Elina

I kept my breathing even. They will ask why I have a girl in chains. They'd get suspicious. They'd see Elina's eyes. And then what?

Should I tell them that she is a witch?

That would seem like the obvious thing to do. A witch hunter transporting a witch. It was the truth. It was easy to believe.

Let's go with that.

I didn't think that my first day of travels with Elina would begin with a problem like this. But it was alright. I found a solution. It'll work out.

I turned to tell her that someone would be coming our way. That she should keep her mouth shut.

But I said nothing. Because Elina had changed.

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ELINA: Hmm, he is rather easy to read. Easy to manipulate. I haven't had this much fun in ages. It's so obvious what words will affect him.

Like at the campfire. Of course I knew it was his tent. And I didn't really need to eat anything. But I wanted to see him if I could get him to move me to the fire. Get him to feed me. Have the captive order the captor around.

It's good to know that he can't kill me. Which means he has to act with restraint. Heh heh...a witch hunter acting with restraint… It'll be fun to see how far I can push him.

Although I have to admit that it is nice to wake up in the morning and find that you are not alone. Even though I'll have to kill him eventually. But still. It's nice.

Dawn was always something special. The border between night and day. The sliver of time when the first rays of light touch the earth. A sacred time.

But humans are active all the time.

Which is why it didn't surprise me when I heard the sounds of another traveling pair coming the opposite way. Four wheels, two horses, two men. Possibly merchants. Or maybe mercenaries.

Either way, Salem was outnumbered.

He looked nervous. Looks like he doesn't know what to do. Tell a lie? Tell the truth? Or try to hide me?

But he has probably predicted that I would refuse to corporate. And he is right. But not for the reasons he thinks. It'd just be too much fun to see what he'll do when backed into a corner.

And now he has calmed down. His breathing slowed. It seems like he has found a solution. But that solution was probably boring.

Hmmm…I think I know what to do.

These gransia handcuffs are annoying. I guess I could find a way to take them off, but that would ruin my game. I can work around them. I can't cast any spells, I can't warm myself, but I can still circulate some magic within my body. I concentrated a few sparks to my head and changed my hair color from silver to dark blonde. Then my eyes transformed from pupil-less silver moons to standard brown human eyes with black pupils.

Salem turned around. His eyes widened. His jaw dropped.

What a lovely expression.

"Elina?" he mouthed.

"Hu-hmm...what are you going to do, Salem?" I bit my lower lip and smiled. "Now I look like a normal human girl. You can't tell the incoming travelers that you are transporting an evil witch. Because all they'll see is a beautiful maiden in need of help."

He said nothing.

"I'll cry out for help, hmm? I'll tell them that you've kidnapped me. Maybe you want to sell me into slavery. Or maybe I'll tell them you want to forcefully marry me. What do you think will happen? There's two men. Do you really think you can survive this?"

He gritted his teeth. Anger rose to his throat. His mind whirled with panic.

I almost burst with joy.

So easy. Too easy.

But fun.

He said, "I'll knock you unconscious and bury you in the corn."

"If you do that, then I'll cry out for help right now. It's so quiet. The two men will hear me loud and clear. And then they'll come to my rescue."

Checkmate.

I knew it. Salem knew it.

Only way to get through this was to kill me.

But he couldn't do that either. If I was dead, so was his payment. And breaking a contract with the Church of Deliverance would have consequences.

Salem stopped the cart. He sat there, his face buried in his hands. It was almost pitiful to see him like this. A proud witch hunter reduced to this.