It is lush, to say the least. In the centre of the room is a four-poster bed that is actually… atree? There is a canopy of leaves overtop of the white, linen bed and the wooden posts are twisted and look to be rooted to the floor. The walls are lined with large potted monstera deliciousas, philodendrons, and an actual whole wall panel of moss. The big bay window to the right of the room is framed in hanging pots of vines and succulents. My legs have a mind of their own as I wander over to the moss wall and sink my fingers into the fluffy softness.
Oh wow, every house should have a moss wall…
“I don’t mean to intrude,” a small voice calls out. I startle as I am caught pressing my face into the moss. I turn to see Lillian has entered the room.
A varg reaches to close the door behind her. “The King has requested your presence at dinner this evening and I have been sent to be your lady in waiting.” I see her blush and bow her head. She clasps her hands in front of her, the picture of subservience. I step away from the wall, brushing off my cheek and straightening myself up.
“So what? You’re working for The Wolf? I trusted you.”
“I am so very sorry Nuria! I did not wish to be so deceitful with you. You were so nice to me when all the other servants despised Jacob and I for how Lord Pyralis favoured us.” She steps closer to me, wringing her hands.
“Then why? Why did you betray him and me?”What is it with this realm? Is everyone just taught that betrayal and bargains are the only way to interact with another person?
“The King took us in when our parents died. He cared for us and asked us to help him by spying on Pyralis. He did not trust him, so we were sent to keep a close eye on him.” She shrugs.
“You were born in this realm?”
“Yes, we both were, but our parents were not. My brother said they were both professors, whatever that means, who studied ancient texts and went searching for this realm. My mother had Jacob in her belly when they found their way through.”
“And how did The Wolf cross your path? Why did he take you in?”
“My parents were supporters of his teachings of the new religion and followed him wherever he went. Eventually he accepted them as servants when he took the throne. You see, they had come to this realm together, chasing the lore of the magic of The Divine Mother and he showed them the way.”
I wonder if they knew of his plans to infiltrate the human realm.
“Well they were crazy to come searching for this place. It is not kind to humans… or fae raised in the human realm for that matter. How did they die?”
“I do not know. I was very young and The King just said it was an accident. I – I never thought to question it.” Lillian’s head hangs down again, but I can see she is peeking up through her eyelashes to see my decision on whether I will let her stay or not.
I sigh at the forgiveness I am about to give to yet another friend of this realm. I never had many friends back home anyway, but surely this is not normal. Plants and animals never betray me. Perhaps I should just stick to befriending them in the future…
“Fine, you can be my lady in… whatever.” Lillian immediately perks up and bounces on her toes, grinning ear to ear. “But don’t think that we are cool, Lils. Don’t lie to me ever again. I think you need a friend that doesn’t only care about themselves and it seems they come few and far between in this place.” She nods emphatically and draws a line across her throat with her thumb.
“Wha – what does that mean?”Did she just threaten me?
“It means I swear or lose my head!” she giggles, as if I am ridiculous for not knowing that.Fae version of cross my heart and hope to die?
“Right. Well… I’ve witnessed enough beheading for a lifetime, so please keep your word.”
“I promise… and not just a human promise, but a real fae one.” She winks. "Now, first thing is first, you need a bath.” She grimaces, looking me up and down. I suddenly feel the lingering stickiness from the figs I had gorged on and give myself a sniff, smelling Braun’s stag musk mixed in with rotting fruit.Yup, I need a bath…
Lillian opens a side door I had not noticed before that leads into a bathing chamber. I nod my thanks and she leaves me to bathe in peace. When I am finally alone and scrubbing my sticky skin clean, the walls I had firmly placed around what had just occurred come tumbling down. I literally watched a man’s head get ripped off. I heard the crunch of his spine… and the rip of skin.
I’m going to be sick…
I shut down the image as best I can but my body does not get the memo and the shake in my hands is making it difficult to scrub anymore. So I just sink down into the hot bath until only my nose and eyes are above water.
I wish I could just transform into a frog or better yet, a lily pad. ThenI could just float and not think. I could just float and photosynthesize and make a flower. That’s it.
Alas, instead I am here, a bloody prisoner once again. At least my friends are out there, with their heads intact… For now.
Shit… Marissa!I bolt upright in the bath as I realize the Sylvans will be in even more danger now that The King’s guards will be out looking for them. I should have had the sense to tell Oleander and Embrys to get Marissa out, to get her to safety. Easthelm isn’t a safe place anymore though… Nowhere is. Shemost likely would not acquiesce to being sheltered somewhere either. No, Marissa will fight. She was always stubborn but the person she has grown into in these past few months would never back down. I have no way to protect her from here, but perhaps she does not need my protection anymore. Perhaps she never did…
When I emerge from the bathing room Lillian is still there, sitting on the bed beside an elaborate, floor length ball gown. Her huge grin reminds me of Marissa whenever I let her play dress up with me… Terrifying.
The dress is a dark green tulle fluff ball with golden embroidered leaves covering the torso. The neckline plunges modestly but with a tight enough bodice that makes my cleavage uncomfortably noticeable and with nowhere for my necklace to hide.
Why is it always a bloody dress?I sigh as I look at my reflection in the mirror that is on the front of the wardrobe, Lillian is beaming behind me.I want my smelly trousers back.
