Changeling
Chapter 10.2

I huddled into a tight ball, my body trembling uncontrollably as waves of agony crashed over me like scalding lava. The pain was overwhelming, suffocating, and I could feel it emanating from the hundreds of people below who shared in my suffering. Their cries and wails only fueled my own grief, until it consumed me entirely. My heart pounded against my chest, each beat a deafening drum that echoed throughout the dark void. With every scream and cry echoing in my mind, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I unleashed a guttural howl, releasing all of my anguish and despair into the air. It was a primal scream, raw and loud enough to match the horror unfolding below. The cages rattled with the weight of their imprisoned souls.

The ground beneath me convulsed violently, jerking me off balance as I instinctively reached for the bars that were no longer there. The chaos around me was deafening as people screamed and the earth shook with unbridled fury. My room was torn apart in a matter of seconds, the ceiling collapsing in on itself as Poppy dragged me into the hallway amidst a flurry of panicked girls. Her eyes blazed with an icy yellow fire, like a frozen poppy buried beneath the unforgiving grip of winter’s grasp.

“I told you! Now let’s move!” She twined her slightly hued fingers through mine and yanked me towards the door just as the rest of my room fell to the depths below. In the direct candlelight I could now see her, see her color. She was fair, like myself, that much was for sure. But it had a near emerald hue to it. It was, she was breathtaking.

We darted after the other girls into a maze of narrow, twisting tunnels. The darkness here seemed to press in on us all and panic seized us as we hesitated, each unsure of where to go. But there was no time for indecision as shouts echoed above, reminding us that danger was close behind. The mountain trembled beneath our feet and guards began to mobilize. In just one heartbeat, we all scattered in different directions, each of us on our own.

I followed Poppy’s lead, her hand tracing along the walls as if she were communicating with the very earth itself. We sprinted blindly through the labyrinth of tunnels, pausing only briefly before picking up the pace again. My weakened and starved body ached and begged for rest, but fear fueled my legs as we pushed on.

Finally, Poppy came to a sudden stop and I crashed into her back, gasping for air. We stumbled out into a larger, darker tunnel and I let out a small shriek as I rolled to the ground. Poppy spat out dirt and scanned our surroundings with wide eyes, knowing that we were not safe yet.

“This is a wyrm tunnel. I wasn’t sure what it was, now I don’t know which is safer. Staying here or going back into the mines.”

“Staying here,” I stated with an obvious tone.

Her expression conveyed the message that I was naive and didn’t understand the situation. She let out a deep breath and scanned our surroundings once again before standing up, signaling for me to do the same. “Perhaps, let’s hope we won’t regret our decision. Come on, this one will be less winding.”

As we emerged from the tunnel, I was taken aback to find ourselves in the midst of a deep forest at dusk. We both scrambled up some nearby rocks to get a better view of the starry night sky. In unison, we breathed deeply and felt our bodies relax.

“Your eyes glow like the silver moon, I don’t know if you’ve ever been told that.” Poppy said after a moment of silence. “Like your blessing, and I think like your wings once did.” She gave me a knowing look and I couldn’t help but look away.

“How did you know?”

Poppy gently patted my back as she spoke. “I have been alive for a very long time, and I was an advisor to your mother,” she said with a slight sideways hug. “Caitlin, I know your real name. And I must confess, I am the one who switched you with another child. I reversed your age and transformed you from a young child back into a baby, then placed you in the care of a human couple who had recently lost their own child in the night. I made sure they never knew the pain of losing their baby.”

I shut my eyes and drew in a sharp breath, gritting my teeth. When I opened them again, I fixed her with a firm gaze. She stayed quiet, waiting for me to speak. “I honestly don’t want anything to do with the Seelie or Unseelie Courts. The person I am today is my own, and the person I was born to be is dead. I only want to find a place of my own and live a quiet, normal life. Please do not tell me anything that I do not want to hear.”

As I finished speaking, her expression turned into a frown. However, she quickly nodded and gave my arm a comforting rub. “Should you have any questions, all you need to do is ask. Now, let’s get out of here. We’ll go through the forest; with my help we’ll be long gone before they are able to send out search parties.”

“Won’t we get lost?”

She laughed; the sound was enchanting. “Not with me we won’t, there’s no possible way.”

Each step through the forest felt like a familiar path, as if she had walked through her own front door. She gracefully dodged low-hanging branches and skillfully avoided sharp rocks, warning me of their presence with ease. We both went barefoot, but for her it seemed like second nature, while I missed my shoes dearly. They had been a part of me my entire life, and now their absence was keenly felt. She led me deeper into the heart of the forest, where the air was charged with energy and the water shimmered in silver hues.

As we approached a secluded clearing, she wasted no time shedding her potato sack of a dress and diving headfirst into the water. I couldn’t help but wince at the loud splash, but as I followed suit and entered the surprisingly warm water, any discomfort melted away. The heat from the water was almost palpable against my skin, contrasting with the cool summer breeze that surrounded us.

I took a moment to soak my feet in the peacefulness of our surroundings before slowly sinking into the water myself. As my knees and legs disappeared out of sight, I scooped up handfuls of the liquid and watched, completely mesmerized, as silver ripples danced in my palms.

“This world is so magical, sometimes I forget it’s the home of monsters.” Ever so gently, I lowered my hands and tilted my head to look up into the sky. The three moons hung overhead, casting a silvery glow over the landscape. Two shone brightly, one larger than the others, while the third had a slight purplish tint to it. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, mesmerized by the celestial bodies above. It was as if time had stopped and all that remained were me and the moons. I had half the sense Poppy was watching me and I flicked my gaze in her direction. Her face peeked out from beneath the water’s surface, her eyes curious and watchful. The moons seemed to dance in her reflection, creating a magical aura around her.

“Sit with me,” she commanded. Her unexpected voice interrupted the peaceful and all-consuming silence. Following her instructions, I let the water flow over my breasts. Instantly, a feeling of wholeness, warmth, and happiness washed over me. I almost believed that my wings had magically reappeared, but as soon as I glanced behind me, reality set in. She took hold of the charm around my neck and studied its wooden design, tracing the shape with her fingers. “Awe, I know this work.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped myself short when she effortlessly broke apart the wooden ring that I had struggled with for so long. I felt his presence wrap around me from behind like a gentle blanket of pine, and a sense of comfort and peace wash over me. It was like a gentle purr, humming contentedly in my mind. His silence made me think he must be asleep.

“What did you do?” A wave of dread washed over me as I whispered, overwhelmed by the realization. At that moment, I knew I didn’t want him in my mind. I craved the ability to silence his presence and escape into my own thoughts. The freedom that came with it.

She frowned, which seemed to be the usual response to whatever I had to say. “I freed you to return to your lover.”

“He is not my lover.” I nearly shouted.

“Oh please, you’re matched.”

I wanted to punch her in the face. “So what?! I’m to go off and live happily ever after with someone I’ve never met, just because a god had half a thought?”

“Well, your mother would have arranged a marriage for you anyway.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Oh, like she is any better. What an example! Let’s have me take after her, the one who couldn’t stay true to her kingdom and whored herself to the enemy prince!”

Poppy’s complexion went pale, and she tightly sealed her lips. Her reaction was all the confirmation I needed, though I’m not sure why I felt the need for it in the first place. With frustration, I emerged from the water and let out a low hiss, mostly to myself. The newfound knowledge was unsettling to say the least. “If you don’t mind, I think I will get dressed and try to get some rest.” I marched out of the water and up the slope.

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