Chapter Four

Lisha POV

Memories run through my mind of the previous night, and I double over in pain as I remember the intruders that broke into our home and killed my mother. My breath hitches in my throat; what could we have done to deserve this? I gag, wanting to be sick; the loss of my mother consumes me. I sob quietly, too scared to move. I don't know how long I have been lying on the ground; the cold feels like it has seeped through my bones; my head is pounding, my body aching. I try to move my hands to steady myself when panic sets in; I struggle, then stop when I realize it is pointless, as my captures have chained me to a wall. There is another person here with me, but it's too dark to see who it is. I hear shuffling behind me as someone tries to help me sit up.

“Don't say anything to attract the guards. I have some water for you; it will help clear your head.”

The cool water tastes amazing, relieving the dryness scratching at the back of my throat. The other person is a female about my age. I whisper to her,

“Where are we, and who are you?

“We are in the Seelie court, and my name is Skyla.”

Looking around, I see we are in a dungeon: stone floor, stone walls, and thick bars run across the front of the cell. I watch as Skyla bends, picking her chains up before moving so they don't make noise. Unlike mine, her hands are chained in front of her. Getting a better look at her, I think she must be about sixteen years old as it is clear she is transforming from a girl into a woman. Skyla has soft brown curly hair, olive skin, and a curvy figure. But it's her face that is the most beautiful thing about her, large blue eyes, high cheekbones, and a smile that radiates beauty and kindness.

Looking at her, I say,

“You're not just a Dark Fae, are you?”

“No, I am half-human, an abomination in the eyes of the Seelie Queen.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Five days; we will get moved later today,”

I hear footsteps approaching; keeping as small as I can, I move into the shadows. My hope is not to attract attention to us. As the door opens, my heartbeat quickens as two guards enter.

“Well, who's first?” The taller of the two asks.

The guard grabs Skyla, and she struggles, trying to pull away as he drags her to her feet. He laughs, then pushes her roughly back down on the floor, looking at me.

“Come on, sweetheart, your coming with us.”

The shorter guard unlocks the chains from my wrists and shoves me in the middle of my back, motioning with his hand for me to walk. I don't resist as I know it would be a waste of time. Instead, I keep my head and eyes forward, taking in as much of my surroundings as possible without them noticing. I follow the first guard. I am too scared to do anything else. We enter a room with a table in the middle; the guard turns and smiles at me. His smile doesn't reach his cruel eyes as he says,

“Up you get, on the table.”

I stand still; fear makes my knees buckle.

The guard grabs my arms with a cold bruising grip, laying me on my back. I struggle as the second guard straps my legs and arms so I can't move, then he secures another strap across my head and turns my face to the side.

Within a few moments, a woman enters—the guard's bow.

“Stand up, you fools. I have no intention of staying in this place any longer than I have to,”

The guards stand as she moves closer to me. Her voice is honeyed, too sweet, sending fear running through me.

“I am your Queen; from this day forward, you are a servant of the Seelie Court. You will live or die as I see fit”.

I scream as I feel a burning pain starting at my right eyebrow and running down my face to the bottom of my ear. It feels like a sharp piece of hot steel is being dragged across my face; it lasts minutes, but it feels like hours as I writhe in agony—the tears running down my face mix with the sweat pouring out of me, soaking my clothes. When I stop screaming, the Queen murmurs in her sickening tone,

“The markings on your face are permanent; I will know where you are anywhere in my realm. They also bind your magic. I do not have to tell you this. I do so out of kindness."

Turning, she addresses one of the guards,

“Bring the abomination in now and take the Dark Fae to Athena. She has my orders.”

I have no choice but to follow him upstairs to a door. I stumbled against him as he opened it. My back hits the door as the guard pushes me away from him and sneers,

“Get the fuck off me,”

We arrive at a small house. He knocks on the door; a small dark-haired woman opens the door and snaps,

“Took you long enough, Nathaniel; how many are coming today?”

“Only two, Athena,”

He replies as she shakes her head at me.

"She’s much prettier than they usually are; it could cause problems.”

“Who cares, Athena? It's your job to keep them in line, not mine. I have to go back; you know the Queen does not like to be kept waiting.''

He briskly walks away, back the way we came, to the dungeon. Athena's lips curl up in disgust as she looks at me,

“Hurry up, we have a lot to discuss; bath and clean clothes first, then food.”

I follow Athena into her cabin; as she leads me to the bathroom, she explains that the Queen's servants are bound to her by the mark she puts on us. I grow angry as I realize I will wear this mark on my face for the rest of my life, a vine, leaves, and red roses.

Athena points to the shower as she says,

“Bathe while I find you some clothes to wear. Everything you need is on the shelf in front of you.”

My relief at finally being left only doesn't last as Athena re-enters the bathroom thrusting clothes into my arms, and snarls,

“Put these on and be quick about it.”

Athena has given me a tunic with splits running down either side and a pair of trousers. The tunic comes to my knees and has a belt for my waist. The trousers are elastic-waisted, tapering in as they run down my legs. The material is very light, offering no protection against the elements. I quickly wash and put the clothes on. I may be young, but I am smart enough to see Athena is a petty woman who would take pleasure in hurting people she thinks are weaker than her. 

Skyla is crying softly when she arrives at Athena's; blood pours down the side of her face. I run towards her and stop when Athena slaps my face; my eyes widen in shock as I ask,

“Why did you do that?”

Athena's voice is deadly as she snarls,

“If you wish to survive your servitude, you will do what I say. I will not tell you twice. Eat, then follow me,”

Fear slides down my spine; Skyla and I stand and follow Athena staying silent as she explains the laws we are to follow.