Before the girl could ask what Bella meant, a strong sound took her attention and the wall behind them cracked enough.
Two large bottom stones separated from the large wall and to their shock it was a dark path behind it. But how?
"I have realized at some point that this is the end part of the building. And since the cells were made of strong rocks, I am sure they do not guard the back of the building." Bella walked toward the dog hole she had created and looked out. "As you can see this is an empty road opening in some dark alley… if you take it, you have a chance to save yourself. As long as you are not caught, you can change the town and start another life somewhere else."
She was giving a chance to the girl? The girl blinked, shocked that she was getting one!
"You do not have much time to contemplate. They will find out about it when they come to check on all of you." As if a strong bell had rung in their ears, the slaves in the cell stood up at once and ran toward the small crack, pushing each other but when Bella saw them, they helped each other in moving out.
Her actions had brought the attention of other cells too. A few slaves were looking at her with hope that she would save them too while a few were looking at her with wariness, not believing that a witch would offer help without reason.
But when she sat back without offering a word, many came to her, pleading. After all, who did not want to get free from this life of captivity.
"Please, help me too. I have a small daughter." the woman from another cell called her. "I will pay you if you help me." she offered when Bella did not pay attention to her pleadings, making Bella smile.
"I do not need money." Bella replied. She needed time to recover her strength. It was difficult to use her powers with restraints but she had consumed enough to kill a vampire and then burn the iron but the woman did not understand any of it.
She frowned and looked at Bella with fierce eyes.
"Then what would it take? I want to go home too." the woman gritted her teeth making Bella frown.
All the slaves were pleading, weak, desperate but the woman had a hint of command in her voice as if it was Bella's obligation to free them.
"Then find your own way!" It was one thing to listen to her family and be kind but bearing the attitude of others was not her responsibility. Was it?
"You.." no other slave approached her as she closed her eyes.
They all wondered why she helped that girl and if she would help them later when she would feel better but the woman did not want to let go.
"What must I do for you to help me? You helped that girl without anything. I am still a better person to offer you something.'' She insisted on making many slaves look at her with confusion and embarrassment but Bella laughed as if she had heard a joke.
"Really? What do you have to offer then?" slaves are bought and sold in this building. They are not human, but property of this slave establishment. How could a thing possess anything? There was no way that guards had left a precious thing for a slave.
"I can give you five silver coins when I reach my house. My daughter would pay for it." she smiled haughtily as if she had won the prize.
"How? Will you come back to the slave establishment to pay me?" Bella tilted her head and looked at the woman clearly now. She was going to help many others but this woman was irking her. She finally felt better when the woman's eyes flashed in shock.
"Why will I do that?" she frowned at once, "would you not go out?" her smile faded and she looked confused. Everyone looked at Bella with the same question. If she had the power to save others, why was she here? Why was she not saving herself first?
But Bella just smiled and shook her head. She stared at her hands that had many burnt marks now and turned red and swollen. A lopsided smile flashed on her face. Even when they wanted her to go and kill the vampires, they did not take the restraint from her body.
But she would still find a way to kill all the vampires. It was not only for the love of their family but she wanted witches to live freely. She did not understand why they were hunted and what right vampires had to decide the fate of witches.
They must taste their own actions. Bella's eyes started to darken when everyone took a step back. Before the woman could whine again, they heard footsteps and realized the guards had returned for patrolling.
Everyone hid in the dark afraid that they would be dragged in the commotion if the guards noticed the hole. But there were not many guards.. One of them came and stopped in front of Bella.
"You are back!" she smiled at the guard whom she had threatened earlier. He looked haggard as if he was the slave while she was guarding him.
"We are going!" he announced through gritted teeth. The woman wanted to go to the vampire lord, right? He would make sure that her wish would come true and then… he would witness her torture and painful death. Only then would this girl realize that she could not play with fire.
Bella stood up and nodded when he opened the door of her cell.
"You have to behave like a slave if you want to be sold. The lord is here for the weekly visit. I can present you to him but it depends on you whether he will select you or not."