A/N- I have acknowledged that I have been taking a long time to update. Summer is coming soon and I will make an effort to keep updating and not… procrastinating.

~Whatsthenews

Dark, Gloomy, and Bloody

I sat, wondering in amazement of what I had done since I had gotten into the Inkworld. First, I had a verbal argument with Orpheus (and won). I made escape plans with Farid. About an hour after that escape I get arrested for being a witch, (aka just being alive). I meet the children of Ombra, Ivo and Despina only being two. Then I meet the main character of the trilogy, Mo/Bluejay/Silvertounge. Now I am in the deepest, bloodiest, and darkest corner of the dungeons with the Piper and his men in bounds next to us.

The Piper screamed at me breaking my train of thought, "Untie me you wench! Or I will have you hung from the gallows." I was too scared to say something witty such as 'you forgot to say please' because, honestly, I believed his threats. But I did not move an inch to help him and his men. My face still hurt from when he slapped me, the blood was dried on my face. No man does that to me and gets away with it. At that moment my fear became anger.

I was about to kick the man's face when I stopped myself. I will not sink to his level. I just sat there fuming, not knowing what to do next and listened to the Piper in his extremely bugs bunny like voice. "I swear on my mother's life that if you don't untie me this instant I will personally make sure that your death will be slow and painful." I just sat in my spot, anger keeping me from untying him but fear keeping me from doing something stupid.

Hours passed, the Piper kept making up new things for him to do to me once the patrol finds him and frees him. And that morning his prediction came true when torchlight made its way to our cell. The solders stood stunned for a moment when they saw their master dog-tied in the jail cell. The Piper screamed at the two, "Free us you fools! Or you both will be hanging from the gallows by tomorrow morning!" The solders, fear showing on their faces, opened the cell. One went to untie his master while the other stayed near the door, making sure I wouldn't run away. Where I would run to would be a complete mystery.

When they finally unbound the Piper the first thing he did was give me a big fat kick to the stomach which blew the wind out of me. The Piper stared at me with contempt, "I will see you tonight for your punishment" His fine clothes were covered in mud and his false nose was turned sideways. That was just wrong. Then he turned to his men, "Violante took the Bluejay to the Castle on the Lake! You two get on your horses and inform the Adderhead before he arrives."

Everybody left except for the Piper who hit me, closed fist, across the face as a farewell. When the Piper left, fear overrode my anger once again. I thought about all the terrible things the Piper promised to do once night fell. And the worst part is that I did not even know what time of day it is! I stared hyperventilating.

I was still in a frenzy when a torchlight shone in the distance a few hours later. My heart was racing in my chest. But as figure came closer, it was obvious that the man or woman was too short to be the Piper. Probably one of his solders that were as old as me. As the figure, a man, came closer I noticed he was particularly furry. As I made out the face I knew who it was even though I had never seen him before. Tullio! The furry faced page was exactly as I imagined him…. Just with a little more hair than expected. When he finally saw me he took a deep breath, as if he rehearsed his words a million times before he came here.

"The Bluejay refuses to leave you here and almost came here himself. He said that you were going to be important in his… mission." He cleared his throat. When I did not make any remark he continued, "Violante sent me here to… pick you up to journey with us." Relief flowed through me. Tullio continued, "I brought you a maid's outfit so you will blend in. Violante's orders" I stared down at my pajamas, now in tatters and said, "Thank you"

Tullio gave me the outfit, which I half expected to be one of those black and white frilly maid suits but in actuality was a very simple dress. Then he turned around so I could dress. At least he was a gentleman.

When I was finally dressed he looked me over making sure I would blend in… apparently I did not look as if I would blend in. Gave a sigh and opened my cell. Tullio led me through a number of passages, most of which I would not have seen until I was practically going through them. As I walked through the ever winding passages we finally came to a small door. I almost cried as I saw the sunshine leak through it. I was crying from both relief and pain as the sunlight burned my pupils.

Tullio gave me a nervous look and requested that I hurry. The tunnel came from the side of the castle where the forest was thick and dense. I took in every sight, sound, and smell as I hurried with the furry man.

It took us two days to catch up to the camp where Violante, Mo, and others were staying for that night. The two days were quite dull. Tullio did not talk to me and I did not speak to him. We slept and ate little. But it seemed to be the best day of my life. I forgot about Orpheus, the dungeon, and even the fact I was in a totally different world. I was free and my bad luck in the Inkworld had transformed into good luck.