"No, please let me go." Ella was being dragged by the men showing no mercy.

Her most horrid fear was coming true. She was being dragged by those men like how she was few years ago. The town members who would never sin by touching her was holding her in tight grip.

"Bryon, leave me. Please let me go. I was like your sister till years ago then why are you doing this to me? You are taking me with no good intention, right?" Ella begged him but in vain. The men kept on dragging her like an animal.

Ella tried to free her hand from their hold but the man who was holding her from one side, stopped walking and slapped her harshly. Ella stumbled back and eventually fell down on her knees.

Though Ella didn't know why they were hauling her, she did understand that it was for no good to her. She knew that the villagers think of her as a bad omen and would not dare to touch her unless it was for their sick contentment.

Married women used to close their eyes when she would come in their sight and mother used to cover the eyes of their children so I couldn't cast evil spell on them.

The men continued to haul Ella to the other side of the hill where other villagers were waiting in a baited breath. Ella didn't know where Gode went but she was thankful that her friend was not there. Villagers would've taken advantage of her affection towards her friend and might have hurt Gode.

On the other side of the hill, the villagers and the people from the surrounding villages were standing in and whispering to one another. Ella could feel the happiness waving from them. They were looking extremely pleased probably because they and their family were safe from misfortune.

Ella could only cry when the villagers were smiling brightly at her. How can someone's misfortune make them so pleasant?

The men took Ella further into the woods towards the lake, followed by the villagers. She got scared but for once she was feeling peaceful too. If the solution to stop the calamity was drowning someone or killing someone, then for once she was pleased by it. She hoped they drown her or if needed kill her like they killed her family at the least she would not have to live with the constant fear every moment of her life.

She could be free.

On the shore of the lake, there were two boats and the town head, Knox Garrick waiting. Knox immediately smiled at Ella and walked towards her with excited clap.

"Ella, dear, here you are." Knox caught Ella's shoulders in a tight grip and shook her with a sick enthusiasm. Ella was stunned to see the town head smiling at her proudly.

Why are there boats waiting? Wasn't she going to be drowned?

It was alright for her to drown and die but anything that was not related to death was making her terrified.

"Look at you, such a great lass you are. You are going to save your town from misery again. You must be so proud of yourself." Knox grinned and patted Ella's arm in a proud gesture.

Ella could only look at the evil glint in Knox's eyes that he was trying to hide. He was to no good, she knew it. This time it was not death they were giving her it must be something harsher than the last time.

Ella pried off Knox's hands from her and turned around to run away but immediately a wall of tall bulky men stood before her closing away any way for her to run away.

"Mr. Garrick – " Ella turned around and looked at Knox with sad and helpless tears rolling down her eyes.

"Nah, do not cry like we are killing you. We are not that cruel to kill you." Knox said in a nonchalant caring tone which made Ella look at him like she was monster from fairy tales her mother use to tell her.

"Please kill me instead." Ella dared to speak up. She wanted to die than get used like a hankie again.

"Kill you? Nah! We are not foolish to kill a chick who gives us golden eggs. Ella dear, you need to realize that you were born to save our town and it is your sense of duty to do anything that takes to fulfill your obligation." Knox caught her arm in a death grip and pulled her towards the awaiting boat throwing her into it with force.

He turned around towards the villagers and nodded at them in assurance.

"We will be leaving to Lord Knight's castle now and I hope we get acceptance from him like the previous Lord." Knox announced and got into the boat, tying Ella's hands and legs with a rope.

Ella tried to throw herself in the lake and bang her head to the metal pole but Knox and the other men made certain she was not blemished. After all, she must be clean and pretty to enjoy her night.

Knox was hoping to have Ella for the night once he gets the acceptance from the Lord. She was a young pretty woman and she has a good amount of bosom to satisfy a man. Knox could by now imagine how heavenly it would be to take the young lass to bed and enjoy her treasured curves. He can tell the towns that he was going to sacrifice himself to do the deed since the villagers are too frightened of her evil cast.

It took them a little past noon reach Cragmoor and took couches to the Knightsfort from there forth. They reached the Knight's castle by the late evening and for their expediency, they drugged Ella to sleep. It was better to carry her than have her cry continuously the whole ride. Knox didn't want the Lord to know that she was being forced in to the rituals so it was better to drug her.

Knox ordered Bryon to carry the unconscious Ella and walked towards the entryway of the extravagant palace. Knox was always awestruck by the grand palace. It only made him greedier looking at the life a Lord would be enjoying.

Knox immediately announced to the guard that he want to meet the Lord and his reason for the sudden request for a meet. The guard nodded his head and went inside to let butler Lyndon to let him about the situation. Soon enough they were called inside and were asked to wait for the arrival of the Lord.

Ella was placed in a chair, still unconscious. Knox and the other men were sitting in the chairs on either side of the passageway. There was a large chair ahead on a platform which is the Lord's seating.

Knox and the men patiently waited for the Lord with a tense posture. The previous would never care even if they behead someone under the title of welfare but the new Lord was a shady person. He made certain to everyone that everything in his region should be done only with his approval or should go through punishments.

Lord Knight walked regally into the hall with his cane and sat on his chair like a royal. His face was void of any sentiment and his posture commanding respect. Knox and the men bowed down to him and Lord Knight nodded his head curtly asking them to take their seats. He threw a sideways glance towards the unconscious Ella and the grip on his cane tightened slightly.

"What was so important that you asked for an assembly at this time of evening?" Lord's dark authoritative voice sent shivers through the men and Knox's hands shivered a little at the power. Biting down the sudden fear arising inside him, Knox stood up and bowed down to the Lord once again.

"My Lord, we are extremely apologetic for visiting in rush of time but the matter in hand cannot wait till the morning." Knox apologized briefly and noticing the grim nod of the Lord, he continued, "As you know the floods has struck havoc in the Shadowvalor and the other villages around it and took many lives, we stumbled upon a solution to calm the nature's anger." Know continued to tell the whole scenario of the rituals and the solution given by the sacred witch.

Lord Knight grew grimmer and his breath was coming out in rage but the villagers are too frightened to look up and notice it. His hold on his cane tightened further looking at Ella's comatose body. Suddenly the atmosphere changed and the Lord looked at the men with a leer. Knox mistook as the smile of approval and the other men did not even dare to look up at the Lord's face.

"It is excellent that you are doing so much for the town, Knox. There is no reason for me to decline it." Lord said with his signature smirk and Knox released a sigh of relief. "But, I have a condition here." The Lord's further clause made the men spring up in bewilder.