy never exists. His uncle is also never married, not with the hybrid girl that bears his son, nor with his folk. Even the king _king Bolgherfar _Herados father’s cannot push him to get wed, in the end King Bolgherfar stop to insist. At less his brother didn’t married the Ljósalfar hybrid’s he has impregnated. It will be the biggest disgrace for the Svartálfar.

But no matter what his uncle has been done, he is a hero in Herados eyes, his role model.

“Just by watching the hybrid movement will only take us to nowhere,” said his uncle calmly. “We will always one step behind. If that what you said with put your life on the edge, a child able to do it also.”

The witch almost choked. He look at his uncle with halter mix with terror.

“We not only watching, but we know prissily what they were doing your majesty,” said the wizard obvious stuttered.

“has you put someone into that group?” ask his uncle again slowly rise his eyebrow.

“Your highness, with the present of Prince Zeine in that organization it will be very difficult to put a Svartálfar in.”

“Hmmmm… not if the child that we put is a hybrid.”

“But I hear you not in a good term with your son, prince Holgafar?” soon after the wizard utter that words he regret it, and trembling slightly, the room soon become silent sniping.

King Bolgefar banging the arm rest of his throne startle everyone in the room.

“Watch your mouth wizard!” he snapped.

“Please spare my life your Majesty,” the wizard knee down backward. His eyes shine wit helter.

“Holgar, which hybrid child you mention is? Are you has another bastard that you hide from me!” snapped the king. His expression was furious. Herados chuckled in dismay. His father threw a sharp gaze to him. Herados pretend to unnoticed.

“What?” he asked nonchalantly without a sound. His father shake his head. In his mind hi said, if only his son more like his brother, his only regret about his brother is his scandal having bastard with the Ljósalfar hybrid. But it’s all already by his dedication, and he never even once show any attention to that child. If only he never has child with that hybrid. But he can’t ask better than this now. Everyone has their fall. More over with Ljósalfar hybrids. The king know aware how their pulchritude can be so dazzling.

On the other side his son, just like every other Svartálfar boy. Clumsy, careless, and mischievously. It is just that his son doesn’t show any progress to Svartálfar maturity. He still irresponsible just like him all the time.

Prince Holgar look at the king apathetically, neglect his question. “Of course you do remember our cousin Elgorf?”

“Ya, what’s wrong with him,” ask the king sort.

“of course you remember correctly his preference of women, right. He… doesn’t have to much preference. If I’m not forget, I remember he has one or two mongrels. Zeine also a half Svartálfar, so he doesn’t have no reason to object.”

The king scratched his chin thinking.

After a while he spook. “tell someone to summon Elgorf to palace. I want to talk about this to him,” he point to one of the royal guards. One of the pay respect and leave the room. “and you! Soon after I found the correct candidate. Make sure he can enter that group smoothly.” After said it the King wave his hand signal the councilor to disperse.

“As your command, your majesty,” the wizard take a bow and leave.

The girl left alone, the sound of foot step echo along the room from outside. Peoples start yelling. Someone get down and blow he candle in that girl cells, he goes up again. For a second everything silence. No sound can be hear in the ship,

The girl wait in in the darkness for some times being. Until the end she can feel some vibrant following with low bump sound. She can feel some movement in the ship. And hope they will forget about her and leave her along in the darkness.

The ship once again silent, a moment later somebody goes down again. The girl tensed again, her door sell opened, and that man come in.

“Get up!” said that mad than pull her to get up.

The sea air that clean, hit her body but before she can breathe it someone has tie dirty cloth in her mouth. Feels disgusting, oily and musty smell, made her want to vomit. And then a black mantel attached to her body, and bury her head in the hood. She being push roughly trough narrow wooden bar that used as connecting bridge to goes down. Someone hold her form the back. The dock smell fishy spread to the air and hit the girl senses of smell.

She herded to follow the step in front of her. She can’t look at the situation around her, she only able to see a little path unfolds underneath. The dim light gives a slightly light. That light make the man shadow in front of her dance.

Not a single person said any during their journey, only the sound of whistling wind that can be hear, from the edge of the girl hood she can be saw they turn to a narrow gang. Smell of urine can be smell in that place.

They stop in the front of oaf wooden door. The girl hear some knock, three time in the fast interval and the last has longer interval. He repeat for a couple time, before the door swing open.

Once again the girl being push into a house.

The room in behind that door has a bad lighting. Stench diffuse in the air, rise up into the girl nostrils. The ship odor isn’t worse than alcohol smell and garbage in this place.

“You came in the right time. The courier is waiting. She can be send right after midnight,” A lady voice speaking, her voice was firm. “Here! Let me see her face first.” She grabs the girl roughly. Then her hoody pulled out.

The girl startles, in front of her standing a woman that have beauty on her own way, her make up bold, with a bright red lipstick coloring her lips, her eyes were cold, watching over the girl with judging gaze. She wore a gown for the seventeen century, the color was burning red gives a striking impression, with a low chest cut and her corset caused her ****** swell as if it wanted to jump out. Her skirt spreads around her feet to the floor. The Girl feel like being pull jumping the time and thrown off back in times.

The woman garb the girl face roughly, her finger long with bright red nail polish, the same color with her gown and also her hair. She held the girl’s chin tightly, until it’s hurt. The woman face only separate a couple inch from the girl face. “Yes, she pretty. Master will definitely like her. Too bad. She can be prima donna here,” a sneering smile spread on her face.

Someone’s snicker voice sounded behind him, Tod said, “yes to bad. If only master doesn’t want her. I can try her once in a while.”

“Yes, maybe if master done with her I can ask him, if she not to broken after.” Said the women heartless. As fast as she snatched the girl’s faces as fast as that too the woman let her go. That girl staggered backwards. The woman’s words raised the hairs on the back of the girl neck.

“Hei You! Call Ed and Phipps!” yell that women to the shabby woman in front of the stove. That shabby women who was call stop from her work, stirring boiling cauldron in the stove. That women wore more shabby cloth.

“After you call them, you can company me,” said Tod, a wolf smile on his face.

The shabby woman look at them with halter. But still do their command. Base on her clothes it seem that she is a maid in this place she cast a sneering look at that girl, as if she what to say that her fate isn’t better than her. She disappear at the other door of that room

Not long after two man came through that door along with that maid.

“Long time no see, you’re arrive on time as usually,” The man with clever eyes spoken.

The stocky man catch the maid waist, screaming eco to the air deafening, she squealing and struggle, try to kick that man, scratching the man face, but the stocky man unmoved, even seem satisfied, he pull her to one of door in that room, then closed it roughly. Every on in that room laugh so hard watching it, makes the girl feeling sick, it might be that the same fate awaits her, she have to escape, but how, that girl feel teardrops fall down at her face.

“Tod has been along to long, how he could resist after there is a girl that available near him?” said the smallish man with laughing. “More over with such a beautiful packed near him. While he only can glaring with eyes pop out,” his friend chuckles.

The clever eyes laugh, he turn to the captain. “How was it? Is everything smooth?” said he gives his hand.

They shaking hand. “Yes you know me. This just a small journey for me. We meet a storm but you know me right.” That man begin to brag. They take a sit in one of the long bench. Leave the girl standing in the middle of the room.

“I... I will looking for entertainment,” the skinny man patted Ed’s shoulder and walk out from the room.

“Hei Phipps, prepare the carriage! I take care the settlement!” the clever eyes talk to his friend.

His friend Phipps nodding his head, he face looks at the girl in interestingly “sure.” He then turn around when out from the door which is he came from.

“You self? Don’t like to find entertainment?” tease Ed to the captain.

The captain stroking the back of his neck. “Of course. But we have to finish these transaction right. I sure not only me who want a little entertainment.” He pull madam to his embrace.

“Of course,” That woman sit in captain laps. A second later they kissing passionately.

Ed chuckles. “Of course.” The girl that seem forgotten looked away.

“Where you get this girl, she’s indeed attractive,” the clever eyes man look at the girl with admiration. His eyes travel through the girl body up until down.

“Yes, I’m lucky,” he smile satisfied. That girl saw the man hands crawl under the madam’s skirt.

“So you don’t need the money from Master?” Ed grinning.

“You think I’m stupid?” said captain, calmly tracing madam face with her nose, that woman gift him seductive smile. “I can keep her to myself or gives her to madam. You must be happy, am I right honey?”

“Of course, she beautiful, just need a little bit make up and I can get a lot of money from her,” said the woman ignorance. The girl frightening.

Ed laugh at the same time pull out a pouch, and throw it to the table top, accompanied by the sound of metal clinking.

The captain take it, he pours the contents onto the table. Pieces of gold slide like water fall.

“Here for you, I’m not stingy man,” he took some coins and throws it to Ed.

“It’s seem you gain a lot?” Ed take it with smile in his face.

“Indeed,” The captain took some other coins and put in to madam’s cleavage. He gets wed kiss as return.

“Ye…. Ye… ye… I’ll leave you two. I can’t stand watch this,” Ed rise. Roughly pull the girl’s arm. That girl follow him frighteningly. “I have to go through the Reokwood while you were here making out. Really… really a bad luck.” That girl herded through the back door. The sound of laughter follow their departure.

A carriage already waiting them in the corner of the corridor.

***

“Get in!” Ed push the girl into the carriage. That girl try to pop in. but both of her hand are tide. She in the difficult to get in. Ed exhale. He took a dagger. The girl backed away frightening. But that man pull her arm and let go of her tied.

“Thanks you,” said the girl slowly. She rubbing her wrist. The robe that tie her leave a mark in her wrist.

Ed look starlet for a moment. “Get in,” he said gentler.

The girl follow her order without a sound.

“Good, I like obedient goods like this. Not wasting. Know that she can’t go anywhere. Not talk too much also,” the person who just talking had just left the tavern is Phipps “We look like will do smooth delivery.” Ed close the carriage door.

After a while the carriage shaken up a little bit. Than Ed’s voice spoken, “Yes, hope so.”

“Haa… this will be an easy journey. Too bad, we have to pass through Reokwood. I don’t like passing that place,” Phipps’s voice came again.

The girl moved to the chair closest to the coachman to listen carefully.

“Who’s like that place. I also don’t want to past that wood. But you know how master obsess with safety,” the carriage start to move. “At less we will pass through it when the sun already rise. You can imagine if we walk through it in the night.”

“Yeah, I don’t want to get lost there, with all those creepy creature living freely. You know what they can do to us?” Phipps halts in a while. “I hear they can be so so savage.”

“Yeah, I hear it also.”

“I don’t expected the can be change like that. I remember they are so starling back then, but never even at once I remember they do some cruelty,” said Phipps.

“Stop it,” said Ed, “Don’t talk about it again, bring jinx to us.”

The carriage move faster, while Ed and Phipps keep talking. This place is so quite. That Girl can’t hear any car sound. Only the sound of their carriage movement.

“Look at this place, even in the daylight this place looks creepy,” said Phipps so slowly, but the girl still able to catch his words. The sun has been rising, shinning a burst of light in thorough the carriage.

The girl silently move to the seat at across, she have to be careful not do overly movement, she hope that the coachman did not find any suspicious. She begin kicking the front seat, to get attention.

They ignore her, but she persistently continued to kick.

The window in the partition open slightly.

“What!” snapped Ed.

The girl keep her expression to look a little bit afraid.

“I’m sorry, but I can keep it any more. Please… I need to urinate,” said the girl. “please.” She make her own voice to sound like terrified and stuttered.

“Shit, Can you hold it? I’ll stop soon after we get through this forest.”

“I beg you, please. I can’t hold it much longer. I already hold it l for long time. Can you pull over for a moment?”

Ed looks thinking harder. While the girl clench her feet, too look more convincing. After a while Ed exhale give in.

“What’s up?” ask Phipps.

“She needs fucking pee,” said Ed.

“Shit, in this fucking place.”

“Yes, stop the fucking carriage.”

“Can she hold it?”

“Yes, if you want her smell like pee when master receive her. Just Stop the carriage,” replied Ed.

The carriage finally stop. Ed get down, then the door opened harshly.

“Find! Get down!”

The girl look at around, this forest is dark and creepy. She try to pretend afraid to cover her excitement.

“You do it at that brushes! Don’t enter too far or you will get lost. This place is so dangerous, you get it!” the girl nods. “You don’t know this place, bet we know every single dark corner of this place. So don’t even try to escape. We will catch you for sure, and may be a terrible fate will come to you. Understand! So don’t even dare to try!”

“Thanks,” said the girl. Desperately holding back the excitement of pleasure. That girl has been learn, look brave will not gain any. For case like this, especially if she want to run away.

She go through the bushes. With extra careful she get down, after she assured her body cover all over, slowly she slinks away. Once she saw an opportunity she run. Run as fast as she can do.

Run Rae run… her mind screamed.

In her back she can hear the Ed yell. It seem Ed already notice she run away. But she didn’t dare to look back. She need all her concentration to run. She need to go deeper trough the wood. The farther the better.

Run as fast as you can… and don’t look back.