Chapter Text
After a while you began to get the feeling that you were completely lost. Having taken about a dozen turns onto progressively thinner and thinner offroads, crowded ever closer with snow-coated trees, you would not be surprised if that damn GPS was taking you in circles. Had it always been this… desolate?
It was not until the navigator voice had been silent for at least ten minutes that it occurred to you that you had been out of service range for a significant portion of time. You huffed, reaching for your phone in the cupholder, one hand on the steering wheel as you searched the map for any signs of your destination. Much to your dismay, your current location had been completely lost in a grayed out section of the map, unable to load without cell service.
You swore, shoved the phone back into the cupholder, and wondered if you still had that old atlas in the trunk that your father insisted would come in handy someday. He was right, you supposed, but just as you went to straighten yourself up and return your other hand to the steering wheel, you were shocked by a loud rupturing sound, followed by the car jolting. You screeched, losing control and near immediately rolling off the road and straight into a tree. The terrible crunch of your hood against the trunk met your ears, and snow plopped down from the branches to cover your windshield.
You sat in agonizing silence for several moments, completely at a loss for what to do. Outside, the sun approached the horizon ever closer, making the shade of the trees far darker than at midday.
Fuck . You wanted to scream it out, till the entire forest echoed with your distress. Fuck!
Your hand shook as you reached up to the overhead light, heart pounding whilst you searched your mind for any possible solution to this mess.
Nothing. Wait, nothing? You glanced up. The light didn’t go on. Again, you clicked the button, still nothing. Then again, again, rather furiously smacking the stupid switch until you were forced to accept that you were a little more than fucked. Taking note of the console before you, it became that much more clear. It was all dead.
With an exhausted groan, your head fell into your hands, allowing yourself at least the respite of a faint massage against the temples. You had definitely heard your tire bursting, and now the front of your car was at least somewhat mangled. Without any service, your options grew increasingly grim, not to mention the cost it would be to get your car fixed if it wasn’t already totaled.
And sure, the battery’s dead too, because why wouldn’t it be? What a day. Fuck it all, you could scarcely believe just how quickly everything went south.
Your chest rose and fell in panting breaths, growing quicker, more and more frantic as you considered the situation at hand. You could die out here. With this kind of weather, if you were out too long without any power, you just might not ever make it back home.
Not one part of you could help the tears that clouded your vision, a shaking hand rose to hastily wipe them away, grimacing all the while for your weakness.
Only one thing to do: look for help.
You took a breath, mostly steady, and shoved open the door. The sun was still out, and you weren’t freezing yet. So dammit, you’d make the best of what you had, and try to find a hint of civilization in these old mountains. You’d been here countless times before, it really couldn’t be that desolate.
You’d find someone. No doubt. People don’t just let prime real estate like this go untouched. Nodding to yourself, you stepped out of the car, repeating that foolish thought like a mantra in your head as you stumbled down the snowy street. Someone was plowing these roads, after all. You just had to hold on to hope.
And hold it like it’s all you have left.
🥀
It was a terribly hopeless feeling to wander these frigid woods, down the roads, hoping you’d find something, anything. And perhaps, yes, perhaps it was most stupid that you had the bright idea of simply… wandering away from the road. Finding nothing remotely resembling civilization for what felt like miles, and the sun ever approaching the horizon, you took note of where you’d left your car, allowed yourself a deep breath, and walked on into the forest.
You told yourself you’d follow a straight path, but what with all that snow, it came to a point where you had no idea where you’d led yourself.
Oh god. Oh fuck. Your heart slammed into action, thundering in your chest as the panic set in. It couldn’t get much worse than this, could it?
You tried to surrender to your fate, to give up caring and continue on, trusting that luck would be on your side, but your legs felt like sludge with every step. You were terrified.
The shadows that drew across the land did nothing to calm your nerves, each rustle of the branches in the wind causing you to whip around in alarm.
Not to mention, it only seemed the forest was getting thicker the further you walked, which, to your great dismay, meant you were probably not heading in the direction of your car.
But as you crept on, you saw a most curious thing.
Green, and lots of it. Not just the faint bits of evergreen poking through the snow, but swathes of grass, of blossoming trees, just some ways from you, beyond the snow.
You stumbled forward, perplexed. Were there such things as mirages in winter? Surely this must have been one of them. Yet as you stepped closer, nothing changed. And in fact, it was as though the trees opened up to guide you within.
Just as you’d seen… grass, soft, verdant grass, and trees that wove their branches together like arms, blossoming, the orange scent filling the air, and causing a sense of comfort to wash over you.
With your jaw feeling like it was about ready to fall off in astonishment, you made your way through them.
How… how could this be? Not a fleck of snow dotted the landscape beyond the orange trees, and as you walked on, breaching the treeline, you found a grand valley unfold before you, filled with green, spring-like grass, roses, everywhere you looked, their vines encompassing the ground, the trees, anywhere they could reach. But most notably, at the center of the valley, a castle.
It was regal, imposing, and… enormous. You couldn’t possibly imagine how you didn’t know of a castle like this, having lived not all that far from here for most of your life. Yet, as you looked over it, over the somewhat rundown yet nonetheless grand appearance, you could only accept that never once in all your days had you seen it.
Roses entwined the castle even more than the rest of the ground, through windows, up pillars, crawling over it like snakes.
Now, mind you, you had a strict set of rules that you were determined to follow when it came to things like this. For you were never to enter abandoned mansions, old shacks, or any similar decrepit place. You might as well be inviting yourself into the plot of a horror movie, and leaving your damn coat at the door, too. However…
You looked over the castle with awe, unable to stop yourself from drawing closer. It wasn’t really… decrepit , was it? And it was a castle! That was entirely different. Horror movies didn’t happen in castles, they happened in weird mansions in swamps… or something. And so, you nodded to yourself, and approached the massive castle doors, where beyond, on a cliff that cut off the bowl of the mountains, plummeting into the forest deep below, the sun’s rays began to vanish.
The doors opened with surprising ease. They were covered in the vines, and you nearly ended up planting your finger directly into a thorn, drawing back just quickly enough to realize your mistake. As you stepped within, you realized the affliction of roses did not stop on the outside of the castle.
Within, a grand foyer rose before you, the ceiling so high you squinted to make it out in the low light. A staircase curled at the end of the room—up into the heavens, it seemed—roses entwined along the railing, the pillars, and the statues that stood against the walls. Dying light shone in from above, though otherwise, it was quite difficult to see, and you found yourself struggling to get a better view of things.
A rustle sounded behind you. You jumped, and turned in place. Simply a mouse? Perhaps, but you couldn’t be sure, for the moment you’d entered this place you’d felt on edge.
You took another step, in search of the source of that sound. But as the minutes stretched on with nothingness, you figured it must have been the wind.
Until it happened again.
“Hello?” You called, feeling rather like a stupid horror movie protagonist. Nothing answered but the echo of your voice through the foyer, yet it gave you no hope that you were truly alone.
Again.
You whirled in place, and it was gone.
Something watched you. Rushing just out of vision each time you turned, though you could swear you caught a glimpse of glinting emerald in the darkness.
Well, you thought, I suppose I must update my rule. One should not enter run down mansions, abandoned shacks, OR crumbling castles. No matter how beautiful.
Your gaze darted back and forth between each suspicious shadow, and you nearly tripped over a rose vine running across the floor in front of you. You caught yourself with an outstretched hand to center your balance, and though you meant to turn and catch another glance of the room, a chill shocked you in place.
It was behind you. Whatever that figure in the shadows had been, just out of view, lurking in between dreams and reality, just on the edge of your own delirium, it was standing perfectly still. Just meters from you.
Every hair on your body stood on end, heart thudding not unlike the rhythm to an eerie melody. In that moment, you couldn’t have said how you knew it was behind you. There wasn’t a single sound, not a breath taken, even by yourself, not a hint of rustling that would indicate some kind of movement. Even the wind in the towers far above had silenced, as though waiting with anxious excitement to see what would happen next.
Moments passed like hours, and finally, you turned. Just your head, craning your neck to see the face peeking out from the darkness. Those shimmering eyes were the same you had seen flashing past you as you stumbled through the foyer. They were set like fine gemstones into a pale face. Whoever they were, an air of majesty, of regal elegance exuded from their handsome features. That, you could not deny. It was in their strong nose, casting a thin shadow across the right side of their face; their lips, painted a faint gray, those eyes… Their beauty almost assuaged your fear. Just almost.
The figure opened their mouth, and the sheen of four sharp fangs caught the light. A man’s voice met your ears. “Who are you?”
Your heart thrummed impossibly louder, so much so that you began to wonder if you would pass out on the cold stone beneath you. The idea was almost tempting, that way you could at the very least get out of this petrifying conversation.
Taking a shaking breath, you did everything you could to dismiss these miserable thoughts. It’s not like you were doing anything wrong! Or at least, not all that wrong. You weren’t breaking in, the door was practically wide open. You just wanted some help, a phone, a mechanic, anything. You swallowed around the suffocating lump in your throat, and felt a shiver run down your spine. With all the might you had left, you croaked out your name, unable to meet the man’s eyes.
He rolled the name over his tongue, eyes narrowed upon you. After a beat of silence, he continued. “And what are you doing in my castle, child of man? How did you find this place?”
Child of man? Just who did this guy think he was? Well, actually, you had a feeling you somewhat knew. And you had an even greater feeling that he thought quite right about what he was. But you certainly didn’t want to admit it.
Curling your fingernails into your palm, you prepared yourself to speak once more, even though it felt like an anchor was weighing on your tongue the entire time. “My… my car… uhm. It broke down, some ways down the road. I didn’t have any cell service so I figured I should try to look for a sign of civilization. And I… found this place.” You blurted the words out nearly faster than you could think, and were quick to bow your head after you finished. “I’m so sorry for intruding, I just…” You glanced up at the man, willing yourself to hold his gaze for longer than half a second. “I was wondering if you might have a phone? So that I might call my family… or- or Triple A, or something.” You bit your lip, straightening up. “Sorry, I j-just… I’m trying to get to my family’s house for the holidays. I’m not used to driving in the snow by myself.”
The man’s eyebrows were furrowed, he looked almost perplexed. His eyes wandered from your face to somewhere in the distance, squinting as he seemed to think. You didn’t even notice you were holding your breath until your head began to hurt.
“A phone. That is one of your modern technologies?”
“Uhm?” You cocked your head, unsure of what to say to that. The almost humorous shock of the sentence knocked your previous fear out of you, if only for a moment.
The man waved his hand, as though dismissing the idea, and you saw dark claws at the ends of his fingers. “We have no such things here.”
“Oh… I see. I’m sorry for bothering you, then.” You bowed again, and stepped back a bit. “I’ll just go back to my car, then. Maybe I’ll find service in the morning.”
“Though I am unsure of what service it is that you require, the sun is setting, and I would advise against spending the night alone out there. Wolves own those woods.” The mysterious man smiled, so enchanting, yet so frightening, displaying those distinctly inhuman teeth. “Have you ever come face to face with a wolf, human?”
You shook your head, rooted in place.
“As large as you, at least, and ravenous this time of year. A creature so frail as yourself may not survive the night.” His sadistic expression was replaced by something far gentler. “Here, I can promise you will wake unharmed.”
Your mouth fell open, though you were quick to straighten up and close it. You wouldn’t want to be seen catching flies.
“You’d… let me stay the night?”
Maybe this was a stupid, terrible idea, but it was beginning to feel like you hadn’t any better options. Granted, you’d been holding your breath so much since entering the castle that you probably weren’t in the best headspace.
“But of course, for as long as it takes for you to obtain the… service you seem so desperate for.” He laughed, though it seemed to have very little mirth to it. “Who would I be if not a gracious host?”
A shock went through your body at the words, but as much as you played with the notion in your mind, you could not help but feel oddly embarrassed by his offer.
“I-I wouldn’t want to… impose.”
“I insist.” The words were booming, echoing through the hall, leaving little room for argument. His eyes had sharpened, his voice losing all warmth.
Well . Your breath caught in your throat, and as much as you tried to swallow down the lump of nerves that had accumulated, it was no use.
You really had no interest in arguing with him, not in the state you were in. Besides, you were desperate for somewhere to stay the night, especially in a place so oddly warm for the season.
By now, you’d already lost track of how many times you’d bowed to him, and stared down at the floor with wide eyes as you did so, this time bowing far lower than before.
“I can’t thank you enough. I’ll try to be out as quickly as I can. If you need any help around the…” You slowly looked up, glancing around the massive foyer. “Castle… I’ll be happy to do so. Thank you so much.”
“I could never put a guest to work. What do you take me for?”
“Th-that’s not what I meant! I’m sorry, I wouldn’t mean to suggest… I just… don’t want to be a burden.”
“Nonsense.” He stepped towards you. “I made the offer.”
He stood now before you, bathed in the light that streamed in from above. Your heart seized. It couldn’t be real.
Atop his head, gleaming in the light, two black horns sat amidst ebony hair. A loose green dressing gown, trimmed with gold, hung off of his shoulder, tied at the hips and cascading around him. His exposed chest was pale, covered in faint, almost imperceptible… well you could’ve sworn they were… scales . Now in the full light, you could see them at the edges of his face as well, peeking out from under his hair. As you stared closer, completely forgetting about the notion of catching flies, you noticed the scales growing darker as they traveled down his abdomen, until they glittered black before vanishing beneath the dressing gown.
You stumbled backwards, barely managing to not fall flat on your back.
The man raised an eyebrow, then his eyes glinted, and he narrowed them on you. “Are you frightened of me? Am I not what you expected?”
“No.” You could commend yourself for managing to speak at all.
He took another step towards you, a click echoing out as he did. It was nothing like a footstep, such an unusual sound for the motion. “Then why do your eyes show such terror?”
You swallowed. You were barely thinking. “I’m not scared.” It was almost more for yourself than for him.
The man watched you for a long, agonizing moment, eyes lingering over your own before dragging across your entire body. You tried not to move. “Very well.” He turned, clicking his way towards the staircase. He made it up several steps, dressing gown dragging behind him, before he glanced back at you. “Follow me, I shall lead you to your room.”
You could only nod.
Despite your better judgment, you followed him up the stairs, eyes fixated on the golden silk hem that dragged along the dusty stone steps, catching several wilted rose petals along with it. You watched with intent as the silk rippled like water, as though you were deeply fascinated by its fine embroidery. But in truth, you were hardly paying any attention to the feather pattern that crept up the robe, so distracted by your own thoughts that you had to catch the handrail to avoid meeting your maker on the worn out steps.
Were you stupid? Had you completely lost all sense of self-preservation because of one frighteningly handsome face? You snuck into a decrepit castle at sundown, in search of a phone that you didn’t end up finding, and now you were agreeing to spend the night in the bizarre home of an even more bizarre stranger.
Still, a dead car battery in the middle of nowhere during a cold winter night, wolves or not, was probably a dangerous idea… as was this.
Distracted by your thoughts, you nearly bumped into the stranger in question when he stopped before a weathered wooden door. His clawed hand rested atop the knob, though he did not make a move to open it for a long time. Just when you thought you might ask what was wrong, he turned the knob and pushed it open with a loud creak.
“You will rest here for your stay. I’d advise you to not wander far from this chamber after sundown, and never leave the castle at night. Understood?”
Giving a slight nod, you scanned over your surroundings, entering the room ahead of him. “Because of the wolves?”
You heard the man breathe a soft sigh behind you, but even the strange weight of his presence seemed to roll off your shoulders as you felt yourself lost in the shadowed chamber before you.
The room might have once been rather opulent, but like much of the castle, it had become a somber shell of its former beauty. Still, you found it fascinating, an old curio that you longed to explore.
The walls were filled with full-length windows, though the shadows of dusk did little to illuminate the room like you figured the light of morning would. Four pillars surrounded the center of the room, holding up a part of the ceiling where it curved upwards into a point. There, the stone had once been beautifully painted. It was clear that its last touch-up had been many years ago, as the dark blue paint was chipping and growing faint. Yet as you squinted up at it, that faded blue became a night sky, speckled with shimmering dots of silver, adorned with a smiling crescent moon. From the point of that very ceiling descended a wispy white curtain, cascading over the bed that lay at the center of the room. The headboard curled over the dusty pillows, seemingly designed after a large clamshell. Rose petals, some fresh, some wilted, some dried up into nothing, littered the bedspread and the floor around it, vines of roses that covered much of the castle curling over the pillars, the headboard, and all around the floor.
You jumped when you heard your host move behind you, having forgotten his presence entirely as you surveyed your living quarters for the night.
Perhaps it was only the shadows that obscured his visage, but you felt his expression had become grave. “The wolves do not come to this valley.”
A frown creased your skin in mild perturbment. You turned to face him, unable to hide the wariness in your voice. “Then why?”
“You need not know. Heed my warning, and there shall be no issue.” He turned abruptly, the spin of his robe bringing up a flurry of rose petals, harsh enough for the sconces within the hallway to snuff out. “One last thing.” He remained turned from you, despite pausing. “That bridge at the cliffside. Never cross it. What lies beyond is not of your concern.” Without another word, he strode out of the room, his strange footsteps echoing through the corridor as he did.
Barely having time to collect your senses, you rushed after him, steadying yourself with a hand to the door frame. “Wait!”
He continued walking as though he could not hear you.
“What’s your name?”
That did stop him, rather abruptly, and he glanced over his shoulder at you, eyes seeming to gleam in the low light. He turned entirely, facing you with an expression that you couldn’t describe, but you felt your throat run dry nonetheless.
“Malleus. You may call me Malleus.”
“Malleus,” you repeated, “thank you.”
You saw him smile, if only briefly, before he whirled in place, soon to vanish into the shadows.
Shutting the door behind you, you were now left alone in the peculiar little room, lit by only the very last rays of sunlight that filtered through the windows. Walking carefully so that you wouldn’t trip over the rose vines, you made your way around the bed, towards a corner of the room that protruded out, a little tower with rounded walls filled by several leaded glass windows. A curving vanity table was slotted against the wall, fit with an empty yet beautifully glazed porcelain vase, a dusty boar bristle brush, a couple of dried out perfume bottles, and a candle, suffocated by all the hardened wax that had dripped down the side. You swiped your finger over the table-top, and though you could hardly see the dust, despite your eyes beginning to adjust, you cringed at the chalky feeling over your finger pad. You wiped it off against your clothing, shaking your fingers out as though that could erase the memory of the unpleasant texture.
You grasped for the handles of the vanity drawers, pulling them out one by one in search of a match so that you might get a better idea of what you were working with. Then again, that candle had clearly seen better days. You weren’t even sure if you could get it to light.
In the pale light, you caught the glimmer of a silver comb, clearly meant more for ornamentation than brushing, as gemstone daisies bloomed around the top. Beside it, another two-pronged comb was adorned with a stone carved to resemble a moth, pale green with copper wire antenna. There were several other boxes, black velvet, gold with amethyst inlays, polished wood; you opened each, but only found more jewels.
Beautiful. Beautiful and oh so tempting. But not what you were looking for. You would have quite liked to take those gorgeous pins and necklaces, giant sapphires and opal lilies, right from their beautiful boxes, hold them up to dying light and watch them sparkle, but you refrained, and closed the drawer.
Several more empty bottles could be found in the second drawer, one such in particular with a gemstone stopper in the top. Beside the bottles, a pair of gold scissors, and intricately carved crystal jars, boxes, and bowls. All empty.
You moved on to the third drawer, and though initially distracted by the dried out, open tin of rouge, you noticed another tin behind it, this one shaped to look like a small book. The lid popped off with ease, but within, you found only a hard palette of white pressed powder. Considering how old the boxes looked, concern dawned over you as it occurred to you that the powder may very well have been lead. You quickly replaced the lid, and shut the drawer. One last drawer to go, and your hopes weren’t high.
Pulling on the old brass handle, you were disappointed once more, met with only a ceramic wash basin, complete with a matching pitcher. But no matchbox. You grumbled, nearly slamming the drawer as you stood. A clearly used candle, and no matches to light it with! What kind of nonsense was this? And of course, electric lighting was completely out of the question. Because, naturally, beautiful and terrifying men living in ancient castles just didn’t need to see at night.
Stumbling back towards the bed at the center of the room, you took note of the empty hearth, looking as though it hadn’t been lit in centuries. It probably hadn’t, given the lack of lighting materials.
You would have loved nothing more than to be home by now, or at least on your way there. Taking a bath, changing out of these grimy sweats, and sinking into the plush mattress of your childhood bed.
Instead, you were confined to this old dark room, feeling not unlike a prisoner. You grabbed the bedspread, shaking it out and coughing as decades of dust met your throat. You shook it until your arms hurt, till particulates of dust stopped floating into your eyes, and took a moment to breathe. You grabbed the pillows next, punching them and swinging them about as though you were practicing to be the next WWE champion. Satisfied with your attempt at dusting, you tossed them back on the bed, kicked off your shoes, and stripped out of your clothes, hoping that would help get rid of your “I just spent the entire day sitting in a car” smell. You folded them neatly, placing them on the end of the bed, and crawled under the covers. They certainly didn’t feel dusty within, and you were satisfied to find how well the blankets kept you warm.
You were hungry, stinky, and your sanity was at its breaking point, unable to do anything about your situation. But at the very least, you were tired. That was one thing you could try to fix. You closed your eyes, and fell asleep much faster than you would expect.
🥀
You woke that morning to sunlight filling the room. Your hypothesis the previous night had been proven correct, the large windows made the room particularly bright when the sun was out.
You felt a slight weight on your chest, and as you tried to get your bearings, you saw a small bird standing there, right before your face. Bewildered, you squinted at it, noticing the creature was a pale green with a very strange, distinct pattern above its eyes, that made it appear as though it had angry, slanted eyebrows.
“You’re awake.” You heard a man’s voice say. It was quite near you, but markedly different from the voice of your host: harsh, and rather loud.
You blinked slowly, scanning your surroundings in search of the voice’s source. In the daylight, you could see the room much more clearly. The painted ceiling was a bit more vibrant now, but still noticeably weathered. The flowers that curled around the room and hung just above your head were bright and beautiful, a blush pink, lilac, and pale yellow.
“Hey! Don’t look away!”
You furrowed your brows, a shocking revelation connecting in your mind. You glanced down at the bird. It opened its beak, and continued.
“I’m talking to you!”
Your mouth hung open, you were absolutely out of ways to rationalize this. You had wondered, as you were drifting off, that perhaps your host was just an avid cosplayer, and that he simply had a very good heating system. Yes, a very good heating system… under the grass…
Now, you had run out of straws to grasp for, and could only utter a soft “huh” as you stared at the bird.
“Don’t give me that look, human! It’s unbecoming.”
Just when you thought you should toss this little fucker across the room, another fluttered over to your bed, sounding as though it was clicking its tongue.
“Now, now, Sebek,” said the raven. “Leave the poor human alone. You shouldn’t disrespect the young lord’s guest.”
“This human is imposing upon my lord’s good will!” The little bird, Sebek, it seemed, looked back at you. “You should be ashamed.”
“What…?”
“‘Huh’, this, ‘what’, that. Are you stupid? I don’t like to criticize my lord’s choice of guest, but you’re wearing my patience thin.”
You heard a softer voice, down near the floor, and a silvery gray cat leapt onto your bedspread. “You’re confusing them. They probably aren’t used to animals speaking.”
“I’m not an animal! I am a mighty fae! Befit to serve my lord as his most devoted guardsman!” The bird slapped its wing against its chest, as though putting a hand to one's heart.
The cat sighed. “Maybe in your soul, but certainly not in the eyes of others. Do you forget that so easily?”
You flitted your gaze between the animals, clenching your teeth as though that would help you regain your voice. It must have, because after a moment, you finally found the courage to voice your distress.
“L-listen, I don’t have any idea what’s going on. I don’t mean to impose, so… please don’t think that. I got lost, and well,” you shook your head, “it was a whole mess. I’m kinda stranded until I can call someone for help. I just wanted to find a phone… or something.” You swallowed, mouth feeling dry. “ Honestly it’s all kind of a blur.”
“What you mean to say is…” the raven hopped closer to you. “The young lord took in a stray?”
“I, uhm.” You didn’t really like the way that was worded. “He told me that it would be dangerous to be alone in the woods at night, and offered that I stay. I mean, if by young lord you mean Malleus.”
Sebek gasped, stumbling back as though he might pass out. “How dare you refer to his royal highness so familiarly, human!”
You gulped, pulling the bedding closer to yourself as you backed into the headboard. “That’s what he told me to call him…”
“Oho? Really?” The raven cocked its head, and if a corvid could look mischievous, you were certain this one would. “How disappointed I am to have missed your first meeting.”
Having regained his composure, Sebek held his beak high, refusing to look at you. “Of course, for my lord is incredibly gracious! You should feel honored by his good will.”
“Yes, yes, Sebek.” The cat shook its head. “I know you haven’t seen another person in some time, but there’s no need to act so high and mighty. You're meant to defend our young lord’s well-being, not his dignity.”
The bird struck a defiant pose. “The two go hand in hand!”
“Enough of this bickering.” The raven sighed. “We’re only confusing our guest more.”
Sebek bowed his head. “Apologies, Master Lilia.”
You looked back at the raven, Lilia, you presumed, and he gave you a polite nod. “What is your name, child?”
‘I’m not a child’ , you wanted to scoff, but you didn’t. The bird still sitting on your chest had been caused enough grief by your words even when you weren’t trying to be rude. Instead, you took a breath, and stated your name.
“How lovely. And you’re a traveler, then?”
You nodded. “I was… ah, well. I crashed my car some ways down the road. As I said, I just wanted to find a way to call for help. I don’t get any cell service up here.”
“A car…?” The raven cocked his head, but before you could try to explain, he shot upright, appearing as though he’d recalled something. “That’s right! An automobile!”
He pronounced it strangely, as though it was a word he was not in frequent use of. Considering the surroundings, that didn’t surprise you.
“What’s an automobile, father?” Still seated at the foot of your bed, the cat looked to the raven for an answer.
Father? The raven? Is the cat’s father? Oh heavens, you felt dizzy.
“It’s like a carriage, my dear boy. But it doesn’t need horses! It moves entirely on its own.”
“Fascinating.” Sebek scratched his… well, what you supposed could count as a chin with the tip of his wing. “I’ve never heard of one.”
“Of course you haven’t. You never leave the grounds. Man has changed much since our isolation began.”
Sebek appeared a bit struck by this comment, lowering his head. “I’m sorry sir, for that negligence, but I couldn’t possibly leave my lord behind.”
The raven chuckled. “Certainly. Your defense capabilities are indispensable to him, I’m sure.”
You had a feeling Lilia was being sarcastic, but Sebek bowed regardless.
“Your praise touches my soul, Master Lilia!”
“I’m glad I can be so comforting. Now, back to the matter at hand.”
Both Sebek and the cat straightened up, fixing their eyes on you.
“Have you had anything to eat? The young master told us very little about you, but he mentioned you arrived at dusk.”
You scooted up a bit, knocking Sebek down in the process. He huffed but said nothing, hopping back towards Lilia.
“I haven’t…” Just mentioning the lack of sustenance you’d had was making your stomach hurt.
“Goodness gracious! Did he at the very least draw you a bath?”
You shook your head, glad that Lilia could not smell the answer from where he was sitting. Could ravens smell at all?
“Great heavens. How embarrassing! I’ve taught him better manners than that. Granted, it’s been at least three centuries since we’ve had anyone in the castle, but that’s no excuse!”
Centuries. Three centuries. Right, of course. No, that made sense. Why wouldn’t it? You thought you might pass out.
“You poor dear. I’m sure these sheets haven’t been changed since our predicament began, either. We shall have that fixed at once. But first, allow us to be properly introduced. I am Lilia.” He gestured to the cat. “That is Silver, and”—he gestured next to the bird you were fairly certain you already knew the name of—“that is Sebek. We are what remains of Lord Malleus’ retainers.”
What remains…? You wanted to ask what he meant, but he was already hopping off your bed.
“Boys, follow me! We have much preparation to do!” He fluttered up into the air, soaring off down the hallway as the two… animals rushed after him.
After several moments of silence, you slipped out of bed, closing the door and pulling your shirt back over your head, just in case somebody barged into your room once more. Frankly, you had no idea how they had managed to open the door, but given everything you’d seen thus far, you were sure it was not impossible.
Glancing down at your attire, you realized just what a terrible outfit you were wearing for such a dazzling location. It was a bit embarrassing, frankly, nothing but these grimy, faded old clothes while in the company of the most elegant man you’d ever laid eyes on. Humiliating.
You ran your fingers through your hair, exhaustion already approaching. The list of your woes just kept getting longer. Maybe if you got creative enough with those scissors you’d seen in the vanity, you could turn your shirt into something truly… haute couture .
You sighed. Not likely.
The door burst open, slamming against the wall behind you, nearly causing your heart to fly right out of your throat. You glared back at the offenders, and saw Lilia flying in, followed by Sebek. The tiny bird was holding a fluffy white towel between his claws, and you found yourself rather impressed that he didn’t seem to struggle to carry it, despite its size in relation to him. Lilia was also carrying what appeared to be a neatly folded pile of bedding balanced on the top of his beak. He soared onto the bed, tipping it off so as to drop the pile.
He jumped back down, and bowed his feathered head to you. “Apologies that I cannot make the bed for you. Even after three centuries, I’ve had very little success in such an endeavor.”
You wanted to laugh, but refrained, for fear of offending him. “That’s alright. I’m sure I won’t find any difficulty.”
Sebek dropped the towel on your bed, then stood on the edge, facing a set of double doors that you had hardly noticed were there. He quite suddenly brought his wings up, and at the motion, the doors burst open, quite like how your bedroom door had.
How peculiar.
Within, you saw a room fitted with marble floors, and a grand, pool-like tub within the center of the floor, with a statue that resembled a rather hideous demon, or perhaps gargoyle, leaning over the side. Sebek waved his wing, and steaming water began to pour out of the gargoyle’s mouth. It occurred to you then that creature served as a sort of faucet. It was rather amusing.
Sebek turned back to you. “Silver is preparing breakfast as we speak! You will bathe, dress yourself, and make your way to the dining room.”
“I’m not sure where the dining room is…”
Lilia shook his head. “Fear not. It’s right by the foyer, I’m sure you passed it on your way in. If you get lost, we’ll find you. The castle isn’t nearly as confusing as it looks.”
“Do not dally! If you are most lucky, Lord Malleus himself may join you. You should be on your best behavior.”
You nodded reluctantly, and the bird leapt from the bed, fluttering into the air as Lilia turned to follow him.
“Don’t let him bother you. He’s often overzealous, but I believe the excitement of a guest is only making him worse.” His eyes crinkled as though he were smiling. “You need only worry for yourself.” He hopped up into the air, flying down the hall after Sebek.
You watched them go, before closing the door again, and giving yourself a moment to breathe. This… was a lot to take in. You almost wanted to just sink into the floor, crumple into your confusion and distress and never be seen again. But that wasn’t an option, so you grabbed the towel, slung it over your shoulder, and made work of changing the bedding while the gargoyle continued to vomit your bath up.
Having finished, and tossed the dusty old bedding over the open door, you threw off your clothes, dejectedly heading into the bathroom.
As you entered, closing the door behind you, you took note of a shelf set into the wall, and drew closer, intrigued by the various glass jars and bottles. A soft clinking echoed through the bathing room as you lifted one of the lids, and noticed, to your extreme surprise, a rather fresh looking jar of cream. There were oils, soaps, all a variety of pleasant, floral scents. At the very least, you could find solace in that.
It was wonderful how well warm water, a washcloth, and some rose soap could change one's mood. You stayed there, drifting almost from consciousness in the lovely warmth, until finally you remembered how hungry you were. You were quick to rinse the suds off under the gargoyle, and as you stepped out of the water, the stream immediately stopped.
There was something terribly relaxing about the process of getting clean, almost enough to make you forget how miserable your whole situation was. You didn’t mean to be ungrateful, but you really did wish you were home with your family by now. They had probably tried to contact you, but there’d been nothing on your phone ever since you’d gotten lost, for obvious reasons. You hoped they weren’t too worried. Then again… well you’d hope they’d be at least a little worried. Else it would seem they didn’t care at all!
Having no connection, and therefore receiving no input, your phone wouldn’t die very quickly. Luckily, you’d bought a battery anyways, one that should last you at least a few charges. Perhaps you’d spend the day wandering the grounds in search of a connection. It’s not like you had any better ideas.
You wondered what your friends were doing right now. Was Ace blowing up your magicam sending you useless posts? Would he start to get suspicious the longer you didn’t respond to them? Was Deuce with his mother, enjoying a nice vacation? Oh how jealous you were.
A knock at the door startled you from your thoughts. “Just a minute!” You scrambled from the bathroom, pulling the large t-shirt back over your head.
Malleus’ voice sounded out from the other side. “May I come in?”
You gulped, and tugged the shirt further down your thighs. “Sure.”
The knob turned, and your host stepped into the room. He was wearing another dressing gown, this one black, with the embroidery of peacock feathers along the end. Unlike the night before, he wore it properly, tied at the waist and covering his chest. He surveyed the room for a moment, before pointing at the bedding you’d slung over the bathroom door. You were going to say something, but in the blink of an eye, and with a glimmer, it disappeared.
“Where…?”
Malleus shrugged. “The laundry room.”
You nodded, not exactly sure what to say to that.
“Have you anything to wear?”
You cringed, and gestured lamely to the shirt you wore. “Just this.”
“Is that so? Well, I wouldn’t want my guest to feel underdressed.” He nodded to himself, and turned for the door. “I’ll have Lilia fetch something for you.”
“Oh! I… I’ve troubled you enough already. I’ll be fine.”
Malleus stared into your eyes, and though try as you might to hold his gaze, you gave up, fiddling with the hem of your shirt as you glanced over to the windows.
“Nonsense.” He shook his head, laughing a bit.
“You… ah, thank you very much, Malleus.”
“You’re welcome.” He stepped towards the door, and you fought the urge to grab his sleeve to stop him. Instead, you cleared your throat.
“May I ask a question?”
He turned. “Anything.”
“Did someone once live in this room? The vanity table is full of such personal things.” You cringed immediately after the words left your mouth, you had just admitted to snooping.
Malleus looked as though he was thinking. “Once upon a time, I’m sure. Likely a court lady, we used to house quite a few. But that was very long ago. It has been many moons since anyone has been here.”
You wanted to inquire further. Oh desperately! You wanted to know more . This place was filled with so many curiosities that it was beginning to overwhelm you. But seeing the profound look of despair in his eyes, you figured it would be best to not press him. You were just a guest, after all.
“I see.”
Malleus nodded, then opened the door. “I shall see you at breakfast.”
“Right!” You waved awkwardly at him, not really sure what else to do. “See you then.”
You were sat at the vanity table, fixing your hair how you liked it when you heard a faint tapping at your chamber door. You leapt from your seat, quick to open the door so as not to keep whoever stood on the other side waiting. You glanced down, and saw the raven staring at you from the floor. You squinted, certain you’d read a poem like this once.
An ensemble sped through the air, soaring towards you as though possessed, leaving you to stumble back in your shock. It plopped onto your bed, and you saw Sebek had been carrying it.
“The young master informed me you were lacking in proper dress. And since I have taken such care to preserve our old garments, I thought it best someone finally put them to use! You must know I’m very excited.”
“Be most careful in wearing this, human! This silk is older than you by hundreds of years! Any damage that should come to it is an affront to Lord Malleus’ history.”
You gulped. It was beautiful, sure, a fine, pale blue silk, the sleeves decorated with floral embroidery, matching the pale lace that descended from the wrists, and the sweeping hem of the skirt. But you weren’t exactly expecting to be wearing a historical relic. Your head swam.
“Don’t be so harsh, Sebek. I’m a terrific seamstress, even in my current form. You needn’t worry what harm comes to it. Even if you are not careful, it will only give me an opportunity to put my skills to the test.”
Current form. Huh. Things were slowly starting to click into place, but even more pieces of the puzzle were far from reach.
“It’s beautiful.” You bowed to the raven. “I’m honored.”
“As you should be!”
Lilia chuckled. “Your enthusiasm is boundless, Sebek. Let us leave our guest be.” The raven fluttered to the door, turning to wink at you. “Breakfast is nearly ready.”
“Don’t keep my lord waiting!” The two birds flew down the hall and out of sight, leaving you to close the door once again.
You felt like a new person in the silken gown. Floral patterned heels had been hooked onto the outfit, far more fitting than the tennis shoes you’d entered in. The piece was so exquisite it made you feel a bit self-conscious, and you couldn’t help but mess with your hair a bit more until you felt marginally better suited to your new look.
Sebek was right, you shouldn’t keep your host waiting. You rushed out the door, hoping you could find your way back to the foyer with little trouble. That satisfying click of your heels against the stone rang through the halls, and you wondered for a moment if the strange sound of your host's footsteps was simply the cause of heeled shoes. But then again … you walked further, managing to find the grand staircase you had met your host at. It was a noticeably different sound, peculiar in a way you couldn’t quite place. He must have been wearing very strange shoes indeed.
Some ways from the foyer, you followed a grand hallway until you reached a short staircase, one that descended into a lower recess of the floor. A hearth blazed at one end of the room, canopies of roses entwined the unused brass chandeliers far above. Sitting at the head of a long table that was covered in a velvet spread, you saw Malleus.
There was only one other chair at the table, at the opposite end from your host. You stepped towards it, wondering if it was appropriate for you to even be at the table with him at all, given how highly Sebek had stated his position to be. Then again, it was the modern era. You really shouldn’t concern yourself with the outdated hierarchies of… well, whoever these people were.
You took a seat, and bowed your head to Malleus. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“No matter. I have already eaten.”
“Oh…” You glanced at the table, noticing a golden dome before you. “I see.”
Malleus gestured to the dome in question. “Silver wasn’t sure what you might prefer. I hope you do not find it overwhelming.”
You nodded. “I’m sure it will be lovely.” Upon lifting the dome, you tried not to make your shock obvious. The plate was piled with food. Bread, cheese, a pot of jam, a scone. Eggs on one side of the plate, thick cuts of dark meat on another. Roasted vegetables, lentils, carrots, french beans, all piled into one corner.
“Do not eat what you do not fancy. Waste is no issue here.”
You nodded slowly, glancing around the table in search of a utensil. What you found was a strange, two pronged fork, looking particularly old despite seemingly having been just recently polished. There was a knife on the other side of your plate, and you let your fingers fumble over the two utensils for a moment, considering if there might be an etiquette you were forgetting. Then again, this place was so peculiar you were sure their rules would be completely foreign to you.
You cleared your throat, suddenly remembering that he had just spoken to you. “That’s very kind of you. I truly appreciate your hospitality.”
“It’s no trouble.” Malleus folded his hands on the table in front of him, eyes fixed onto you as though he could read your every thought from where he was sitting. It was rather unnerving.
“Thank you.” You poked through the meal with the strange utensil, pretending that you didn’t notice his gaze.
“How long do you intend to stay?”
“Oh, not much longer, I hope.”
Malleus looked concerned. “Is this place not to your liking?”
“N-no!” You gasped. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that… Well, I’ve ought to be getting home soon. I haven’t been able to contact my family, and I was supposed to have arrived by midnight.”
“They must be worried.”
“Probably.” You frowned, feeling a bit overwhelmed. “Oh, I hope I don’t end up ruining the holidays!”
“Hm… So you were returning to your family from far away?”
“Yeah. I’m in university, so I’ve been away from home for a while now.”
“A university? Fascinating. Then you are an academic?”
“I am.”
“How lovely. I imagine the academic sphere has changed much since last I was part of it.”
You struggled to swallow your meal, finding your throat beginning to constrict. “And when was that…?”
Malleus appeared as though he was pondering, no longer staring at you. “Some several hundred years by now, I’m afraid.”
You tried not to choke. “Oh.”
“Is that surprising to you, human?”
‘Duh!’ You wanted to snap. But you weren’t that rude. At least not openly. “You just… look very, ah, youthful.”
Malleus blinked at you a couple times, before his head fell back, bursting into a roar of laughter. “Well of course!” He slapped the table, shaking it so hard you feared your water glass might tip over. “Did you think that I was a frail human like yourself?”
Maybe I should have been rude. You glared at him. “I don’t really know what to expect. I barely have any idea what’s going on.”
He smiled at you, a thoughtful twinkle in his eye. “I suppose that’s true. Very well. What would you like to know?”
You glanced up, expression brightening. Since the moment you’d entered this bewildering fantasy land, not one shred of your common sense had proved any use to you. At the very least, some explanation would help. You squinted, realizing just how strange it was that he was offering in the first place. Lost, stranded, with very little viable options, you were practically at his mercy. You straightened your posture, figuring that you ought to be a whole lot more polite.
“You don’t mind telling me?”
“It depends on the question.”
Right… You chewed your lip, wondering how you might phrase this, or which of the countless questions in your mind you would choose.
“Well, and forgive me if I sound ill-mannered, what… if not a human, what are you?”
Malleus’ chin rested atop his hand as he considered your question. “Though I may look like you, though my people have long shared a history alongside your own, that’s right, I am not one of you.” He fixed you with a peculiar look, letting silence fall for a moment as you took in his words. “You may know us by many names.” He frowned. “That is, if your people remember us at all.”
“Sebek said you were… fae.”
“Fae, that is a name we often were called. The fae, the fair folk, the Aos Sí.”
You reached to grasp at the arm of your chair, trying to keep yourself from faltering with shock. “I’ve heard tales. I just, well, I didn’t know they were… real .”
“Do you believe it now?”
“What other choice do I have? You have horns, and glowing eyes. Your retainers are small talking animals.”
“I presume that isn’t a constant in your world.”
“No, certainly not. Only in stories. I might have seen a movie something like this once.”
“A movie?” The words came from his mouth with a great deal of confusion. How you kept forgetting they were not familiar with the modern world was beyond you.
“Ah… right. It’s—hm. It’s like a stage play, but… projected. Like the memory of a stage play, and you can view it on a flat surface. Like a moving painting… of a play.” You had no idea if that was by any means enlightening. You’d never taken the time to imagine how one might explain such a thing without modern context.
“Is that so? That must be a recent invention.”
“Relatively recent. At least to you, I’d imagine.” You twirled the odd fork between your fingers. “You don’t visit the outside world at all? Even though it is so near to you?”
“No. There was a time I was often exploring the lands of mankind, but those days have long gone. I have not left since then. Nor has any human entered this valley in all that time. Until you.”
You had to admit that you at least felt a little special when you heard that. But all the same, there was a growing sense of disturbed curiosity that you were aching to satisfy.
“So you have not always been so… ah… sorry, uhm, isolated ?” You cringed a bit at your wording, but had very little idea how else to phrase it, and hoped he would not take offense.
Malleus only chuckled. “That’s right. I once found great kinship among humans. It may surprise you, but even Silver is a human. One with the capacity for magic, but a human nonetheless.”
You cocked your head. “Well, I don’t mean to be rude, but I think that may not be entirely true. Last I saw him, he was a cat.”
Malleus shook his head, as though trying to hide that he was smiling. It was rather charming, even though you could very clearly see his inhuman fangs. “I suppose that’s true.”
You hadn’t meant to jest, his comment had rather thrown you for quite a loop. “Then they weren’t always animals?”
The smile on Malleus’ face faded until he began to look rather somber. “No. They were not. I figure that is why the fragility of his human life has survived the test of time.”
“What do you mean?”
“What indeed…” Malleus was staring at the marble tiles beneath you.
“Surely something happened to change them. What was that?”
Malleus did not answer you. He was fixated on the floor, completely lost, as though he could not hear you at all. After several silent moments, he rose, and began to walk towards the stairs. “My apologies, I’ve recalled something that requires my attention. I shall leave you to your meal.” In moments, he was gone, leaving you to wonder what you’d done to offend him.
You gazed down at the knife in your hand, looking into your own eyes with a miserable expression. It seems your prying nature had gotten the best of you. It really wasn’t any of your business, given he had already offered his hospitality to you. You could learn to be grateful once in a while, perhaps to keep your mouth shut about things that didn’t concern you.
Clicking your tongue in frustration, you shook your head and finished what you could of the meal. It would certainly be uncouth to leave your dishes unattended at the table, and since you had no interest in appearing more rude than you already had, you stood from your seat, making your way up the stairs and peeking down the hallway, in search of someone who might familiarize you on the dish clearing process of this place.
You crept around the corridors for a while, seeing not a single sign of life, until a sudden voice behind you sent your heart rocketing straight into your throat, moments before plummeting right back down. You whipped around, and saw Lilia perched on a window sill.
“Oh dear, I didn’t mean to startle you. Do forgive me.” He snickered, and you could only give him a sheepish smile. “How was the meal?”
“Delicious, of course. I’m very grateful for the kindness I’ve been shown.”
“Wonderful to hear…” The bird’s eyes glinted with mischief. “But now that you’ve eaten the food of the fae… you understand what that means, yes?”
You furrowed your eyebrows, trying to understand what he was saying. You squinted down at him for several moments, a frightening sort of malice forming in his eyes. Certainly he wasn’t implying…
You gasped, stumbling back a bit as your hand came up to your mouth. You felt sick, recalling of an old tale of fae hospitality. Those unlucky humans who were foolish enough to eat the food of their hosts, trapped forever in the magical domains.
It hadn’t even occurred to you as you ate, not once had you considered the risks of these unnatural people, so caught up in their politeness that both superstition and common sense had left you.
Just when you already felt ill enough to tumble into the floor, you recalled another horrific tale, one of the mortals snatched away who had found just hours alongside the fae were centuries for mortals. You rushed to a window, trying to squint across the valley to see if it was even winter anymore.
“I see you’ve come to realize the gravity of your situation.”
You could hear your heart pounding in your ears, your vision blurring as your world fractured into pieces before you. “Each season passes as only a second… Even a bite of food would keep a mortal trapped forever.”
Lilia was cackling behind you. “That’s right! Very good.”
You spun, fury setting your face alight. “There’s nothing to laugh about! I have a family, friends, a life! I was trying to get home!”
A whole world that you had left behind, just because you were a stupid, irresponsible driver. How had the world changed since you’d come here? Was society still in one piece? And how much longer still would you be trapped before your host would spare the mercy to set you free? A millennium? Two? Your head fell into your hands, wondering if by then it would even be worth it to return at all.
“Yes, yes.” Lilia began choking, spluttering on his laughter as he heaved over. “Oh, I suppose I’ve gone a little far, huh?” He hacked a bit, then tried to straighten up. “The young master would be so displeased if he saw how I was teasing you!”
“What?”
“Apologies for the scare, dear. It’s been quite some time since I’ve gotten a laugh like that!”
“What do you mean?”
“I was only joking. You needn’t worry yourself about such superstitions. You’ll only find trouble if you steal food, and as far as the time difference, our worlds have been aligned for quite some time now.”
“Oh…” You put a hand to your chest, hoping it might calm your heartbeat. “You had me terrified.”
He laughed again. “I’m sure I did! You should have seen your face!”
You frowned, wondering what kind of superstitious trouble you would get in if you drop-kicked him into the ceiling. Probably a great deal more than you were willing to handle.
“Goodness, what a hoot you are!” Lilia swiped his wing over his face, trying to catch his breath. “Alright, it won’t happen again, sorry, sorry. I am glad you enjoyed breakfast, though.”
You laughed nervously. “Right. Very good.”
“I had offered to cook, but Silver was insistent! He’s a very kind boy, always taking on tasks for his old man.”
Old man… You still weren’t sure what to make of that. “Is that so…?” You squinted down the hallway, trying to remember what it was you had been doing before you’d been plunged into a brief crisis. After a moment of searching, it hit you like a thin dart to the back of your neck, and you spun back towards Lilia. “That’s right! I had been looking for you.”
“For me?”
“For you.”
“Oh, well forgive me for causing you to forget. That was very impolite.”
“I’ll survive, I’m sure. What I had been meaning to ask was about my dishes. I didn’t want to just rush off and leave them there…”
“What a well-mannered guest you are! Regardless, it’s nothing you should be too concerned about, I’ll have it together in a jiffy!”
“Oh no!” You shook your hands, increasingly embarrassed by the royal treatment you were receiving. “I couldn’t possibly leave all the work to you, I can clean up after myself.”
“It’s no worry. It will be done in mere moments with magic.”
You cocked your head. “Really? Magic?”
The raven nodded. “Mhm!”
“Would you mind if I tagged along? I’d like to see what that entails.”
“Certainly! In that case”—Lilia hopped from the window sill, soaring into the air as you rushed after him. Glimmering specks of colorful light streamed from his wings as he dove into the dining room—“I’ll have to put on a show!”
You watched in awe as the raven wove through the chandeliers, nosediving back towards the table and then careening up and around the fireplace. Beneath him, the dishes flashed with light, and any remaining leftovers were gone. They leapt into the air, dancing and twirling around Lilia until he gracefully landed on the floral centerpiece of the table, and the dishes floated back into the china cabinet beside you. You stared with wide eyes, wondering if anything you were seeing was real or if you passed out when you crashed and had been hallucinating ever since. You rubbed your eyes, and it all remained the same as it was before.
“Wow. That’s… very impressive.”
“Thank you kindly, dear. It’s been a while since I’ve had such an appreciative audience for something so trivial.”
“That’s surprising. It seemed to me that Sebek is struck with awe at everything that you do.”
“Oh, that’s true indeed. But it hardly counts. He’s ceaselessly passionate about anything I or the young master do.” The raven tutted. “Speaking of, how was the young master this morning? Polite, I hope? Though given that you were forced to search for me once you’d finished your meal… I do not have high hopes.”
“Ah… about that.”
“That’s even less reassuring.”
“He just… walked off. Halfway through our conversation. I fear I said something to upset him.”
“Oh Malleus… always such a coward. What did you say?”
You chewed your lip, thinking. That was a good question. What had you said? “I believe that I was asking about you, actually. You, Silver, and Sebek. He told me you were fae, and so I asked what had come to pass that would turn you into little animals.”
“Ah…” Lilia stared at the floor. “Yes, that’ll do it.”
“What is it? What did I say?”
“Malleus is very touchy about the subject. All of us are, I suppose. But I regret that it’s not my secret to tell.”
You frowned, feeling a rising sense of misdirected irritation. “Why not? It seems very much your secret, given that it so directly has affected you.”
The raven shook his head. “It’s more complicated than that.” He hopped down from the table. “Perhaps he will tell you in better spirits. Yes…” He was walking towards the stairs, wings crossed as though contemplating. “I wonder…”
“Wait! Don’t just”—Lilia launched upwards, soaring towards the dining room ceiling and out an open window—“leave me here… Dammit.”
What a frustrating morning this had been, so unsure of everything that you had been doing. You huffed, gathering the dragging silks of your clothing and marching up the stairs. As fascinating as every secret lurking at the corner of this palace was, it was most certainly wearing on your mental state, and you were sure your family was at least twice as concerned as you were. Having dropped your phone into one of the deep pockets of your stately garb, you figured if ever there was a time to try to get a connection, it was now. You glanced down at your homescreen. Nothing. At least, not here. But you’d had little time to explore the previous night, so, for now, your hopes were still high.