In the next town over, I found a small inn to stay at for the night. Chryssie was my little sister, and I claimed that both of our parents had passed. I’d slipped some gold and silver from Mitriel’s robes when he’d died, so We had more than enough to stay a couple nights.

I had wrapped Chryssie in multiple layers of clothing plus a thick straw mat, so she was relatively dry. I was drenched on the other hand. But I didn't care one bit. The inn gave us a room with a small window. I unwrapped the layers of clothing and the mat, and set Chryssie to rest on the bed that they’d provided us with.

I doubted the soldiers would be able to find us at all after the rain, and they would definitely not be looking for us while it was pouring this hard. They’d most likely have set up camp somewhere else.

I walked up to a small window, and looked up at the thundering sky. Dark clouds completely obscured my view of the sky, and the only light present in the night sky was the occasional flash of lightning that lit up the world for a second.

My mind flashed to another Medusa with jade-green eyes. What was she doing now? Was she still calmly drinking tea in her cave? She would be safe. She was powerful, and had complete control over her powers. I shook my head. Why was I thinking of her?

But try as I did, I would not help but think of her pale face, and delicate features on that pouring night.

Chryssie stirred, and let out a small string of mumbles. I quickly walked over to her side.

“Chryssie? Chryssie!” Her eyes fluttered, and then opened. They filled with confusion for a second as she tried to process where she was. They spread open wide and she shot up.

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“Mist! Mist! Where’s Mommy? Where’s Daddy?” She grabbed my collar with shaking hands. Her eyes were welling with tears.

I turned my head. Should I tell her? She was still so young. I considered for a moment, then I steeled myself. This wouldn’t be the first death she saw, especially now that I knew she was a Fae of royal blood. She could very well be hunted for the rest of her long life.

“Chryssie. You have to listen carefully to what I say now. And let this be a warning to you. Let this create caution in you. Your mother and father, Anna, and Ron. They are dead.”

Chryssie’s eyes filled with tears. She knew it too. Only hearing it from my mouth made it real. Her hands slowly released my collar, and they slid down onto the bed. Tears began to stream from her eyes, dotting the sheets with round circles of dark color. Her pointed ears, normally a healthy pink at the tip, were a pale white. I had taken care to wrap her head before we walked into the inn. The innkeeper had thought we were normal humans.

Chryssie’s silent tears slowly became shaking, racking, inconsolable sobs. I could not help but tear up. I hugged her tightly.

Finally, about a half hour or so later, Chryssie had cried herself to sleep. I let her rest on the bed, and ducked behind a small curtain to change out of my wet clothes. When I had done so, I lay on the hardwood floor and tried to let myself rest. But sleep did not come.

The next morning, as expected, the soldiers came through checking inn by inn, home by home. I quickly roused Chryssie. She rose, rubbing her swollen eyes. She did not cry anymore. She only moved lifelessly. Like a zombie. Robotic, monotone, and numb.

“Quickly, Chryssie. We must leave this place.”

I took her hand, and our meager luggage, and calmly strolled out of the room. I took care to cover her head with a small cap, hiding her ears under cloth.

My own ears were not so obviously pointed, and I could tuck them under my rather thick hair.

“Chryssie. When you see the soldiers on the road, do not flinch. Act normal. They can’t question everyone walking on the road. We will enter a clothing store, and switch clothes to mask our scent.”

I walked briskly, but calmly with Chryssie into a small clothing store, and paid for a jacket, undershirt, and pants. The shopkeeper had no small clothes that we could take right away, but she did have a small cloak. I quickly donned it on Chryssie, and bought another one for myself. The soldiers had just entered the inn we left that morning.

We calmly walked out of the town, ears alert for any hint of galloping horses and clinking armor. Fortunately, none greeted us. I kept on the main path, walking at a brisk pace, and allowing Chryssie to ride on my back when she finally couldn’t keep up. We made it past another three small villages that day, and I made sure to take the most roundabout paths so that they would have more than a little difficulty tracking us. By nightfall, I was completely sure that we had lost them.