Changeling

Anguish

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It had been over three weeks since I last laid eyes on the radiant sun, its warm rays now a distant memory. Time was marked by my meager daily meal - my captors only fed me once a day, a sodden meal that sustained my body but not my spirit. And all around me, other slaves toiled endlessly from dawn until dusk.

From my cage, I could see down into the mine below, though I never knew what they were mining for. But whatever it was, it must have been precious, for the rocks glimmered like diamonds and shone like stars in the dim light. The walls surrounding me were obsidian black, sturdy and impenetrable save for the missing chunks allowing me a glimpse of the outside world. Other cages like mine, filled with female prisoners or even two squeezed together, lined the dim and desolate hallway, a grim reminder of our hopeless fate.

A warm feeling of contentment filled my chest as I reflected on the fact that I had, against all odds, made a friend. By my side was a fellow human, or at least I believed her to be so. It was difficult to discern in this dark underground world where sight seemed almost irrelevant. But she, like me, had grown up in the human realm.

In the past weeks, we had shared countless tales of our homes, each taking turns describing the unique landscapes and simple creatures of our respective worlds. I had offered comfort to her after enduring harsh treatment from the guards, teaching her how to weave intricate laces as a distraction. And she, in return, had repeatedly requested for me to describe in vivid detail the pieces I had created for my Queen - an indulgence I happily obliged. Together, we found solace in our shared experiences and forged a bond that transcended our current predicament.

We regaled each other with lists of our favorite treats, festivals, and seasonal traditions. Ruby shared recipes with me, her tone of voice heightened in her excitement. I struggled to put into words the way the solitary sun of that world illuminated the courtyard gardens with a comforting warmth each evening, and how we would gather there to discuss our homes and aspirations.

Despite our dire circumstances, we had found solace in our new friendship. Ruby wouldn’t reveal much about her capture, only that she had been stolen from her homelands and brought here against her will. My growing fondness for the girl only heightened my concern for her safety, but I had troubles of my own to deal with. Troubles that seemed insurmountable in this strange and cruel place.

The Unseelie Queen hadn’t made an appearance to me. Her guards didn’t even ask questions on her behalf. I was left here to think that I would waste away.

“Caitlin?” I heard her gentle voice murmur from the wall. I had been attempting to clean myself with the stained bowl next to me, using a scrap of fabric torn from my gown. I shuffled over to the wall and leaned against it, placing my hand against the cool surface. The sounds of people being forced to work echoed up towards our location. “I’m scared.”

The poor girl was easily frightened. “I know, Ruby. I know.” I hushed. What else could I do? The dreaded, familiar bang of the heavy wooden door at the end of the hallway reverberated through the cages and I jumped. “What the hell do they want? They were just here,” I spat.

“They’ve come to take me!” She cried.

“It will be okay; they did not come to take you.” I reassured. I wasn’t completely sure, though. I glanced upwards as a trio of guards approached, and one casually leaned against the bars of my cell.

“She’s really dirty, but you should have seen her when she first came. Goddess in rags I tell you.” An elf licked his lips before speaking. The man next to him, a newcomer, appeared human except for the top of his head. Instead of hair, he had wispy branches and tangled roots protruding out.

“She really is,” He took a deep breath and then shifted his hands to fiddle with his pants. I was taken aback as I watched him expose himself to me and start stroking. “Come here, give me a good suck.”

Repulsed, I recoiled. My heart was hammering in my chest, the rhythmic beats pounding against my eardrums. Never before had I ever... I frantically clutched the charm around my neck, desperate for some sort of protection. Many times over I attempted to rid myself of the cursed wooden fingers that remained stubbornly attached. With trembling hands, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to transport myself back to happier times, desperately trying to drown out his guttural grunts and the sickening stench of his presence.

The others laughed and in a shockingly small amount of time I realized they were moving on to Ruby’s cage. I whirled around just in time to see the woodland creature send a kiss in my direction before slipping out of sight.

“What are you doing?” She asked in a voice that trembled. I could hear the sound of the bone keys jingling in her hand. Something I had observed during my time here was the absence of any iron or metal objects. At first, it struck me as odd, but now it seemed like a normal part of life here.

I launched myself towards the wooden bars, my hands gripping them with white-knuckled intensity. A guttural scream ripped from my throat as I stood face to face with the woodland man. He loomed over me, snarling as his hand shot out and grabbed my collar, cutting off my air supply. His eyes flicked down to the silver threads of my brand, then back up to meet my defiant gaze. I bared my teeth in a feral threat, refusing to cower in fear as adrenaline surged through my veins.

“It’s such a pity, your flawless skin being ruined like that.” He ripped apart the front of my gown and forcefully grasped my breast, relishing in his own pleasure. I resisted and pushed back against him, trying to break free.

Ruby’s screams filled the air as two figures dragged her out of the small, cramped cage. Trapped and helpless, she fought against their grasp, her nails scraping against wooden bars.

“Let her go!” I cried out, but my voice was drowned out by Ruby’s desperate pleas for mercy.

The guards emerged from the cage, their hands tightly gripping Ruby’s arms as they forced a sack over her head. She thrashed and writhed in their grasp, her body shaking in terror as she begged for release.

“Where are you taking her?!” I demanded. The man who had been groping me seized the back of my neck in a crushing grip, forcing his mouth onto mine with a roughness that made my teeth ache. His intrusive tongue invaded my mouth, claiming what little agency I had left. With a dark and twisted smile, he turned on his heels and left me to suffer. The other girls, trapped in their cages like I was, either watched with horrified fascination or cowered in the corners, too afraid to do anything. Hot tears streamed down my face as I trembled in fear and pain, collapsing onto my raw and scabbed knees. In a moment of weakness, I let out a pitiful whimper, feeling utterly powerless and broken.

“Miss?” Someone whispered. My eyes traveled up to meet the gaze of the girl sitting across from me. She was like a goddess, with her ethereal beauty and graceful demeanor. However, she had told me before that she was a nymph, not a deity. Nymphs were essentially the children of elementals, and they only ever appeared as young girls.

I sniffed and wiped my nose on my dirtied sleeve. “Yes Poppy?” I had told her many times to call me by my name.

“You are a product of the magic all around us. You are a descendant of the gods, able to tap into the most primal source of all. The soul.” She pressed her body against the bars. She attempted to educate me on historical events these last few weeks, but I didn’t always grasp the meaning behind them. “If anyone can save Ruby, can save us all, it is you.” It didn’t go unnoticed how she said her name, how she had always said her name.

“I have tried Poppy, gods I have tried. Like Ruby had suggested, maybe the Unseelie queen is keeping me blocked.”

Poppy pressed against the barriers of her cage with more force, her emerald tresses cascading down her bare shoulders. She paid no mind to her lack of clothing. “Caitlin, that was the Unseelie queen. She’s been fooling you. I don’t know why, nor do I understand why she has left. As it gave me the perfect opportunity to tell you. Something is happening, something is changing.”

“Ruby can’t be the Unseelie queen, she’s my age.” I stated.

Poppy shook her head. “She is immortal, she doesn’t age. It doesn’t mean she can’t be killed. But please, forget all of that. Just try, one more time. Try to break the shackles around your neck.”

“I can’t, Poppy. I’ve tried.” I pleaded with her, my voice shaking as I tried to make her see. But as the words left my mouth, I felt myself crumbling even more. Exhaustion and hunger weighed heavily on me, and I couldn’t help but turn away from her and lean against the cold stone wall. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me- disbelief, betrayal, and sadness all intertwined. How could Ruby, my friend, be the Unseelie queen? Was every moment we spent together just a lie? My trembling hand reached up to touch my lips, still tasting him. And with each tear that fell down my face, I couldn’t shake the feeling of his hand on my breast.