Faefalling (working title)

17- I return to civilisation and find it still sucks

Light breaths hit my cheek through the bag, somehow smelling of roses. Abruptly, he pulled it off. Both bag and hood came at once, fully exposing me to the dim lighting of a dinky room. Apart from the sofa chair I sat on, it was really just four wooden walls. No windows. No furniture. I glanced around for an escape hatch, puffy hair clouding my view. One door. My sights locked on it.

"The only way in or out," a voice to my right said.

My eyes shot up. Whom I assumed to be Draoi loomed over me, sitting on the arm of my chair.

He was smaller than I'd expected. Dark locks tumbled about his head, a tad shorter than mine. His deep purple eyes were a shock, pupils thin and slitted. Though their colour was much darker than Reaghan's, her face filled my mind, overlapping his for a moment. Thin lips locked in a permanent smirk, he grabbed my chin with slim fingers and pulled me close. An eternity floated by as he stared.

"You're not human. And yet iron poses no problem. And those ears... short tips... round almost." If I were to lean forward even a quarter of an inch, our mouths would meet. "What exactly are you?" he asked, licking his lips.

I almost told him outright. The way he posed the question made it seem a demand, a must. Whatever lick of common sense remained in me stuck and I kept my mouth shut.

He withdrew from the staring contest. "I see. Not the most talkative. Well, that can be fixed..."

He twirled around me, hands grazing over my shoulders and down my arms. I hid a wince as he tapped my bandages.

His suit was red, dark enough that it was difficult to see the many stains. Difficult, but still visible.

Draoi flashed pearly whites. "What's your name? You wouldn't deny your kind host that, now would you?"

"In my experience, you qualify more as kidnappers than hosts," I answered.

"So he can talk!" He gave a bit of a chuckle. "And yet, you're the one who came to us," Draoi raised a brow. "Now," his face went sombre for a moment, "your name and why you're here."

"I want to see my friends first," I muttered.

Draoi smiled again, sickly sweet. "Oh, don't you worry about them. Others will be speaking with your lady friends at this very moment. Separately, of course. We need to confirm your stories. I'm sure you understand."

I jumped to my feet. The thought of Lazuli, alone, in a room just like this, with a fae like Draoi made me shudder. Playing with my bonds, I circled him, trying to get at the door. He watched, clearly amused.

"You won't make it more than ten steps before the Rat Boys are all over you," he stated.

"The Rat Boys?" I asked, aiming to distract as I gathered Murphy. "That your little club's name?"

"Sure," Draoi laughed, "you could call it that."

It was my turn to smile now, having finally managed to wrestle a hand free. "I'll take my chances, but thanks for the warning."

Before he could respond, I raised my palms. And release. Murphy worked his magic, sending both the fae and the bolted door sailing away. They hit the wall, and then the floor, with a thud. Not waiting to see if he'd get up, I sprinted out into the hall. All that was left was finding the others.

A long corridor ran away from me, stretching out on both sides and lined with identical doors. I ran to the nearest and kicked it open. Empty.

Cursing, I turned away, ran past a couple rooms and barged into another. The fae inside shrieked as they saw me, clutching red robes about their less than clothed bodies. I averted my gaze, mouthing apologies as I closed the door and headed off.