A Snake’s Life Ch 85

Chapter 85

A vile stench pierced my nostrils. My nose twitched instinctively, and I clutched my throbbing head as I sat up. The dizziness made my body sway, but as I shook my head to clear the fog, my vision slowly sharpened. I pressed my palm against my aching forehead.

“Where am I?”

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a set of iron bars. The frigid air and the damp, moldy scent told me everything—I was underground, likely in a basement.

Still struggling to piece things together, I sat in a stunned daze. Just moments ago, I’d been giving directions to a woman when someone struck me from behind. A handkerchief had been shoved into my mouth, laced with some kind of chemical—and the next thing I knew, I was here. Kidnapped? Me? By whom? Panic welled up inside me.

“This isn’t the time to panic.”

I forced myself to take in my surroundings. Thick iron bars confined me, and when I tried to stand, a metallic clank stopped me in my tracks.

Heavy shackles bound my wrists and ankles. Thankfully, the chains were long enough to allow minimal movement, but their ends were bolted firmly to the wall—escape was impossible in this state.

The chains scraped harshly against the ground as I raised my hands, the sound grating against my ears. My breath caught.

“Ha… What is this place?”

Waking up in a strange, freezing room—shackled, no less—was enough to throw anyone into shock. I began pacing in frantic circles, desperately trying to make sense of what had happened.

“I definitely went to the flower shop… I was just waiting outside…”

Then a memory surfaced. Something Camilla had said before we parted—about the recent wave of disappearances. My heart dropped. Could I be one of them now? I sank to the floor and grabbed my head, overwhelmed.

“Shit. Did someone uncover my identity? Was I targeted because of that? I did take off my hood briefly when I met Camilla… Did someone see me? But I put it back on before entering the carriage. It’s enchanted, isn’t it? Can the magic really be pierced that easily?”

The terrifying possibility struck me: I’d been kidnapped as a bargaining chip to use against Zerpell. My thoughts spiraled. I slapped my cheeks sharply, trying to pull myself together.

That’s when I noticed the silver strands of my hair. My hood must’ve fallen off while I was flailing around. I hurriedly pulled it back on, tightening it over my head. Zerpell’s face flickered in my mind.

“He must be worried…”

Of course he would be. Paul and Wol, too. I had no idea how much time had passed, but they had to have noticed by now. I reached instinctively for the necklace around my neck.

“Why didn’t it react?”

Was it because my life hadn’t been in immediate danger? Because the situation had been induced by some kind of sedative or sleeping agent instead of a physical attack? If I’d been hit directly, the charm would’ve activated right away… Damn it. I put my trust in that magic, and it betrayed me.

I clenched the necklace in frustration, but of course, it did nothing. Sighing deeply, I stepped up to the bars. The darkness made it hard to see much, but when I focused, I could hear things—quiet sobbing, occasional moans of despair. I wasn’t the only one imprisoned.

This wasn’t a targeted kidnapping.

“Maybe I wasn’t even the intended target…”

It seemed like a mass abduction. I had assumed I’d been singled out, but perhaps it was random. For something like this to happen right in the capital—what the hell was happening to city security? In the cell across from mine, a small girl sat huddled in a corner, crying out for her mother between pitiful sobs. The sound tugged sharply at my chest. Poor thing.

Even with the fear and confusion, a strange calm settled over me. I wasn’t panicking. I was still alert, still thinking. Yes, I was shackled. Yes, I’d been imprisoned. But—

“At least I have this.”

I lifted my hand, and a bead of water gathered at my fingertip. Just like Kir once showed me, I could sharpen it into a blade and slice through the shackles in an instant. I was just about to act when a beam of light spilled into the room.

“Who’s there…?”

The light filtered through the bars, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps. Then came a loud, furious voice as someone violently rattled the bars.

“You…! Good, you’re here! Let us out right now!”

A man was shouting in rage, his voice echoing off the stone walls. I pressed closer to the bars, concealing the water droplet in my palm as I observed. Aside from the angry man, there were others—some crying, others shouting—but the figures walking past ignored them entirely, unaffected, as if this scene were entirely ordinary. I swiftly dispelled the droplet.

I needed to stay alert.

The footsteps stopped before my cell. A group stood outside, eyes gleaming with an unsettling gleam as they scanned me slowly from head to toe. One of them, dressed like a servant, bowed low and gestured toward me.

“This is the item we just brought in.”

‘Item?’ My stomach churned.

The man who’d taken me must’ve been a subordinate. The one standing next to him, stroking his beard, appeared to be the one in charge. So this was a transaction. And I was the merchandise.

“Nothing unusual,” the higher-ranking man said flatly.

The subordinate stammered, desperate to make his case.

“E-Even so, his appearance is clean. The noblewomen might take a liking to him. These days, slaves are hard to come by… Looks like someone new to the capital—probably a traveler.”

Slave?

I froze. My jaw went slack.

“…I see. Let’s inspect him. Open the cell.”

With a jangle of keys, the door creaked open. The man strode in and, without warning, drove his boot into my side. I was too slow to dodge.

“Ah!”

“You’re a slave now. Best start learning your place.”

Fury exploded in my chest. Should I strike now? But before I could react, he grabbed my chin and forced my face up. My hood barely remained in place.

“Ugh!”

“Plain features, but nothing flawed. Should fetch a decent price. These days, even someone like this sells well.”

He turned my face from side to side, his grip rough and demeaning. Once satisfied, he threw me aside like garbage. I stayed where I fell, teeth clenched.

“Well done. I’ll be in touch again.”

“Of course. Anytime.”

Their business concluded, the subordinate pulled out a pouch and handed it over. Judging by the weight of it, it was a considerable sum. I stared at the floor in disbelief.

A slave. They were selling me as a slave.

“This can’t be happening…”

I hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but the words slipped out, barely audible. The man smirked down at me.

“Oh, it’s happening. You should’ve been more careful. But look on the bright side—better to be a noble’s cherished servant than struggling to survive. You’re ordinary-looking, but maybe you’ll catch someone’s fancy. You’ll be shipped out tomorrow. You’re in decent enough shape.”

“Yes, sir,” the subordinate replied.

So they were slave dealers. Kidnappers, traffickers, filth.

Did they really think I’d accept this fate quietly?

They continued chatting, unconcerned with the fact that I could hear every word. I wanted to glare at them, to spit out every ounce of contempt, to suggest they put themselves on display if they were so eager for noble attention—but I bit back every retort.

Now wasn’t the time.

I kept my head bowed and my expression blank, calculating my next move. I had the means to escape—but if I acted too soon and got caught, the consequences would be far worse. The man, fooled by my silence, gave a satisfied nod.

“Good. That’s how a slave should behave.”

As if. I stared after him with cold hatred, trying to burn a hole through the floor with my eyes. But he didn’t notice. They turned and left, and the room fell back into darkness.

Across from me, the little girl broke into heavier sobs, finally understanding what those words meant.

No. I will not be sold.

If they try to take me, I know someone who would burn this entire place to the ground. For his sake, I refuse to be taken.