through the door, trying to concentrate over the other voice that was alternately cursing and pleading in a litany of birdy chirps. “What is going on out there?”
“This monster is only toying with me. I have eggs at home. My poor nest. You fucking furball bastard, I’ll stab out your eyes and feast on the jelly.”
“Witch,” the cat said over the top of the frantic bird. “You wanted to speak to birds, so I brought you a bird. Because I am an accomplished hunter and also a generous ruler of my people servants. I dislike that you are trapped inside that box. Perhaps a bird will make you feel better?”
I rubbed a hand over my face, trying my hardest not to laugh. “Is the bird injured?”
The cat made that little sneeze-scoff sound. “I am an accomplished hunter, my skills are legendary. My grace is unparalleled. How would it deliver a message if I crushed its tiny bones between my teeth and snuffed out its insignificant life?”
I sighed. “Bird? Can you hear me? Calm down please. I’m sorry if she scared you. I only need you to carry a message, please.”
“…insufferable hairy ball of dung. I’ll be avenged. You’ll never leave your stupid human people building without being dive-bombed. I’ll…. What? Person, did you speak to me?”
My life was so strange. But I could see why The Mother had prevented me from coming into contact with animals when I was a priestess of The Order. It seemed I could talk to them all. I would have been able to learn all about my captive status and the lies my fake mother told…if I hadn’t gone mad trying to deal with the animals’…unique personality traits.
“Yes, I can hear and speak to you,” I told the bird in my most soothing voice. “Please, calm yourself. I mean you no harm.”
“Talk to the witch woman or I will eat you alive,” the cat added helpfully.
The bird’s voice lost its strength, as if it had finally just given up the will to live. “I’ve lost my mind. I must be delirious from fear. Great feathers of the holy ones, deliver me from this madness.” Then it proceeded to say goodbye to all of its relatives—birds had large extended families.
I groaned.
“Bird,” I said firmly. “Please focus.”
There was a scuffle and the cat’s voice came out less muffled, as if she had finally spit out the poor bird. “Don’t move or I’ll rip this wing clean off, vermin.” She started purring. “Witch, promise me tuna.”
I shook my head. “I’ll get you all the tuna you want if I ever get out of here, I swear it.”
She chirped happily. “And if this birdbrain carries your messages, you’ll reward him too?”
I lay my palms flat against the wood door. Conversing with animals and bartering in fish and seeds might sound insane, but if it got me out of here, I’d take it. “All the birdseed and nest materials you could ever want. I even know a nice, tall place for you to live, if you want. It’s protected by a fierce group of guardians. Even one with wings.”
Although, I was pretty sure Yukio wasn’t going to make friends with sparrows, or whatever this creature was.
The bird made a nervous chittering sound, but finally replied. “It’s not as if I have any choice, witch person. What do you want with me?”
I felt bad for using the poor creature, for a moment. But then I recalled how ruthlessly I would be used if the fae figured out what I could do. “I need you to carry a message for me. Do you know of The Fox theater?”
Luckily the little bird was well-traveled. I also learned that birds, apparently, had vast networks of other birds with whom they chatted as they moved about. I told him all about my crow and the people at The Fox. I wasn’t sure anyone would pay attention to one little noisy sparrow. But it was currently the only option I had.
“I need you to make them understand where I am,” I said earnestly. “Please.”
The bird let out a tiny, almost inaudible little sigh. “And I will get food for the whole season and a safe place to build my next nest? Crows are big nasties.”
I forced a laugh. “I promise you food and shelter. And my crow is different.” I hoped. I really had no way of knowing whether this poor little soul was going to survive being my messenger. I felt like a general sending my troops out to die.
Melodramatic, I know. But I had never been responsible for someone’s wellbeing in quite this way. I’d never been responsible for someone’s death.
A chill raced over my skin as I recalled the few times I had whispered the names of those about to die. Maybe this wasn’t the first time after all. Maybe all those people were dead because of something I had done. The witches from The Order who had died attacking Robin and her people were certainly dead because of me. Because they had come to take me back.
“I will deliver this bird to the garden,” the cat told me, and I could almost envision the way she lifted her nose in the air. “And I will eat his mate and all his eggs if he fails to do as you ask. This is why I am queen. I honor my promises to my loyal subjects.”
I swallowed a sudden urge to laugh. “Thank you, your majesty, but I do hope that won’t be necessary.”
And then my fur and feathered companions left to do as I asked, leaving me alone in my pretty prison once again. At least this time I wasn’t trapped in shadow. I made my way to the bed and sat, happy to feel the warmth of sunlight filtering in through glass above me.
I had done what I could, for now. All I could do was wait. And hope Robin and the others got my message. And that they cared enough to act on it.
There were a lot of “ifs” in this weak escape plan of mine. But at least I had an escape plan. The last time I’d been locked away like this, I hadn’t even known I was a prisoner.
The fae king’s previous insinuations flitted through my mind unbidden. I had been thinking of my time with The Order. But…perhaps I had only been a prisoner and a tool to Sanka and the others as well. I was too trusting. Too sheltered and naive. Too lonely and desperate for some sort of connection with other people. Would I ever be able to make friends who didn’t have ulterior motives?
The thought reminded me of Cicely and the warm, beautiful dream we’d shared. The faun seemed as lonely and sad as I was, under all his easy words and pretty smiles. I didn’t trust him. I couldn’t afford to trust any of the fae at this point. But…it would be nice if just once, I could make an actual friend. Even the illusion was nice at this point.
“Oh, Ruya, you’re such an idiot,” I muttered to myself as I stood to pace the confines of my room. But…I was used to being deceived. What was worse? Being used, or being completely, utterly alone?
A knock at my door distracted me from my silly mental rambling. “Miss? I’ve brought your dinner and a change of clothes.”
I sighed at the cheery voice of the woman who was apparently my own personal maid these days. “By all means,” I said grandly, “come in. As if I have any control over entry and exit from this room!”
She ignored my flare of temper, coming in and setting a tray on the small bedside table I had discovered earlier. “Lord Odell bid me to remind you to eat to keep your strength up. And he sent some wine, just for you.”
I scoffed. “More poison meant to coerce me into telling him things I don’t even know? No, thank you.”
She ignored that outburst as well. “I’ve brought you a nightgown and a new dress. Lord Odell would like you to look presentable should you decide to leave your room.”
I huffed. “So, I can leave my room now?”
She patted my back like we were old friends. “Whenever you wish to speak to the king, my dear.”
I rolled my eyes. “Then I suppose I’ll just rot here in this dress.” I lifted my chin. “I’ve been told red is my color.”
The woman sighed, her voice sad and gentle, as if she were speaking to an abused child. “I know you’ve had a hard time of it before now, my dear. That awful cult deceived you, and the unaligned used that to convince you to stay and work for them. But you’re safe now, if only you’d bend a little. Lord Odell is a proud man, like most fae lords. But if you appease him, he’ll treat you well. Much better than a beastly shifter and her band of nasty misfits ever could.”
I clenched my jaw together. What had Odell told her? How did the fae know about The Order? Fear skittered up my spine again at the thought of The Order of the Triple Moon. What if they came here? Would the fae hand me over to The Mother? Was staying here better or worse than being whisked away to some hidden pocket world? At least here, I had some chance of escaping. There…I’d be trapped until another magic user like Sanka managed to find me and steal me away. And the chances of that ever happening again…no. I’d give the fae king everything he wanted before I ever returned to The Mother.
“Well, dear, you think on it,” the maid said in her sweet, kindly voice. “But don’t be starving yourself, now. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I waited until she left before my fingers found the bottle of wine, then I flung it in the general direction of the door with an uncharacteristic, unbridled scream of rage. The sound of shattering glass was nearly as cathartic as the sound of my own shrill voice.
I had never screamed before. I rather thought I liked it. Picking up the next item off the tray, I chucked that as well, putting every bit of strength I had into the throw. Laughter bubbled up through the tears and the rage left as quickly as it had come.
Was I truly destined to always be a prisoner?
When I had finished with my emotional outburst, I went to the small attached bathroom and drank water from the tap. Then I sat in the middle of my bed and closed my eyes, sinking into meditation to escape the constant, despairing spiral of my thoughts.
Before I knew it, I had fallen into sleep.